Banned politicians guilty of contempt of court

Furthermore, the Democrat Party leader said he would pay a visit to Banharn Silapa-archa, ex-leader of the also dissolved Chart Thai Party, to invite him to help form a Democrat-led government!

If the phrase 'mai pen rai' is applicable to the verdict recently handed down by the Constitutional Court, then shall we assume that whatever the Thai judiciary says can be regarded as something like a joke for sanuk purposes?

Sornnagi Kumar

New York

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Why was this convicted felon not thrown in jail?

Where is the justice? Thaksin's ex-wife violated her bail deal, escaping to the UK instead of returning to Bangkok from China. Why was she not arrested when she entered Thailand? Instead she was given "statesman" service at the airport. She has been sentenced in a tax case. Why is she free to travel? Why do the newspapers not have any editorial questions about these issues?

European ex-journalist

Chon Buri

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Hard to see who is for and against what?

How difficult it is to penetrate the cloud of cynicism and half-truths that obscure Thailand's present struggle for political reform. Is the PAD indeed an "alliance for democracy", or the DADD a "democratic alliance against dictatorship"? What is the PAD really "for", and what is the DADD really "against"?

In this lull in the yellow-shirt/red-shirt fight to the death there are two conspicuous ironies. The first is that the PAD is not really "for" anything at all, nor is the DADD "against" whatever it is either. Indeed, it's just the opposite: the DADD is for Thaksin Shinawatra and the PAD is against him. Since there's no democracy in Thailand to fight for, democracy doesn't even enter the picture.

The second self-evident truth is that the DADD, far from being the champions of electoral self-determination, wants to place Thailand under the rule of a president for life, while the PAD will go to any lengths to prevent this from happening. Indeed, that was the sole reason for the storming of the airports, simply to prevent the arrival on Thai soil of one single person, or his [ex] wife. Because, make no mistake about it, had Pojaman managed to enter just 10 days ago, Thaksin's role as president for life in Thailand would have been assured.

And what about that arrest warrant that wasn't? It's a beautiful example of the lengths to which this couple will go to get their money back, and their thrones. The arrest warrant for jumping bail is in the name of Pojaman Shinawatra, not Damapong. Somebody named Pojaman Damapong arrived, and Immigration forgot.

Lung Kip

Chiang Mai

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Mega projects will not jump-start the economy

Re: "Thaw in ties between economic bigwigs a welcome development", Opinion, December 8

MR Pridiyathorn's suggestion to forgo the corporate tax cut and instead spend on infrastructure is a misguided elitist view.

The main beneficiary of massive spending on infrastructure projects is the small and elite club of government contractors. And on job creation, infrastructure projects tend to employ minimum-wage workers. Thus they have no real impact on the economy besides giving handouts to the usual players. The stimulus package should be focused on SMEs, which are the backbone of the government's tax income, and which create real middle-income jobs.

It is time for some innovation.

Paul Tani

Bangkok

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Democrats resort to desperate measures to take control

It is a shame and sad for democracy that the Democrats stoop to a level that I thought was unthinkable. A week ago, they were calling for a House dissolution. Now they are negotiating with banned politicians and their crooked MPs in order to get control and the post of prime minister. The golden road was paved for them on several occasions since the coup of 2006 but they could not walk down that road. They claim to be white knights who are clean of corruption or vote buying. What ministry or cabinet posts are you willing to give, or should I say sell, to them to get their support? Is this what you consider a democracy? Is this really for the sake of national unity?

Max Deadhead

Bangkok

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