Can Abhisit be trusted with the economy?

But I am scared when I think of an incident two years ago in which Abhisit's maid stole his ATM card and made off with about Bt800,000. It turned out that Abhisit wrote his four-digit personal identification number on the card so he didn't have to memorise it!

MEECHAI BURAPA

CHIANG MAI

Manner of govt's creation leaves us with little hope

Not to put too fine a point on it, Abhisit Vejjajiva came to office through backroom bartering worthy of 1960s Chicago.

A certain irony thus permeates his promise to repair Thailand's "failed political system", to the manipulation of which he owes his big break in public life.

Indeed, the circumstances might lead one to suspect the existence of some insidious agenda (PAD or other) lurking in the shadows. Time, of course, will tell what the new government manages to achieve; but, judging from the manner of its creation and the nature of some of the people jockeying for position around the PM, the omens look less than favourable - gold rings notwithstanding.

CITIZEN JANE

BANGKOK

PM is not an elitist but quite down to earth

During the recent troubles the western media saw a conspiracy in every broom cupboard. Merely because sections of society, army, monarchy, 'elitists' may or may not like the PPP or Thaksin Shinawatra, there were considerable unsubstantiated claims as to the level of their involvement.

Abhisit Vejjajiva, himself was described as 'elitist' and lacking the common touch, by the most elitist of British organisations, The Times and the BBC.

Without doubt Abhisit comes with a better education than most foreign correspondents in Thailand, and maybe even 'better stock', but elitist? - certainly not, I am happy to say.

The Times, which clearly believes Mr Shinawatra is a man of the people, published a particularly nasty 'profile' on Abhisit, questioning his ethics, and pulled out some 'dial a quote' T-Rex's to substantiate its view.

Abhisit Vejjajiva is considerably down to earth. As a student he went on anti-Margaret Thatcher demos in support of his colleagues and his musical taste goes as far as 'Atomic Kitten'. He admitted it! He clearly is not as high up in the clouds as some of my colleagues. He had to do a pact with the devil - end of story.

The BBC described some sections of the PAD as 'thugs', working in a 'military' operation. That is their view, but even I as a foreign correspondent would have to concede during months of protests, despite having lost lives and limbs to police tear gas canisters, and M79 grenades, they exhibited remarkable restraint.

As for the airport sieges, history will perhaps reveal just what type of sieges they ever were. But from what I saw on a daily basis the demo was pretty much restricted to the departure level of Suvarnabhumi.

Despite the photos, there really was no serious blockade. There was just no will to remove them.

Now is not the time for recriminations over the recent troubles. But if the Thai National Human Rights Commission wants prosecutions, it should go back to its report on the killings during Thaksin Shinawatra's war on drugs and ask the new administration to listen to the TNHRC and families of the innocent victims. It is long overdue.

ANDREW DRUMMOND

BANGKOK

Bail for red shirt may lead to his bosses

The police should give bail to Chokchai Kamlue, the red shirt man who threw a stone at a Democrat's car.

They should also take note of who pays his bail.

This is a clear proof that the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) condones violence, and its leader, Veera Musikapong, should be held accountable.

MARC BOGERD

BANGKOK