Three weeks or three years; give Abhisit a chance

A few months ago, Suthep Thaugsuban and the Democrat Party called for the Somchai government to bring Thaksin Shinawatra back to serve his jail term. Now, once the Democrat-led government is formed, Suthep shows his eagerness to befriend Thaksin - purportedly for fear of the former leader

PM Abhisit Vejjajiva must be steadfast in his determination to make a difference for the country. It doesn't matter if his government lasts a week or three years. This is the golden opportunity for him to use his ability and leadership.

Three issues need Abhisit's immediate attention: economic problems; unfair attacks on the Monarchy on the Internet must somehow be stopped, so that national harmony will be revived; and education reforms must be initiated for the sake of future generations.

Time is of the essence here.

Chavalit Van

Chiang Mai

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Western powers allow Israel to go too far

The Israeli defence minister has previously said that bombing and invasion of Gaza is necessary to teach the Palestinians how to behave and quit their violent struggle for their rights. Israeli propaganda has gone to great lengths to make Israel a pathetic victim of so-called Palestinian terror. But remember the founding of Israel was made upon Jewish terrorism that drove 750,000 Palestinians from their homes into refugee camps, and then when the state of Israel was declared these homes were confiscated within weeks.

Therefore, after 60 years of terrorism who will teach the Israelis how to behave or stop them stealing even more land from the Palestinians in the West Bank? Or who will teach the Israelis how to stop their apartheid-like behaviour that now keeps the Palestinians in what are large ghetto-like prisons? Also, if the far rightist Likud party gets into power in coming Israeli election, who will make Likud behave if it introduces further harsh racist policies?

The important questions not asked by the media and the international community are: When is Israel going to end its colonial ambition to form a "Greater Israel"; end its illegal occupation and siege of Palestinian land in the West Bank and Gaza; and let the Palestinians found their own sovereign state?

Following this long, futile peace process, will the penny finally drop that Israel never really wanted peace with the Palestinians, but from the very start it has wanted to fulfil its goal to make the occupation of the West Bank permanent while bringing the Gazans to their knees.

The media here should forget US/Israeli/Western propaganda for a while and get real view for once!

GWFARROW

Bangkok

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In Gaza, land is more important than lives

Re: "Hamas supporters turning blind eye to its provocation", Letters, January 5.

There is absolutely no atrocity that Israel can commit that Muslim-hater Dean Barrett will not defend. Killing over 500 Palestinian civilians because three Israeli civilians were killed is acceptable to him. Just as killing a thousand Lebanese civilians because two Israeli soldiers had been kidnapped is fine with him. If Mr Barrett is honest, he'll admit that the lives of Palestinian women and children mean absolutely nothing to him.

 While it is true that some Palestinian cheered on 9/11, other Palestinians condemned the attack. In any case, saying it's fine to kill women and children who might have cheered is not "karma" (as Mr Barrett wrote in a letter to another newspaper), it's murder!

 If Israel didn't steal their land in the first place, we wouldn't be having these problems. But Israel cares more about land than the lives of women and children.

Eric Bahrt

Pattaya

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Former dictator did more than just instil law and order

Re: "Missing Field Marshal Sarit and Professor Sanya, I am", Opinion, January 5.

I'd like to clarify some of what the writer has said. M.R. Pridiyathorn was ambiguous when he told us how Sarit dealt with arsonists and hooligans. He simply said "Sarit ... brought the disorder to a standstill." It seemed the writer wanted to cover up something.

In the late 1950s and early 60s when Sarit was in power, the Constitution gave him exclusive power as prime minister to jail and execute anyone at will. Hooligans who terrorised communities were jailed without trial. If a fire destroyed a shophouse community, the owner of the shop where the blaze started was automatically considered an arsonist. A few were executed. No trials.

I'd also like to add that when Sarit died in 1963, he left assets worth about Bt3 billion, conservatively estimated at Bt30 billion today.

Meechai Burapa

Chiang Mai

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