Murder and violence at Koh Phangan full moon party

On the same night there was another bloody incident in front of Kaktus Bar, in which a Thai attacked a foreigner with a samurai knife and almost chopped off his head. I don't know if the victim survived

The full moon party is becoming a nightmare and is out of control. The organisers now charge now Bt100 and nobody knows where this money goes? Toilets? Security? Evidently not. Where does this money go? Into whose pockets?

Something has to happen to make life safer on this island. I hope there is a proper investigation and the truth of this nightmare is revealed.

DANIEL ANDEREGG

KOH PHANGAN

Opposition should accept by-election results

News of a Democrat winning the Bangkok gubernatorial election aside, parliamentary by-elections in the Central, Northern and Northeastern regions have shown Thai voters' desire for the Democrat-led coalition government to have a chance at managing the country. One should hope that former premier Thaksin Shinawatra - a self-proclaimed champion of democracy - should have spirit enough to accept the truth.

I would like to point out the outstanding example of the constituency in Lamphun, where a leader of the red shirt mob - who recently pelted senior Democrat Chuan Leekpai with eggs during his campaign trip to the region - was beaten by a Democrat who was forced to keep a low profile during the campaign for fear of persecution. This occurred despite Lamphun being close to Thaksin's stronghold of Chiang Mai.

Enough of gutter politics: Thai voters would like the country to move forward. Please accept the result.

CHAVALIT VAN

CHIANG MAI

Now the real work begins for Abhisit

The results of the weekend's polls for both the by-elections and the Bangkok governor are something at which all Thais can rejoice. At long last we will have a functioning government that is going to be stable for at least three years, during which period confidence will be restored and economic woes hopefully tackled.

Did the results signify that there has been erosion of popular support for Thaksin Shinawatra, or whether his war chest has dried up? In either case, it is good news for the country. The Abhisit government has earned the legitimate right to govern as it now has more than the required majority in the House. There can be no more claims that the current government is one that was "hijacked" by the military or by former Thaksinites who betrayed their former boss.

But to say that these successes were indicative of public backing for the government or for Abhisit personally is a bit premature. To gain real public backing, Abhisit must prove that he really can govern for the common good and for all the people.

PRACHYADAVI TAVEDIKUL

BANGKOK

Good riddance to a dreadful president

As the world eagerly awaits the official end of the Bush presidency, I hope that the US has made plans to make some everlasting memorial to this disastrous president. I would suggest a statue of George W Bush, built to the same scale as the Statue of Liberty, to be sited in the centre of the White House lawn. Below the name of George W Bush I would inscribe "Of this ilk, never again" in three-metre-high letters. America needs a permanent reminder of the dangers of allowing incongruous characters into political office - a mistake that will burden the country for decades to come.

A WARNER

BANGKOK