A little background is of the essence

As a Thai expatriate, I have followed the situation quite closely and sometimes from the vantage point of being in Thailand during the incidents, and I can assure you that most of the statements you made in your letter are an embellishment of the truth, at best. One can't help wonder whether you are a part of ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra's propaganda machine to discredit Thailand and his "enemies" so that he can return to ravage the country as he did during his "popularly elected" terms of government. Democracy does not stop at the ballot box; it also includes right and wrong in governance thereafter.

Mr Jones, being in academia requires that you search for the truth before you expound your opinion. Your credibility on Thailand and her politics is extremely questionable when you didn't even bother to find out the proper spellings or order of some Thai names in your letter.

BUNCHA OORAIKUL

PROFESSOR EMERITUS

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA, CANADA

The wrong man to talk about democracy

I denounce St Johns College for inviting Abhisit to give a speech about democracy. The man came to power undemocratically; he wasn't elected by people. He was put on the golden palanquin and paraded to the office by Newin's splinter group, the PAD, the army, the elite and a host of Thaksin's enemies, consisting of drug dealers, underground lottery dealers, illegal gambling-den owners, loan sharks and pimps, just to mentioned a few.

How can Abhisit give a speech about democracy? He boycotted a general election (knowing he had no chance) and was behind the mob that seized national airports and toppled an elected government.

Abhisit is a disgrace to Oxford University and Thailand. If it is necessary for him to deliver a speech, it should be on "Short Cut to PM's Office" or "The Art of Borrowing Money".

SOMSAK POLA

BANGKOK

Shame on the foes of pollution control!

The opposition expressed by some businessmen having interests in the Map Ta Put area to the proposed pollution-control measures is nothing short of disgraceful. Thailand is a polluted country, and any measure to reduce any form of pollution should be welcomed. However, politicians and businessmen time after time have shown their ability to put their own interests over those they claim to serve.

Here is a golden opportunity for your investigative reporters to show the public what is going on. All those who have openly expressed their objections, which effectively puts their own selfish interests above the health of local residents, should be publicly named. In addition I'm sure the local residents would dearly like to know where these businessmen actually live in relation to the claimed polluted areas.

CHRIS KAYE

CHON BURI