Bhum Jai Thai should learn from this loss

My heartiest congratulations to the Pheu Thai Party for their landslide win, and for running an apparently relatively clean campaign. The win was a very convincing display of the affection Northeastern people have for Thaksin Shinawatra, warts and all - and why not? Before Thaksin, few, if any, parties had made a concerted effort to cater to the poor - and to deliver on their campaign promises. In many cases, Thaksin did both. From the viewpoint of the poor, even if he implemented his policies to benefit himself and his cronies, at least the common man got an Ua Athorn residence, universal healthcare, etc. Voting for him, or his puppets, makes perfect sense - sans a better alternative.

Bhum Jai Thai spokesman Supachai Jaisamut is wrong when he says, "We can do nothing about Thaksin fever." As Malcolm Forbes noted, "Failure is success if we learn from it." Well, what does the common man want? Thaksin's pointed the way.

Also, US President Barack Obama said, "I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. These are not just American ideas, they are human rights, and that is why we will support them everywhere … This much is clear: governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure."

Thus, for example, does Bhum Jai Thai think that voters cannot see through the Bt35 billion in alleged commissions for its bus scheme? Instead of old-school politics, give them what Obama has itemised. For example, push to have housing for low-income people promoted by the Board of Investment, which will be less prone to cor?ruption than the Ua Athorn project. If Bhum Jai Thai agrees with MR Pridiyathorn Devakula and me that Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij's Bt1.43-trillion investment package is going in the right direction, with dust-free roads, dual-track rail projects, residences for policemen and schools, upgrading of teacher competence and education standards etc, then back the government in getting prompt, squeaky-clean implementation and think up other projects that will bring voters jobs. If Bhum Jai Thai agrees with PM Abhisit Vejjajiva that "all [anti-insurgent] actions are subject to law. We will never violate anyone's rights", then support him in his efforts to bring the military to justice over Tak Bai and Krue Se, and initiate a clean-up of our cops so that they're no longer the agency viewed as being the most corrupt.

Bhum Jai Thai, you can learn from this failure, and come roaring back; just think of the common people more.

BURIN KANTABUTRA

BANGKOK

Keep red-shirt hooligans off Bangkok streets

The red shirts are proposing another round of disturbances in the capital next week, and I propose that the government crack down on this rally in the harshest way possible. It has to prove that demonstrations, bordering on treachery, will not be tolerated. The tourism industry is already decimated, with hotels running at less than 30 per cent occupancy. If Thailand has any hope of restoring it's badly tarnished tourism sector, these ignorant fools need to be stopped in their tracks.

Abhisit is doing a good job, under extremely difficult circumstances. He needs to be given a chance and Thailand needs to be given a chance to recover. During the last round of protests, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra made a fool of himself and lost a lot of support. He proved that he does not have the Thai people's interests at heart. He showed how irresponsible, how greedy and how misguided his operation is. Since it appears that Thailand does not have the influence to get him extradited and put on trial, at the very least, do not allow him this satisfaction. Stop the nonsense now and do not allow these hooligans to demonstrate, cause unrest, be violent and disturb the peace.

MIKE MACARELLI

BANGKOK

People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones

Re: Ominous signs that only become ridiculous, Opinion, June 20

I was very disappointed in the tone of Bangkokian's opinion piece, which displayed more than a bit of contempt for Thailand's neighbour Burma and its hill peoples, along with a not-so-surprising lack of self awareness about Thai people and their own set of suspect beliefs.

In deriding the Burmese for seeing an omen in the collapse of a pagoda visited by the dictator's wife, is Bangkokian forgetting that Thailand's most popular prime minister sometimes cited astrological movements as the basis for his decisions and went so far as to visit 99 temples to drive away negative forces?

By scoffing the Wa and the Karen for their practices, is Bangkokian forgetting that hundreds, if not thousands, of Thailand's educated elite used to regularly gather at Wat Dhammakaya, where they claimed to have seen the abbot perform such miracles as turning the sun into a crystal ball? And then willingly opened their wallets to buy themselves nirvana.

Take a look at your own compatriots, Bangkokian, before looking down on others.

JAMES GLEASON

BANGKOK