Save the Democrats, save Thailand

Unfortunately even the cleanest PM cannot rule without dirty coalition partners who betray and rob at every opportunity. What made Thaksin so dangerous - and more efficient - than the rest of the greedy pack was his ruthless shrewdness in "legalising" his theft. For the red shirts to claim they are fighting a class war is a sick joke; they are fighting for one of the  greediest people this country has ever seen.

I can only pray for the wisdom of the judiciary, not to bow to the brute force of the red shirts and not allow anarchy to triumph, because if the Democrats should be dissolved, it would pave the way for the return of Thaksin and his pirates.

Ben K

Bangkok

The Democrats may have acted illegally

Re: "Abhisit's Minefield", April 14.

In your article you analysed all the different reasons why the Election Commission might have handed down its recent verdict against the Democrat Party.  How telling and how sad that one reason not included in the list was perhaps that the EC had examined the facts of the case and found that the Democrat Party had acted wrongly.

Is it so naive to expect that a body established with the purpose of making fair, balanced and impartial judgements might actually do so?

Paul Spurrier

Bangkok

Military govt may be the only option

I am shocked, saddened and angered by events in Thailand. A nation is being torn apart. And for what? A cowardly, corrupt fugitive who has manipulated a puerile population who can do no better than herd themselves into coloured mobs in order to get their own way.

The red shirts call for democracy. Really, is that what their behaviour is called? They talk about an end to corruption and then replacing it with a fraudulent fugitive. I think it's quite clear that democracy has now been pushed off the negotiating table by these mobs and there now only remains two alternatives: One is anarchy and the other lesser evil - full-blown military rule.

Joe K

Bangkok

Murdered while doing his duty

In graciously, personally presiding over the royal bathing ceremony for Colonel Romklao Thuwatham, Her Majesty the Queen has sent a clear and unequivocal message to Thailand on the loss of this courageous soldier.

At these dark and difficult times for the nation, it is indeed heartening and uplifting, but in no way surprising, to see Her Majesty giving such support to the grieving family of a brave and loyal officer who sought only to serve his King and country and yet was so viciously and needlessly gunned down by vile, faceless murderers on the streets of Bangkok while doing his duty.

James Dundass

Bangkok

We are living in a failed state

After living in Thailand for a number of years, it has now become evident that the only thing the police and the armed forces are good at is corruption. This, they both do with a well-practised expertise due to the number of years they have been practising.

Policing and armed conflicts are not what they are capable of doing because they have never practised these properly.

Thailand is a failed state now, with incredibly corrupt politicians, armed services and police, all with their own agenda to get money from somebody.

What a shame for this to happen to such a beautiful country!

Tennis-Playing Farang

Bangkok

Command Centre a total failure

Since no one on it is making real strategy, the police did not help, and it did not have intelligence about the red shirts (such as the fact that they were using snipers), what is the purpose of the Emergency Command Centre other than apparently to leak information to the red shirts about what the Army will be doing?

Why couldn't and can't the prime minister say to the people on it, thanks for your help at Songkran 2009 and Songkran 2010 but I will be meeting with the deputy Army chief one-on-one? That way, with only two people there, it would be easy to track who leaked any information. Or is this another "position" thing with a lot of people in the room festooned in medals?

F. Goldman

Bangkok