Leave first, then we'll hold an election

CLARA HOLZER

BANGKOK

Vote 'democracy' now; get what you pay for

Re: "Yellow shirts must also be prosecuted", Letters, May 9.  

Mr Wood of Chiang Mai speaks of pro-rural governments. What he means is pro-rural in-the-north governments. The rural south is solidly Democrat. The current government certainly has more unpaid-for votes in rural communities than those in the opposition.

When Thaksin Shinawatra called for his third election, the northern voters were locked in by Bt1 million "loans". In the south the TRT were unopposed and still could not win a seat because they could not get the 20 per cent of the vote required for a single candidate, and none of the cardboard cutout candidates TRT put forward met the rules.

As Mr Thaksin said himself: "I do not need to give them anything. They did not vote for me." Democrat to the core!

Meanwhile, when Rachel Harvey of the BBC was selling democracy in Rajprasong, she introduced a bystander to give his views. This nice old chap in glasses came on and spoke in Thai. Rachel Harvey seemed surprised and quickly translated. She did not mention that the person in question was Dr weng of the Communist Party of Thailand. Perhaps that might have given her viewers cause to doubt. He was on TV the night before in the talks with PM Abhisit, so she knew who he was.

RICHARD BOWLER

BANGKOK

No golden age under Aquino

Re: "A win by Aquino would be good for the Philippines", editorial, May 10.

I couldn't agree less with your editorial, which practically endorses Senator Aquino for president of the Philippines.

You mention the importance of land reform. Yet when Cory Aquino was president, her land reform programme was corrupt from top to bottom and her own family of rich landowners were exempt from it.Why does everyone forget all the scandals that occurred during her administration?

 Your editorial raises the issue of poverty. Yet you conveniently fail to mention that Cory Aquino as president decimated all family planning programmes and thus was responsible for tremendously increasing the number of Filipinos living in poverty.

 The only reasons you give for supporting Senator Aquino is that he is Cory Aquino's son (and Cory was a horrible president) and that he's "clean". The average girl scout is clean! Does that qualify her to be president of the Philippines?

 Why does everyone keep rewriting history and pretending that things were wonderful when Cory Aquino was president? Nothing could be further from the truth.

ERIC BAHRT

PATTAYA

Naive reds being used by traitors

I do not for one minute believe the red shirts want to overthrow the monarchy, nor are they responsible for the acts of terrorism, but I do believe they are allowing themselves to be the screen that protects the ousted members of the military and a corrupt government seeking power and the return of Thaksin and restoration of his ill-gotten gains.

Stop being so naive; you are being used and if you were to succeed, those who have used you will dismantle the monarchy and set up a true dictatorship you will never get rid of. Thaksin is taking advantage of your goodness and trust for his own purposes. Peace and proper elections are at hand ... don't let terrorists posing as red shirts ruin your reputation. Expose those who are armed and in your midst.

You are protecting them; point them out if you're not with them

TIM DEVLIN,

TORONTO, ONTARIO

How others sort out political deadlock

Imagine if British politics were Thai style: The chief of the army may offer to host a meeting between Nick Clegg and David Cameron to end the hung parliament. Or he may call for the Liberal Democrats and all small parties to side with Gordon Brown. Or he may say, "The army won't stage a coup. Political problems must be solved by politicians."

Or he, along with the navy and air force chiefs, may appear on national TV and say, "If I were Gordon Brown, I would move out of Number 10 Downing Street immediately."

That would be something, wouldn't it? There's no army like the Thai army!

SOMSAK POLA

SAMUT PRAKAN