They failed to recognise the historical and future implications of this while focusing almost completely on the Middle East and Iraq and in doing so acting less as news organisations than as organs of propaganda for the foreign policies of their countries of origin.

As the second longest-reigning modern monarch since Queen Victoria, His Majesty has seen the transition of the world from the reconstruction of Europe after World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the reign of terror of Pol Pot in Cambodia, the suppression of democracy in Burma and now the current "war on terror". All of these events have had some or a lot of influence on the security and development of Thailand.

It is through His Majesty's lifelong dedication to peaceful and practical progress that Thailand today is the only truly democratic, non-communist country in Indochina. But for how much longer?

As long as His Majesty's reign continues, the surrounding forces of communism, militarism and Islamic extremism in the South may have little opportunity to wrest democracy away from Thailand, or in any part of it.

The current weakness in the democratic system does not bode well for Thailand. If this continues into the foreseeable future, how will Thailand fare under considerable pressure from external and internal forces? It is only the love demonstrated by His Majesty for his people and their love for him during an extended reign that has kept Thailand moving towards continued economic and social progress.

For this reason and the continued growth and security of Thailand I can sincerely say "Long Live the King" and may he live many more years to come.

Brian Elkey

Cheonan, South Korea

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Wonderful behaviour from Thai police, general public

 Last Monday I was fortunate enough to be able to watch the spectacular Royal Barge procession and the subsequent motorcade of the 25 visiting monarchs and your own royal family. I want to say thank you on two counts.

First to the police who handled the vast crowds with courtesy and efficiency, even when a farang, myself, found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Second, to the Thai people, who on Rajdamnoen Avenue were at least 10 deep on each side of the road. They all sat down so those who were further back could also see. That would never happen back in the UK.

As a long-term resident of Bangkok, I was extremely proud to be in your country at such an auspicious time.

Guy Ridgeon

Bangkok

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Drive to get Surakiart top UN job raises suspicions

 Re: "Caretaker prime minister's trip to Kazakhstan a waste of time, money and opportunity", Letters, June 19

Nisanart Pumpanwong states that "I fail to see why caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra continues to use up the country's store of international goodwill to lobby for a United Nations job for Surakiart Sathirathai."

It is a very good question indeed. Didn't Thaksin resign? I don't understand how he was able to return in the first place. But why would he return, and then get busy promoting Surakiart? Interesting indeed.

Could there be a potentially lucrative "agenda" that involves gaining some UN power - the kind of power with no accountability that can be exploited to the fullest, like the Iraq oil-for-food scandal?

Can anyone imagine what could happen if they somehow beat all the odds and got the UN position, with Thaksin in the background pulling the strings of his puppet Surakiart? I'm sure Thaksin has a good idea.

Uncle Claw

Ayutthaya

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Political truce is not tenable given extent of wrongdoing

 Some well-meaning people have suggested making the temporary political truce permanent. Though nice-sounding words, such a policy would actually hurt the Thai people more than help them.

Let's use a football game as a microcosm. Each team is vying to dominate. Team TRT cheats, lies, and bribes the officials to gain advantage. Yellow cards are issued. Team OPP (other political parties) is not squeaky clean, but not nearly as corrupt as Team TRT. Halfway through the second half, Team TRT realises many of its players are about to be expelled for too many infractions - so it appeals to the referee, saying, "Wouldn't it be nice if we let bygones be bygones and excuse all the yellow cards given thus far?"

And even though the TRT team leader has been forced from the game and has said he will resign his position, he simply decides to re-enter the fray and waves aside whatever promises he made earlier.

A political truce is okay when there are advantages to both sides, but declaring a permanent truce at this time would be akin to saying, "TRT's trespasses are okay and we'll wave away all their past corruption, manipulations, and lies and all start anew with a clean slate." Not good enough.

The TRT team knew the rules when it entered the game. They seriously broke the rules often and should have to answer for at least some of their transgressions.

Brahmburgers

Chiang Rai

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Despite accent, Scots have made great contributions

 Re: "Scots face genetic hurdle to good pronunciation", Letters, June 18.

I like Norman Castle's sense of humour, though I hope that he has set out to amuse rather than educate.

If not, I'd like to ask how a small country that gave the world television, the telephone, the steam engine, penicillin, tarmac roads, insulin, antiseptic, Encyclopaedia Britannica, the bicycle, pneumatic tyres, the first cloned mammal, the game of golf, such very English literary figures as Sherlock Holmes, Peter Pan, and Jekyll and Hyde, achieved this with a genetic malformation of the larynx, unprocessed food and harsh liquors?

Those carriers of rough unintelligible sounds impossible for outsiders to understand, as he puts it, have travelled the world, made themselves understood and contributed more than their fair share to human advancement.

Come to think of it, isn't it just possible that the English have a larynx impediment when it comes to pronouncing the Scottish word for lake, "loch"? They always manage to make it sound like "lock", but we won't hold that against them.

Chiang Mai Mike

Chiang Mai

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Farewell from foreigner fed up with rampant corruption

 After residing in Thailand for almost seven years, I have decided it is time to leave.

Having worked in both an international and a local company here, I have become sickened by the amount of corruption and greed exhibited at both of my jobs, not only by Thai staff but also long-term expats who have succumbed to the local culture of "tea" money for every business transaction. Whether it involved customers, Customs, our own staff or anyone involved in the business, the only concern was how to put more baht in their own pockets. True honour and integrity are rare indeed here. I guess when you have a prime minister that exemplifies this greed, it is hard not to follow the example.

Police shakedowns, abuse of government positions and abuse of suppliers are so rampant that there is hardly a day that goes by that the average, good-willed expat (and there are many) working here does not have to dip into his pocket to pay someone. I believe the approximately Bt15 million I have paid in taxes and into the local economy over this time are enough and the time has come to end this farce, at least for me. I know of more and more expats making this same decision.

I love certain things about Thailand, almost all of them concerning the people and beauty of the country outside Bangkok. At one time, I felt the good outweighed the bad, but no longer. The past six months have shown exactly what a joke the Thai government is, not only to many people here, but the world in general. I am tired of the filth, the noise pollution, the traffic gridlock and all the aspects of life here that have been given lip service, but never fixed.

So I am putting my actions where my words are and taking leave of this country, even while wishing the best for the poor and average Thai, who is continually stomped beneath the greed of those above them.

Leaving On A Jet Plane

Bangkok

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Beer boycott over lack of  English Cup commentary

 How can DhosPaak (the holder of the rights to broadcast the World Cup in Thailand) be permitted to broadcast the pictures only, without the live English commentary? One has a choice of watching foreign movies with either the original soundtrack or in a Thai-language version. Why can we not have the same choice with the football commentary?

What makes Dhospaak's actions so disgraceful is it does have the rights to the English commentary but refuses to broadcast it via the free Thai television stations that are showing the matches.

I suggest that for the next sporting event up for broadcast in Thailand, the rights be given to a more professional broadcaster. I also suggest that everyone join the many people who have already started a boycott of all products of Thai Beverage Plc (an affiliate of DhosPaak), including Beer Chang. I, for one, will not be drinking their beer again, unless I can enjoy it while watching the World Cup games, including English commentary, in the comfort of my own home.

A Disappointed Football Fan

Bangkok