Still surrounded |by circus clowns

Is there no limit to how far they will go to further their own interests instead of looking after the welfare of our country? As a patriotic Thai, I sometimes feel the need to put an end to some of these entities and start from scratch. There are limits to our patience.

We have a high-profile Thai, wanted on criminal charges, running around on a diplomatic passport; we just had a former brothel owner standing for Bangkok governor, claiming he would put women's interests as a priority. We have a new PM who is afraid of his own shadow. We have a public health minister who puts relationships before the welfare of the public. And we go on and on without an end in sight.

Thais keep suffering because these circus clowns have no compassion and have only their self-interest at heart. By potential, we should be the No 1 nation in Southeast Asia.

STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT

BANGKOK

Rice pledging scheme |is open to abuse

Re: "Dubious schemes that cost the country heavily", Opinion, October 6.

MR Pridiyathorn Devakula should be praised for exposing the absurdity of the corruption-ridden rice pledging policies. As a former finance minister who has been in the know, his words should be heeded.

The rice-pledging policy made profits for the middle-men and corrupt officials, not the farmers. The best any government can do is to provide storage facilities; information concerning the markets; and technology and export assistance to farmers.

The Somchai government and its predecessor have gone out of their way to spend billions on this foolhardy policy. How can we trust them?

CHAVALIT VAN

CHIANG MAI

No reconciliation |without extradition

It seems defunct at this point for the current government to continue with the facade of amending the Constitution for reconciliation while its intentions seem to be otherwise. The government must delete this item from its agenda, unless it intentionally wants to provoke a civil war, which, from appearances, may just be the intention of the man in London.

Transparency, truth, justice and law enforcement are musts, and in order to end all the division, all the country really needs is for Thaksin to be immediately returned by Britain to Thailand, to stand trial, and to let the due process of law happen. Britain must expel such fugitives, and not embrace them. Who shall be accountable if Thaksin and his wife continue to be shielded from the consequences of their own actions?

FAITH IN THAIS

BANGKOK

Minister lacks any notion |of public service

Re: "Silly Remarks Get Chalerm Low Marks", Opinion October 4.

Chalerm Yoobamrung's remarks advising the media not to make such a big deal about tainted milk from China because it might hurt China's feelings, are appalling and only serve to reinforce his reputation as a completely incompetent bureaucrat. It is extraordinary that a man who puts his own publicity far above everything else can be appointed as our public health minister. Not only does he lack the value of "service", he openly flaunts his inability to do his job with his ill-advised comments and poor decision-making.

He lacks the common sense, skills and decency to be in public office. Yet by intimidating others, nurturing relationships with cronies, and avoiding making the right decisions on tough issues, he has sidestepped the notion of performance and meritocracy.

Until selfish politicians like Chalerm are removed from office, our government will operate like a broken-down engine, unable to get us where we need to go.

OUTRAGED TAXPAYER

BANGKOK