What is the PAD aiming to achieve?

They take over Government House, which no other government would have allowed, totally disregard other people's rights to protest, get their people armed, all the while preaching non-violence, and demanding the right to unilaterally paralyse government until it resigns - regardless of the will of the majority.

Maj-General Chamlong Srimuang says that the government wants to transform the political rifts into a full-blown war. That may be so, or maybe the PAD and UDD wish to keep the pot boiling until we do go into civil war.

PM Somchai Wongsawat should exercise what leadership skills he has to seek to calm the situation.

He claims it's beyond his power to stop Thaksin Shinawatra's phone-in from being broadcast.

As a former judge, has he forgotten that he can, and should, seek a legal injunction, citing the tinderbox situation so the call-in can be taped and reviewed before being broadcast, to prevent his brother-in-law from inciting violence.

Unless he exhausts all legal possibilities to calm the situation, any blood from the call-in or clashes between the PAD and UDD will be on his hands, just as the October 7 fiasco was.

BURIN KANTABUTRA

BANGKOK

Disgusting acronyms in the name of democracy

I think the acronym PAD sounds kind of repulsive. PAD suggests something that is a thin and cushion-like material used to absorb odour and perspiration (ie shoe pad) or something used to soak up fluid (ie sanitary napkin). That is unpleasant.

Since Sonthi and Co have been clamouring for new kind of democracy, I suggest they change their name to People's Alliance for Ideal Democracy or PAID. And their motto should be "We are PAID".

SOMSAK POLA

SAMUT PRAKAN

Being a puppet is hurting Thailand as a whole

I read your article "no objections to asylum move" with interest as it finally confirms that Thaksin has sought political asylum in the UK.

The fact that this has only now come to light is interesting, and I am unsure as to what to read into it, though British civil servants are renowned for their less than open ways, and it is undoubtedly a hot potato for the British government.

However, what really appalled me was the pathetic vacillation over his diplomatic passport.

The man is a fugitive, his wife a convicted criminal on the run. What in the name of reason does anyone have to think about except perhaps that he will be angry and take it out on his puppets here in Thailand if they dare offend him, which undoubtedly explains the inaction.

If anything shows clearly that this government is nothing more than the creature of the man in London it is the inaction on his red passport.

It does, however, hurt Thailand's international reputation and demonstrates to the world the sheer cronyism and corrupt nature of the present government.

DR JOHN SYMONS

BANGKOK