Preaching 'Post'
Re: "Protest a worrying sign", (Editorial, July 1).
"Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." Americans celebrate this Declaration on the 4th of July.
Peaceful protests are good as long as politics, as well as the parliamentary process, are worthy. Lest we forget, Khun Pita Limjaroenrat was lawfully elected, yet he was excluded by make-believe democracy.
That the Bangkok Post's editorial board tells the public what to do rather than following their own call is a bit disingenuous, don't you think?
Michael Setter
Thaksin exposed
Re: "Thaksin's not concerned by PGH case", (BP, July 5).
Thaksin Shinawatra's best friend, former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen, dropped a bombshell by exposing Thaksin, saying that he observed Thaksin's health as being super healthy... and that he immediately wore a collar support right before having a photo shoot with Hun Sen.
He termed Thaksin's actions as abnormal and strange. And yet, Thaksin still feels "not concerned" about the case.
Thaksin is still "not concerned" even after doctors at the Police General Hospital were suspended.
With all the money he has, I wish Khun Thaksin would leave Thailand and settle down where he has invested it.
Pablo Gonzalez
Bring on an election
Re: "Thai politics back at the brink (again)", (Opinion, July 4).
Kudos to the Post for publishing Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak's excellent piece of analysis on the systemic ethical failure of Thai law.
As his concluding sentence points out, "In truth, Thailand finds itself in a messy situation under a fragile democratic system and an entrenched autocracy, not out of randomness and pure chance." And not for the first time.
The creation of unjust law was no accident. It was the deliberate creation of bad-faith players seeking to suppress justice under democracy, as seen in its consequences when properly interpreted by courts.
When popular politicians are banned from office for the "crime" of calling for open dialogue on laws made by parliament that are matters of national importance, the law that enables that legal act thereby proves itself unethical in its rejection of basic democratic principles.
When prime ministers are removed from office on the grounds of breaching good ethics, whilst those who have actually been found guilty of serious drug trafficking, to say nothing of plotting and actually committing a coup, are deemed to be ethically fine, the law behind that is deemed to be unethical.
Parliament should be dissolved and new elections held so that the Thai people, whose supreme sovereignty the current and former constitutions insist on, may elect the people and parties they want to govern their nation.
Felix Qui
