naive of talk of democracy in Thailand ignores reality of corrupt practices

Here is a rather naive letter to The Nation, probably written by a newly arrived foreign English teacher judging from the signature and overall tone. Only foreigners sign their letters to The Nation "taxpayer"; and only a recently arrived one would write such a high-handed lecture about "democracy" while simulataneously displaying such pitiful ignorance of the local situation.

Allow due process to run its course if PM has done wrong

Re: "Poll boycott corners PM", News, February 28.

Why is the opposition party boycotting the April 2 elections? Are they afraid they will lose? And if they do, what does that say about who should be prime minister?

I am appalled at the double standards set by opponents of Thaksin. If they want to remove him, due process calls for another fair, general election. How fair is throwing him out on his butt? If he gets caught doing something illegal, then charge the man and put him on trial. If he tries to bribe people, catch him. But to force him out without tangible evidence is undemocratic, isn't it?

Moreover, we paint a scenario where the opposition are the good guys, and Thaksin is the evil Darth Vader. Yet how many good guys have tried to avoid paying taxes?

I'll bet anyone who has the opportunity to avoid paying taxes by trading equities on the stock market would do so in a heartbeat. Accountants make a living conjuring up clever ways for decent citizens to avoid paying taxes, so why can't Thaksin?

Yes, he is prime minister, and yes, he should set an example. It is reprehensible that he moons the very government that he is running.

But give the guy due process and let him pay the penalty. If our form of justice is rising up against the system, than the system is wrong. How right is it simply to throw a man out because he is playing by the system's rules?

I don't like Thaksin's arrogant style, nor the way he uses his power to further his own welfare, but let's get it done the right way. Impending violence is stooping to his Neanderthal level. As the opposition, let's press the issues by bringing him to justice and try him accordingly, not throw rocks at him because we don't like what he is doing.

Outraged Taxpayer

Bangkok

1) Vote buying is too pervasive for a free and fair election to take place in Thailand at this time.

2) Thaksin *has* been brought up on vote fraud and asset concealment charges in both of the last elections. The problem is, nothing ever happens. The courts and commissions entrusted with prosecuting him are filled with friends and cronies who find the most convoluted reasons to acquit in every instance. During the asset concealment scandal 5 years ago that almost led to Thaksin's ouster, one of the judges voted for acquital on the ground that since the people had voted for Thaksin, Thaksin should be acquited. Judges serve to rule within the narrow confines of the law, not to impose on society their own arbitrary and abstract notion of fairness, especially when doing so directly conflicts with the Constitution. With such childlike reasoning and obvious bias in every single case involving the ruling party over the past 5 years, these watchdogs have completely destroyed any credibility they might have had.