LETTER TO EDITOR Issue 8

I am a Thai born citizen living in Bangkok, Thailand. I have traveled the world and lived many places in my life. In fact, 3 continents over 20 years of my childhood. Currently, I am a business consultant for many organizations in Thailand and I have been teaching MBA at a local university for the past 6 years. No country is as peaceful, loving and caring as my country.

Today’s(13 April 09) events occurred because of the corrupted ex-prime minister (Thaksin Shinawatra) - today, a convict of 2 years imprisonment for his own corruption who could not accept the fact that he would go to jail for this bad deeds and fed the country to international hideaway. He tried to raise the poor’s mind (via psychology & money) to protest for his own personal agenda to be given pardon for his crimes. It is very upsetting and he cares truly about NO ONE IN THAILAND except for himself.

Our current Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva and his cabinet (the few good men left) is trying so hard not to use force via patience and very KIND MEASURES for ‘RED SHIRT’ people who just ‘burn and destroy everything that is public and privately owned by others’. What the REDS (People of Thaksin) did during the past week is not acceptable by any society. What our current prime minister did on 13 April 09 was just using the Army (traditionally Thai way of controlling) to fend them off by shields and shooting to the sky. (After just blocking and providing to their demands were not enough). NO ONE DIED DUE TO THIS AT ALL (on 13 April 09). AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE PRESS WERE THERE TO WITNESS. This is ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DO. He did a great job and hope all of the world’s community understands.

We have a special way of managing the country in Thailand. Where we have democracy which (almost) everyone loves the King and he also provides everything he can to develop the country. Now he is very old and has no more strength. And this evil man (Thaksin) who wants everything to be his and his families just will not let go and want to come back and rape the country over and over again. His propaganda is lame and shameful and we hope he will be brought to justice soon.

I beg that the international press would stop interviewing prisoner Thaksin Shinawatra and help the Thai people in a way to give out the right news and information to the whole world.

We hope everything will be back in order soon and hope you would come and visit ‘The Land of Smiles’ to see how nice and loving our country is again soon.(I am sure many understand this already, but please pass my thoughts along if you can)

Thank you,

Tony Boontanorm