Student view of democracy is warped

The students demonstrating against the military government should consider what they understand democracy to be. It is certainly not one-party rule by a revered leader who brooks no opposition.

Eric Bahrt says there has been no valid justification for the coup, when in fact there was the distinct possibility of serious civil conflict with Bangkok people being killed on the streets on a daily basis. Perhaps from the comfort of his home in Chiang Mai – heartland of the dear leader – everything looked rosy, the best of all possible worlds, but let me assure him that, from a Bangkok perspective, that was not the case.

I suggest Thai students require a much deeper understanding of the meaning of democracy, which has nothing to do with three-finger salutes taken from a Hollywood movie. And they certainly need to study their history.

Yesterday in Pattaya I came across a young Thai woman wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the Nazi swastika. I asked her about its significance and she replied that she thought it was beautiful. No further comment is needed.

Edward B Duhigg