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Baaksida

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Posts posted by Baaksida

    New Thailand Tourism Campaign Announced

    in Thailand News

    Posted

    It's a little off topic, but where can I get the latest faked tourist arrival statistics for LOS?

    The TAT took the monthly tourist arrival statistics off their webpage sometime last year and only provides one with wishful thinking tourist arrival projections for the entire year.

    Are there really 12 million tourists this year?? :o

    Parliament Passes Teacher Salary Bill

    in Teaching in Thailand Forum

    Posted

    I doubt very much that Thai teachers have much sympathy for their farang counterparts who make upwards of 100% more than they do.

    Yes, you're right. I've heard lots of resentment...

    But, there are lots of basic differences between Karachakan teachers and farangs...

    Not to forget, they certainly don't need to spend lots of money and time on

    work permits, visas and visa runs. :o

    What Is Your Favourite Thai Insult?

    in General Topics

    Posted

    Living since more than two years in Thailand, I have come along most of them. Those insults are, in my experience, less frequent in Bangkok as they are 'upcountry' (esp. in the South), and less frequent in places which rely on tourism of Westerners.

    Also, it seems to have gotten worse over the years. I can remember that I hardly heard an insult seven years ago when I was for the first time in Thailand.

    Thai Army Denies Protest Claims

    in Thailand News

    Posted

    Thai army denies protest claims

    The Thai army has denied claims that up to 40 people are still unaccounted for following a protest in southern Thailand which led to 85 deaths.

    The Bangkok Post said relatives of the people alleged to be missing had formally petitioned the authorities.

    But General Sirichai Thanyasiri, head of the military in southern Thailand, said it was impossible that more people were still unaccounted for.

    The dispute came as apparent revenge attacks for the deaths continued.

    Police said a second Buddhist man had been found beheaded, in Narathiwat province, with notes beside him indicating he was killed in revenge for the deaths two weeks ago.

    The latest violence started following a protest in the town of Takbai, Narathiwat province, on 25 October. The army said 85 people died in the aftermath, 78 of them after they were overcrowded into army trucks following their arrest.

    General Sirichai denied rumours that the death toll could be higher.

    But the rumours have stoked memories of a 1992 incident known as Black May, when pro-democracy students in Bangkok disappeared after an army crackdown.

    'Revenge attacks'

    In the wake of the Takbai protests, 22 bodies remain unidentified.

    Army spokesman Colonel Somkuan Saengpattranet told the BBC that DNA samples had been taken from these bodies, and they did not correspond to the 40 people now being reported missing.

    He confirmed that an investigation has been launched and that it would be carried out by the police and local authorities.

    Authorities say reprisal attacks for the Takbai deaths by suspected Muslim militants have killed at least 20 state officials and Buddhist civilians.

    Police on Tuesday said the beheaded corpse of a 60-year-old rubber tapper was found accompanied by several notes, one of which read: "This is trivial compared to the killings of the innocents at Takbai."

    The beheading is the second such killing in a week. The remains of a Buddhist village leader were found in Narathiwat province on 2 November.

    Earlier on Tuesday a Buddhist couple was killed by a gunman riding on a motorbike in nearby Yala province.

    Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has admitted that mistakes were made when the security forces broke up the demonstration, but has so far refused to apologise.

    Thailand's Muslim population has long complained of discrimination by the authorities in Bangkok.

    But the security situation has been deteriorating since the start of this year, with almost daily attacks which the authorities have blamed on Muslim separatists.

    Anwar Chides Thailand Over Deaths

    in Thailand News

    Posted

    Anwar chides Thailand over deaths

    By Bethan Jinkinson

    BBC News

    Thailand said Anwar's views were not consistent with reality

    Former Malaysian deputy PM Anwar Ibrahim has hit out at the handling of Muslim unrest in southern Thailand.

    Mr Anwar accused Thai security forces of irresponsibility after at least 85 protesters died in a violent demonstration last month.

    Many suffocated after being forced into army trucks as security forces tried to disperse the protest in Tak Bai in Narathiwat province.

    Mr Anwar warned of major consequences if Bangkok fails to address the issue.

    Fermenting terrorism

    "The security forces have been extremely irresponsible and they must be held responsible for their crimes," Mr Anwar told the BBC.

    "If we delay there will be further frustration for the people who already feel dispossessed, marginalised and very difficult to contain."

    "The situation is extremely volatile. People are very angry and this is not just in a few villages but the entire community across the south who are getting very agitated ... this is totally legitimate and understandable."

    Mr Anwar also warned the unrest could contribute to the growth of terrorism in the region if Bangkok did not seek a "just solution".

    Thailand responded by saying Mr Anwar's views were not consistent with reality.

    Government spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow said Thailand did not discriminate against Muslims and that the incident at Tak Bai was not about ethnicity.

    Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has launched an independent inquiry into the deaths.

    But public outrage amongst Thai Muslims has not been helped by allegations that up to 40 more protestors are still missing.

    'Revenge' killings

    Security is tight across the region

    These allegations gained further weight when Thai Senator Nirun Pitakwatchara on Wednesday said he thought the death toll from the demonstration could be much higher than admitted by the army.

    Senior Thai military officials have dismissed the reports, saying they have accounted for everyone who died at the protest.

    But Thai newspapers are comparing what happened at Tak Bai to the "Black May" incident, when dozens of pro-democracy activists went missing following a security crackdown in 1992.

    While politicians in both Malaysia and Thailand debate what happened at Tak Bai, reprisals are continuing.

    Almost every day in the predominantly Muslim south, people are being murdered in what are thought to be revenge killings.

    What Is The Best Place To Get A Non "b"...

    in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments

    Posted

    Going back to Europe for a limited time, which Thai embassy/consulate is the best place to apply in person for a multiple Non "B" visa (least redtape and shortest procedure time, meaning max. 48 hours)??

    Preferably in one of the following areas: Amsterdam (or nearby), Germany, England's South (London a good place??)... (nationality: German)

    Oh yes, and where do I just need to show my work permit and/or letter of recommendation for applying for the aforementioned visa?

    Oops..., this post should have been in the "Thaivisa... " section... :o

    What Is The Best Place To Get A Non "b"...

    in Jobs, Economy, Banking, Business, Investments

    Posted

    Going back to Europe for a limited time, which Thai embassy/consulate is the best place to apply in person for a multiple Non "B" visa (least redtape and shortest procedure time, meaning max. 48 hours)??

    Preferably in one of the following areas: Amsterdam (or nearby), Germany, England's South (London a good place??)... (nationality: German)

    Oh yes, and where do I just need to show my work permit and/or letter of recommendation for applying for the aforementioned visa?

    New Work Permit Regulations

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

    What...... Do you think that the average wage earning Thai would ever save 3 mil in their entire lifetime? The store supervisor I employ earns 8,000 a month because she is related to my girlfriend. That means she will have 2,724,000 in 30 years, and that is asumming she does not eat, does not pay for rent and never ever falls in love with anybody that runs away with all her money! :o

    Let's do the math; conservative estimate of 'farangs' in LOS...

    300,000 'farangs' multiplied with yearly spending per foreigner of 350,000 baht (very conservative; equivalent to spending of 6 or 7 Thai families) = 105,000,000,000 (105 billion Thai Baht).

    That equals the holiday spending of 3,397,069 (additional) tourists!

    (The average tourist spent 30,909 baht in LOS in 2003: 3,774 baht/day expenditure x 8.19 days stay in LOS; see TAT webpage 'Tourism Statistic'.)

    Again, this is only private consumption, not business investment, taxes, etc.

    The TAT could save lots of money for the many roadshows in China and Europe, if the government would actually support investment by and life of expats in Thailand.

    We 'falang' do contribute to this country's economy, and are the most neclected "minority"... :D

    Run To Macau

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

    If anyone has made this run, please post on how things went. Also, how long it took for the visa to be issued (in NYC it was an overnight process).

    No, there isn't.

    The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Hong Kong is responsible for all consular services for Macao as well.

    But why not let us know about your experience in Hong Kong... :o

    New Work Permit Regulations

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

    Hello people SunBelt is making money off making you all worry, this is how they do things I sent an earlier e-mail an hour ago and I see they didn't put it on.

    This is quite strange. How in the World can we profit from this? The rules are changed and as Forum Sponsor were not suppose to let people know? Chants of " Kill the messenger!"

    Thanks Sunbelt Asia, as always, for the valuable information and professional advice!

    It is my guess, that professional and quality advice will get even more important for expats in Thailand in the future (look out for more tightenings if Toxin remains PM after the next general election...) So no, please don't kill the messenger!

    Tax ?

    in Teaching in Thailand Forum

    Posted

    By most reports, the medical cert seems to cost 30 baht at most clinics...

    At one private hospital I paid the first time 50 baht and only five months later 100 baht (while my Thai girlfiend paid 50 baht for the same certificate). :o

    They didn't have any business with me since then... :D

    Tax ?

    in Teaching in Thailand Forum

    Posted

    Since a foreigner has the same legal rights as a Thai under the Labour Law (great laws, btw), it would make sense to me that all the other rights of SS for workers would be available, too, but I really don't know for sure.

    Thanks for the good info!

    Just don't tell my girlfriend that we'll stay for a longer time in Thailand, rather than going to the lands of milk, honey and (white, cool) snow... :D

    But, as a teacher, I did use the medical side of SS, which I thought to be quite good.

    BTW, can one get a medical certificate (for visa extension purposes) on the 30 baht scheme, when showing ones work permit at the hospital?? :o

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