pookiki

All government's have a standard of 'plausible deniability'. In this case, however, all the Thai banks under scrutiny stated that they do not have the capacity to monitor and/or verify these allegations. So, if the banks don't know or, if they do know and are just admitting they are incompetent and unwilling to admit their incompetence, then there is no way to engage in 'plausible deniability', just inherent incompetence and stupidity.

Land bridge, hubs of countless varieties, a flood of tourists that will eventually ruin the Kingdom's reputation and now gambling? Does he think this will resolve the debt problem with Thai households or restrain Thais from borrowing from 'illegal' moneylenders? There's no focus or solid planning going on in government house just the soup d'jour to rescue the economy.

As many posters have already noted, Thailand has opened the flood gates to tourism in a effort to prop up the economy. For those who of us who do retire here, there is a rigorous process in applying for such a visa that requires a background check in the applicant's home country. But the real issue is that everything is for sale in Thailand. Corruption is rampant and a visa, work permit, etc, is available for all at the 'right' price. And it is downright discouraging for those of us who followed the rules, no matter how nonsensical or completely worthless - like mandatory health insurance for retirees, learn the language, care about the culture and are good human beings. Our reward is the excruciating trip to Chaeng Wattana every year to be scrutinized in a way that no other person who enters Thailand is and we will never be eligible for residency. And what about double pricing? How many countries outside of Thailand practice such an overt form of racism?

I'm amazed in talking to countless Thais about their ancestry and the reply is nearly uniform in saying: "I'm pure Thai." It is a badge of honor of 'ethnic purity'. Unfortunately, it is also a badge of complete ignorance. Anyone who knows anything about DNA knows that no human being is 'pure' anything. However, in Thailand, the most insulting thing you can do is to imply that any Thai has Burmese, Lao, or Cambodian ancestry. It is a complete rejection of history and reality in the name of ethnic purity.

I believe that the court's decision can be read several different ways. There could be many situations, outside a proposed change to a law, could be decided as unconstitutional. Given the fact that Thailand has had more constitutions than nearly every existing 'democracy' is somewhat humorous in and of itself. In any other situation, a proposed amendment or even an enacted amendment ruled unconstitutional would render the proposal or the newly enacted law null and void. However, in the current situation, there was no overt attempt to void Article 112. There was just an attempt to amend it to make it more humane it its application. How this becomes an act to 'attempt' to overthrow the monarchy remains a mystery to me. However, the court, in its wisdom and findings, should not have left the issue of dissolution to be decided at a later date. If the only finding is to 'cease and desist', then it should be left at that.

What I don't understand is why anyone would want to have their Social Security check direct deposited to any bank in Thailand when the exchange rates are so crappy. It makes much more sense to have the money deposited to your bank account in the US and transfer funds as necessary. Bank laws in Thailand are beyond the pall and not consumer oriented - especially for expatriates.

First problem that those of us who applied for an extension of stay based on retirement was that some embassies refused to provide income affidavits because they informed the Thai government that they were not in a position to verify the information. For those of us affected by this change, we then had to show proof of an international transfer in the amount of 65,000 baht/month which complicated the process. Now, it would appear that every person using the monthly income method would have to show that the source of funds is retirement income taxed in the home country and covered by 'bi-lateral' treaties. For those of us from the USA, we could have our social security directly deposited into a Bangkok Bank account at less than desirable exchange rates but what if we need more than social security to show an income of 65,000 baht/month? This could be the case with fluctuating exchange rates. So, push everyone into the mandatory deposit of 800,000 baht instead - which is a fool's choice if you need money or think about what would happen to the money in the event of one's death. To me, it is apparent that Thailand does not want retired expats anymore. It is a process that is too cumbersome and subject to arbitrary changes as this!

I realize this 'thread' has pretty much run it's course but I would like to note one big issue in this discussion. In replying to my first post, an individual made reference to 'your secret war' as though I was personally responsible for US foreign policy and the reference was specifically to the Vietnam war. I was 18 when I received my draft notice in February of 1967. Not old enough to vote but considered old enough to 'fight and die' for my country. Vietnam was a hugely unpopular war in the USA. Lest we forget the students at Kent State University who died when protesting the 'war' in Vietnam and the continued demonstrations against the war. To hold individual citizens accountable for the actions of their government is a form a blind prejudice - but it happened to me when this whole fabricated idea that the CIA was meddling in Thai elections. Are all the Russian tourists in Phuket responsible for the invasion of Ukraine? No, most are afraid of their own government. As a 'kid' who was thrust into being into the Army during a time of great confusion in the USA about Vietnam, I have always had a big problem 'reconciling' what happened to the Vietnamese people during that time and I'm sure there are thousands of other veterans who feel the same as I do. As 'Memorial Day' approaches in the USA, I'm sure many other Veterans who saw service during the Vietnam war will feel very conflicted as I do and wonder 'Why was I there?' 'What did we accomplish?' 'Did my government lie to me?' Had I not had the experience of military service during Vietnam, I think my world view would be much different than it is now. It's easy to point a finger because I hold a US Passport but my passport does not tell my life story or my ideological views about global politics today or how it evolved. The history of colonialism is abhorrent in itself. Should we forever blame the English, the French, the Spanish, the Dutch, the Portuguese, etc. for the ravages of slavery and domination/extinction of whole societies and cultures? The fact of the matter is that humanity is on a precipice of its very own existence right now. Events in Ukraine, the quest for continued global dominance by the USA and its allies in an effort to 'contain' China. We are a hair breadth away from a nuclear holocaust. We are on the precipice of the destruction of humanity through climate change. It is impossible to think of the future of humanity on the basis that 'national' governments will be accountable to these problems. It is clearly not the solution. So what is? Each and every person on this planet has to answer that question for themselves. For some, based on the nature of their own government, they may have more freedom than others. But a global 'consciousness' is what is needed by each and every citizen to make his/her governments accountable. If not, game over.

Yes, and all these events were after the fact in terms of the French colonialism of Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. Thailand was a willing participant in the US' 'domino theory' and clearly enabled the actions to which you note. B-52's in Satthahip, the SR-71 in Udorn, helping Air America in Laos. US Air Force at Takhli, etc., etc., The government of Thailand was probably more fearful of communism during this time than in the US. No doubt that events in Vietnam were tragic but Thailand was complicit and a willing co-conspirator. Plenty of blame to go around.

A good Thai friend of mine, a pharmacist on whom I had relied on good advice for a healthy life and for whom we had done favors for each other for seventeen years - and never, ever discussing politics, began attacking me on LINE for no other reason than I was a US citizen. I finally had to block him avoid his senseless attacks and diatribes. It is not as though the US is without sin in enforcing its will in certain political events around the world - but these guys have lost the script. US intervention comes after the fact, not before. If you know US history in the Middle East, Central and South America, you would know this to be true. So to the the Thai people, and my 'former' friend, who are absorbed in this political fiction, know your history before making such brazen assertions. Know your own people who are tired of the continuous yoke of military dictatorships, countless coups, Constitutions that are the whim of the power elite, and know these are the events that predicated the results in this election. Whether my friend would blame me for interfering in Thai politics, I will say that I am elated with the results of this election and hope that the Thai people will finally be able to embrace democracy with all its attendant processes that allow the people to have a voice in their own future.

Let's face it, no matter what party you like or dislike, the rules of the Election Commission are bizarre and will be used in a discriminatory manner. All parties can have a 'platform' on issues it believe to be important and will try to implement. The EC seems to get their knickers in a knot over what is perceived to be 'vote buying' but every party makes promises, i.e. minimum wage increases, lower energy prices, etc. The crux of the matter with the EC appears to be 'where will the money come from'. All the Pheu Thai has to do is to elaborate on how it will formulate budget priorities to include the 'digital wallet'. But let's get down to the nitty gritty: where is 'free speech' in election campaigns? No one is being defamed. Any party can formulate policy initiatives. Is 'cannabis' a vote buying ploy? As for the electricity subsidy, the issue goes to the ability of the interim government to spend money from existing budget allocations and whether it should be permissible. Liking or disliking Thaksin is a red herring that just won't disappear from Thai politics. What about this issue of democracy as opposed to another junta being in place soon!

"Ubon" Joe helped me on countless occasions and was always prompt to reply to any problem or inquiry regarding Thai immigration. Finally good to see a picture to put with someone I regarded as a true friend. I'm back in the USA, now but I will miss him. Sorry to see this news.

In my opinion, it would be much more prudent for you to maintain a bank account in the US and have your social security check deposited in that account and transfer money to your BBL account via WISE (WIZE). The exchange rates at BBL are usually much less than WISE. Additionally, maintaining a bank account in the US makes a lot of sense in maintaining residency, paying bills, etc. As an expat from the US who lived in Thailand for 17 years but returned to the US last year because I 'lost' my residency address, among other things, I can tell you that it is increasingly difficult to do banking business or government business while living overseas. For example, you cannot access the Social Security website without a VPN. Most banks require 'multi-factor' process to log-in, etc. All of these things are in place to allegedly reduce 'money laundering' issues but the reality is living overseas is becoming an arduous task. Good luck.

The whole problem with 'legalizing' marijuana in Thailand is that it was done without any sufficient regulatory oversight. If one looks at situation in the USA where marijuana is legal in some states but tightly regulated, the distinction is stark. Having said that, there is no regulatory environment in Thailand that is beyond being corrupted or laxly enforced. As long as marijuana is 'legal', it will be widely available, smoked in public, and kids will have easy access.

The underlying problem is that the junta knows that the vast majority of migrant workers are financially supporting the National Unity Government (NUG) and the People's Defense Force (PDF). The junta reasons that it can impact the financial aid to the NUG and PDF by curtailing the issuance of passports. This will only result in more undocumented migrants who will be extorted in Thailand instead of being helped. I would also expect that all Myanmar migrants in Thailand will soon be required to repatriate a 'minimum' amount of their earnings to Myanmar via a 'government' bank to keep their work permit.