newermonkey

No, you all have it wrong...this story has got all out of control...the 40 armed men were just providing parking security....you don't have to worry about your spare tire being stolen with them around...talk nice to them and they will even validate your parking snub.

Are you sure about that? so why is ThaiVisa re-reporting stories like this, "just to get us all excited"?

And they are all to be warmly greeted (and threatened) by the Armed men in black newly installed at the airport.

Are these "armed men in black" the same "hire a gang" people who were hired by the Reds?

Yes - I still have clear mind - unconfused by old age - and don't have to crow about mediocre achievements I made a quarter of a century ago.

They say that as you get older, your cognitive powers reduce and you regress into the past..........QED

Actually it was no mediocre achievement.

All I am trying to say is just when people get old this does not mean they have been reduced to being old farts who have not achieved anything in there lives and have now "descended into a load of old men's tittle-tattle about accidents they have seen"

I am saying that there is a lot to be said about wise old men still having a lot to contribute because of a life of experience and acheivement.

Pity none of that is applicable to you.

Please clarify... what is not applicable to me?

I can't seem to use the quote function for the original post, so here is a copy & paste:

Jatuporn also admitted that he knew Maem, though they had lost touch after the crackdown.

Maem, he said, was responsible for cooking meals during the rally, adding that she was also in charge of those injured in the April 10 bloodshed.

He said that though donations had been solicited, he and the other rally organisers were not in charge of keeping records. He also claimed that the movement did not have a lot of money, which is why the main opposition party had to step in and assist victims and their relatives in the face of the crackdown.

I visited the Red Camp at Ratchaprasong a couple to times and was struck by how obviously well organized and well funded they were. There were several sets of huge Amps, lights, etc.., there were several support trucks, including (in the latter stages), large mobile generators and water supplies. There was free food and water being passed out every day. There was a fairly extensive row of tents to keep all of this equipment out of the sun and rain. The Black Guards all had walk-talkies (any other weapons they had were hidden during the day and whenever any tall foreigners were around).

It was obvious that, even if none of the protesters were being paid directly (and I know people who were working at a nearby store who were offered 500b/day to join the protest) the protest cost (at least) millions.

Maybe all of the money came from grass-roots donations and not from Thaksin and his cronies, but wherever the money came from, the Redshirts seem to be much more efficient at funding disruption than they are at funding aid!

Tqo points:

- There is no doubt whatever that the protestors were paid, that's been proven again and again and there are several video pieces of the protestors lined and having their ID card numbers checked then being given the cash. In my soi in BAngkok the food vendors bragged continuously, almost every day for numerous weeks that they were atending the rallies for the daily hand out. Coming up to songktan then mentioned that they were not msiing a day to ensudre they had plenty of cash to go home to the provinces.

- Millions? It had to be at least one billion, to pay for: daily hand out to protestors, sometimes in the 10s of thousand and over three months or more, the food provided on site, the cost of renting the stages, sound equipment, and lots more. Do you really bekieve this came from the grass roots people?

I am really happy to hear these people paid out Billions and ended up with nothing, its exactly what they deserve.

What did they expect from a bunch of communist crooks?

My god his home must stink of fish

Don't think much of YOUR choice of lady friend.

Dont have, dont want and dont need one, luckily.

My god his home must stink of fish

My wife told me that if you hit a motorbike that you are "always" at fault and if a bus/truck hits a car the former are always at fault--regarding of who was at actual fault--the concept being that the bigger one has to look out for the littlier one--maybe that's why the truck driver ran away regardless of the actual facts--that's what she told me, whether that is true in all cases I dont know, but I wouldnt doubt it.

That may be true in fault finding but the prevailing mentality is biggest vehicle wins.

I have been told of this "fault" ruling too. When I drive in Thailand wirth my girlfriend, she gets very nevous whenever a motorbike is nearby, because if I hit it, it will ALWAYS be my "fault" whatever the bike rider does.

Then again the contradiction appears to be that, in Thailand, whatever the rules say, in practice it's "Might of Way" not "Right of Way" and worry about the consequences later. TIT

Regarding something not directly poniant to this case is, in my own experience the Farangs are always to blame because the Thais always presume (wrongly) that the foreigners will pay out more money when accused.

Yes - I still have clear mind - unconfused by old age - and don't have to crow about mediocre achievements I made a quarter of a century ago.

They say that as you get older, your cognitive powers reduce and you regress into the past..........QED

Actually it was no mediocre achievement.

All I am trying to say is just when people get old this does not mean they have been reduced to being old farts who have not achieved anything in there lives and have now "descended into a load of old men's tittle-tattle about accidents they have seen"

I am saying that there is a lot to be said about wise old men still having a lot to contribute because of a life of experience and acheivement.

What if the mother IS the conman...

She used her sons' name knowing the bank would never actually try to collect from a 3-year old.

She heard about other similar cases and figured out she could pull a fast one herself.

Probably not her but I'd bet it's someone close to the family, maybe the con-men bough her son's birth certificate and such from her.

Then again could be just a corrupt city hall official or disgruntled bank clerk who took part in the con.

In the clip the bank employee had made a mistake, why all the rumor mongering?

Inevitable when:- 1) Many people start to cross before red turns to green (they are watching the light for the traffic that has a green).

2) Many people will still keep going even after green has turned to red (the "always time for one more" mentality).

Agreed, particularly the very common trend of running red lights. Selfishness prevails. Often, when I slow to stop for a yellow or red light, Thai drivers will slip in front of me in my lane. When the light turns green, I wait a couple seconds, then sound my horn while slowly entering the intersection. I've also become a honky when about to enter left hand sweeps in the road, because more often than not, approaching drivers will be a half or even a full car width over the line - on my side of the road.

Cops are useless in that regard - certainly in northernmost Thailand where I reside. I don't think there's ever been consequences for a 'moving violation' (illegal action on the roads) in the history of Chiang Rai. If anyone wants to constantly run red lights and get away with it, Chiang Rai is the place to be. It's not uncommon to see drivers racing thru intersections - 2 or 3 seconds after their light turns red. Despicable and beyond rudeness.

Chiang Rai is not the only place, this is common practice all over Thailand.

A Thai diver is considered to be "Geng Mak" when getting through the red light without serious ingery, because it proves he knows about perfect timing, amazing judgment and bravery... thinking "I am as good or better than the police who I have copied red light running from, I am a skilled operator".

They think that the red light is just a sort of casual reminder that traffic might be coming from the other direction, its not really a rule as such, getting stopped by the police for running a red is not because its wrong its because the police have picked on him for a money making opportunity.

Sorry for the kids parents.

Problem in Thailand there is no pride in diving skills. Personally I take pride in the skills I have so when I stop at a red light in a timely and anticipated manner other drivers who are still racing through the red light hoot at me for stopping. They obviously think "road hog, idiot, moron" and presume "the farang dose not know how to drive!!!" How wrong are they.

Personally my observations are that the articulated truck drivers appear to be a little bit better than most Thai drivers. but the tour mini-bus drivers are generally totally evil. and seem to revel in "how good at being bad they can be"

Far from being an intelligent discussion about the issues surrounding the safety of public transport, this thread has descended into a load of old men's tittle-tattle about accidents they have seen.

(No-one has admitted to causing one though?)

Oh ok, ok... I am an old man of 59 years (about half way) and I want to own up and confess to an accident I caused... it was when I was driving my GP4 Ford Lotus RS rally car in the UK and at the time I was on the Centurion Rally in the North East, I was winning the ANECC stage rally championship at the time, I overcooked it in the Forrest at 140MPH into a sweeping corner and demolished a dry stone wall. I admit it it was my fault!!!!

I went on to win the championship that same year (1984)

Never had an accident on a public highway though.

How about you are you an old man as well? what have you achieved in your driving history?

My guess is they dint understand the book at all, because this is typical of Thais... never asking anyone and presuming they know-all.

Then they undoubtedly made it in to a ghastly broth stuffed full of chillies any how, so they could not taste the delicate mushroom flavors.

More Thai bashing. Do you generalise about all nationalities. Why would you live here if you have such disdane for the people here? I am not trying to badger you I just dont understand. I hope they get better soon and learn from their mistake.

Well Ive been here for 30 years so I must like the place, but I have learnt a lot about Thai nature so my comments are not to bash the Thais its just fact. Sorry.

Ha... on the face of it, this looks like the city is trying to do good.... but actually its probably come to this because the kick backs dint go high enough up the ladder.

"Am I cynical? yes of course this is a cynical place".

What the hel_l do they expect when no proper training is given!? In the UK for instance where bus accidents are VERY rare bus drivers have to take a lenthy PSV (Pasenger Service Vehicle) course of about 4 weeks and have to take very tough tests. (My guess is that NO Thai on this planet could ever pass the UK PSV test)

The arrogant Thais always get back what they create.

My guess is they dint understand the book at all, because this is typical of Thais... never asking anyone and presuming they know-all.

Then they undoubtedly made it in to a ghastly broth stuffed full of chillies any how, so they could not taste the delicate mushroom flavors.

I think Thai people generally are corrupt to the core, in fact probably all SEA people from China down to Indonesia, I have never seen real honesty since I moved to Thailand 30 years ago, I have had over the years, 5 cameras stolen, money, phones, ornaments from the home, computers, motor cycles and even an entire business! etc, etc. If I wasn't wearing my clothes they would nick them as well, yes I have had shoes stolen from outside a temple!!!!

Please no "if you are complaining so much why don't you go home" comments.....

....Because I like being in Thailand for the following.... Decent Weather, Low Tax, easy to work, sometimes good sex, cheap transport, cheap accommodation and generally friendly people except they are probably eying you up to see what they can steel.

"Thaksin will have no involvement in it because he has suffered enough as a political victim" Oh poor thing ! what about the political victims he has created? ie. the people who have to suffer these red morons.

Sure he is still funding these Moo Dang.

Thaksin has vast amounts of "undeclared" billions still.

"officers confiscated ----- 10 pornographic DVD’s, 5 packets of Viagra and 10 condoms"

Why... cant they buy their own?

With the money those cr--ks make they could buy the DVD, Viagra & Condom factories!!!!!

I have lived in Asia for over twenty five years. I have seen in this time some first time tourists get into similar trouble as the age of a lot of Asian ladies is hard to guess with no experience. However if you have lived here for as long as this gentleman (hic) there is no excuse...........

If he had any doubt about the girl's age, all he had to do was to ask to see her ID. I'm sure he's capable of learning enough Thai to ask the following:

บัตรประชาชนคุณ = in Thai, say "bat bpra chaa chohn" which means "Your ID card"

ขอดูด้วย = then say "kaw do duay kap" which means "May I see (look) please?"

Then deduct 543 from whatever date is shown on the card to get her date of birth.

Love the look on his face though!

The look on his face looks like sheer shock, probably after taking very good care of the girl "and" the family, the bi--ch mother turns him in probably after an unsuccessful attempt at blackmail. The law here should be aplied to Thai men as well, then you will see some very rapid changes in the age of consent when the Thai men cant have their little Mianoys and Gigs.

No "fair pay" would not be enough to even come close to what they actually make - "on the make" for instance the police make a small fortune, one day out on traffic duty will net what you and I make in a month, No, Jail is the answer.

I guarantee that if this had been a "Khon Thai" man it would be accepted. How many times do we see in the news this type of report only involving Farangs, and don't tell me the Thai's don't do this kind of thing!!!

This roundabout has always been an accident black spot.

Strange how everyone is blaming the Canadian man here, I dint see in the article that he has been convicted (yet), just because he was drunk (although that is meant to be an offense here of course and he will ultimately pay dearly for it) it does not mean he caused the accident though.

This is as far as I know the only real main road roundabout in Pattaya. The Thai drivers are always totally confused when approaching it, with no one knowing who has any right of way.

The law is: "GIVE WAY TO THE TRAFFIC ON YOUR RIGHT WHEN ENTERING THE ROUNDABOUT" if that rule was applied there would be less accidents and perhaps this nasty one could have been avoided.

I would bet money that the taxi "songtaow" was coming from 2nd road and did not give way, or even slow down, the (speeding?) Canadian would have been on taxi,s right side who was probably already making his (perfectly legal) turn to the right to go to Naklua or go streight on down to beach road.

(Of course it would be interesting to know more facts rather than the PDN reporters assumptions)

The city council should install big signs at the approaches to all roundabouts, saying in Thai and English: "GIVE WAY TO TRAFFIC ON YOUR RIGHT"

Oh dear??? U really do have it cockeyed. Please read the news article in question and some of the posts before making such ill informed assumptions.

I have read the reports and the conclusion is the Nissan driver went around the wrong way and T-boned the baht bus.

But my statement still holds true because it appears the police block the roundabout off halfway around at night which in the absence of any signage whatsoever makes the roundabout system null and void (makes it into a normal junction) So the Canadian driver did follow the normal unsafe way to navigate this junction.

When he has his day in court this fact should be in his defense, so he could get off over a technicality because of police stupidity. (of course there is still the alcohol, drugs and excessive speed and causing a death "manslaughter")