valerian

That explains it! Thx for info. ????

It seems that block production is halted everywhere. All suppliers I’ve called are out of stock (20x60x20) and they can’t place orders from producers. Tried QCON, Diamond and Thaicon. Anyone here with more information on what the problem is?

16 minutes ago, Curt1591 said:

The gold shop nut, now this guy. With all the fame they receive, this could start a trend. 

Absolutely. My guess is it already has. It's like a virus infecting selfish Thai airheads with financial problems. And there are quite a few of those around.

Thanx again for the replies.

Still no hard evidence for cases where farangs have been processed for building or taking care of their own property. Despite the "obvious" wording of the law.

So I'll assume all is fine - but will take the fine advice to talk to the local immigration officer just to make sure and sleep well.

Thanx for the replies.

I am aware of the wordings regarding the legal definitions of work and rewards in Thailand. And if you choose to take them literally - then every foreign tourist answering work related emails should be handcuffed and thrown in jail.  Apparently this doesn't happen - ever.

I'm also aware of bib's, immi's and others using the law to fine/extort owners in business related cases (such as husbands "helping" out in the store, bar or what ever business the couple are running).

But I have never heard of home owners being fined/jailed/blacklisted for working on/improving their family property.

So any first hand experiences or references to real cases (not hearsay) would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Valerian

Hi!

Is a work permit needed for building your own house/assisting during the build?

I have read the law, and read old threads, but don't feel any wiser. 

Anyone here with experience on this? I.e real cases to refer to? 

I'll be building in Isaan.

Cheers,

Valerian

Every two days this past week we've had a surprise-Tuesday declaration of martial law, Thursday coup, and today Saturday dissolve Senate, and dump DSI chief and police chief...what's in store for Monday?

RTP disbanded

I sure hope so! That would make me dress in green.

another really bright red shirt..seriously what did he expect...

Here's the PDRC ram-raiding the police and army lines at the Electoral Commission yesterday, (courtesy of Sanook.com).

Amazing that the military just does nothing about this.

If this had happened in any "civilised" country, the police would have attempted to detain the offenders or if they resist then they would have been shot .... this shows me exactly how the PCAD thugs are abusing the extreme restraint the police are showing.

Peaceful protestors do NOT attempt to drive over policemen ... these protestors keep saying they are peaceful ... I do not think that word means what they think it means ... I think the word they are looking for is violent.

Sent from my GT-N5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Well.. then why didn't the police try to detain the offenders? Because Thailand isn't civilized?

Your logic is somewhat... funny

... those that can debate without resorting to these tactics come across more sincere and less zealous, IMHO.

Humble??? Must be the joke of the day.

Well written!

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

-- R.Kipling

Beyond belief!!!

Why? He's an old school Samak-type bully and superdonkey only good at being pompous

The minute this poor-peoples-"ombudsman" actually utters something meaningful is when I'll be surprised.

If they are doing better than the previous Democrat-led government - why ask Democrats of advice?

I wonder how and what red shirt supporters feel?

After all this government is supposedly for them and cares about them.

Yet they remain poor but "their"government is getting richer

Bet it´s not on the red news.

Actually.. it wouldn't surprise me if it gets there. But with a slightly altered headline.

"Good successful citizens that will lead us to prosperity are all linked to Yingluck."

Yes - military coups are bad and don't belong in a democracy.

Yes - the military shouldn't be used against a country's own people. (in fact - it shouldn't be used at all)

Yes - Thailand desperately needs accountability for excessive force.

But - none of the killings would have happened if it weren't for Thaksin speeches, PTV propaganda, the UDD violence and red havoc.

Why exactly do you think that the police where nowhere in sight?

Thailand is full of under-educated trigger-happy male boors quickly willing to take the law into their own hands.

One crowd goes by the name of "Police", "Tam ruat", "BiB" or plain and simply "Maffia".

Another trigger-happy crowd is dressed in green, full of self-righteousness and goes under the name of "Tahaan".

These are the tools any government will have to use to uphold the "law".

Unleash any of these tigers to "clean up" areas that have been occupied by armed hooligans and you're bound to have casualties.

Especially when the occupants are a third such crowd that has no problems at all storming and occupying buildings, shooting grenades at various opponents for months at end, chasing and killing political opponents holding peaceful assembly etc etc etc.

Do you really think the head of state should be accountable for the state of mind of the general violence-craving, non-thinking, obey-your-poo-yai majority of thai "men"joining these fracas?

If the head of state condones extra-judicial killings - then yes - he/she should be held accountable.

Thaksin definitely did that during the WOD. Anyone who heard his speech the day the "operations" commenced can't refute it.

But did Abhisit? Really? You do know that a state of emergency was declared a week before any deaths occured, but that the reds ignored it, don't you?

And you do remember how Abhisit pleaded with the reds to negotiate or leave the occupied areas before people got hurt, don't you?

All the while red-shirt leaders were saying "We have to prepare for another war. If the military comes you should not panic - just stay put.".

the only one of those that existed pre-coup, was thaksin.

the 2006 coup is what gave birth to PTV, UDD and red 'havoc'... they were stupid enough to think that they could remove a PM who was voted in by the highest ever voter turnout without extreme repercussions..

the saddest thing is that it was all business.

So? Are you saying that the red violence was justified?

Are you saying that it is ok to choose a violent way? Instead of peaceful means.

So long as you have understandable or even sympathetic reasons for doing so?

Because if you do, then you do realise that you can justify the coup but those very same arguments, don't you?

If you're not saying these things, then what ARE you saying?

i AM saying exactly what i just said, if you interpret that as justifying violence then that's your issue to deal with, not mine.

Ok. Sorry for misreading your comment. I don't think the coup justifies anything either.

And as you quoted me I falsely assumed that there was a point, related to the violence, to your comment.

I can't believe you guys are still talking in circles about this, going on 5 years now. Don't you have anything better to do, than to argue with "anonymous internet forum guy"? I do, that's for sure. Peace.

Stradavarious37 is your real name then? Congratulations.

What would the Thai Army do if it had to fight another country's army instead of shooting its own unarmed people on the streets of the capital city of the country? The firing squad that fired ito the temple from the elevated expressway next to it is particularly offensive and unjustifiable. Civilians volunteer medical personnel on the the temple grounds were shot and killed indiscriminately, which is what can and does happen when the army is used against its own people. The mother of a dead volunteer, unarmed nurse, continues in vain to seek accountability, justice. Accountability is necessary. Holding the perps accountable certainly would be a long overdue first for Thailand.

Thaksin was convicted of much less, got off free for his so called drug war, but got nailed in court for corruption while corrupt coupmakers were in charge of the country and the usual suspects were being as corrupt as ever. If Thaksin is guilty of corruption then everyone in power is guilty of corruption.

Accountability is required any time the army is ordered into action against its own people and ordered to use deadly force. Yes, some Thais were armed and themselves doing some shooting against the army. However, if the army came after me I'd be unable to ask about an arrest warrant as one could do with the police. What does a citizen do when the army is his enemy and is shooting to kill, the police nowhere in sight?

Holding Thais in power accountable for using the army and its lethal force against their own people is necessary and long overdue. Then perhaps the vicious cycle of the army killing its own people might finally stop in Thailand, or at the least begin to cause those in government power to have second thoughts about it.

How many coups have there been in Thailand post WWII? Post 1932??? No more, not ever again.

Yes - military coups are bad and don't belong in a democracy.

Yes - the military shouldn't be used against a country's own people. (in fact - it shouldn't be used at all)

Yes - Thailand desperately needs accountability for excessive force.

But - none of the killings would have happened if it weren't for Thaksin speeches, PTV propaganda, the UDD violence and red havoc.

Why exactly do you think that the police where nowhere in sight?

Thailand is full of under-educated trigger-happy male boors quickly willing to take the law into their own hands.

One crowd goes by the name of "Police", "Tam ruat", "BiB" or plain and simply "Maffia".

Another trigger-happy crowd is dressed in green, full of self-righteousness and goes under the name of "Tahaan".

These are the tools any government will have to use to uphold the "law".

Unleash any of these tigers to "clean up" areas that have been occupied by armed hooligans and you're bound to have casualties.

Especially when the occupants are a third such crowd that has no problems at all storming and occupying buildings, shooting grenades at various opponents for months at end, chasing and killing political opponents holding peaceful assembly etc etc etc.

Do you really think the head of state should be accountable for the state of mind of the general violence-craving, non-thinking, obey-your-poo-yai majority of thai "men"joining these fracas?

If the head of state condones extra-judicial killings - then yes - he/she should be held accountable.

Thaksin definitely did that during the WOD. Anyone who heard his speech the day the "operations" commenced can't refute it.

But did Abhisit? Really? You do know that a state of emergency was declared a week before any deaths occured, but that the reds ignored it, don't you?

And you do remember how Abhisit pleaded with the reds to negotiate or leave the occupied areas before people got hurt, don't you?

All the while red-shirt leaders were saying "We have to prepare for another war. If the military comes you should not panic - just stay put.".

"Yes - military coups are bad and don't belong in a democracy.

Yes - the military shouldn't be used against a country's own people."

"But - none of the killings would have happened if it weren't for Thaksin speeches, PTV propaganda, the UDD violence and red havoc."

the only one of those that existed pre-coup, was thaksin.

the 2006 coup is what gave birth to PTV, UDD and red 'havoc'... they were stupid enough to think that they could remove a PM who was voted in by the highest ever voter turnout without extreme repercussions..

the saddest thing is that it was all business.

So? Are you saying that the red violence was justified?

Are you saying that it is ok to choose a violent way? Instead of peaceful means.

So long as you have understandable or even sympathetic reasons for doing so?

Because if you do, then you do realise that you can justify the coup but those very same arguments, don't you?

If you're not saying these things, then what ARE you saying?

...no-body's suffering due to political intrigue..

That has got to be the understatement of the decade.

Since 2000 - Thailand has had a poorer performance, in relative terms, compared to it's neighbours.

Have a look at http://www.indexmundi.com/facts/indicators/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD/compare?country=th#country=kh:id:my:th

Since 2000, up until now, Thai minimum wages were practically at a stand still.

In fact, in real value terms, minimum wages declined during 2000 - 2011.

Do you think the situation was the same in neighbouring countries?

And since 2000 - political violence, division of people and political manipulation has been an everyday story.

Not to mention extra-judicial killings, violent unconstitutional and undemocratic attempts to throw out the opposition from office (UDD 2010), numerous manipulations of the courts (Thaksin 2001, Cake Bribe 2008 etc etc) and countless lies to everyone and anyone.

Nobody's suffering due to political intrigue, huh?

Me thinks that the poor people of Thailand, and in fact probably all Thais(except maybe the Thaksin gang) would have been far better off without that "political intrigue".

Thread of the year last year was all the TV experts predicting that TS would be home by December 2011.

I've decided to not listen to predictions from TV members.

That's my New Year resolution.

You're right! The anti-Thaksin sentiment in the country is indeed stronger than even TV members anticipated.

How about looking at the foremost democracies in the world?

Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Denmark are the worlds top democracies. And have a long history of minority governments.

As well as of governments where the largest party wasn't part of the coalition government.

An example:

Sweden 1979: (http://en.wikipedia...._election,_1979)

Socialdemokraterna: 154 MPs (largest party)

Moderaterna: 73 MPs. (second largest party)

Is that substantial enough for you? (took about 5 minutes to find on Wiki)

Quite misleading indeed. In this case there were very clear political leanings in the coalition groups; one side centre-right and the other socialist/ communist.

"Misleading"? Wow. Is that your neural pathways you're talking about?

Please try to keep your comments on the subject.

Which, btw, was a supposed precedence in coalitionbuilding by strength of MP count.

Something PPP back in the days claimed to have too.

But otherwise never given much weight in the foremost democracies of the world.

Or did you actually have a point with the political leanings mumble?

The coup government exited the scene in 2007 after the elections. Abhisit came to power after the PPP was disbanded for electoral fraud. The then new PTP (caretaker government) decided not to call an election.

Samak never won an election either. He needed a coalition to form government. Abhisit (an elected MP) also formed a coalition government after he was elected PM in parliament (as were Samak and Somchai).

Yes, but Samak & Somchai's parties had by far the highest amount of MPs. That's how coalitions are formed; when the party with the most votes sides with smaller parties in order to have a parliamentary mandate.

On the other (under)hand, when AV formed his coalition the Dems had a paltry 165 MPs compared to PPP's 233 (only 18 off an absolute majority). There has been no precedent in world democratic political history (that I have been able to uncover) of a party with substantially less MPs than another party leading a coalition government.

How about looking at the foremost democracies in the world?

Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Denmark are the worlds top democracies. And have a long history of minority governments.

As well as of governments where the largest party wasn't part of the coalition government.

An example:

Sweden 1979: (http://en.wikipedia...._election,_1979)

Socialdemokraterna: 154 MPs (largest party)

Moderaterna: 73 MPs. (second largest party)

Is that substantial enough for you? (took about 5 minutes to find on Wiki)

Edit: The party actually leading the coalition government after the election -79 was the third largest party, with 64 MPs.