bannork

Koh Samui has probably had a lot of cases of Westerners having motorbike accidents and then not having the funds for treatment. It's different in Udon where thankfully there are few tourists below the age of 60. Plus it's a government hospital. I'm sure paying the day before or on the day is fine . BTW the police said the perpetrator's nickname was Nan and it was believed he had left the area

Apparently he has 4 brothers who all helped to pay for the costs. After hearing his story, the hospital said he could pay in installments. A benefactor offered to help but the victim had no bank account so an account was set up in his name From CCTV cameras, the police said the suspect was a man in his twenties wearing a cap who left the park on a motorcycle. If they have the number plate or a clear picture of his face I reckon they'll catch him

Because you pay after the operation.

Why? What's happened to you?

They can confirm if his brother is having an operation on Thursday costing 80,000 baht.

To see if his story is true. You say you're not buying it.

Justproved-for-UCS-beneficiaries/285/EN-US Just a promotional speech from The Minister of Health over two years ago. I've been treated for skin cancer at the main government hospital in Udon mentioned in the article, and for prostate cancer at Ramathibodi hospital in Bangkok. Thais can claim a reduction in charges from both hospitals but neither are free

The 30 baht scheme doesn't cover cancer treatment

A lot of upcountry folk are not tech savvy..Cash is still the usual mode of payment.

Cancer treatment is not free under the nation's health system

As explained, you don't pay till after the operation

https://www.roojai.com/en/car-insurance/compulsory/ I think you'll find any driver with a licence is covered providing the vehicle has por for Bor

Poor Ror Bor means anyone driving the particular vehicle it's attached to is covered for third party insurance, providing they have a driving licence. Any extra insurance a driver has is up to them

You usually pay after the operation when you get a bill itemizing the costs. The original article says he is a labourer so it's quite possible he doesn't have a bank account, hence collected the money in cash. A sad story, they're going to have to get the money from somewhere, just hope it's not loan sharks.

Poor Ror Bor covers third parties that might be injured in an accident you have caused

On his recent visit to Germany, I believe King Charles omitted to mention Germany's contribution to rock music post 1945. Oh well.

No, Suthep was allowed to run around Bangkok disrupting traffic and even demanded civil servants report to him. Anyone else would have been arrested for treason. Prayut did nothing After the coup Suthep even boasted on how the coup had been planned- make Bangkok ungovernable, then the army has to step in. Prayuth even had to tell Suthep to shut up. A truly shameful episode in Thai politics

The drugs war did result in some innocent casualties and for thos guilty there was no due process of law. In my local town, a pickup pulled up, no licence plates, 4 men in plain clothes got out, want into the video shop and shot the owner dead. Back into the pick-up in seconds and off they went. Thaksin's obsession with marketing meant local officials were given targets to reach, allegedly in two categories: to be arrested and to be executed. How did the authorities get the names of suspects? Some districts had boxes where members of the public could drop names in anonymously. Have a business rival? Put his name down. Thaksin didn't like Westerners, remember the names of his parties, 'Thais Love Thais', ' For Thais'. He told the UN they were not his father regarding human right. For foreign retirees, he increased the minimum sum required in the bank from 200,000 baht to 800,000 baht His puritanical Interior Minister sent his children to study in New Zealand but allegedly refused to approve any Western applications for citizenship during his tenure. ;

Couldn't have happened to a nicer person. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65155075

Recommended for driving or lying in a hammock.

Some countries are outright authoritarian: China, Russia, Iran, Laos, Vietnam, others are more subtle, there are multi party elections but money is key to attracting MPs and passing laws to protect big business. The monopoly in the alcohol business in Thailand for example And how many poor or even average income MPs are there in Thailand? I remember the excitement of the 1997 Constitution here in Thailand. There really did seem to be solid checks and balances against abuse of power. Intelligent people like Dr Surin were in office, it looked like Thailand could start to fulfill its potential. Could politics attract those genuinely wishing to serve the country? Thaksin had a great chance with his election victory but rather than bringing in young and talented blood, he set about amassing all power around himself. He bought up the entire NAP ( over 80 MPs) bar one man, he explained to journalists that politics is like business, a monopoly is best, as in the early days of his dominance of the mobile phone market. Eliminate the opposition. Many academics, NGOs who had initially supported Thaksin seeing him as an example of the new generation of tech savvy businessmen, turned away, disappointed. No one could compete with Thaksin's money, a new type of corruption emerged, policy corruption. No need for the old and clumsy method of suitcases stuffed with cash, rather by the sheer size of his majority, Thaksin could change laws to benefit his and his cronies' businesses The sheer dominance of Thaksin over PT makes its claim to be a democratic party, laughable. If Thaksin died tomorrow, the party would collapse, splintering off I to different factions. Supporters of PT will say PT won successive elections, the will of the people must be respected. True, but please don't expect much progress regarding economic equality, justice for all, government transparency, etc. Big business and Thaksin go hand in hand. Imo, the only party worth voting for is MF, six more years until the former three leading members of FF can play a public role again Now they were formidable

There is no FFP these days Now they are the MFP, sadly a lot weaker than the banned FFP. There's a lot of rubbish in PTP, MPs devoid of any idealism.

If Pheua Thai need to make up the numbers to form a government, I don't think they will choose MF as a partner and I'm not sure MF would accept. MF's stance on Article 112 is unacceptable to PT, they're too radical for PT who have a lot of veteran MPs devoid of any idealism. Plus if MF were in government, they would have some achievements by the end of the Parliamentary term. PT wouldn't like that considering both parties are trying to appeal to the young. PT would rather keep MF on the Opposition benches, barking but impotent regarding tangible achievements I think PT would choose Bhumjaithai as a partner, the only clash could be over cannabis but if they pass the bong around they could probably reach an agreement. MF are not going to win so many seats this time with the new voting system, plus there are quarrels regarding strategy. Piyabutr wants MF to project an ideology, focus on creating its own identity, whilst the leader, Pitak, is more flexible, prepared to compromise to be in government. There are pros and cons to each viewpoint.

There's Laura Nyro with Duane Allman on the music thread. The sort of thing you could contribute to. Please come back, at least now and again.

Tremendous stuff, zz What an unlikely combination and wonderful outcome music wise! It's a shame Tippers has left this thread. He'd love gems like this. I'll try to coax him back