Maggusoil

Attention to detail folks. Right, why does a driver run away? If he is not to blame.

and TV posters were very quick to blame the truck driver here. And a politician! Bizarre.

What is somewhat ironic is the display of the Shut Down Bangkok scarf. Sad business, upon sad business.

The movie Downfall comes to mind. The paranoia that characterizes PCAD is scary. They see enemies everywhere. Whether it is imaginary Cambodian mercenaries, or secret agents descending from non existent helicopters, or police snipers disguised as window cleaners and now this.

Who the F are PCAD to shoot at motorists? Seriously, when did they become judge, jury and executioner? Wasn't Chalerm going to have this guy and his gang of nutters arrested by now? Why doesn't Chalerm and his so called public security agency get off their posteriors and go and protect innocent people and either disarm these violent lunatics or arrest them? That's the bloody idiocy in all this. Armed idiots shooting at people and the people who are responsible for public safety sitting by with their thumbs inserted up their posteriors.

Most likely because of the smoke and mirrors politics.

What's going on behind the scenes, while "protestors" and "enemy protestors" are whipped into a frenzy by agent provocateurs.

What's waiting in the wings. Some master plan that some stupendously wealthy people have come up with to keep amassing more wealth, at the

expense of working people.

You just want to say the mind boggles, but you can't can you?

Anyone that lives there should surely be asking questions as to what sort of regulations there are governing these activities.

OK OK, don't all laugh at once

but seriously

Signs on the beach. BEWARE, WATCH OUT. inexperienced, dangerous jet ski drivers about.

I love how people who don't even live here like telling people what they should do.

Most people who live here want to get away from all the PC crap, and with that regulations on what people like to do.

Thailand is not a place for your vacation.

Oh, suffer the odium of presumptions and the presumptuous that abound on TV.

Surprise, surprise, I live half my life here with my daughter.

My attempt at humour was perhaps a little subtle for you.

Never mind.

By "there", I mean at that beach, where, the people are not protected by "their" own, common sense, or anyone else's common sense.

Even a book of rules, even if its NOT written by the government, i.e. don't operate the ski within "x" meters from swimmers and swimming areas, do not travel faster than a slow walking space within "x" meters from the water's edge etc.

Never mind just relax and let havoc prevail until it is your child or family member that gets injured.

Politics. Money, power, graft, egomania, corruption, and greed.

Are there "any" honest politicians here who would serve the people, and who are not prone to take the whole bait?

Thai people are only presented with a choice between corrupt and fantastically greedy autocrats, for whom the Thai "people" mean nothing.

The rotten little Amnesty brought all this out of the woodwork. As it had to come out.

I hope the money syphoning scheme behind the "rice pledging" will be thrust out into the light of day also.

This is all necessary, but knowing the other side of Thai nature, it could get very noisy, before it gets better.

Those people from the north that eventually beat back the Burmese army, are not good enemies to have,

however the rigid hierarchical nature of Thai life makes the transitioning and transparency necessary for bridging a good modern economy,

with its social structure very difficult to achieve.

I have always maintained that instead of clogging the courts with this sort of antisocial crap, a short sharp shock is appropriate, Singapore style, a serious caning, or birching or similar, and off you go home, job done. If you wanna do it again, have a look at your arse in the mirror.

. . . .and further to that, the option of wielding the cane should be offered to the taxi driver.

He gave the phone back like that's gonna make it all better. It's like robbing a bank and then giving the money back - hey, no harm no foul. I also love how the media always paints these teen fwits as victims : shame the prison must be terrible; hes got a job and works really hard - obviously not hard enough if he decided to steal a phone in Thailand. Thieves make my blood boil-the lowest form of respect and highest form of laziness. Somnamna

Sent from my GT-S7270 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

In the good old days of common law, one could, having made one's mistake, apologise to the offended and return the goods.

The offended, could choose to prosecute further for stress or damages, or merely forgive the offence. A mobile phone? Drunk? Stupid? From New Zealand? Intellectually impaired?

I'd forgive him.

You just want to say the mind boggles, but you can't can you?

Anyone that lives there should surely be asking questions as to what sort of regulations there are governing these activities.

OK OK, don't all laugh at once

but seriously

Signs on the beach. BEWARE, WATCH OUT. inexperienced, dangerous jet ski drivers about.

I love how people who don't even live here like telling people what they should do.

Most people who live here want to get away from all the PC crap, and with that regulations on what people like to do.

Thailand is not a place for your vacation.

Oh, suffer the odium of presumptions and the presumptuous that abound on TV.

Surprise, surprise, I live half my life here with my daughter.

My attempt at humour was perhaps a little subtle for you.

Never mind.

You just want to say the mind boggles, but you can't can you?

Anyone that lives there should surely be asking questions as to what sort of regulations there are governing these activities.

OK OK, don't all laugh at once

but seriously

Signs on the beach. BEWARE, WATCH OUT. inexperienced, dangerous jet ski drivers about.

Yes, and if drugs were legal and medically supervised and quality controlled, this would happen less.

War on drugs? War on people.

Anyway, what a pity. What a good actor.

We're all full of contradictions. If one is not, perhaps on is a cabbage.

Thais should ask themselves why all adverts on Thai television feature non-typical Thai-looking people.

And they know the reason why.

Yet mocking other races is deemed appropriate.

This is it. This nails it.

Life, is full of contradictions.

There are a whole bunch of people trying to make it all look the same and iron out the contradictions.

They'll be working a long long time.

What in earth is wrong with it?

Clever. Nicely done. I wonder which "foreigner commentators" were most offended.

More than likely a politically correct Australian amongst them, you could guarantee that.

What is interesting on Chinese dating sites, most of the girls have had makeovers, some including surgery to look more Western!

For my opinion "ruining" their looks.

You either like Chinese food or you don't. Since when would you change it to taste more western?

Old age has rendered my skin fairly thin, but never that thin, thanks.

You know what its like when it rains? It really rains. I was getting in the pickup to go to the shop. As usual, to get a large, what are they 30k bottle of water?

The young cousins ran out and said they'd get it on a motor bike.

I suggested no, as the rain was actually starting and I would not get wet in the pickup.

No, no, no, they said and headed off as the rain got going, arriving back 5 minutes or so later, soaked, with the bottle, which they would not leave at the door, but insisted on installing on the water cooler, which I like to do myself, being the only exercise I would get that day.

They were soaked but very happy to have been able to give me this "assistance", including giving me the 5 baht change.

Which they had to also insist on with great vigour and pleasure.

Its a little thing isn't it? But that's what its about for those lucky enough to have these experiences.

Its a pity cupocoffee wasn't there. He'd have sorted them out.

A decade ago a small but unassuming party started in the UK with only a few seats, today it is contesting most is the 3rd largest has rocked the establishment and is changing the face of British political discussion and policy of the other 2 parties has been forced to change and even to give the people a referendum on Europe could possibly decide if the UK leaves the EU.

THAT is how you affect change on a system, it takes time thats all.

Dont tell me its not worth voting for another smaller party because they cant win, winning is not always the point or goal. PTP is not the only option.

This writer is what he says, an idiot and needs a guide.

Yes but you conveniently fail to mention that in the UK there is no mass buying of votes (using taxpayers funds) through schemes which send a country close to bankruptcy.

Yes and yes, and how does it get better than this? Most of you are right.

As far as I can gather, educated Thai people are aware of the problem and other countries have faced this problem.

Elections have to be maintained as part of the constitution, safety for voters must be ensured.

Voting choices may be limited, but a right to vote has to be maintained.

Neither major party has shown a real mandate to govern, and both are guilty of attempted crimes against the constitution.

Without real freedom of speech, this country can never achieve what England and other developed democracies have.

There will be no short answers.

Capital punishment is wrong and barbaric no matter the crime. It will be a great day when Thailand join the ranks of countries that abolishes the death sentence.

I personally believe that ending the Death Sentences is what encourages Barbaric acts like we saw in London with the Hacking Death of an off duty Soldier and there are many more in many Countries.

I have never been one way or the other , but in an instance like this YEAH . He Danced , give me a break !

Abolition of the death sentence is an absolutely must. None of us have the right to take another person's life, not even the State, on our behalf.

I do believe we need much more effective life sentences. As in all of life, to remove the possibility of the murderer re-commiting the offence.

Never to be released should mean that. Life in many countries is 20-25, out in 10 for good behaviour.

Life in exile on a prison island, used to be the punishment. Inescapable, rendered out of our harms way.

Real duration of life, would be a realistic deterrent.

Nevertheless, one would fail to feel sorry for this bloke. No matter what happened to him.

I have no problems agreeing with you idealists as long as you cease and desist trying to convert me into believing that I must pay for the care and maintenance of your "pet projects".

The ideologically stupid interpretations of idealists is that they feel everyone should help out and foot the bill for their crazy and unrealistic view of a perfect world.

So, we are agreed, but as I stated prior, do not come to me with your hand out, after putting away a child rapist / murderer and expect me to change my view that he should be hand fed into a chipper / shredder, or else I will burn your house down.

Were I to arrive at the scene of the crime, armed, and manage to save the victim, the assailant would indeed be dead. What would you (being unarmed) do; reason with him and leave the victim lying there?

Capital punishment is all about that one moment in time, and trying to get the jury to relive it and the horror of it. It is not about forgetting that one moment in time and turning the question of justice into an insensitive lecture on the sanctity of life whilst overlooking the ones who would mow you down if you wandered across their path.

I want 'em dead. You want them to live. Fine. I'll hand them over to you and forego my style of justice, but keep them out of my life and do not come asking for me to pay for you to do it. It's your idea, so you pay the bill.

Relax bra, I'm not and never have asked you personally for anything.

That is just your fantasy.

Any day you feel like pulling your trigger you go right ahead.

Live and Let Die. I say.

As for you sensibilities. They speak for themselves.

When you come out of your personal jungle and find civilisation, there will be one less trigger happy madman on the streets.

I look forward to the headline. "Passer by shoots wrong man in crazed revenge murder."

I seriously doubt you have the guts for it anyway. Your little tough guy animation is a dead give away.

Capital punishment is wrong and barbaric no matter the crime. It will be a great day when Thailand join the ranks of countries that abolishes the death sentence.

I personally believe that ending the Death Sentences is what encourages Barbaric acts like we saw in London with the Hacking Death of an off duty Soldier and there are many more in many Countries.

I have never been one way or the other , but in an instance like this YEAH . He Danced , give me a break !

Abolition of the death sentence is an absolutely must. None of us have the right to take another person's life, not even the State, on our behalf.

I do believe we need much more effective life sentences. As in all of life, to remove the possibility of the murderer re-commiting the offence.

Never to be released should mean that. Life in many countries is 20-25, out in 10 for good behaviour.

Life in exile on a prison island, used to be the punishment. Inescapable, rendered out of our harms way.

Real duration of life, would be a realistic deterrent.

Nevertheless, one would fail to feel sorry for this bloke. No matter what happened to him.

Hmm... so she believes that the foreign media rely on information from Thaksin's lobbyists and that the majority in Chiang Mai are anti-Thaksin? Not convinced she's reached this position after a 'careful study of the issues'. Sounds like just more of the typical PDRC talking points to me.

At the very least she is promoting the idea that anyone wanting an understanding of the issues, must do the research necessary to make an informed opinion. Gaining knowledge from as large a variety of sources as possible.

This in itself is a key to all our understanding of what is going on in Thailand. The struggle for power, by people who have no allegiance to the country other than as yet another resource, of politically under educated people, who can be manipulated and stolen from.

To oust the thieves at the top, Thais have to do a lot of work in creating a real democracy, without access to the effective tools to do so.

A vote is meaningless without having real, lovers of Thailand to vote for. Not just a choice between two or three greed obsessed autocrats, funded by corruption and foreign vested interests.

There has to be a means of obtaining justice in the courts, with a judiciary unfettered by corruption.

Most importantly, Thailand needs real freedom of speech, personal and public. The lack of freedom of speech in Thailand is its greatest impediment to real, effective democracy. Despite a decline of freedom of speech in the West, it is still a long way ahead of the lack of this freedom in Thailand. Media organisations need laws to protect journalists when doing their work.

This should also include moderating Lese Majeste laws, far more in line with the international standards of modern democracies.

Fearing imprisonment for expressing a point of view, something quite common in Thailand, is not in the interests of the country's development and definitely not something any of the so-called leaders here can be proud of, as being part of the country's ethos.

Anybody taking on this work, and forming an opinion has a lot of work to do.

I ask, where are the real leaders?

As for your choice of where you want to live, if you have options, use them. Its a big world. Its great to get around. Many don't.

That's their decision and they're probably jealous.

Other people's judgements are definitely not a good source, of what you make of your own life.

Thanks for the constructive criticism.

There are government contracts. The PTP have encouraged the NACC to ask the foreign governments as part of their investigation, but for some reason they haven't...strange.

You underestimate the Thai people. Thais are intelligent and well informed. They understand very well, enough to see through the conjecture and realize the side that is for democracy vs those that want to sabotage it.

What did the Shinawatras's do to you to make so against them? They have a right as Thai citizens to run for politics. If you want them removed then come up with a candidate and policy that competes with them. How about some policy's that helps reduce the disparity between the lower and middle class, or one that address vote buying, or one that addresses improved foreign policy, or one that addresses oil prices or…etc. To base a campaign on hate against a family will never work, especially when there isn't hard evidence, just conjecture.

Make change happen Democratically.

Why does the PTP tell the NACC to ask other countries to provide the information they should be giving?

It's very, very simple:

Public Funds - No Transparency - No accountability = Corruption

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The Rice Scheme is as corrupt as corruption can get.

This was a great post.

I do not see a hate campaign against Thaksin here, just a recognition of his frauds, which is theft, which is a wrongdoing which should be tried in a court, and those who wrong was done to should seek justice and even recompense.

That is the basis of the English court system, the "jury" system and that in my mind is as significant a part of a democracy as having a vote, in fact far more so, as part of the "Jury system" is to change laws.

That jury system was adopted by all the "West's" significant countries and in my mind again, plays a major role in creating a just society and therefore a more disciplined and successful one.

The vote is relatively meaningless when one is choosing which autocratic head of the same beast, to vote for.

Its a no-win choice.

Thaksin also represents, now through his sister, a real enough threat to the monarchy and its financial allies, and it seems he is backed by competing financial sources, however there is no evidence that they are better intentioned. Just different.

The Ted fraud link is excellent also thanks to AlecG

When I moved up north about 7 years ago, my laptop was the only one in the village. A friend of mine was trying to start a string of educational type internet cafes and satellite based teaching systems into outlying areas.

Various government ministers fought over who should be representing him and it didn't happen as expected.

I put some money into it and it went no very far.

In the meantime there are now about 4 laptops just in our family.

The isolation is over.

The light of the internet is slowly illuminating the backwaters ignorance.

People will be more politically savvy as this happens.

While I agree with you, there are two major issues: The prime one being that the language barrier and lack of English skills leaves most locked into the same highly edited and biased news and information; and if you look at those laptops being used, you will notice by and far they are glued to online games, Facebook, and Line.

Until the people are better educated, at least in English, then they are stopped at the first hurdle from become more worldly and self aware.

You're right about that. Whilst one of my Thai friends is an official translator, most of the people that seem to have a really good grasp of English are

on the street. I keep stressing this up north and have to admit its really uphill.

Even the moon has a dark side.

. . . too f . . .'n cold mate

No... the dark side is horrible, dark and dangerous. Even the locals try to avoid it. Please stay on the beach side.

Well that's a dead giveaway now. The dark "secret's" out