virtualtraveller

It is done it is irreversible, Puea Thai no longer have the opportunity to climb down to pacify the reds. Point of no return now. See how long before it gets promulgated. Either Thaksin will be home (briefly) for Christmas, or Yingluck will be campaigning for a snap election, or both. This was so blatant by stealth I expect something equally radical in response. There's still a long way to go in a few short weeks before Thaksin can ask for his money back, I bet the govt already have the cheque drafted.

Another disingenuous report. It's an April Fools joke right?

Incredible. A reading and debate on a bill usually takes some time, the objective of three readings is to send it back for tweaking and amendment. At the very least a controversial bill should allow all parties time to debate. First reading took two days. All of a sudden the second and third reading get rushed through, the whole country is objecting it seems, yet opposition aren't even given a chance to speak. What a farce! And they wonder why everyone is taking to the streets. I really can't see this being promulgated to an act without a lengthy court challenge. The procedure has not been conducted properly. This will blow up in Peua Thai's face because they have left themselves no escape route, it's all or nothing.

History is now in the hands of the red shirts, they either take a stand and part ways with Peua Thai if they go ahead or become the biggest losers in history - a mob for hire that was duped. Tough call, afterall they will be nothing without his money. It's too late to reverse the clock, Thaksin has f*7cked them over, he has revealed his true colours. If they accept this, they will be the laughing stock of the world.

Unfortunately they have been sold a dummy, Abhisit will never be go to jail as they insist, not because the justice system is protecting him but because it will set a precedent that will enable any protest to turf our Yingluck or anyone so easily. They hadn't thought that out had they? But Thaksin well knows it's a dead end.

Frankly, I think Thaksin is committing political suicide with the move, it may wash for awhile if he calls a snap election but same as April 2006 it will only delay the inevitable fate. Enough is enough, his enemies will react with something radical and the red shirts won't buy into his plans to resist.

It's certainly going for broke and I don't see how Thaksin can win. Ram it through and Yingluck and PT will face much more trouble that they are now, at the risk of the govt falling and perhaps not winning an outright majority at the next election, Thaksin can't come home under those circumstances too risky to his personal safety.

If he backs down and it was all a ruse to gain acceptance for the original bill he's done a lot of damage to his goodwill among the red shirts. I think a lot of them are now going to stand up and say 'is this guy for real, he's betrayed us'.

This might be the most useful thing Thaksin's done towards eroding his popularity and eventually overcoming PTs ability to win elections. Let him have his money and freedom but lose power in the long run.

In theory the red shirts, a millions of them minions, should be drawing the line on this. But, of course, without paying them to protest, only 200 show up. Says something about their real numbers.

Simple. Let him get his money back then put him on trial under this elected government to confiscate it again because he's on record saying it was 'his' money, when in fact it was apparently his maid's, and wife's and kids, 'cause the law states MPs cannot own more than 5% of a company.

Suthep should first let Peua Thai steamroll the parliamentary opposition out the way, to justify people coming on to the streets, timing is essential otherwise it will be another damp squib sending a message to Thaksin he can get away with it. All the same, there is massive uncertainty ahead, it's interesting to see how far Thaksin will go and how much resistance Red shirts will dare to offer. Typical that Dems aren't even being given a chance to debate the most contentious bill in recent history and the PM is out in the provinces (perhaps a coup precaution). The arrogance. It may lead to their downfall but they don't care, I bet they are already printing their campaign posters for the next snap election. The opposition can boycott it, then we are back to the farce of April 2006 - full circle.

You can't trust Thaksin or PT further than you can throw them, this has been proven time and again. An amnesty that lets Abhisit off the hook but doesn't clear Thaksin of the non political-violence charges would be out of the question wouldn't it, a complete failure.

Likely scenario is to get the amnesty through, not come home for a while, wait for a 're-interpretation' of the amnesty bill.

Sadly, Thaksin just doesn't realise that coming home without some compromises from him, some guarantees, some token remorse, is going to 'git him kilt'.

Can't believe you even need to inspect the clocks to determine if they cost 70,000. That's such a blinder I'm surprised it hasn't attracted derision from the public.

This is nothing to do with the rubber price, it's to do with the fact that the govt lavished plenty of money on all the rice farmers who vote for them, ignored the South which didn't. This govt is now skating on thin ice, they know it, now the timing is right to pressure them. The govt can't afford not to come to an agreement.

What, review the decision if they find new evidence to prove that Thaksin wasn't actually out the country on the run, so he can be indicted all the same.

What a joke, these agencies have become so utterly biased they make the coup govt look like angels.

One way to get press attention for your small protest, hang a banner including the words 'Al Quida' that's all this is really. Wouldn't read too much into it.

Sounds right, I was wondering if this was the point where Thaksin and UDD finally don't see eye to eye, but as usual Weng et al are in total denial about their own responsibility towards the deaths. It's all apparently Abhisit's fault, as if Thaksin and the UDD leadership had no culpability in setting up the fatal clash (they set it up on purpose and well know that). IMO Weng should be sitting in prison still, not the lackeys.

I can't see this as anything but an own goal of negative publicity by Starbucks. Fining two old timers a year's worth of income, in their attempt to avoid people seeking out a cup of coffee that doesn't cost the equivalent of 4 pad thais.

Start with the songteaws (who seem to somehow be untouchable) they're the worse offenders of traffic transgressions.

Nice one Takkie, it's all falling into place with your lackeys. Sorry, but to my mind the overwhelming covert objective of the UDD protests was to force Abhisit to resign or else spill blood which would tip public opinion against him. For this reason an 11th hour call came in mysteriously and scuppered the deal they had accepted. In the end it didn't work out, and terrorism charges were appropriate. Now that they're in power they get to make up the rules. The responsibility for the 91 deaths should be laid at Thaksin's feet. Of course he'll never be held accountable, he's too tricky.

With visas, study or otherwise, people forget that there are two steps to being legit, first you get the visa stamp from abroad, usually using paperwork (varies considerably in strictness from one consulate to the next, and the fewer visa runners there are). This enables you to apply for an extension to stay, which has to be done, with lots more paperwork and stricter scrutiny, at your local immigration office. If you have a single entry visa, then you've got 3 months to complete this, if you have a multiple entry you can come and go and get 3 month extensions and never advance to the next step. Note! When you do go to immigration, they check all your papers, find an excuse to 'trip you up' (read: bribe me) and send you away, or tell you it all now needs to be sent to Bangkok for approval. Thus, you get a further 30 days, and 30 days until the process is complete to their satisfaction.

People offering study visas can provide the paperwork, and as long as you've got that from the local MoE, there are far fewer 'trip ups' for the immigration to throw up. However, if it's not a very powerful backer (like a university) they might only opt to give you three months. The way things are going, sooner or later someone is going to start visiting all these schools to see who attends. They won't kick you out the country, they will simply ask for money, both you and the school, and lots of it.

Being involved with a TEFL training school in Chiang Mai, I can say that there is no official route (that I'm aware of) to get a one year visa for taking a one month TEFL course, unless they are duping people into a one year TEFL course. But we're unaware of anyone at the Ministry of Education recognising TEFL as a full time course (unless as a diploma through a university). Generally, the TEFLs are associated with a Thai course, through a properly registered MoE school. This is the way they offer a study visa for TEFL, but technically they should be showing up for Thai classes.

The system is abused and getting out of hand, the other day I saw a fly poster advertising visa for 'hand to hand combat class', and I know of corrupt practices from people close to the right officials, who can arrange you volunteer or study visas that are never investigated.

A few years back there was a big fall out at CMU when it suddenly stopped its wildly popular Thai course and threw out more than 300 students without refund and leaving them in the lurch with visas, in the end they had to settle a class action lawsuit agains the university. Left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. There are TEFLs and Thai language schools out there who try to do things honestly and professionally and actually teach people skills.

They obviously know they are guilty as sin, The Yingluck administration has been such a farce that such measures (occupying airports) might seem par for the course. Elected or not, demanding that a puppet of a convicted criminal resign is perfectly acceptable. And they should be allowed to gather. Not at the airport but in front of government house without intimidation from 12,000 police. Complete overkill, what are Peua Thai neurotic about.

A 10 year old car is not necessarily unroadworthy, that car in the picture is more like 20 years old. My 7 year old Vigo is still in mint condition. People who can afford to drive cars should be taxed to the hilt, that will help solve traffic problems, force car share, and redirect the money towards to public transport that is comfortable and convenient.

Someone living in Bangkapi should be able to walk or motorbike taxi to a nearby metro station.

This is a high profile case of harassment of human rights investigation, British Embassy would be wise to offer some help in this special case in a covert way, or risk it becoming bad press. It adds to my general feeling (as a Brit) that the foreign office has become increasingly useless in recent years, full of overpaid staff who serve you as a profit-making business would. And to think I've spent years paying tax (in one of the more heavily taxed states in the world) and now get very little in return, while refugees are taking advantage of my benefits scheme at home. Serve Britons not Britain.

Mr. Prompong Nopparit, the spokesman of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, said the apocalyptic prediction of 8 October is "unscientific". About the only sensible thing he's said in ages, but Thaksin fell for it and commented on FB about it.

A pic there of two deeply despised leaders, who can claim 'people's mandate' but are wholly unsuitable for a variety of reasons.

Kuta has the same problem. It's seasonal.