virtualtraveller

She just doesn't get it. This charade pretending she's still in control. She's part of the protagonists, she should not be chairing anything to do with reform. Reform begins with equal recognition. It will be another worthless hot-air fest, boycotted by those who count. Stop trying to pull a fast one! How many times do we have to say it.

Reason they didn't attend is because Puea Thai have a habit of organising these agenda driven forums with a 'majority' of their allies to agree with them, forcing the minority to go along. Call it democracy but you can't force anyone into anything. Bottom line, how can you have an election in the middle of a revolution, get serious and admit it's a failure she 30% of the electorate are unlikely to show up. Stop trying to push your agenda. There's been enough talking.

Surprised that no one has mentioned the obvious here: that introducing such strict and unreasonable criteria, even phased in, will mean a mass exodus of teachers from Thailand, as it is you struggle to find properly qualified teachers, if you do, expect to pay them 60,000+, how many language schools etc can afford that. Net result, a massive shortage of English teachers, so Thailand goes backwards. So much for critical thinking at policy level.

As it stands, you can get a temp teaching licence for 2+2 years before having to take the TCT PK test or show a teaching diploma, might reduce that to just 2 years. Industry self regulates by generally expecting to see a TEFL cert at the recruitment level, though they are not standardised or compulsory for the teaching licence.

This is one more example of unrealistic policy putting Thai education in a straight-jacket, it has one of the highest education expenditures in the developing world and one of the lowest English usage scores.

Odd that this skype thing is taken seriously. Does anyone honestly and sincerely believe that in a period of national crisis, the prime minister of thailand would have a conversation with her 'shadowy puppet master brother' in full view of random people? Were he so powerful and nefarious do you think HE would allow it, then? That would be insane. So this leaves only two options:

1. A close and trusted advisor is briefing against her.

2. It was made up.

Since the situation is going to be somewhat paranoid anyways, im going with option 2. She said shed give an announcement. She had a chat (no doubt in private) with her brother for advice. She made her mind up. People in the more public meeting where she announced she would carry on 'fabricated the better part of experience'. The end.

Also, its fairly evident the threat has passed now. The next big challenge is the election. So far PTP have played a blinder here. Theyve continually given the protests room to breath and allowed them to carry out their 'peaceful' intentions (though lets be frank, the hardcore want nothing of the sort here - they want a clampdown, and the tanks to roll in and save them from a tyrannous illegitimate government). Riot and they lose the mainstream support. Dont riot and they lose their momentum. The government and their advisers have been extraordinary: give them room and let them expand as far as theyll go. This monday was the big test. I watched it all day. It did nothing. It achieved nothing. Its gone as far as its going in its current form. The only logical next step is dissipation or violence. And this will mean self-implosion SO LONG AS the government allow the protesters the breathing room to act as they have been doing. Its a masterclass, to be honest, in crisis control.

Actually, there is a report elsewhere in the news that she was close to quitting on Sunday night, is fed up having to deal with the pressure, but Thaksin talked her out of it. So much for your theory. Besides, did it not occur to you that Thaksin's enemies are having a field day because the prime minister is a rookie politician, lacking any experience, clueless and having to get on Skype before making any statements. She was a gift to their cause. She won't last, she might get re-elected eventually but it was never going to work, running a country on remote control through a barbie doll.

It's all about him. Not sure how true this story is, but history will record two crucial moments in this protracted crisis where the path of peace was spurned for the path of 'stand and fight' because a phone call came in from Dubai. The blood is on his hands.

I'm particularly interested to know how much of this discord would fade away if Thaksin was 'removed'. Would Peua Thai then become a real party with sensible policies for the poor, would it disintegrate. Would we be able to get on with politics that battles for the hearts and minds of the masses through sustainable policies instead of populist junk designed to launder the image of a criminal. There are some valid points to both sides, and both sides have poor leadership and behaviour, but ultimately I think reconciliation would all be so much easier if one single man was removed.

If the reform structure is in place and acceptable to all main parties, and the election is seen as putting a temporary govt, from the people, in place but with the reform council completely independent of their influence, I'm confident both sides would agree to contest a May election. It should be clear that the resulting govt lasts only a fixed time, the time it takes to write a new charter, say one-year. Implementing various reforms will take years.

Missing the point here, the incumbent has access to so many more resources to campaign, hardly fair is it? Why should taxpayer money be used for a private campaign, let the courts examine the evidence. Another honest mistake cuts PT down, honestly, if you are going to be the 'people's party' then at least do so properly and transparently.

It's important for everyone to know that Amsterdam is a business man like Thaksin with ethics that place his client first and democratic realities second. Amsterdam has a sleazy reputation for representing public relations for some of the world's truly odious and undemocratic characters. His point of view is biased.

Sounds like it's all over for the Shins, if you believe the Nation. For sure, their position is now severely weakened but they have plenty of money and vast Red shirt network, eventually there has to be an election and even if some rice farmers abandon them Peua Thai will return to power, they'll just find it increasingly difficult to get Thaksin home. Point being, Thaksin's personal goals have become baggage to the entire country, especially PT, the objective here is to show him just how destructive this all becomes in the name of Thaksin. When we reach virtual civil war, someone will manage to get him to back down. I'm guessing that the army won't go for a coup, they will sit back and watch it get messy until the 'most respected' guy in the nation has to get involved. There will be a caretaker govt, reform, exile for Suthep, an election, wings clipped, and eventually a promised pardon for Thaksin. Seems like a plan.

I'd say, if you are Chinese speaking Thai right now and can't find a job you must be useless. Get over it. There will eventually be so many Chinese tourists you won't manage to cope.

The more Peua Thai bleat about a possible coup the more guilty they appear. A coup would play into their hands. They're dying for a coup to get them out of this mess. Coups happen to very corrupt govts, must have done something wrong to be so afraid a coup is necessary…go on, tell us what you've done wrong!

There's a critical mass in society when one particular group comes along and pushes things to the limit. Thaksin will be remembered as that person, demonstrating who corruption could get out of control in the wrong hands. Whether any meaningful change will come from this is debatable but I doubt Thaksin will be exerting the power he once did. It's over for him, it's all now just an exit strategy, though he doesn't realise it yet. Too many people now are against him.

Great thanks!

Hi

Got a Non-Imm B visa from a job offer that fell through, now been offered a new job in a BOI company. Question is, do I need to leave the country and get a Non-Imm IB visa, or will the one stop service accept a standard Non-Imm B (expires in 2 months)? Can't get a straight answer anywhere but need to know before travelling all the way into Bangkok.

Thanks

The country has been bitterly damaged by Mr. Suthep [simile: Thaksin] and his followers, Mr. Prompong added.

Who writes this guys scripts, they're so fully, what was that Greek guy's name hypokritēs?

It's time to get militant! Country needs a jolt.

It's all Abhisit's fault, according to JP, who should now be charged with murder, never mind the elaborate DSI case connecting the dots, it's all Abhisit's fault, every death of a Red.

Tarit lives in the la-la land where he imagines only one set of rules, applying to one set of people, totally oblivious to the fact that there is a parallel world of offenders guilty of exactly the same thing, only they belong to 'his camp'.

Part of the reform should be to disband the DSI and have strict penalties for those being used as tools.