Covertjay

"Thai people in the Southernmost provinces have had freedom."

Freedom to what? Suffocate? Be shot up in a place of worship? Have the profits from all of value in your province go only to BKK?

Hows the weather in La-La-land?

Do they do prefered PM polls here?

Read My Lips...........

NO TROOPS.

So we should never discuss politics unless we are a head of state?

hey, covertjay

Are you serious? Do you really understand the issues? You do seem a tad naive.

Just hope, for your sake, the grenade isn't thrown under your car. IN THE STREET.

Serious about Nam Kao being wrong to want US troops in the streets of Hat Yai?

###### yeah.

The issue? They want their freedom back. Considering they were independent 100 years ago, I don't think that's naive. If the Thai's don't do something constructive it will be to this place what East Timor was for the Indonesians. Even the Queen said it was way out of control down there on TV last night. Why don't you impart you wisdom then big tiger? or whatever your net handle means.

I want the US to get involved down their, planes, tanks, etc will quiet em down

Good on ya.

Iraq will be Vietnam 2 and if they went into the south- Vietnam 3......

Hi teach weapons don't matter when the coffee seller rolls a grenade under your jeep.

The Iraqi tet offensive is coming. Who will be the new Nixon? Rumsfeld ought to know better as he's f#$ked up like this before in 'nam. New generation of messed up vet's too.

And when the King goes who will control Taksin? What if bombs go off in Phuket and BKK too? There's an election on the way too.

It's going to the streets people..........

They are all right affairs I guess except when (speaking of gambling) the deceased died in a car and they gambler relies want the liscence plate number 'cause it's already used up it's bad luck. Nice touch, very thoughtful....

Nice one on the Poms...

Or maybe this "taxation without representation" is a uniquely British trait that I'll never quite grasp

But were you right to trade one tyrant 12 000 miles away for 12 000 tyrants one mile away.

Your right, I dissagree with what you say, but defend your right to say it.

The OECD life is not to bad unless you are poor as dirt.

Stuff works.

Stuff doesn't smell.

Bureaucratic stuff can be done in a reasonable amount of time.

Things have reasons.

BUT it is cold and sometimes a soul-less rat race.

Here has top notch food, culture, hustle and bustle (in every sense), decent weather, and a silly low cost of living.

Also, if you had a personality it wasn't that hard to get laid there either.

Depends what you dig, as there's more to life than the next bird.

6/10 gun deaths are a domestic dispute........... and you know how jelious they are...................

Instead of the somtam mortar you may get a hollow point......but it's your constitutional right to be retarded PILGRIM.

It'll be ballot forms and 100 baht notes being thrown off the back of a pick up down on the Mu Baan again..... so maybe Toxin will be back.........

Sure they're racist, but they do each other for a dollar so there are some equal opportunities areas here.

Don't forget they have come here from feudalism in 30 years.............

And if they were too switched on, like Malaysia, they wouldn't need us or our money anymore.

thanks man.

"Thanks for unsubstantial history lesson but how long have you been in Thailand? Sorry the story (i wont call history) in 1988 isn't about insurgents but about no man land thing."

I've been in Thailand for 5 years and have a degree in Asian Politics. The 1988 conflict was over Gen. Chavalit's wife landgrab that was argued as a border demarcation conflict by the Thais, and some communist Lao insurgents trying to make contact with Issarn and Thai communists. I was told this by a former military attache to an embassy who is more privy to good information than you or I.

"There were no rebellions against Thailand in Issarn, the Vientiane got a freedom from France and the Laos rebels fight against their own government not Thai governement. "

Ya Mo's defense of Korat in the late 19th century was a definate Lao aided Issarn rebellion against Bangkok. Locals as well as Laotians were in the army she helped to get drunk and murder.

It is an historical fact that in revenge for this, Vientiane in the late 19th century was burnt to the ground by the future Rama I and the Emerald Buddha was taken and half the population of the city murdered. That's when the Lao king asked for French assistance.

I was talking about the late 19th century, not modern times.

"Are you Muslim or what, Covertjay?"

No I'm worse than that I'm a socialist. If you knew anything about Islam you would know that Sufism is a doctrine of love, not hate, don't write off a whole religion. It's just a forum.... chill out man.

"How deep? How hidden? Would you care to enlighten us?"

I want to know about the hidden agenda too! Maybe they just want back their independence that they had 100 years ago. Everybody wants freedom. Regardless of religion. Doin't feed into the cycle of hate, and have a nice day!

Edit member status bar? How to do? I see no options. Don't want to be just an ordinary 'member'.

Again...............

How do you talk them (TGF) into letting you do the 'marmite motorway' (Hershey Highway for you Yanks). UP THE POOPER if you need it spelled out RDN.

Mine sez it's a sin but I reckon it's a perfect vaccum.

Advice pleez.

Sigur.................a little history

There were rebellions in Issarn untill the end of the 19th century when half the population was wiped out and Vientiane burnt to the ground (and the emerald-actually Jade- Buddha stolen from the original Wat Pra Keaow).

A brief war with Lao in 1988 over insurgents and Chavalit's wife's land grab across the border.

Chiang Mai and Nan had SEPERATE kings and were independent until 1930.

Thai official history is naive and made to look like they haven't been raiding, stealing, murdering, and taking slaves since Angkor fell in 1431. Many countries have done this kind of thing but then most of them admit it.

They churn out false history because if Thais knew the truth they would loose a ton of face in the region.

As a Thai friend told me "a nice lie is better than the difficult truth".

Do Thais have to go back to the Mu Baan to vote or can they vote in the city now?

This could be the key to getting rid of Taksin!

Anyone know?

A 'nice guy' mate of mine started a French restaurant here.

Decided to be the nice boss and pay people 8 000 instead of 4 000. To boost morale and make theft less attractive.

5 of 'em sat round feeling all proud and middle class as if they were all managers and when told to do something they said "Oh you can hire someone for 4000 a month to do THAT kind of sh*t"

Theft continued.....they didn't appreciate what he had done for them so he sold it to a hard assed Chinese businessman who cut salaries in half and worked em like slaves while practically living in the restaurant. He went on to make a packet.

Is this what you have to do to get a business off the ground here? Do nice bosses never make it here? I've haven't heard of any.

What's been your experience with Thai employees?

The problem is the Thai idea of a good education it is mindless rote learning, nationalism (verging on facist), blind monarchism, and historical revisionism (they made Angkor and there were no Jap troops here 60 years ago don't you know?).

SO even if they wanted to give the muslims good education they have no IDEA what it is!

And the rabid nationalism they confuse with academic thought IS what has

f$%ked up the south in the first place as "being Buddhist is essential to being Thai" (Field Marshall Pibun Songkram- Dictator and war time collaborator and alledged assasin of Rama VII)

At least they are turning up to work again. Remember they cut parliament TV because no one was turning up (no quarum) and those that were were on the nod with a sniffer up the schnoz.

At least in Singapore they turn up, get fired for corruption instead of promoted, AND duke it out.

Never a dull day in asia!

What do all expats thinks about something that could dramatically change the place we live in?

Perhaps both schools of thought have lost their way.

If a central tenent is impermenence, and I believe Buddha said don't waste money on statues, temples, sacrifrices, and material things (as opposed to Hinduism) they why do adherents of both still plough money into both? Buddha said no statues, do only in the 5th century B.E did they appear (that I know of) due to the Hindu's incorporating Buddha as the 9th life of Vishnu. Untill then, the symbol had been the wheel of life.

If the four truths are to be believed, then why do very religious Thais (Therevada) and Chinese (Mahayana) engage so readily in the greed that would, according to their beliefs, cause suffering.

Why the proliferation of Mahayana Buddha's? Isn't this a larger schism than that of the Christians? All religions to me seem to be the inevitable corruption of an outstanding, loving teacher into a God (remember neither Jesus, Buddha or Mohammad said they were divine, it was thrust on then for political purposes) that can be a quick fix solution to the most difficult issues in life.

In this very human process, the original message how to end suffering and become a better person is lost.

If you like Thaibugs then has anyone tried the Huhu grub or Whiciti grub that Maoris and Aboriginals eat. The big nutty flavoured suckers........

I thing the local bugs are blander.........and how much DDT do they contain??

"Mungon mah leaw!"

The dragon's here!

Anyone know why so many of 'em don't like the marmite motorway?

SURE dude.

They are ALL virgins.

Like being economical with the truth isn't a national passtime.

There's no drugs, corruption, prostitution, dark influences, and development is finished. No pollution either.

Love this town Your never lying...........only 'protecting' people