jamesbrock

5 hours ago, Mister Fixit said:

I think the good General has found a role model.

Oh god please no.

"Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, contemporarily known as Phibun(Pibul) in the West, was Prime Minister and virtual military dictator of Thailand from 1938 to 1944 and 1948 to 1957."

14 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

Paiboon has been pushing this move for some time......and in reality, it's a fumbling attempt to alleviate the overcrowding of the Thai prison system.......

Methamphetamines (yaba) should not become a level 2 narcotic.....it's a mind altering narcotic that devastates users, families and communities.....policing needs to improve.

Marijuana is obviously much less damaging and of course, does have a level of medicinal properties if managed, the enforcement of this could well be relaxed somewhat.

 

It's a dangerous course for any country to undertake, when it comes to relaxing laws on narcotics....especially when they start talking about methamphetamines!

Except Portugal. For some reason Portugal succeeded in doing exactly what you claim is dangerous for any country to do...

Drug decriminalization – alongside a serious investment in treatment and harm reduction services – has been proven to significantly improve public safety and health.

• Drug Decriminalisation in Portugal: A Health-Centered Approach: http://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/DPA_Fact_Sheet_Portugal_Decriminalization_Feb2015.pdf
• Portugal decriminalised drugs 14 years ago – and now hardly anyone dies from overdosing: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/portugal-decriminalised-drugs-14-years-ago-and-now-hardly-anyone-dies-from-overdosing-10301780.html

4 hours ago, kotsak said:

Wondering what Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram would say about this

He was the one that ruined it all in the first place! If the good general is taking about prior to Phibun issuing the cultural mandate, 'On Thai dress,' where Thai people were encouraged to adopt Western, as opposed to traditional, attire which—at that time—still consisted of women going about their daily business topless, then I can only applaud him.

He's obviously very bright, considering the architect was announced seven years ago... 

1 hour ago, Michael8511 said:

No I don't disregard the people here, I personally think that the junta have done a great job to clean up after taksin X 2, this is the second time the military with approval from the royal household have cleaned up. This time they even swept some royals with that had connection with taksin. I have been in Thailand frequently for 20+ years and don't think the people have suffered except street wendors and people that paid the police to open shops that have been demolished. I enjoy the fact that you now can walk on the street in BKK and Pattaya without having to step on merchandise. Also the cabs in BKK are better today, that's an issue that many tourists have complaint about. In Pattaya for example the beach road is walkable now since some illegal constructions have been moved and the beach is clean, yes the chair vendors have had too tighten up and have a little bir smaller area but all in all its better. The biggest complaint before was that there was no space for people that didn't want to pay around 3000 baht per month so sit on the beach, they can now bring their own chair and refreshment and they are happy. We enjoy our chairs as before and I don't think it's better not worse on the beach now. I don't really know what fundamental freedom you are talking about that are removed. When it comes to the free election just for your information the last taksin paid 500 baht to people outside buriram to vote for her, my partner went to collect his money and a lot of elderly people in that village don't know how to write and read so they took the money as a blessing and woted. I guess you also think what her goverment did with the rice farmers was fair, they were scammed of a lot of money from the goverment that they got paid back by the kingdom and junta. Her goverment are in line with the republicans in Texas that love for the Mexicans to work on their farm as long as they are illegal so they can't complain, if those Mexicans got legal status the farmers have to pay more. We see things different and I guess that's the beauty of a free world

Oh, where does one start?

Probably with the false binary division, or false dichotomy that junta supporters almost always push. For most posters here it isn't a case of 'junta bad/Shins good,' there should really be no choice between a democratically elected criminal and his puppet sister, and a—well, one is prevented by the forum rules to accurately describe the current junta's technical title or the country's current system of government—who illegally overthrew a government, granted themselves a blanket amnesty, and then installed themselves as rulers in perpetuity. And that is the tragedy that is Thailand.

3 hours ago, silent said:

Really. I'm surprised you've never heard you don't have a prayer in hell?

Oh, I've heard of idioms that use the word 'prayer,' just not the idiom (that you quoted), which is always 'singing from the same hymn book' or 'singing from the same hymn sheet' (why would anyone sing from a prayer book?).

6 minutes ago, silent said:

You mean prayer book don't you? 

Nope. I've never heard the idiom with 'prayer' in place of 'hymn'.

Are these illegal encroachers also being made to pay for the forest reclamation? Or are the structures simply being demolished leaving grass?

Prepare the tugboats and rope!

On a more serious note, I wonder if the Committee Responsible for solving the drought crisis Action Plan (CRAP) has changed their name to Committee Responsible for solving the Flood Crisis yet...

The police reforms may meet public demands, but will the results meet public expectations?

2 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

I don't believe that moving the drug from one list to another, for rehab. purposes, would make the slightest difference......it certainly won't change the mindset of users when you consider the number of users in Thailand alone, is in the tens of thousands......!

It will make the important difference on enabling medically supervised rehabilitation, which is currently illegal due to the list it is on. That is the only stated reason for the change - not making it acceptable, as you wrote earlier. I would think anything that makes it easier for the tens of thousands of poor souls addicted to this scourge would be welcomed.

I, for one, commend the justice minister long overdue, and stunningly progressive stance that "suppression alone would not be able to solve the scourge of narcotic drugs unless treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts are undertaken simultaneously." It is a marked change from the tripe that comes out of Thai officialdom on a daily basis.

I wonder if this list of names includes the army general, the police officer and the government officials that were put on trial for this crime? 

8 minutes ago, NongKhaiKid said:

Too much here is Softly Softly because so much that goes gets too close to home and it's a sort of   '  and who amongst you will cast the first stone   ?   '   situation.

Show consideration to those in the frame because one day it could be you and have to hope the same consideration will be applied.

Pretty much what I just replied to you! We're certainly singing from the same hymn book! 

1 hour ago, Thechook said:

It must be crowded in the department of inactive posts

Consider that there are roughly 250,000 police, and when the need arises for a massive presence they can only scrounge up 90,000-100,000...

1 hour ago, NongKhaiKid said:

A list of cops allegedly paid bribes to be accurate I think.

Now how many times have we read about such lists involving various aspects of officialdom and what happens,   you know I really can't answer that because I can't remember reading much in the way of follow up reports.

The problem with the RTP and offences by its own, is that the offenders and the investigators are from the same agency, and invariably higher-ranking officers would be exposed in any in-depth investigation, so it's all too easy to put a stop to any efforts of the investigating officials. The alleged guilty are simply transferred to inactive posts until the media scrutiny dies down and the issue fades from public view. 

25 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Four top officers suspended.Why only suspension?????

If there s proof they accepted money JAIL them, charge them, take them to court, if found guilty jail them.

I am tired of seeing inactive posts, they do wrong then get moved to a cushy, easy job, doing sweet f.a.

 

Long past time for a good clear out of all the corrupt police here.

I would hazard a guess that "a good clear out of all the corrupt police here" would only leave a very few junior newbies throughout the entire country.

That being said, with the army currently in control, and possessing police powers, now would be as good a time as any for the necessary clean out. Pity no one with the political power or will is in a position to do what's needed.

Good on them for the eventual arrest, but one has to wonder how many lives were ruined in the "several years" that she was a major drug trafficker...

43 minutes ago, Thechook said:

Will just become another dirty looking blackened building in need of an urgent wash and paint.  Every building turns black in Thailand and I don't think a single one has any sort of maintenance done.

My wife and I were watching the Tour de France last month, and she was perplexed at how the buildings in France were much older yet much cleaner and in much better condition than those in Bangkok. I made some excuse about the constant humidity affecting the concrete and paint, but she was having none of it - "Thai people are lazy and don't take care." (The conversation moved on to them not being lazy per se, but too busy eeking out a meagre existence while the rich and influential accumulate all the national wealth, but that is off topic for this thread...)

7 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

This guy needs to go for a trip to the province villages and see first hand what a few tablets of Yaba actually does to people......

He seems to think, from all accounts,  it's just a "social" drug that is easily managed....and not the mind altering disaster that it really is.

No government globally would consider making this drug acceptable.......what the hell is wrong with these people?

Actually, they're not considering making the drug acceptable, they're considering moving it from one list to another so it can be legally used by doctors in addicts' rehabilitation. What the hell is so wrong with that?

Wait, didn't Khun Korbkarn just yesterday say that the tourism situation has returned to normal, as tourists are confident in the security measures employed by Thai authorities??

10 hours ago, Rob8891 said:

....", said they are still waiting for Niantic to get back to them."

 

They're all  at the stupidity of this.

Me too.

In all seriousness, Niantic are probably wondering how much revenue they can extract from these imbeciles.

It could be a pretty nice earner from them.

18 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

Voice TV is owned by Thaksin's son.  It's politically oriented.  Politically oriented media outlets (from any party) tend to go off a bit.  Some more than others.  

 

I've heard what's said on some of these programs.  Absolute BS.

Add the ownership, and probably political bent to the fact that (former) Pol Cpt Dr Chomdet (or Jomdet) Trimek is—I consider—one of the good guys, and you can see why the junta doesn't like him having a platform.

A lecturer of Criminology and Criminal Justice Administration at Rangsit University, Dr Jomdet has a Phd in Criminology, and has been a stern advocate for police reform. This paper is a very good read: http://rjsh.rsu.ac.th/download/RJSH-Vol1-No2_49-53_Jomdet-Trimek.pdf

36 minutes ago, JAG said:

I'm sure that they have been  as busy as beavers! So much to be hidden, investments to be realised or protected, deals to be cut and so on; before the reformers (new boys on the block) "reform" their ways of operating.

1 hour ago, Plutojames88 said:

What is normal?

Tourists being gang kicked in the head and culprits released instead of charged with attempted grievous bodily harm?

 

Elderly woman beaten unconscious? 

 

What is normal?

 

Do you even know who extensively bombed tourist areas?

How can you audaciously even claim safety .?

 

Pretty much.

According to the Australian Government, normal is "exercise a high degree of caution in Thailand due to the possibility of civil unrest and the threat of terrorist attack, including in Bangkok and Phuket."

Quote

We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Thailand due to the threat of terrorist attack, including Bangkok and Phuket. We continue to receive reports that terrorists may be planning attacks against a range of targets, including locations frequented by tourists and foreigners. Thai authorities have on a number of occasions warned of the possibility of bombings in Thailand to coincide with symbolic dates or holidays.

 

We continue to receive reports of the sexual assault, food and drink spiking, assault and robbery of foreigners, including around popular backpacker and tourist destinations such as Khao San Road in Bangkok, the night-time entertainment zones in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket, and during Full Moon and other parties on Koh Phangan. Due to the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, victims of violent crime, especially rape, are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical assistance.

 

Petty crime, such as theft from hotel rooms, and pickpocketing is common. Money and passports have been stolen from rooms (particularly in cheaper hotels and hostels) and from bags on public transport. Items have been removed from luggage stored below buses and travellers have reported being drugged and robbed during bus and train journeys. Beware of pickpockets in crowded markets and shopping streets. You can reduce the impact of opportunistic crime when visiting these areas by leaving credit and other valuable items that are not required locked in your hotel safe. Remain vigilant in public areas. 

 

Tourists have also been robbed after the bags they were carrying were snatched by thieves on motorcycles or were sliced open by razor blades. Beware of motorcycles approaching from behind as you walk on the footpath and hold bags and backpacks in front of you or in ways that make them difficult to be snatched. You should be aware that some foreigners, including an Australian tourist, have been killed in these incidents. You can reduce the opportunity for such opportunistic theft by limiting the carriage of easily grabbed bags in public places.

It appears the official situation isn't as rosy as Khun Korbkarn and the National Propaganda Network would have us believe...

1 hour ago, Plutojames88 said:

No one sees changes ahead.

Total propaganda .

True, but one can hope.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

to protect themselves from mosquito bites, especially striped mosquitoes

"Quick check whether that mozzie that just landed on you is a striped one!!"

Don't these people know by now that telling the truth is illegal in Thailand? There are 112 reasons for this...

5 hours ago, callaway said:

It is still being investigated. Do you think they have to have all in the paper before they even locate the culprits? Once again "if you needed to know" they would have told you. Once the investigation is finished then you will be given more info by the news outlets. All complain the police talk too much when they open their mouths before the investigation is complete. Now complain they are not getting enough information. That amazes me !!!!

In case you hadn't noticed, this is a discussion forum. Discussion forums are a form of social media where people engage in discussions of all sorts of topics and subjects. A discussion is an activity in which people talk about something and tell each other their ideas or opinions.

If people discussing a story posted on an online discussion forum amazes you so much that you need to comment on it, then you must live in a state of perpetual bewilderment. People who admonish other people for discussing a subject on a discussion forum amazes me!