Baerboxer

Presumably Tarit must also think the DSI have a duty to get Thaksin to face the additional outstanding criminal charges he faces. Do believe the courts have issued warrants.

Can't wait to see the decisive action the DSI take on this. Oh wait, can't upset the boss now,

Double standards as usual.

I'm not bashing Russians, but just making an observation in the fact they have certainly taken the heat off us Brits over the last couple of years

I never realised Brits were better than Russian ... I may have missed something somewhere.

You must indeed.

How exactly are they going to prove this?

Cashier hands over a wad of notes so they can "inspect" them - value 100k and they remove one third, value 32k. Was this caught on cctv? Were the notes marked in some way? Any witnesses? If not, it is the word of a cashier with a somewhat implausible story against two tourists.

Ms Yingluck delivered a vision statement on railroad development.

Ms Yingluck urged the State Railways of Thailand (SRT) to increase its potential in order to transfer excess road transport traffic into rail system transportation.

She also called on the SRT to improve its services and safety.

Did she forget that she actually runs this organisation?

Does she have a memory? Forgot to turn up for the first day of the Amnesty Bill reading although promised to do so. Ohh, silly me, must be much more exciting to go out on a train ride and be feted like the hiso you are than attend and watch all those silly democrats trying to delay the inevitable.

Has she actually done anything, taken responsibility for anything, or accepted accountability for anything in the last 2 years ? Cried in the floods, filed defamation suits, got her kid selected to walk out with Chelsea, made a great effort at being the PM with the most contradictory statements ever, run up more air miles than anyone and appointed herself DM.

Run anything - has she ever?

Hahaha that was fast!

Well done!

Fast indeed but if we consider this a relatively minor offence why don't they move at such speed to sort out the serious stuff ?

Stuck in somebody's " TOO HARD " tray I suppose.

That is deadly serious !

Well done, but that happens everywhere here in Isaan!

If they not play themselves they take High Kickbacks !

Everybody takes his share, I was at the Provincial Police head office in Udon Thani.

Was sent away, should tell my problem at the Amphur Police station! 55555 That policemen who take the bribes in cash!

My GF is still playing, a Policeman drove with her around some years ago and played HIGH ! with my money !

Than dumped her! 1 Million B. gone, she is still playing and ran to Patong and later to Singapore to work in the RED lights to find money what she borrowed from people now! Will not stop until all, including me gone!

Crazy addicted!

Sadly true Alfredo. My SOL divorced her senior policeman husband because he was gambling all the family money away, usually when boozing with his police mates. Another young male relative who is a nurse at a Bangkok hospital got involved in betting on the football games. Lost so much money his gf (lovely girl from good family) bailed him out. He got in debt again and actually brought her to see our house so she might lend him some more (thought she'd be impressed with knowing he has distant farang relation - idiot). His gf finally gave up on him - did he learn, NFW - straight back in debt, then asking if he could stay at our house as he was scared of the gang he owed losses too. My missus told him to **** off and get real. Sad, but these guys both have booze as well as gambling problems.

Alfredo - hope you've got rid of this gf before she cleans you out mate. Don't hang around because once the money has gone so will she be.

My daughter made several unaccompanied trips when similar age. She loved it. They get escorted onto the plane and very often are upgraded. My daughter often finished in first class seats eating ice cream and chocolate with the crew! Even if the plane is full and no UG available they really look after them well. They will escort the child from the plane, through immigration, baggage collection, customs and hand over to the person officially meeting them.

Bear in mind to make arrangements for the meeting people to have identification and authorization, especially if not mum or dad. Check with the airline on their procedures and also the procedures at the destination airport. Different airlines and different countries do things differently so double check to make sure nothing missed and no problems,

Hi there,

All happy Thai lovers!

Well I come from Victoria and alot of my friends from various walks of life are there. Yes many bikies from Banditos and Commachero clubs. Over the years being involved in the boxing industry I have seen everything you could wish and not wish to see. But I will say at least it is BACK and WHITE no GREY areas. Unlike some Thai style tactics.

The other day I was in Pattaya SOI and to my suprise 2 HELLS ANGELS patched road past !!

Unbelievable western strength landing and setting up shop in Thai. The Thais really do not no the strength and power of some of the Australian clubs. Under the facade of a seminar is a heavier pursuit going on with both authorities

Over and out !

Tommy gun

The strength and power of Aussie biker gangs has know bearing in the LOS. If they are connected and look after the right people then they'll be tolerated. Step out of line or piss off the wrong Thais and they'll be kicked out. Same same.

“In addition to Phuket, we will also conduct this workshop with peers in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, two other famous Thai tourist hubs,” Mr Tanti explained.

But not Pattaya? <deleted>

No - its all Russian, Chinese and Indian mafia there. No room for the Aussies.

Here we go. Let the Australians show em how its done. Just what we need another nanny state country

Surely, its a bit like Skippy trying to teach the Keystone cops?

This seems to suggest that a large number of Aussies coming to Thailand are criminals of some sort, especially if they go to Phuket. Are the AFP monitoring these and wanting to work with the RTP?

Thainess Promotion: Only in Thailand can a Thai kill a non-Thai with a weapon meant for killing and have a lesser charge for "not meaning to kill them or to scare them." Whether it's shooting someone, samurai swords, knives, or sharpened rebar, it will most likely be dismissed as a "misunderstanding" and all guilty parties walk.

Yes - they will apologize to the victims bereaved family and friends. Explain it was all a misunderstanding that got of of hand and ended with a bad accident.

Even if they bargain and plead guilty to some lesser offence - "unintentional killing of a troublesome, drunk, aggressive farang" the punishment will no doubt be a slap on the wrist. The family and US can protest all they want - but no one will listen or care.

You have to admire the brass neck and ingenuity.

Aye, but they forgot to pay the gratuity to their new rulers.

Not really anything to do with Thaksin, is it ???

A group of soldiers fired into a temple and killed 6 unarmed people, including a medic attending to injured people.

An independent court has found them ( the soldiers, and by extension, their officers ) culpable and now it remains to be seen how the court system processes this decision.

Hopefully, there will be a prosecution.

It's rather good thing that a coroners court has arrived at a decision holding the RTA responsible for it's actions, would you not agree ???

That could be a first.

It's always very difficult for any court to make definite sound judgments regarding military actions. This court would appear to have done so and is even prepared to name the units involved. I haven't seen the evidence presented but it must have been considerable and more than circumstancial to allow such a definitive and detailed verdict.

Military personnel rarely face prosecution and punishment for such crimes - look at how many involved in copious atrocities in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos have ever been brought to trial or really punished even when found guilty. Nothing to do with justice - all to do with wanting an effective military.

Not really anything to do with Thaksin - If you believe he orchestrated, financed and controlled the riots, then yes it is everything to do with him. If you believe he instructed the red shirt leaders to renege on their offer once accepted by the government, and up the anti, for his own ends, then yes it has everything to do with him. If you believe he wasn't involved and is simply a fugitive convicted criminal who faces other outstanding criminal charges and just happens to be the brother of the current PM/DM and BoL of the FM, then I guess no, it doesn't have anything to do with him. But if you believe that, then you probably believe that Yingluck is the real PM and chose her own cabinet too; and that all these rumours of Thakin controlling the government by Skype and meetings in HK and Singapore are not true either.

It's called democracy in action. Despite being in Power for a while (and in the position to influence things) the Democrats had it proved to them at the last election that they simply don't have the support they need to control the Parliament and run this country. Some else does have majority popular support and (despite what many TV contributors can't seem to get their head around) are therefore the elected Government of the Kingdom of Thailand. And as such they can introduce laws to Parliament, get them passed and put them into action. The days of protestors changing the Government because they shout the loudest and cause the most amount of trouble are hopefully over for a while (because things shouldn't be allowed to work like that). The people of Thailand (not resident expats) voted and voted-in the current Government with a significant majority and until the next election they are the Government. The people have spoken and clearly the majority of people in this country believe that certain people deserve to be forgiven past offenses / misdeeds and the Government because it draws its power and relevance from the electorate has introduced an Amnesty Bill. Democracy.

Half of your post is correct and and the other half is flawed.

Yes, this government was voted in, fair and square. As such they can introduce Laws. That's the correct part of your post. (Of course, they do not have a right to pass a Law, as they are only the government. To do so by some form of autocratic decree would not be democratic.)

However, the current government won 48.4% (if I recall correctly) votes - so, yes they have a very strong mandate to do what they said they would do during their election campaign until their term expires. Their election pledges were very unspecific about whether they would work towards forgiving "past offenses / misdeeds", and the question was dodged ambiguously at every opportunity.

Therefore it is the case that clearly the majority of people in this country believed in 2011 that they as a whole would benefit more from a Peua Thai government than a Democrat one; whereas it is not the case that "clearly the majority of people in this country believe that certain people deserve to be forgiven past offenses / misdeeds" - that's the flawed part of your post, even if you are right on this; we just don't know because the public has never been directly asked this question. (And in fact we have large parts of both sides voicing strong opposition to a general amnesty as is being proposed, as it would absolve wrongdoers on both sides.)

And this is why the "symbolic" fight against the amnesty bill is of consequence - so that those who make the rules are aware of the political division and barrier to reconciliation this move will create. This is democracy in action, as in a true democracy all voices must be taken into consideration.

I thought it was 48% of the people who voted, Not at all the same as 48% of the population entitled to vote. Neither is a majority.

Ignoring several requests for an answer to questions from the Ombudsman regarding illegal actions is hardly the response anyone would expect from a government that has any respect for democracy or the rule of law.

That's a surprise.Thread is about the Democrats "symbolic" fight against the bill.Suddenly it's a ponderous "satirical" attack on Thaksin and the redshirt movement.I wonder what it takes for the usual suspects to actually focus on the subject without dragging in Thaksin etc.

Why do you think the Democrats are actually protesting against this bill? Who is it intended to whitewash for crimes convicted and awaiting trial?

Have a guess.

Thaksin is not covered in the proposed amnesty bill.The Democrats are perfectly entitled to oppose it anyway and indeed it's their duty as a responsible opposition party.Abhisit however is playing a dangerous game in playing footsy with proto fascist street mobs:he should concentrate his efforts in parliament where his analytical intelligence is better employed.

Is that right - and who told you this? PTP by any chance? Open to interpretation I thought were the weasely words usually used. If and when its passed, we shall see if you are right.

Proto facist street mobs - that's a good description of the red storm troopers but they were kept away yesterday and the massive police presence was easily able to deal with a very peaceful protest that respected the law.

Have you wondered why the same police service didn't act in a similar way against the violent terrorist rioters in 2010?

The sheer ineptness of the democrats was on display for all to see yesterday.

They just haven't learned a thing from past protests, the precedent was set in 2010 on how to successfully protest.

Step 1) send goons up the cctv camera posts and smash the cameras.

Step 2) crank up the propaganda on all available outlets, radio, tv, loudspeakers. Bald lies are the go, the more outrageous the better,

Step 3) use rocket propelled grenades, small bombs, and firearms to provoke a reaction from the government and hopefully injure some protestors so that Yingluck will be sent to court on murder charges.Money to pay for the terror campaign should be paid from a bank inside parliament for arrogant amusement.

Step 4) Employ some foreign PR firm to spread your lies to international media.

Step 5)If your demands are met, renege on them and increase step 3.

Step 6) threaten, intimidate the electorate, buy votes, make outlandish promises that await your poll victory. Million baht cash for every voter and 72 virgins for all should suffice.

Step 7) When you cobble together a coalition govt after the election loot as much from the national coffers as possible. Many trillions loaned off budget with no plan as to how to spend it is fine.

Step 8) Enjoy your democracy.

If all goes wrong there will be no liability, amnesty for all is on the way. Its a win win.

That's a surprise.Thread is about the Democrats "symbolic" fight against the bill.Suddenly it's a ponderous "satirical" attack on Thaksin and the redshirt movement.I wonder what it takes for the usual suspects to actually focus on the subject without dragging in Thaksin etc.

Why do you think the Democrats are actually protesting against this bill? Who is it intended to whitewash for crimes convicted and awaiting trial?

Have a guess.

It's called democracy in action. Despite being in Power for a while (and in the position to influence things) the Democrats had it proved to them at the last election that they simply don't have the support they need to control the Parliament and run this country. Some else does have majority popular support and (despite what many TV contributors can't seem to get their head around) are therefore the elected Government of the Kingdom of Thailand. And as such they can introduce laws to Parliament, get them passed and put them into action. The days of protestors changing the Government because they shout the loudest and cause the most amount of trouble are hopefully over for a while (because things shouldn't be allowed to work like that). The people of Thailand (not resident expats) voted and voted-in the current Government with a significant majority and until the next election they are the Government. The people have spoken and clearly the majority of people in this country believe that certain people deserve to be forgiven past offenses / misdeeds and the Government because it draws its power and relevance from the electorate has introduced an Amnesty Bill. Democracy.

"Some else does have majority popular support" - wrong. Current government don't have this. Check the facts.

"And as such they can introduce laws to Parliament" - providing they follow the correct legal processes as per the constitution. There is a process for making changes to the constitution should they wish to try and do so.

"The days of protestors changing the Government because they shout the loudest and cause the most amount of trouble are hopefully over for a while" - why, because the party supported by the most violent and loudest group are now in power? Are they really democratic when they surpress free speech at every opportunity?

"and voted-in the current Government with a significant majority" - not true. Check your facts on the % of people who actually voted for the current government.

"until the next election they are the Government" - but they have acted illegally, which they admit but refuse to comment on or correct. Should any government any where in the world be allowed to act illegally when in power just because they were elected? Or should people enjoy the right to protest such actions including impeachment if necessary.

"The people have spoken and clearly the majority of people in this country believe that certain people deserve to be forgiven past offenses / misdeeds and the Government because it draws its power and relevance from the electorate has introduced an Amnesty Bill. Democracy." - What nonsense! The majority of Thais do not support a whitewash for a convicted criminal fraudster, who faces more serious charges should he return. This whole amnesty issue has been concocted for the benefit of one person. Otherwise why not support the bill produced by the relatives of those killed, which the opposition would also support?

You post nice propaganda but like most pro-PTP propaganda it's a bit economical on the truth.

DP keeps proving it's incompetency! Instead of fighting the bill with argument they are trying to fight it with tricks!

How more ridiculous do they plan to become?

They keep bringing pocket knives to gunfights. It's over and done. One side is serious about acquiring and keeping power. The other one hasn't got the faintest idea.

Yep - wonder how they'll react when they get dissolved with all the other opposition parties. Maybe the penny will finally drop.

And they move further and further down that slippery slope away from Democracy and accountability. We all know what comes next, it's just a case of when.

Sadly you seem to be correct. If this bill is pushed through and PTP's owner returns as planned and takes power ................ it really is a frightening scenario,

This time around it looks like all the "homework" has been done and bases covered - no real opposition.

A disgrace it took 5 years. heads should roll

Interesting. Look at how quickly certain recent murders and crimes have been "solved". Perhaps Chalerm should have been on this case too. Wonder how quickly these will come to court when it seems certain "powers" want it all cleared up quickly?

The Ferrari boy murderer and the actor who shot his "friend" in the face on cctv haven't come to court yet. Wonder if they ever will?

I presume all these people are out on bail until sentenced. Is the ex-cop actually serving time for his wife's murder? If so, he might be pleading guilty now and expecting to receive a reduced concurrent sentence. Probably wangle some kind of parole or pardon in a few years, and who knows, maybe even back on the job.

Some people always say there is no justice in this world - certainly seems particularly true in this legal system. Although it is probably the same in many developing countries where corruption is the way of life.

80% of the Thai Police Force should be sacked. The country might then move forward if they can find some good people to replace them with

Anyone could organize a road block, oooh sorry you meant good people.

What would be needed is a brand new set up, similar to UK police, moneis collected for any offence goes to government. Apart from some over zealous traffic police and household thefts reported that mostly are not dealt with as Insurance claims see to it. Otherwise in general they are respected and helpful, and walk the streets, also usually 1 will live in each village, and crimes can be tackled locally.

Just a pity Thailand cannot adopt UK system of policing, as now 80% --a guess--hate the bib and do NOT respect them. Problem here is that people are afraid of any authority-----UP TO NOW.

Where did you get your idea of UK policing from - Dixon of Dock Green? All cctv now. The crime response times are slow, interest in robbery low, and the motorway speed cameras automated. Village bobbies and community policing - sure, just like the Police Commissioners are doing a great job already.

I remember the riots in UK cities in the 80s. Police moved about from rural areas to the cities to prevent trouble. Have a guess how they spent their spare time?

I think the UN have had a hand in putting down armed insurgencies before today,that tells me where they are coming from.

I don't think they've ever put down an armed insurgency. In fact, they usually screw up basic peace keeping roles.

Too bad the UN doesn't have any teeth.

Or a track record of success, influence or competence. Most countries ignore the UN whenever it suits them and the ones that don't are usually only interested in aid.

UN peace keepers are a joke - check their track record e.g. Srbenica or Rawanda.