Baerboxer

"The government and the army have fully performed their duties in the past two years, the premier said"

The army were certainly magnificent during the floods. Not sure what PTP were doing - oh yes, illegally issuing a passport and getting a large amount of emergency cash.

Something to look forward to then, the PM presenting all the acheivments of the PTP government whilst fully performing their duties over the last two years.

5th cabinet reshuffle means 6 cabinets in 2 years. Are they trying to get into the Guiness Book of Records too?

Good I think this will strangen the government for Thailand development. Only the military constitution hamper this . A very good sign that they atleast try to do something about the corruption !

"Strangen" ??? Do you mean strangle?

Try to do something about corruption - what like cover it up better? Too many leaks at the moment.

Do you really believe anything these people say - given the consistent history of lies and contradictions?

Election? This is the first time I've heard the word election associated with UDD leaders.

Who exactly votes in these election? Do all UDD members vote or do just the leaders vote? Do 1 million people vote? Do 50,000 vote? Do 50 vote? Or does just one man vote?

These are actually serious questions. I know that some members of ThaiVisa (especially someone with the initials NN) are close to the UDD leaders and I wonder if they can shed some light on the level of grassroots democracy actually practiced by the UDD.

A small clique of Red Shirt "leaders" take care of such nuisances. IIRC Thida herself was elected, pfff, appointed that way, probably because she happened to be the only candidate.

Democracy, they are doing it wrong.

You farang - no understan Thai democracy! Same same, but different.

Regarding gKid's remarks on new Minister of Social Development and Human Security Pavena Hongsakul, this veteran politician and women's rights activist was Minister for Tourism when in 1999 she took umbrage at an Esquire article. Unclear if it was because of "Young British men go in their thousands to get what they cant get at home endless sex with as many beautiful women as they can manage." or "Hongsakul claimed to have seen no evidence of a flourishing sex industry on a recent visit to Pattaya, but the Posts editors knew better: On the same page of the Aug. 12 edition they published a captioned photo of the U.S. aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, which had just dropped anchor off Pattaya so the boys might enjoy a little wholesome R&R in the exotic East."

The lady was quoted as saying "anyone who tries to sabotage our country by writing such an article will be blacklisted."

http://www.unc.edu/~pcvelich/bangkok/advert.htm

It is to be hoped that she's less blinded by image and more open, this new old Minister and 2004 BKK governor candidate.

BTW the foundation can be found here http://www.pavenafoundation.or.th/

Not a fan of free speech, reality or the truth then? Obviously very suitable and a good cabinett fit.

But, GK says its a positive change ????

Can a Prime Minister be a Defence minister at the same time? a serious question???

Does that also mean she gets double the salary pack, double the benefits and double of everything else?

The PM will get double the aggravation and double the infantile innuendo.

It is not uncommon in a parliamentary democracy to have ministers including the PM to take on multiple cabinet responsibilities.

And no, the pay and benefits are not doubled.

I know it's happened in Thailand before but I'll have to take your word on it not being uncommon in a parliamentary democracy.

I would have thought it possible that she would be entitled to the salary of a defence minister although I don't know for sure. It would be unlikely to be double though.

Why take his word on it? Let him show how often and in which democracies the PM has appointed his or herself also Defence Minister. He makes the comment very assertivley so must have the research to hand?

There is no pleasing the negative noddies of the foreign community is there? 18 ministers were changed including many who had drawn the criticism of TVFers. Chalerm is moved aside, which is what they wanted, and the only response is one of negativity.

Paveena Hongsakul, a women's and children's rights advocate, is the new Minister of Social Development and Human Security.Thailand has a serious problem with human trafficking and domestic violence. Now there is a minister that is considered to be one of the strongest advocates in the country and that has the confidence of the organizations both domestic and international that are involved.

A thread on education doesn't go by without comments that educational policy does not reflect Thailand needs. Well now there's an education minister who has some knowledge. Chaturon Chaisaeng, the education minister, has past experience in developing educational policy in response to national economic requirements.

Is it so difficult to recognize that the changes are a positive change?

As Chaturon Chaisaeng was the education minister back in 2006, doesn't that make him partially responsible for the poor state of Thai education?

I don't really see how that can be a positive change.

The PM has made the changes based on suitability not ability. These changes will only be positive if the incumbents are effective and do work together to rid Thailand of the blight of corruption.

Considering that many have just returned from a 5 year ban due to their previous corrupt activities, and are controlled by a fugitive convicted criminal who had to be ousted by the military from illegally retaining office, and faces other outstanding charges should he ever return,; what chance do you think there is?

If GK thinks this constant shuffling, jobs for the boys, style of government is positive, perhaps he could tell us about the successful previous track records of all the new ministers? (Before bans of course).

Can a Prime Minister be a Defence minister at the same time? a serious question???

Does that also mean she gets double the salary pack, double the benefits and double of everything else?

The PM will get double the aggravation and double the infantile innuendo.

It is not uncommon in a parliamentary democracy to have ministers including the PM to take on multiple cabinet responsibilities.

And no, the pay and benefits are not doubled.

How do you know that the pay and benefits are not doubled in every instance where this happens in a parliamentary democracy? Please post links to where you verifed your assertive statement.

However, the current political regime in Thailand cannot really be compared to other parliamentary democracies can it? Unless you mean Singapore, Cambodia or Zimbabwe type of PD.

Lost his DPM and shoved off to Labour -but still a cabinett minisiter. Maybe he knows where too many "bodies are buried". The next few months will tell. Going to be interesting to see how he decides to act. This is getting better than the Godfather.

So a government controlled by a fugitive convicted criminal, who faces other charges too, which now imports people who were banned from politics for 5 years due to their corrupt activities, directly into ministerial seats, will rid Thailand of its centuries old endemic corruption

Give Yingluck 6 months and just see what happens...................... sweet FA!! More chance it will get worse, but hiding it from the public will be really improved.

I was in the Philippines when they were arrested. The papers were trumpeting this blow against "trafficking."

They did interviewed on of the "rescued" girls. She was upset that she would now have to go back to be a prostitute to feed her kids. In the cam house that was set up, she worked regular hours, had a clean place to work, did not have to worry about abusive customers, and did not have to worry about catching diseases.

Regardless of the legality in the Philippines, calling the place a "brothel" is really stretching the term. No actual sex takes place. Cam sex is more in line with an interactive movie, like watching 8 1/2 Weeks where you can direct the action.

And once again regardless of the legality, in a place where a convicted contract killer gets 10-15 years, a purveyor of interactive porn gets life?.

I was in the Philipinnes at that time too. If I remember correctly the Swedes provided the IT knowledge whilst the Pinays recruited the "models". There was no suggestion of underage girls or actual sexual services being sold, purely an adult webcam site.

At that time, this was big business in the Philipinnes with many Filipinos (male and female) setting up studios and linking into American and European websites. (A bit like an outsourced call centre). There were many complaints of scams - American guys in particular being duped into sending money after listening to sob stories or with promises to meet and holiday with them. Western Union even posted a warning on its website because so many people sent money, realised it was a scam and complained; and of course couldn't get the money back.

Many of the girls were recurited from the poor provinces, lowly educated and with children or family to support. There were reports that a lot of them were duped into believing they "would earn good salaries" and moved to take the work offer up. They only found out the nature of the work when they got there. By then, they'd borrowed money from their employer to finance travelling, set up accomodation etc. They had little option but to do the work. Quotas and other rules were often appied so the girls saw very little actual salary and had to borrow more. The debt grew and then they were leaveraged to work in the "bars" which their employer also just happened to own.

I believe the Philippine government outlawed adult web cams sometime last year. Any that continue would therefore be illegal.

It's difficult to know whether the Swedes' case started this investigation, or was caught up in it's early days. Certainly, some girls were exploited and some probably made money. High unemployment, poverty, high levels of corruption etc etc and this becomes a familiar tale. However, there is a degree of hypocracy when Angeles City, and other red light areas are allowed to flourish and the one particular operation feels the full wrath of the law.

"the Swede in prison where he confessed to having stabbed the Australian, claiming that it was out of fear for his own safety."

Is "pre-emptive stabbing" a defence plea?

Yes it most ceratinly can be. In the UK

Pre-emptive strikes

There is no rule in law to say that a person must wait to be struck first before they may defend themselves, (see R v Deana, 2 Cr App R 75).

and

A person may use such force as is [objectively] reasonable in the circumstances as he [subjectively] believes them to be.^[4]

To gain an acquittal, the defendant must fulfil a number of conditions. The defendant must believe, rightly or wrongly, that the attack is imminent. Lord Griffith said in Beckford v R:

"A man about to be attacked does not have to wait for his assailant to strike the first blow or fire the first shot; circumstances may justify a pre-emptive strike."^[1]

(see pre-emptive strike in Wikipedia)

It will be interesting to see what the Thai law is in these circumstances.

A UK court and DPP would certainly look at the surveillance tape very closely indeed. This would have to support the defendant's claim that he was in fear of his life and believed he was about to be attacked. If the tape shows what the Swedish paper report he would be very lucky to succeed with that defense. Any evidence of the defendant planning or premeditatin this attack would nulify his defense. Using lethal force to defend yourself spontaneously is one thing. Planning and carrying out a "pre-emptive" strike against someone who you think might attack you at sometime in the future is a different matter.

Now that the PTP parade is in disarray our fellow posters who fervently supported this mess have disappeared maybe to reappear with a new name in support of the opposition.

I'm sure some ot them will return - probably to tell us that Yingluck made these changes, nothing to do with Thaksin; that the long term economic gains of the rice pledging and water management scams far outweight the short term apparent losses (not real losses but only accounting ones anyway), the 400M THB spent on advertising the now forgotten Expo bid was wisely spent, that corruption has been eliminated - so no need to worry about removing all the checks and balances, and that the 2.2Tr THB will be spent honestly and transparently for the benefit of the people by the benevolent, democratically elected people's populist party.

Has the new RTA Airbus, which will now fall under the command of PM/DM Yingluck been bought as a safeguard in case they have to do a quick runner, or a trophy plane to bring the leader triumphantly home?

This farce has the potential to become dangerous, especially now that people lilke Chalerm have become disaffected.

Well, well, well.

Maybe something is beginning to dawn on some people. Their great strategic thinker is not interested in democracy, challenges or listening to other's opinions. It's his way or the highway.

The PTP MP's who were actually elected and the Red Guards will find out that this means nothing. Thaksin thinks, PTP does (as its told) - sums it up nicely. Now they will see his true clours - only his family and cronies will have positions of power, few of whom were actually elected. This will be the same in government and civil service. Will these sheeple see through this cunning but openly obvious plan before it's too late?

Interesting to see how history so often repeats - a small faction manipulating and ruthlessly exploiting the masses to take control. What's worse, the US and EU treat him like he is already in power!

Give Tarit a break please! DSI have caught two criminal masterminds, avoided any complicity or connection with PTP and the civil service, and managed to accuse someone other than Abhisit.

All in a days work for Thailand's J.Edgar

Doesn't he have a (diplomatic) passport from Montenegro? And perhaps one from Dubai (UAE) as well. A bit of a storm on a teacup if you ask me, as revoking his Thai passport doesn't stop him from travelling. Why didn't Abhisit revoke his passport when he was PM?

For the Thaksin hate crowd: I'm just asking so please don't bite my head off!

He supposedly had Montengro citizenship and passport. And, of course his illegally issued Thai one (who knows what sort that actually is?).

I doubt the UAE would issue one to him, or accept him as a citizen. He isn't muslim for starters. The loony tunes ruler of Dubai is a kindred spirit, and strapped for cash, which is probably why he lets T have sanctuary there. But, the ruling family of Abu Dhabi call the shots in the UAE and I don't think they would be particularly fans of BB.

It's time the ombudsman grew some balls and did somehting about this. PTP are simply filibustering. I think they originally thought that DL would be back and firmly in control by now. The ombudsman would risk being dissolved like all the other checks and balances if he dared pursue this then.

However, he ain't back, the passport was illegally issued by his Thaksin's cousin who also wasted tax payers money in getting the Ambassador to deliver it personally, and the puppets can't thing up any answer other than as a democratically elelceted government we can do what we want.

It really is time the Omburdsman took more agressive action.

What is really sad is that so many countries openly cavort with and encourage a fugitive convicted criminal. This, and the fact that his puppet government and police force will never request extradtion or revoke the passport adds to his self-blieve and meglamania. If he ever returns, the consequences are too frightening to contemplate.

Unless he beat his wife, I don't see the issue here. Don't knowingly mess with a bloke's missus.

Actually the issue is Murder It is fairly clear in the story. It is actually illegal to kill someone that is the issue.

Do they have the defense "Crime of Passion" in Thailand?

sick of hearing about this now

So don't bother reading about it then

Kings have been known to abdicate thrones for a woman, why not a monk?

Oh, many have. But it is well kept, and normally not on such a large scale.

You never heard of Edward and Mrs. Simpson then?

Lies, pretence, and bullshit. The "clueless one" reads whatever is put in front of her, and has know idea how it connects or contradicts to the last statement.

And there are some TV posters who supprt her and her criminal bother's regime.

Sad for Thailand, not funny anymore.

The 6 month merry-go-round to make sure all get a turn at the trough. When the music stops, only those most loyal to the master will have a chair.

How can a PM constantly say there will be no reshuffle, and then just announce it? Cedibility - less than zero!

I had my Thai wedding my way.

Cost 10k baht in total.

Lots of food and JWB for those we care about. Had a great ol' day and night. Probably less than 10 adults there in total.

Idiots spending more than that on people they don't know or care about is just silly.

After a few years here you think you should do it big so they can all get face off wasted money. After a few more years here you realize how silly it is, and you're also more in control of your testicles. You call the shots, not them.

<deleted> - not everyone is a cheap charlie looking to spend as little on the wedding or future wife!!

I would have wanted a nice wedding, regardless of the nationality of my future wife. We had a nice ceremony, nice evening reception and a great time. It was not that expensive when compared to other things in life. I want my wife to have have nice things - not look for the cheapest all the time.

10k THB - wow you really pushed the boat out you devil you!

Each to their own.

My understanding, from HSBC people inside and outside Thailand, at the time was that the retail business was profitable here. So, it made it attractive for them to sell off as part of their 'global strategy" review. I thought the business banking side was being retained?

It would be difficult for them to return as they sold this buisness to BOA - and presumably the lawyers were smart enough to have clauses preventing a return and/or competition.

Befor I could transfer money to my Thai account from several other countries free. It was usually there next day as BOT insist on manual transactions. I could then move to my THB account when ER favourable, all free.

Now I have to pay a transfer fee, and it takes 2-4 working days.

I'd love them to retrurn and be able to use Globalview again. But, I don't think this will happen.

What's the saying? Gone to h*ll in a hand basket...that's it. The government has gone way beyond a joke. At least Taksin's coffers are full to the brim now.

Precisely. How many farmers have received a bigger income or had their "lives changed" by this scam? It was designed to enrich a certain chosen few. It's been tumbled and now they're all running around like headless chickens trying to cover up. Corruption, missing stocks, illegal imports, same rice pledged several times, secret "government to government" negotiations, lies about the figures, denials of knowing what was going on from those suposedly in charge, ridiculous claims and figures that don't add up etc etc.

This would all have still been going on with tax payers money draining away had it not been for Moody's. Now they're scrambling and trying to buy time to keep the wolf from the door. The lies and plans become more desperate.

Where are all the usual red Thaksin defenders with their posts in support of this democratically elected peoples' government and their astonishingly brilliant 2 years in office?

Thailand will regularly report to the United States, Why? Since when has the U.S been in charge and who made them the governor? Wouldn't they be better reporting to an independent body like the U.N?

The UN is one of the most ineffective organizations going. Lots of talk, little action and has its own corruption issues to worry about. Just look at anything they're involved with.

The US, like all countries, are free to make rules on who the will and won't do business with. Most Western businesses have CSR and Ethical criteria which suppliers must meet. The US government, runs like any other business, and has similar criteria. If you don't wan to play ball, play by their rules, you're out of their game. Choice is yours.

Thailand is free to ignore what the US says, but the US is also free to deal with who they want to, and to share information and influence with other like minded nations.

As a few people have thank fully already mentioned "Formal schooling I acknowledge is essential for the social development of the child" is not true at all as there are so many things you can do to overcome that problem.

I swap between lives in Australia and rural Thailand and homeschool my three kids and it has been a real blessing. They learn so much and i get to spend so much time with them that we all end up winners. I follow no set curriculum but swap between many and am not registered to any particular county.

Homeschooling was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

There is a requirement in Thailand that people who homeschool their children are registered and have an approved curriculum and an appropriate qualification - see subsequent posts. You must have approval to do this, its the law.

What you are doing may seem fine, until your kids want to enter into higher education. Formal, accepted qulifications will be required. You could be creating issues for the future which will impede the educational options and choices of your children. I would check the legal and educational system requirements in Australia too.

You may be a great teacher and your kids may be really bright - but that's not the point. It's very difficult to buck the system these days and be accepted.