Baerboxer

Yep, this farcical, idiotic, corrupt, dumb, stupid country doesn't deserve the likes of us. What about we all vote with our feet and leave?

There's always one! Bye Bye then - hope you have a nice trip to wherever.

There are shootings everyday in Bangkok, some fatal, some not. The amount of guns is incredible! I would estimate 1/4 of cars have a gun, (possibly less than half legal) and 3/4 of all cars, a weapon of some sort. 3,000 baht can buy you a .38 semi (I know because I was offered it yesterday). Its so easy to buy a gun here!

I have had guns pointed at me a few times now, twice by drunken police! Shot at several times (but that was in the Red Shirt protests) and picked up untold dead bodies from shootings. Guns are displayed very often all over Bangkok, and luckily used more rarely but listening to the police radios I can easily say - daily, sometimes many times in one day, we just don't hear about it unless someone high profile is killed or reporters got a good photo, otherwise it's just part of daily life here.

As for the gun-user profiles, I would definitely say the majority that use it are actually hot headed teenagers (who possibly loose face), more rarely the rich and powerful, they normally pay someone else to do it! The only difference is the rich and powerful will probably not go to jail, while the average teenager will.

Once again I would highly recommend to everyone to avoid altercations with Thai's, this is one place where you really want to turn the other cheek but saying that, if you have to, hit and run like hell, you will never win, even if you do win.

"The amount of guns is incredible!"

Perhaps so, but what's really incredible are your wild guesses, or estimates as you present them. Can you actually substantiate that 25% of all cars in Bangkok contain one or more firearms? I have lived in BKK for 8 years and have never personally seen a gun in the hands (or the car) of a civilian. Not that I feel much better about seeing them in the hands of what passes for law enforcement here.

I have quite a wide and diverse circle of Thai friends, colleagues and acquaintances and not one of them has ever offered to sell or give me a gun. I find this significant, as many of my friends know that I used to shoot competitively for many years in my home country.

I do not doubt that there are many guns, both legally and illegally in circulation, as the news of frequent shootings bears this out. But this kind of sensational claims contributes nothing useful to the discussion IMHO.

I agree fstarrbkk. In 20 years I've seen 2 guns here apart from poilce officers and servicemen. These were both shotguns owned by wealthy Thai business owners who kept them at their homes.

I would be very surprised if Thailand has more guns than the Philipinnes. Many Filipinos I know keep a pistol in their car and the police there make the BiB look proficient. To suggest 25% of cars contain guns here, and 75% some kind of weapon is an unbased opinion; as is the suggestion that Bangkok is the venue for daily "wild west" shootouts. I've never been offered a gun or seen anykind of weapon in the numerous cars I've had lifts in here.

I still think Bangkok is safer than many UK cities I can think of.

Bangkok or Baghdad all the same now with guns so freely available LOS land of shootings

Bangkok is nothing like Baghdad - to suggest it is silly.

NO CASH, please beware or you will crash.

Yes - be careful. I married in Thailand. My wife has a very nice large diamond engagement ring, a set of diamond and set of gold jewellery which I bought for her. This was displayed at the wedding. We married in Bangkok and had a relgious ceremony followed by a later evening reception, both at a good four star hotel so quite expensive. We gave a large amount of money to my in-laws, which they gave back to my wife the next day. This was counted infront of everyone and made a big show of - but it was all for show and went straight into a friend's safe for the evening.

I chose to give my in-laws a small gift each, which they were very appreciative. I did not give the various cousins, sister's husband's family or any of the other hangers on anything, although they all came and enjoyed the reception. My father in law promised he would give us some land after a year's marriage. Sure enough, after a year he gave 2 sizeable well positioned chunks and the deeds were changed to my wife's name. I had spent time getting to know my wife, and her imediate family. Please do the same to avoid future pain. I have seen several people cleaned out by scheming Thai families.

Swearing usually demonstrates that someone has lost their temper or has a poor education and low command of vocabulary. Some cultures swear more than others as part of their normal conversation. Go to Eire and you'll here far more swearing than in the UK. This is not gender different. I lived in India for several years. Middle and Upper class Indian ladies thought is was "cool" to swear in normal conversation. (Many were keen to have foreign boyfriends at the time too, along with smoking and drinking expensive cocktails). All part of their fashionable culture at that time and place. They were demonstrating their independence in a very male dominated society.

Similarly, young people copied swearing from films and televsion. Film and programme makers put swear words in for the same reasons they included violence and sex scenes. It helps push the viewing ratings up.

Women should not feel obliged to use swear words as some kind of "equality" statement. If they do, they are equating themselves with the uneducated and unthinking. Men should resist the temptation to be profane, especially when in public company and with their families.

I can't figure out what your intentions are. Are you trying to study in a university in Thailand or are you trying to work as a teacher? If you are trying to study in Thailand with your current credentials, the Ministry of Education in Thailand only recognizes certain academic credentials. The rest don't mean anything. If you are trying to work as a teacher, I imagine the department of labor only recognizes certain credentials.

I've spoken with several foreign teachers here recently. Some were very worried that their qualifications would not suffice anymore. I understood from them at you must have a degree. A TEFL / TESOL etc wasn't enough on its own. Moreover, vocational professional body qualifications are unlikely to be accepted has equivalent to a degree in this context, assuming you are looking to carry on teaching. They are accepted as equivalent in the UK - providing they meet OFQUAL requirements but TIT.

What gets me most about this is that this hinders business development and investment in Thailand. There is no logic to this policy and real business will only look upon Thailand as a place that does not encourage true entreprenurial investment or economic growth.

I've talked to about 10 ten Thai law-firms nearly all of them weigh in with different answers and no one gives you the straight up facts. It's like a political debate. Tell me the facts that's what I will pay you for to get me set up in Thailand. Is there a consulting firm that can figure this out or recommend?

Thailand doesn't want flooding with foreign owned businesses competing with Thai companies. Business development has been good here over the last 20 years, so they see no reason to change. If it was easy to come into Thailand and set up or buy businesses then you would see a mass inflow of people, especially from one or two "near neighbours". There has been a prolifereation of web design and internet marketing companies here, many set up by farangs. I know some who absolutely follow the rules and some who are not so legally minded. At somepoint there will be crackdowns and the non-legals will be deported for working illegally or get shaken down. Then they will find out how good their lawyers or business services providers really are.

If you are attracted here by the birds and booze, then don't confuse that with buisness judgemement. I know several long term expat business ownwers who are quitting Thailand for Malaysia where things are much easier.

It used to be "Westeners" who wanted to buy bars and restaurants (many without any experience), then it became "business servces" and "consultants or coaches", then web design etc. Now I see lots of adds from Indians asking about opening businesses here - usually "import export" or some sort of shop. One guy said he'd been to Pattaya 3 times this year, loved it and wanted to buy a couple of 7-11s and move acorss. He couldn't understand why this wasn't simple !!

Odd that the man doesn't have a name or photo in the UK media even?

The UK media can engage in news blackout rivaling some totalitarian regimes on occasion. The key here is finding out why the name has not been released, the reason should prove interesting.

Read 7by7's post above where he explains standard UK police procedure. People arrested on suspicion are not named until formally charged with an offence or offences.

This is a tragic incident leading to loss of life and injuries of innocent people. It looks like the police have aprehended the perp and he will be named when charged.

I grew up on Jim'll Fix It. A lot of people held Jim in high regard, probably even his young victims right up to the minute they were allegedly abused.

I for one cannot understand why an adult cannot control his sexual urges.

I'm sure you could get a lot of insight into that perplexing question by running a poll here at TV ... command central for those with a broad spectrum of uncontrolled urges.

I still don't understand what will happen when they find him guilty.

Scotland Yard will find someone willing to bribe them to suppress the evidence. Same old, Same old.

And you have evidence of all the supposed bribery taking place in the UK do you? I think you're getting your police forces mixed up!

if the girls were not kids,but really young adults that willing did what they did whats the issue? Yea i know underage for the UK but of legal age in many other countries.

They weren't all willing - that's why they are coming forward now. I don't think a good defense for any crime is claiming that what you did is legal somewhere else.

If these allegations are proved true, and they are allegations at the moment, then it's a real shame that someone like Savile, who did so many good things, used his fame and position to exploit young adults or children for his sexual gratification. People are not all the same and mature physically and mentally at different ages. That's why we have laws to protect them.

What exactly are they hoping to achieve with this? The man is dead so not like he can even be punished. Waste of police resource and tax payers money if you ask me.

...sexual abuse of dozens or perhaps hundreds of children over the six decades prior to his death last year, Scotland Yard said.

Scotland Yard took 60 years to uncover this ... or more likely for it to uncover itself. Maybe if he had taken up residence in Thailand the Thai police could have (once again) arrested yet another Brit who slipped through the Scotland Yard Keystone Cops' fingers. I suppose they were all busy looking for new bribe sources now that Rupert's cash flow to them has been cut off.

What complete twaddle!

Uhm, maybe this is more something for the Internet forum, but how can someone track a GPS phone?

Does it require specific things to do so?

As the ad says "there's an app for that". Basically the phone transmits its position (as given by the built-in GPS chip) to an online database, which you can consult if you have the login code.

Similar aps available on Android and for tablets and laptops.

Apple's Find My iPhone service is a free service available to all iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad owners that can help you find your iDevice if it gets lost or stolen. Find My iPhone uses WiFi triangulation and/or real-GPS tracking to locate your device and display it's location on the Me.com website or from another iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch using the Find My iPhone App.

I'd recommend everyone to activiate these apps. I had an iPad stolen by a sneak theif / taxi driver on the way to the aiport very early one morning. But, many of these thieves are organized and get them quickly to their "buyer". So you have to act fast to find it,

suspended sentence looming

Yep - like the underage driver who was responsible for multiple deaths with the mini-bus accident. Perhaps they can do their community service together?

He will simply claim he took the coke after the accident.

Yes - an honest mistake or little white lie

Of course. But the real question is, when was the last time he did not do coke? How do you grow up as the son of one of the richest and most powerful men in the country, and become a normal, respectful, well intentioned human being? Which of course he is not. A Rockefeller, Kennedy, or Vanderbilt he is not. What kind of moral, and ethical system are the sons of billionaires taught in Thailand?

The Kennedy's were hardly bastions of moral fibre and good role models - unless you mean adultery and murder of course.

The super rich, poitical elite and aristocracy still get away with all sorts in every country. This is not just an issue for Thaialnd. The difference is here things are more blatant. It an unfortunate part of human natutre.

Had to be... Lots of self appointed legal and political mentors responding to this

As opposed to completely meaningless comments

It's worth remembering that there are very few of these 'Super HiSo' families in Thailand. By that, I mean owners and mega-wealthy controlling families of global corporations. They can do no wrong.

I agree with many posters and sincerely hope that due legal process is followed. You can bet your bottom dollar it already would have been if the guy was not mega-wealthy/powerful and one of a closed circle of these 'untouchables'.

All of these families would have immediate access to the most senior politicians.

Red Bull is a fantastically powerful brand to promote Thailand and any politcian would not want to be the person who possibly destroyed that position.

But, of course, something must happen.

My guess?

1. A profound apology (monies already having been paid);

2 The guy 'steps down' from such a high profile position within the organisation;

3. He enters the political arena, using a tiny part of the massed fortune to rapidly rise to power.

I hope you're wrong - but somehow your guess scenario seems to have a ring to it!

Regardless of the pertinent legal issues in connection with this needless accident I wonder how the relevant international entities feel about this. For example Red Bull in Austria now know they have a partner in Thailand who openly tries to avert the course of justice on behalf of his sons actions and this will surely have international repercusions and also Ferrari, who have a sole distributor in Thailand who by the actions of this family bring the Ferrari name into disrepute.Not to mention that their local technicians /mechanics were supposedly unable to lift the data from the vehicles black box.

It would appear that apathy is no longer a Thai perogative and it has spread globaly, at least amongst the priviledged.

It's "perverting the course of justice" - which in most countries is a serious criminal charge. Although you make good points the sad reality is this family are the majority share holders so the Austrians will keep their heads down as long as the money comes rolling in. Ferrari is an Italian company and anyone who has worked in Italy will know the Italian attitude to business ethics and the law in general - again, as long as sales don't suffer, they won't give a monkey's.

If Thailand gets a grand prix this will all simply blow over in the excitement and whoe-betide any journalist who rakes it up.

"Police have also asked medical experts to verify how the use of cocaine can affect one's mental abilities, and said this latest discovery would lead to an additional charge against Vorayuth."

Well, now I know why there is no drug awareness among the students in Thailand. If the police don't have a clue about the affects of drugs and need a medical expert to tell them, why should one expect anyone else to have this awareness?

Would you know the effects of all different levels of cocaine and alcohol traces found in the blood stream? I don't know many UK police officers who would be able to quote that accurately for all different combinations. That's why police and prosecution services use experts.

Here is a government minister, DPM and former police officer openly and publicly stating he will not support laws he doesn't personally like. How many countries in the world would allow a politician to remain in office after statements like this?

It's frightening to see the current government here getting more blatant in flaunting the law, misappropriating funds and scamming, lying and treating the electorate with more and more contempt. Sadly, the old maxim that "people get the government they deserve" seems to hold. Most Thais I know simply accept this is how it is, how governments behave and don't think they can change it. There just doesn't seem to be any passion to change things here, enforce the rule of law, attack corruption and mismanagement etc as there is in other countires. Everyone is too busy eating, shopping and watching the soaps!

• English isn't the only problem. How do you identify a tourist cop...walk up to the first cop you see, stand within a meter of him, put on your glasses and try to read an emblem patch on his sleeve? Oh, that will work, sure. They have been advised (take it as fact) that uniformed tourist police must be immediately identifiable from long distance by virtue of a unique helmet or hat color or even uniform color that differentiates a tourist cop from a beat cop and the unique appearance must be widely published in advertising and PR campaigns abroad. This has been implemented with great success in other countries. One may suspect that being a tourist cop here is the least sought job since it is hard to shake down tourists since they come from societies where offering a cop bribe money would land them in the slammer..
  

The very few that I've seen around have cars with a tourist police badge on the side and seem to wear a beret rather than peaked cap, crash helmet etc. Having said that. I've heard stories of them shaking people down on work permit and visa issues; and coming into conflict with the local BiBs whose area it is. Never seen any out on foot patrol in the touristy areas where they might be of some use.

HAHAHAHAHA. They won't even be able to speak basic English in 6 months.

Manchester United, Chelseee, Liverpull, Arsenal, been speeking English long time.

So they know thier english geography, I presume these are english towns but I may be wrong.

Yes - you're wrong.

Thai degrees are the best money can buy.

Do you actually have any idea of the standards and regulation regarding degrees in Thailand? I guess not based on your comment. Check it out and be surprised.

what i can see is that any university degree in whatever useless direction (geography, history, arts) is more important when you apply for a job than somebody with a high school education, 10 years of proven expertise autiodidact

face, face, face

Exactly...such a major problem. Girlfriend had to quit university after 2 years due to (unfortuante) family reasons. Luckily was employed by a family friend in the event planning industry. Has had three years experience now, managed a team etc etc, but it's worth nothing because...oh no degree. A degree without experience is worth more than years of experience on the job, here.

It's amazing rubbish and shows how positions are filled with people lacking in skills. I still don't understand their thinking....and guess I never will.

This is becoming the global norm - not just a Thai phenomenon. People without degrees simply don't get to interviews for many jobs now.

I agree - experience is highly desirable, but unless they have that important degree or similar professional qaulification, they just don't get on the short list.

Thai education is abysmal in many ways and only international schooling gives kids a chance, and there is a huge price to be paid for that. Degrees are handed out like bus tickets, endorsed by patronage and the all important robed scholar and the two shot proof of education is proudly displayed in tin shacks, villages as well as middle class homes for relatives to admire. Sadly, placing a degree qualified Thai alongside a western equally degreed holder, is like chalk and cheese. Having employed my first MBA Grad here in 2001, asking her to set up a chart of accounts, she asked - what is that. Just an example of a failed system and why Thai's need western influence in their education system.

Until late 1800's only royals were allowed to be educated in Thailand, and the court thereafter until the first 'public' school was opened in 1923, Thailand has only had education publicly for less than a hundred years. How their education system has evolved to Universities is conjecture but I would bet copied by enterprising overseas graduates and instigated here to begin with, and now without checks and balances as to standards. Yes there are a few good ones here now but there are also ones where the degree is worth what I stated before, they are about as good as a bus ticket.

This is your experience - which is unfortunate. I know some very good Thai private schools. Similarly I know some very expensive "international" schools where the costs are very high and the education very average - one of the problems with franchises, which is what they are.

I have seen a considerable number of Thai and farang students fail at 4 universities this year - at Masters and PhD level.

American, British, Australian, French and German friends all say similar things about education in their own countires i.e. it is very variable despite the efforts of governments and agencies. I know Thais whose English is very poor - but they were still awarded Masters degrees by an Australian university - hardly a recommendation and mind boggling. Try employing an Indian with an MBA from and Indian university - the last one I employed couldn't research and write a basic report!

Thailand has its problems - but so do many other countries, including the "Western ones".