Baerboxer

I think you would have to be a muslim to be able to comment on how a Muslim should feel.

In my opinion (and it's just my personal view) this movie was made with the intention of offending Islam, and that's wrong even if it's not illegal in the country where it was made.

If you wish to sacrifice liberty for security then you deserve neither.

Free speech is one the most important tenets of the American experience. It is designed to be inviolate.

Correct sir. I might vehemently disagree with what somone says or writes, but would always defend their right to express their view. Free speech is a cornerstone of liberty and human freedom. Attempts to censure it are usually by some form of repression based ideology.

Opposition Democrat MP Nipit Intarasombat of Phatthalung yesterday challenged Surapong to explain the legal basis for issuing a new passport to Thaksin, saying the minister had cited the same law as Kasit.

The previous Democrat Party-led government had no policy to issue a passport to any fugitive from prosecution, Nipit said. "It's impossible to invoke the same clause [of the ministry's regulations] to return a passport to Thaksin," he said.

Pheu Thai logic

to revoke Thaksin's passport, otherwise the minister could be prosecuted for violating Article 157 of the criminal code, which prescribes 20 years of imprisonment for officials who abuse their power.

Reflects the extreme at what a family member is willing to do for another.

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The logic does seem to be that as the "democratically elected goverment" they can do what they want. Keep it in the family where possible for sure too. Don't worry about minor details like the consitiution or existing laws - you can just change it to suit.

The bloke in the photos got a msssive head and as for his fingers!!! That is not a real photo.

Very observant sir! Makes it even more of a laugh.

The Likelihood of Yingluck revoking her Brother's passport? A big fat ZERO.

Yep - complete waste of time.

I'm married to a Thai woman but have never worked here and thus never had a WP or paid income tax. All the other requirments of the citizenship app. are achievable but there's now no way to achieve those 3 prerequisites - I've no desire to spend years teaching English to be able to fulfil them.

A real pity because my life's here, my wife & her family (my stepchildren) are here and we don't want to leave to live in UK or anywhere else for that matter. It'd be nice to be my wife's equal, in the eyes of Thai law, but it seems it cannot be. Incidentally, my wife doesn't like the lack of equality either and would like me to be co-owner of "our" property around town, pay the same entrance fee to National Parks (by right, not as a concession because I can flash a driving licence), etc. I'd have thought, logically, that having an adequate income from abroad would satisfy the requirements but not so, it seems.

I wonder how many others have similar thoughts on the matter.

I agree and share your thoughts as well.

I'm the same as you, and agree. Lots of things seem to be dependent on the WP for some reason. My wife and children have prefer to live here than in the UK. I just wish non-Thai husbands in bona fide marriages to Thai ladies had the same rights as foreign females married to Thai men.

Hooray for old people!

Maybe this will set a precedent against age discrimination in other fields.

I'd rather have a young fit bird serving me coffee if I was honest. But the most important things for me is that they know what they're doing and I'm as safe as possible.

"I'd rather have a young fit bird serving me coffee" - don't fly Quantas then

........

Sure glad all those Libyans have long memories and are still grateful to the Americans for all they did in helping to get rid of Gaddafi LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. Little wonder the US doesn't want to get involved in Syria. Seems the more you help certain groups of people, the more they resent you and want to stab you in the back, while (usually) still holding out their hands begging for money.

Nothing wrong with your article but,

I don't belive the US helped the Lybian people just for humanitarian reasons but more likely they helped them to help themself to get favorable terms for oil contracts and to establish Coke and McD in every street corner. (I know, desserts have no corners but there are plenty of towns in Lybia that do). So not quite sure why Lybian people should be greatfull to the US.

America, Britain and France provided air cover and other support for the people who were fighting to rid themselves of a lunatic dictator who had ruled for 42 years. Think about it.

Looks like were headed right back to the Dark Ages where its illegal to criticize religion. I am getting sick and tired of Islam demanding this shroud of respect it is never willing to afford to others. You DO NOT have a right to not be offended in this life and you DO NOT have the right to inflict violence on others because of pictures or YouTube clips a half a world away. It is time the Governments of the world stood up to these murderous thugs and said no instead of cowtowing to them by granting their command for censorship under threat of violence.

You are right. A lot of the people actually doing the protests are uneducated and led by fanatics to whom they pay almost fuedal repsect. There is no excuse for the attacks on American citizens and embassies. It is indeed like the religious Inquisitions of the Dark Ages, or the totalitarian Nazi and Communist regimes who try to control by surpressing freedom of speech and indepentent thought. Islam is being hijacked by a small group of fanatics who, much like Hitler and Mao, create mass hysteria and violence as a means to their own ends. I hope America continues to be the champion of free speech and individual freedoms, and not turn to appeasment which time and again has been proven not to work.

I see only negative storys here all the time, I live in Chiang Mai and I see a lot of work has be done on the Ping river,

and I guess in other places also hard work was done, do you ppl ever go out to see what s been done and what not

and if you dont like what happen here, go back if its better in your own country

I love it here and I love the lay back mentality, thats why I am here

Another newbie whose sound advice is to go back to your own country! How orginal.

What have they done all year? Simple, devised more hollow political diatribe to justify huge budgets where the majority goes back to the politicians and their 'business' associates, and the Thai people suffer more, and get more taxes added to line the pockets of these criminals. But that's okay - the Reds will keep voting for Miss Yingluck and the puppet master because ignorance is bliss.

Well they received 500 Baht per vote....

Yes - and paid out faster than the promised flood compensation!

Posted 2011-09-11

Yingluck Pledges To Eradicate 80% Of Drugs Within One Year

http://www.thaivisa....ithin-one-year/

Trying to stop the drug trade is like trying to stop the pirated copies of intellectual property etc etc etc,

80% is a good number, but what number is the 80% based on...

So the question is 80% of what number.

According to Yingluck's numbers above, it means that drugs have been eradicated in 64,000 villages nation-wide with fewer than a remaining 16,000 villages still having drugs.

According to her figures, it also means that 1,040,000 people nation-wide are no longer involved with drugs with fewer than a remaining 260,000 people nation-wide still involved.

A success rate unequaled in the history of world-wide efforts to deal with the issue of drugs.

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Thailand - Hub of law enforcement

To all those stupid enough to blaim Yingluck, it has always been happening and always will until Bangkok is relocated.

Yingluck cannot control nature, and nor can anyone else. However, as PM she is in charge of the government and should ensure public money is spent prudently and that effective work is carried out to minimise the damage of future flooding - dredging canals, building and strengthening embankments. She must also make sure that emergency and disaster planning is in place and that the water and irrigation management is professional and efficicent.

Do you believe she has done any of this??? The point is she is to blame for the problems in government. She is PM, the "buck stops here" etc. Of course we all know the reality.

yingluck don't care She is not even in Bangkokthis weekend and she certainly wont be getting wet unless she decides to go swimming in one of the hotels swimming pools,she is coming to visit us down in krabi living it up in one of the biggest 5* hotels down here(sofitel),why I don't know the people down here can't stand her.

I think you are right - She not only doesn't care but believes she can say anyhting and get away with it. From "there won't be any floods", to "maybe" to "we'll do our best". What comes next - "sorry". This lot may be inept, but they certainly know how to line their own pockets and spend other people's money. Floods won't inconnvenience her or her cronies - just more scamming opportunities.

Fantastic performances by all the Paraolympians. It was wonderful to see the raw emotion and exhileration of the medal winners. I hope my son will be able to compete one day.

Did anyone think another "company" would get the contract????

No

Ok let say don muang will be safe what about the surrounding ? I live behind the airport and after few month renovation of my house I just wonder if it will happen again ... Maybe time to leave for good this country who really cannot handle anything so far.

I hope we all stay dry this year. But, Rangsit and LamLukKa will be readily, and deliberately, flooded again to keep Bangkok dry. This government couldn't give a hoot about the country, its citizens or telling the truth. Many of my Thai friends who were flooded for several weeks in Pathumthani are still waiting to receive the government's generous compensation. If it comes to it, the same areas will be sacrificed again without any thought so that the "leaders and hisos" are not inconvenienced in any way. Their only concern will be to maximise another opportunity for scamming.

Here we go again!

Does Yingluck know the story of King Canute and the sea? Maybe she will command any floods to cease, just like she commands various Ministers to ensure certain things get done and results delivered. Should have about the same effect.

Quote "which might take some time"

Probably until the 12th of Never as the saying goes!

Just a small delay while every law is scruitinsed to see if some 'weasely words" can be found that might be used as a get out. If not, revert back to "a little white lie".

The monks wouldn't want a golf course anyway and that nice Shniwattra company does so much good for the country and community.

Thailand is the master of the universe when it comes to the sex trade. The sex trade sets the bar for social thought and behavior. As long as society tolerates rampant pervasive participation in the sex trade by all levels of society whether declared professional or free lancer, then it's open season on a corrupted philosophy with limited values. The sex trade was really the first "international" scale enterprise of Thailand. Where foreigners would actually plan to travel here for sex. Long before that, Thailand specialized in sex trade for its domestic customers which geometrically dwarfs foreign sex trade today. Secondly, Thailand's history of cash real estate investment, sex trade and other black economy money sourced through the drug trade hub in Bangkok clearly links links the "corruption" factor.

The Thai "culture" of corruption and its escalation are its prescription for becoming an official "failed state" with endless refills. No other country takes Thailand seriously as a "legitimate" business partner and camps in here because they can freely play the corruption, payoff, bribery scheme with cheap labor and limited benefits or negative ramifications and bought off politicians and government organizations. Because everything can be bought out for a lower cost than the cost of making it right. Thailand's "Mr. 20%s" start out right away slicing in to a new business venture's margins right after a BOI intro or even before. Then comes the squeezing of profits at the expense of safety, benefits, and fair play with employees.

As this philosophy of corruption continues to eat away at government, police and military organizations, they become less and less able or willing to enforce law. The less that they enforce law, the more complacent about it all the regular folks get. The state then escalates to a Fascist type regime, and shortly thereafter becomes an "official" failed state. Thailand already meets many of the prerequisites for defining a failed state.

147 reading this topic and no one addresses 'noitom's' excellent post (thanks for this )

Also interesting to note that a 'popular' post was one basically saying there was nothing wrong with corruption here. Seems the much derided Thais aren't the only ones in denial.

We always get one that has to blame it on the sex trade - lets perpetuate the narrow minded world view that Thailand is the world's sex trade venue.

Of course all the other countires in the world a bastions of moral and ethical behaviour with no sex trade, corruption and highly professional police, civil servants and jusiciary. Wonderful fiction.

As much as I've experienced and unhappy with the corruption problem in Thailand, it becomes a normal way of life when more than 2/3 of people don't take it as a problem. Pathetic, though.

And the scary part, is that on so many levels, it feels as if Thailand is going backwards. I wish I could say the future looked bright for this lovely country, but I simply cannot see it. Here are just a few of the reasons I feel this way:

1. Declining educational standards, especially when compared to other countries in the region, who take education seriously.

2. Lack of a fight against corruption. Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, and even to a smaller extent India, and the Philippines are at least waging a battle. Here, the anti corruption chief was just relieved of his job, as he was too effective, and was getting to close to the centers of power!

3. The competence of the government. Since the system here is entirely based on cronyism, and not meritocracy, there is little chance of getting people to do jobs they are good at. It is that simple. Incompetence is the order of the day. Always has been. Always will be, if the system does not change.

4. Flooding issues. They are only going to get worse with global warming, and the rising of the sea, and is Thailand prepared for it? They have refused help from the Dutch govt. (very talented and skilled engineers, with decades of experience), the US Corp. of Engineers, and others. Is the govt. really serious about tackling this issue? Do they have what it takes? Are they willing to reach out, or will they use only homegrown talent, which is substandard?

5. Shrinking economy. Thailand was #21 in the world just 5 years ago. They are now #25. This trend will continue. There is little being done to reverse it.

6. Traffic issues. Thailand has some of the most lax driving laws in the world. No helmets required in Samui, and 10 year old kids are permitted to drive motorbikes. Speed limits are rarely enforced, and anyone with some cash can buy their way out of any traffic related problem or accident, even if it caused death. Samui averages 60 traffic related deaths per month! Highest in the world, per capita. Not something you see in the media much. Nobody wants to discuss it.

7. That brings us to issue #7. Law enforcement. The police in Thailand are basically a revenue collection agency. Very, very little law enforcement. The quality of the detective work, and the forensic work is on par with Sub Saharan Africa, from what I have been told by well informed sources in law enforcement, outside of Thailand. For the #25 economy in the world, this is shameful, and the result of tremendous sloth, indifference, corruption, and ineptitude. Regardless, it remains one of the truly great blights, in this otherwise delightful country.

8. Local mores, ethics, and attitudes. Though the Thai people have many wonderful qualities, that many of us appreciate, their attitudes toward business, and tourism are hard to fathom. They nearly always, will choose to do the wrong thing, when it comes to customer service, or maintaining a relationship, if it means a few extra baht today. No ability to see the forest beyond the trees. Very, very little of the vision thing. It is a tremendous detriment to doing business here, and in the long run damages the tourism industry to a fabulous extent.

9. Tourism. For the above stated reasons, there is a real PR problem, when it comes to Thai tourism. The governments, both central, and local seem to be either unwilling, or unable to tackle the issues with taxis, tuk-tuks, jet skis, and other scams here, and it is resulting in huge damage to the industry. They are making up for it to some extent by attracting the Russian, Chinese, and Korean markets, but these are not the high rollers that Thailand need to thrive in the long run.

10. Saving face. Perhaps Thailand's single most destructive quality. It forces people to bury problems under the carpet. How can you resolve an issue, if it causes you embarrassment? Who cares. Suck it up, man up, and deal with it. Not here. Not now. Rarely ever. Avoid the issue, whatever you do, do not discuss it, and pretend it will go away. It is a society of 13 year old boys, in men's bodies, who behave like 13 year old boys, and have the emotional development of 13 year old boys. I am sure there are some exceptions. Maybe 11% of the society? LOL.

You make some very good points in an interesting post. From my own experience, I've found the Philipinnes and India far more corrupt than Thailand, The "fights against corruption" usually mean arresting political oponents. Malaysia was better than Thailand. China was hard to judge, because it's kept more away from you there. These were my experiences.

Thailand has to address education, linguistics, business xenophobia etc if it wants to compete. An impartial judiical system based on constitutional laws enforced by a professional, modern and unbiased poilce force would be great. But, does any country in the world really have this?

They claimed that every government is corrupt and politically intervene in public administration. (MCOT online news)

This gets trotted out every time corruption in Thailand is mentioned.

I don't believe the attitude exhibited in Thailand would last 5 minutes in the developed world.

Rule of law perhaps. Accountability. Being made to justify decisions, apparent nepotism, etc, etc.

Yes, there will be corruption anywhere you can get away with it. It's frightening the Thais have this attitude condoning it.

How many countries speak Thai? How many countries have such a blatantly corrupt society? Presumably those that want to remain insular and forever live in the past.

Seems the PTP have landed on their feet, and as has been said, the electorate are quite happy to be played for suckers.

Is there a government more corrupt than that. of the US? Actually, the US no longer has a government of the people. Bankers and Plutocratic financiers run the show. The people of the US hardly know a thing since all the mainstream media are are run by the self-same criminals. The US soon will be a fully-fledged police state.

Very similar in most of the "developed" world. Countries are now a business run by the same corrupt bankers and businessmen who cause financial crises, fiddle libor, pay themselves fantastic salaries and wonderous bonuses etc. These guys are morally corrupt and in most cases seem untouchable. The notion of democracy perpetuated by "free elections" is just that, a notion.

Most of my American friends hate the way their freedoms are being restricted. The UK is well on the way to becoming a police state too - whichever party is in power, and already has less freedom than America.

There are many countries where corruption is worse than Thailand. Here. people seem to accept that it's sadly a part of human nature and therefore don't fight it, but go with the flow. I can't see China or any of the BRICS coming up with a new model that eliminates corruption.

Thialand needs to compete with other ASEAN countries - elininating red tape, becoming linguistically better and much less xenophobic would be good starts. But to think that corruption doesn't exist in the other ASEAN countries is naive.

Thank you for posting this. Jeez, I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of this lady! A police captain with psychopathic tendencies. Hmmmm - maybe a future career in politics awaits.

life imprisonment without the possibility of parole ,is what these kind of people deserve.

Do you know any country in the world which imposes sentences like this in these types of cases?

Driver must have been well sozzled if his blood sample still shows over the legal limit even though sample was taken 6 hours after the incident (reported yesterday).

The report here says he was over the limit when the accident occured - indicating that the level was calculated based on the level found several hours later. It doesn't indicate by how much he was over the limit. That would have been good to report.