Zack61

Stupid yes. Newsworthy no. If they were two Thai lads we wouldn’t even hear about it.

If it wasn’t for video footage on social media and irate netizens the cops would have nothing to do. 

44 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Hard to see the un- and under-educated population of Thailand coping with the complexities of all that when they enter the polling booth. My MIL can't even sign her name (just a thumb print). Most of the rest of the family can barely read 3 words. Will their votes count? or be counted?

 

Looks very like the Australian proportional preferential voting systems, carefully designed to prevent the poorest & least educated 10% of the population from casting a valid vote ...

If what you say is true why would they make voting compulsory? Not sure you have thought this through. 

I think they mean General election. 

.....or else!!!

2 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

I wonder if "you know who" bought his watches from this man!

You mean borrowed. 

44 minutes ago, orang37 said:

Too many expats in Chiang Mai, too many Chinese tourists.

 

Like chemotherapy, a tough, but necessary, cure ?

 

~o;37;

Chemotherapy is not a cure. 

2 hours ago, shy coconut said:

Do they physically force you to take a bag and call the police if you refuse?

 

My Thai isn't great but I always manage to leave a store bagless if I want.

Most staff understand "no thanks" or "it's ok" at the counter.

Mai Ao Thung works 100%.

Some of their staff ask if I want a bag but that may be the ones that know me.

8 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

Been five years, it's time for another one. It's a tradition here, you know, don't need any other reason.

You need to have an elected government first so any time after March 24 sounds reasonable 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Don't worry - there is no coup

.....yet. 

2000B. Hardly much of a deterrent but the renter is also responsible for his own decision to rent. 

Unwittingly put his life on the line with some help from unscrupulous, non caring, money hungry operators who, if they had adhered to the law requirements, could have prevented the unnecessary death of this 17 year old. 

Stupidity and greed. A lethal combination that will no doubt end up on the front pages again and again whilst this sort of behaviour is tolerated with a 2000B fine. 

Oh oh. Not farangs. How will they handle this?

1 hour ago, djayz said:

Too little, too late me thinks. 

 

Please tell me they're not going to build a gigantic spraying device made of PVC to suspend over the city! 

More likely a mobile unit to be transported to smog hot spots via a flotilla of drones. 

I fear this will not end well for Hakeem. The Thai and Bahraini political and justice systems have so much in common. I suspect Thailand will decide this in favour of whoever is more closely aligned to their own values. 

1 hour ago, realenglish1 said:

 Although this does not affect me the problem with this rule is they should have grandfathered all the current retirees rather then have it affect who is already here There are going to be big problems if they do not correct this

No other country does this to their visa holders Its like just cancelling a visa without concern for the visa holder. On top of that It will affect the Thai economy and real estate values All of a sudden lots of apartments are not being rented 

 

Reap what you sow

Exactly what I was thinking. Introduce the the new regs to new applicants and phase out the existing through natural attrition. It would be a fair and considerate approach and most of us would be gone one way or the other within 10 to 20 years. It would allow the government a safer approach in assessing whether or not the new requirements will attract new retirees in the way they are hoping. 

To bludgeon everybody in this manner may well kill off the cash cow on their doorstep and shoot themselves squarely in the foot. 

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Officials have also started keeping a close watch on industrial plants, ensuring there are no toxic fumes coming out of their chimneys

This sounds like a role for DPM Prawit

2 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

As Napoleon once remarked "There are no bad regiments there are only bad colonels."

 

Thailand is stuffed full of bad Colonels.

And they go on to become bad generals

15 hours ago, Banana7 said:

If you don't like the new rules, consider the Philippines Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV).  Search here on Thaivisa for "SRRV" to learn more.

 

I’m sure it will get a lot of hits. 

5 minutes ago, Bazle said:

Not necessarily for me and others in the same situation. It will depend on what they will require regarding having the funds in the account for 3 months after the extension.

 

I'm in and out of the country frequently, and it might well be that I won't be around at the precise time of the 3 months after. If they are going to be flexible and let me establish that I've maintained the funds appropriately, say, at the time of the next renewal, fine, no problem. Otherwise, I foresee difficulties.

I see your point. Hopefully sanity and flexibility prevails. I too am in and out so will cross this hurdle when and if it arises. The next 12 months will be a learning curve for all affected. Will try not to loose any sleep just yet as I suspect there will be further announcements and my next extension is 10 months away so I have the luxury of sitting back and learning off others experiences

If you have a lazy 800k laying around then there won’t be a problem. Put it in the bank and forget about it. 

Then it’s business as usual and no problem funding your day to day, month to month, year to year financials however you please. Use Transferwise or similar and no need to worry about ridiculous international bank remittances and their uncompetitive exchange rates. For those who have the spare cash I see it as a positive. 

When it’s time to leave and you’ve planned an exit just draw down on the 800k and what you don’t spend put in your shoe for the trip out. Maybe not your shoe. 

A drone war is inevitable. Can’t get much tougher than that. 

The cows will like it