Darbar

police investigators have obtained a key witness who said foreigner killed the two British tourists in Koh Tao island

Why on earth would they make this comment when this is just an apparent witness account.. what if this is not true?

But this latest disclosure, if confirmed, will be a significant turn of the probe which earlier focused only on locals and migrant workers after DNA testing revealed the mixed semen found

This still won't take the spotlight off any asian suspects, as their semen was found, and NOT that of a farang.

I have a feeling the end result may include egg on faces.

Let's see where this goes....

Thai police have accused foreign journalists and social media users of muddling their ongoing investigation into the murder of two British tourists in southern Thailand last week.

Oh.. it's the media's fault the police can't solve this case, when they have over 100 investigators on the case.. of course it is BIB!

Maybe the media coverage would NOT have been so fierce if the police were not so inept at solving cases, and could actually do their job (successfully) from time to time.. Maybe too much to ask?

Just another case of police pointing fingers and blaming others.. desperately trying to save some face, because finding the actual people responsible for this horrific crime IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

Instead of making RIDICULOUS statements to the media (which only intensifies the focus on the police), they should have just shut-up and said that a 'full investigation is underway, and that we have nothing to add at this time'.. this is the standard line in most civilised countries, when they have very little to go on. Then when some SOLID evidence /lead is found, and progress has been made.. MAYBE mention it to the media, but not prematurely, as is so often the case over here.

Doesn't the police in this country understand that when they say something is going to happen in say 24 hours.. and it turns out to be rubbish.. they not only lose face, but look MORE inept?

Following this travesty of justice and total farce of an investigation is making the whole world facepalm every day...

"The southern police chief also assured the public that there was no arrest of scapegoats in this murder case as it now is a focal attention of the world."

".... However, we generally DO use scapegoats when we can get away with it, have no countries interested in calling BS... or when are simply too inept to deal with the case."

Let's see what 'evidence' apart from photos (which don't prove much) they actually have confirmed. Hopefully a positive DNA match.

The next problem will be finding the 'other guy' who has done a runner.. good luck BIB, you're gonna need it.

Silly sausage.. Should know better at his age, but like many UK scammers and benefit fraudsters (the chances are reasonable he is also one), he's probably got away with this thing for far too long.

How can they be stopped? IMO, they need to throw the book at him and give him the maximum 6 month sentence.

Maybe that will deter him from dishonesty in future..

I've never seen this practice in any other country, and always thought it's a 100% racist policy, which has no place in todays world.

Just imagine the uproar if a country like the US or UK increased prices for attractions, based on the nationality of the buyer.. it would be a non-starter.

Shops trying to overcharge tourists are a bit different, as these are not national attractions.. They see tourists only as walking wallets, and obviously try to extract as much cash as possible.. I can't see this changing any time soon.

Thailand needs to wake up to the glaringly obvious double standards which are engrained in their society, if they want to be taken seriously on the world stage (although to admit these double standards would no doubt cause them to lose face, so they will probably just sweep it under the carpet and deny everything!)

May as well just continue to be the ignorant kid of Asia, and keep on treating the rich well, the tourists just like an income, and the cheap migrant workers like slaves.

Recent would really be being on one already. I wrote recent because he did not have one already.

Immigration guidelines are that the limitation of visa exempt entries is staying for the entire 30 or 15 day entry and then going out and immediately coming back for another entry.

So if someone comes in for 2 weeks, and then leaves Thailand for a 4 night trip to another country, and then re-enters Thailand, there will be no problems getting a 2nd tourist visa?

They are not tourist visas they are visa exempt entries.

Yes a person can enter on a visa exempt entry stay for a coulee of weeks and go out for 4 days return and get another exempt entry.

Thanks

Recent would really be being on one already. I wrote recent because he did not have one already.

Immigration guidelines are that the limitation of visa exempt entries is staying for the entire 30 or 15 day entry and then going out and immediately coming back for another entry.

So if someone comes in for 2 weeks, and then leaves Thailand for a 4 night trip to another country, and then re-enters Thailand, there will be no problems getting a 2nd tourist visa?

"avoid sharing make-up, contact lenses" - I can't imagine too many people share contact lenses.

Currently, it's 4 hours a week, and 1-2 days. This is looking like it's going to change to 4 days a week, and a minimum of 8 hours a week.

School costs are currently 25,000 bht, but this figure will be increasing due to the increased amount of study time.

Like RichardThailand mentioned, it's probably better to leave it a week or so, and keep an eye on things, to see how everything pans out.

Hi,

I'm on a multiple entry ED visa, and I entered the country on 1st Sept 2013.  I started my course in November 2013.

My ED visa was issued 15th Aug 2013, and I could enter the country on the 15th Aug 2014 at the latest.

I have left the country every 90 days, instead of extending, apart from my last one, which was a 90 day extension (the 1st time I've done it).

I am required to extend again on 29th Aug 2014, as this is when my current extension runs out.

Do you know what this means for me?  Will I be able to extend, or will I be required to re-apply for my ED visa?

Photography is so much more about composition and creativity than the hardware you are using.

I've got a DSLR, and have had one for about 5 years... I don't need the latest and greatest micro-mirrorless camera to be able to enjoy photography, and take stunning photos.

It's also much easier to shoot in manual with a DSLR than most mirrorless cameras.. But most people using mirrorless camera have no idea what manual is!

I VERY much doubt this is the end of the DSLR.

Forestry officials, police and rescue workers were dispatched into four eight-strong teams to the site

Possibly too little, too late... the plane went missing 5 years ago

thats a sad news for Thailand , lets hope this government will act in a serious way . ( yeah I know I can dream on this) But knowing the country I already hear the comments ... There are no terrorism in Thailand , no money laundering , no prostitution , no corruption ( did I forget anything ?)

You're kidding right? The government acting seriously... thats funny

Its not as if the Thai customs and immigration authorities are likely to be keeping an eye out for dodgy Iranians at the moment.

Yep, agreed. Their timing is poor to say the least...

OK......so now that the 4 "suspects" have been identified as Iranians, do y'all reckon Iran will continue to "angrily reject accusations that it is to blame?"

Tehran does everything angrily last time I checked, so no surprise that they angrily rejected accusations.

It would be a refreshing moment if one day they could just calmly reject accusations, and save them the bother of looking like numpties

At Khao San Road, a major tourist centre, police have set up checkpoints from 8pm-6am...

-- TNA 2012-02-16

Asif: Right, so where are we meeting again?

Iktar: Umm, Khao San Road, where it's really busy with lot's of Farang...

Asif: Ok, sounds good. What time shall we meet?

Iktar: Well, I've heard down the grape-vine that the police have setup checkpoints there... so...

Asif: HOLD ON!! Why are we going there if the police have setup checkpoints? Are you CRAZY?

Iktar: Calm down Asif... These aren't 'normal checkpoints' as you would expect, no, no. These are 'pathetic Thai checkpoints' which open at 8pm, so I figure we'll just nip in at 7:30, have a couple of beers then get busy...

Asif: Oh, OK.

Iktar: And Asif... if for some reason you are late, just slip the cop 100 baht and he will let you in without checking your bag...

Asif: I love this place... it's such an <deleted>&*ing easy target...

Really smart move publicising the times....

PM informed of bombings in BKK; Defense Minister Sukumpol checking whether they're terrorism attempt /TANN

How much 'checking' would one need to do to assert that this was indeed a terrorist attempt?!!!!

Hi all

After reading the mixed experiences here, like CWMcMurray suggested we will check with the Labor Department to see what they say.

I suppose like most things in Thailand, there is no 100% answer to something being completely right or wrong.

I think we will also change the job description to something more English speaking sales related as this is also something I would be doing here, I think that along with my previous strong sales experience would help with my application.

I'll let everyone know the outcome once we've had an answer.

Thanks for the input, you've been very helpful.

Darbar

Thanks for the help!

Just a quick question about the capitalisation for 2 million baht - I heard somewhere that the full 2 million doesn't need to be paid up straight away. Does anyone know what the rules with this are? I've struggled to find an exact explanation of how much is needed up front.

Thanks again for all of the input,

Darbar

Thanks for the clarification, I was hoping that was the case. The position would be to do with website design & graphic design so I think it should be ok, but I will hunt that list down to be sure.

Thanks again.

Darbar

Everyone seems to be missing the point that this kind of <deleted> driving (although fuelled by higher driver earnings) is a direct result of the equally <deleted> Thai driving test standards compared to the rest of the world.

Like most fuc_k-up's in this country.. the path leads back to the government and the ineptness that runs rife. Fix the system, and over time these kinds of tragedies can be averted

Hi all,

I'm looking to find out if you need a degree to apply for a non-teaching work permit?

I don't have a degree, but would like to apply for a wok permit. I understand I will need the non immigrant B visa, which I can't see being a problem as my Thai gf has a company (which I would like to work for)

Any help would be appreciated.

Many thanks

Darbar