HiSoLowSoNoSo

Wonder how much you have to pay in "Tea money" to get the contract to sell garlands in front of the shrine? Is it the boys from the other side of the road who control the business?

Why do they think closing early will stop a terrorist? More likely they scare off the few remaining tourists from Pattaya.

All about money and greed here, where else would you here similar statements the day after many people lost their lives?

"Chainarong Chochai, deputy director-general of the department, said those businesses were targeted for close examination because many cases were found to have foreign ownership exceeding the legal limit."

They will soon be happy if any foreigners want to invest in Thailand. They still think all foreigners are gullible and are easy to lure into investing their money in a business they can only own 49% of.

"Let's face it, in most circumstances, the public doesn't really feel that much more secure when they see Thailand's finest heading their way"

Every time they are heading my way I got this feeling that it will cost me money, and I try to avoid to drive on the road in town where they got their daily money collection point ​​check point even if I have nothing to hide.

I dislike the idea of making the southern 3 provinces self governed and give in to the terrorists​, but for lasting peace its maybe the only solution? What other options are there? Kick out all the muslims to Malaysia?

Do you really believe the majority of Thai Muslims, who in the majority of cases are the victims of the insurgents, in the deep South wish to be governed by the killers (BTW there are nine different groups). There have been a number of surveys that indicate the locals wish to remain within the Thai State, but have representation in local provincial governance and not ruled by political appointees allocated by BKK. For the moment the current government have ruled out local representation.

I have previously provided the link below that some may wish to read, although a bit out of date, provides an assessment of the situation by a Thai military officer.

http://www.defence.gov.au/adc/docs/Publications2012/SheddenPapers12_120306_ConflictinThailand_Nurakkate.pdf

The Muslims in Satun, Trang and Krabi seems to be happy with being Thai, but many people in Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani want their own country, got no idea how many of them, but this is the main reason behind the never ending violence in the area.

The nation's image for sure needs a bost.

His asset declaration shows he has more than Bt1 billion in assets

How much did the new post cost him?

I dislike the idea of making the southern 3 provinces self governed and give in to the terrorists​, but for lasting peace its maybe the only solution? What other options are there? Kick out all the muslims to Malaysia?

Thainess means the Thai way of life - its culture, food, art and traditional sports, he said.

I am sure of that most TV members can add allot to that list, most of it will be negative.

"Happiness for all Thais" , Reconciliation Yeah sure, the day when it boils over again it will not be pretty.

Did the world bank read the list of "Career aliens do not."

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.mol.go.th%2Fen%2Fcontent%2Fpage%2F6347

before they came to this conclusion?

World Bank to Thailand: up2u

Well they can always move to Yala or Pattani if they are not happy in Petchaburi. Here in Trat we now got loudspeakers put up behind or village that wake us up at 5 am for call to pray, the local Buddhist are accepting it even if they don't like it.

"Thai and Chinese officials could say anything they wanted about the Uighurs as both sides had equal credibility on the matter and on human rights practices".

Add North Korea and you got a new Asian axis for credibility on human rights.

Changi airport is a very smooth operation, maybe they should contact them to run the show for them?

Should be scanning some thai officials for some common sense

Brain-scanning would be a good idea.

Isn't an x-ray scanning system of carry-ons one of the first thing you plan when you open an airport?

"he was also allowed to speak to them personally" and he knows that they are all in good health

I agree with the General. Thailand needs more waterbasins spread over the country and more forests.

Hopefully the basins will also fill the ground waterlevels so in times of draught it can be pumped up.

Makhaa tree's can stand draught and make good timber, give shade, are habitat for animals.

Agree with you, they also need more big dams without hydroelectric power plants, all the major dams in Thailand now uses allot of its water between March and June when the power consumption is high due to the hot season. That is a major reason why the dams are vey low now.

what is US ?

China is the new Big friend for thailand, this we can see now every day on the news;

Rice goes to china,

Railway coming from China,

Submarines coming from China,

Urighs going back to china !!

More tourists coming back, many bucks inthe pockit !

Thi is the new friendship,

please accept the choice of Thai people !!

More likely the choice of the Thai people of Chinese ancestry.

Sad story, but hopefully they will learn something from this and plant crops in the future that doesn't require so much water.

Do you think that they wouldn't have planted crops that needs less water if it was possible ? The government have never developed substantial markets for anything else than rice, palm oil and rubber. If farmers planted crops like corn they would have a major market glut and would be stuck with products they cant sell. Its a lose lose situation for them. It is also easy to say that these farmers must develop their own markets but the majority of farmers farm on less than 10 rai and don't have the knowledge, skills and production level to develop their own markets. Without government assistance we could see many farmers losing their land. We are entering a critical phase in this countries history, if the government choose to ignore the problem or implement incorrect policies, the longterm stability of the country could be effected.

I watched Thai TV last week and an expert from Kasertart University presented his plan for helping the small scale farmers (10 rai farms) to become sustainable, and basically the plan was to plant rice on only 2-3 rais of the 10 rai's, dig a 3 rai dam on this plot and raise Tilapia and catfish in this dam, the remaining land was used for a mix of vegetables and fruits. The dam water could also be used during dry periods to pump into the rice field.

And did this university help to send the message that such a plan can only feed a family of 4?

What plans would they have for the next generation of this farmer with only a 5-rai plot?

Planning for the next generation has not arrived here yet, but if you can feed a family of 4 that must be better than watching your crop wither away, like they are doing now.

Remember the huge road sign in Chonburi town last year put up by the Junta that said that there will be democratic elections autumn 2015, wish I took a photo of it now.

6 inch mesh nets are the minimum size allowed in most countries. The smaller fish can swim through the net and grow big I have never seen this kind of nets used anywhere in Thailand. As they deplete the fish in the sea they use smaller and smaller mesh him nets. I see it everywhere 2 inch mesh nets which catch all the small fish in the sea and never allows them to grow big it seems Fisheries Department has never stopped this practice and consequently the Gulf of Thailand is completely devoid of fair sized fish. The only fish available is is the estuary perch which is raised in ponds all over Thailand. They are sold as seabass at ridiculously high price for what they really are. They do not come from the sea and are not seabass.

6 inch nets are what the Thai fisherman think you use when you fish for whales!. Here in Trat I see a lot of half inch net used (and smaller size) but there are still many Barramundi or Seabass as you call them left in the Mangrove tidal areas, must be difficult to catch them there. Most of them are farmed in freshwater ponds and the meat can not be compared to a wild Barramundi.