pepi2005

Sorry to swim against the tide here, but it looks like when the next plandemic starts, Thailand may be one of the worst countries to be in. Was there any form of overhaul or public reflection on the dramatic effects most of what was done during 2020-22 had? I'm deeply concerned that Thailand still plans to even follow the WHO's IHR playbook, which is hard to call other than totalitarian. Life involves having to fight infections, viruses and parasites all the time, but that people in power also have the power to involve authoritarian measures under the pretense of some questionable 'risk' (which was extremely exaggerated as we know now) and policies instrumentalizing fear and panic has to be prevented in the future, if we didn't learn much else from that time.

Adults should be free to make decisions on their own as long as their actions don't harm others. The omnipresent electronic surveillance is annoying me WAY more than the occasional Thai person trying to make a living (as long as they don't jump into my faces or pester me).

They should rather issue 5,000 and 10,000 Baht notes. It's scary moments every time having to walk through bank branches with bags filled with large packs of 1000 Baht notes after larger deposits or withdrawals, in front of the audience.

Out of curiosity, how were the numbers during the past 10-15 years? A bit of context would be great lol Without context and comparing these rates with Europe during the flu season, the numbers sounds like peanuts, but dramatized. There might have been a small 'Advertisement' disclaimer in this 'Nation' article somewhere.

During the months when heavy smoke and haze coming from the North even creates a health hazard when leaving the house (!), I will certainly feel relieved to be protected from "secondhand cigarette smoke" thanks to this initiative.

Maybe they are about to reach their goal: only "quality tourists" remaining?

Not sure whether Chinese (or ANY) tourists would really appreciate being filmed, face-scanned and thereby being treated as potential criminals all the time. Also, no one knows what happens to all the collected digital data and materials, they can easily be abused or used against you. I for one, strongly dislike this tendency, and generally try to avoid areas (or countries) where governments are gradually building out a digital surveillance state.

together with the requirement of ALL citizens to file tax returns, this will be 'interesting' (it's a very strong government measure to strong-arm / blackmail their citizens into paying taxes). Theoretically, all loopholes would be closed - who would want to be 'nominee' or offer his ID card for someone else's KYC if he would have to file a tax form for it?

What's the source of this study?

I heard the renewal of the 5-year driving license can be done online now, is this correct? (if yes, how/where?)

When will the fearmongering end .... in Thailand?

Why call it 'failed project' instead of 'successful tax money redistribution'?

FYI, I never got to pay only the "Thai price" at any venue showing my pink card. Still the racist "FALANG" price, even though I pay taxes in Thailand and probably earn less than many Thais I'm dealing with.

Could it be that tourists don't like to be biometrically registered and constantly surveiled during their stay?

The most upsetting for me about this whole story is the impudence of the restaurant owners to watch their guests by CCTV cameras placed directly above their tables! Do they also have microphones within, under or above the tables to listen to their customers private conversations?