rickirs

This law is raw protectionism and reinforces xenophobia in the Thai culture. More importantly, it encourages government corruption and dishonest business practices. Such issues are in the short-term minor in an emerging "banana" economy, and maybe excusable in a poor economy. Foreign investors might be satisfied as "silent" partners.

However, if and when the Thai economy once again demonstrates healthy and consistent GDP growth, foreign investors will want more access to business opportunities and investment returns. Then these issues will substantially hinder foreign investment in Thailand while Thais enjoy full equity control in other countries. Before foreign investors start to pressure their respective nations to retaliate against Thailand's business discrimination, the government needs to revoke this law.

Well that's Egypt firmly in the fray now, not a good move by ISIS as they are the 3rd largest force in the area.

Do you really think the muslim Egyptian army is going to risk spilling a drop of blood for some dead Chrsitians?

That has been a certainty. The Egyptian military has been spilling the blood of the Muslim Brotherhood for decades under Mubarack when it was outlawed and now the MB is once again outlawed. And if you noticed, the Egyptian military has almost daily military engagements with Al Qaeda in the Sinai Peninsula and with Hamas in the Gaza Strip border.

Just a comparison . . . to show what 500 Megawatts in Thailand stand for . . . the equivalence constructed in solar panel power looks like this project finished in California last month :

Late last month, the Topaz Solar project achieved full commercial operation with the completion of its final 40-megawatt (AC) phase. This is the first 500-megawatt plus solar farm to come on-line in the U.S. and the largest solar plant on-line in the world.

Two years ago, the millionth First Solar (FSLR) solar module was installed at the power plant owned by MidAmerican Solar. As of today, the project has installed 9 million solar panels across 9.5 square miles in San Luis Obispo County on California's Carrizo Plain. Construction began in 2012

500 Megawatts in 20 years by constantly building new biomass power plants seems to be a wasrte of resources. There might never be enough biomass to feed the plants, regarding how Thai farmers treat the soil and how little is done to incorporate animal feces into a biomass collecting system.

One example, Thai farmers rather burn the stiples on rice fields instead of plowing them under. They save nothing by dismissing a ploughing round by tractors . . at the start of the rainy season, they order tractors to plough the fields. If they would plough under and mulch right after the rice harvest, they could plant right away after the first rains 6 months later . . . .

What I am asking is, where would the biomass come from that is supposed to create 500 Megawatts . . . from pineapple, corn leaves and palmoil residues ? It can be done but it needs a throughout and concile planning . . .

Your question of where the biomass will come from is a critical issue.

To sustain a large plant requires virtually 100% wood related fiberous waste due to flow, corrosion, burn, and pollution design considerations. Biomass is more expensive than coal. Where would this wood material come from? Likely a large part of it would have to be imported into Thailand which would require a sea or river dock and/or commercial rail transport. An inland plant would be uneconomical.

Case in point is the 740 MW biomass plant in Tilbury, England that was converted from a 1,062 MW coal-fired plant. About 80% of its biomass comes from the USA and Canada as debarked wood pellets, and 20% comes from Europe. EXPENSIVE.

Small 25-50 MW biomass plants in association with farming and manufacturing industries where source fuels are relatively closeby are doable in Thailand. But other than providing low interest loans to help finance the building of the plants, the government should not subsidize energy sales. And if plants prove uneconomical in relation to grid provided power, then they should be abandoned. Obviously, careful economic studies are needed to assure that they can run profitably.

"Mr Arkhom said the Thai economy was likely to expand by 3.5-4.5 per cent this year"

Consider this prediction:

Economic growth is expected to increase 2-3% in the first quarter of 2015 - thaivisa.com 2015-02-15

If the 2015Q1 GDP growth is 3%, each of the remaining three quarters must have growth rates of 5% to achieve an annual growth of 4.5%!

No one in or out of government is forecasting any quarter in 2015 hitting 5% GDP growth. In fact Thailand experienced negative inflation rate in January 2015. - Finance Minister Sommai Phasi, 2015-02-02.

The Inspector-general of the Ministry of Commerce Somkiat Triratpan, 2015-02-02, forecasted the CPI would range from 1.8 to 2.5% throughout 2015. That means the GDP growth for January 2015 was less that 2.5%. So if the 2015Q1 GDP growth is (say) 2%, each of the remaining three quarters must have growth rates of 5.3% to achieve an annual growth of 4.5!

Recently, the Junta announced it will make no further substantial capital investments in the Thai infrastructure. That's apart from the fact it never has. The Junta and the nation will be fortunate that the 2015 GDP keeps even with inflation.

While the Junta holds power over democracy, it holds no power to overturn the principles of economics.

Seems reasonable provided Thaksin comes back to fulfill his obligations to the courts, country and the people then talks can be held, with him on the other side of a stout set of bars.

Reconciliation is not about accommodating one mans lust for power, particularly a man who has never admitted any wrongdoing regardless of the evidence.

Until he and his minions come to the table in contrition there can be no reconciliation for those they have wronged.

Let's see the Junta retract its amnesty for the coup and place itself at the court's mercy for crimes against the sovereignty of the Thai people.

Let the man who appointed himself to prime minister reject his thirst for absolute power and retract Article 44 of the Interim Charter and reinstate the 2007 Constitution. Then maybe reconciliation can be meaningful.

F$&@ Thaksin. One man holding the country to ransom with his little red sheep.

When will they wake up?

It looks like the little multi-colored Thai sheep have wakened the Junta up when the Junta thought it held them hostage to its power.

EU and Ukraine have German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French leader Francois Hollande to thank for "convincing" Hero Putin to a cease fire. The conflict is a direct concern to the national security of the EU and it's nice to see the EU effectively confront Russia without the US/NATO acting as the area's policeman.

Putin has miscalculated his contrived "civil war" in the Ukraine by driving the EU, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe closer together for mutual military and economic security. If he had been satisfied with his annexation of the Crimea, the subsequent deaths of 5,000 Ukrainian civilians and neo-Russian insurgents would have been avoided. But he let his ego get ahead of himself. Unfortunately, only his ego is bruised. Hardly a fair tradeoff.

Thailand's military fought against communist insurgents in the 1980s with assistance from the USA. Now its Junta-led government is being compared to the likes of Eritrea, North Korea, Syria, and Sri Lanka for violation of human rights. The military has chosen to align the nation with communist China for national security and disassociate itself from close ties with Australia and the USA.

Thailand's military record could be better.

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Well it can't possibly get any worse

A repeat of military attacks against civilians like in 2010 and civil war would be worse case scenarios.

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completely and utterly stupid concept and has no place in a democracy where the law is one of the primary structures

That seriously needs to be removed from the table of reforms - all it would do is cause serious conflict and undermine the justice system - it is so stupid it is beyond belief it is even being discussed by these people

The law must apply equally to everyone in the country - no exceptions

Whose law?

The law derived from the Thai Peoples or the law dictated by the Junta? The Junta doesn't even apply its own "law" as prescribed by its Interim Charter equally to all Thais and repeatedly violates their rights and liberties under the "law." The Junta gave itself both legislative and judicial authority; hardly a representative of the Thai Peoples.

If the rule of law must be followed without exception, there must be no conflicts of interests and recognition that sovereignty lies with Thai Peoples

"The Lack of skilled workers is hampering the advancement of research and development in industry"

Not a problem. With better pay, easier immigration work visas, and less corporate protectionism, Thailand will have plenty of foreign workers and companies from the other ASEAN countries and the world at large to support Thai industries. Thais can sit back and remain "academics."

Why a shift at all? Is there a concern about overcrowding in prisoners, or a reluctance to enlarge the prison system? Or is this just pure naivity?

Without distribution and retailers, marketing of ANY PRODUCT cannot succeed.

A drug cartel or "kingpin" exists to provide the capital to finance supply and obtain a return on investment. They can only move tons of drugs into societies through distribution and retail networks. Obviously, no one person can personally accomplish that. Cutoff the support networks and you slow the supply into society. The problem with networks is that demand makes it all too lucrative for the most unskilled person to make money.

A drug policy needs to be three-pronged: supplier, delivery, consumption.

While "virginity" always seems to be thought in terms of females, it's often overlooked by males. How many males can claim to be virgins before they marry?

Men are excused for following their hormoneal urges while women are admonished for not controlling their own. Recognition of the reality of sex is the best cure for irresponsible sexual behavior.

"Many politicians have already escaped prosecution after committing irregularities and this has caused a breakdown in national reconciliation because people who were in the wrong refused to face justice"

Good excuse by the Junta who:

- escaped prosecution from violating the 2007 Constitution in the most egregious manner and gave itself amnesty.

- violated its own Interim Charter by negating Articles 3 and 4 with Article 44.

- committed far more than "irregularities" with its martial law

These irregulaties must stop for the sake of reconcliation:

- liberty

- human rights

- equality

Somehow the Junta seems to have forgotten its own Article 2 of the Interim Charter: Thailand is a DEMOCRATIC monarchy.

It seems a lack of memory is also a good excuse.

In a society with a normal judicial system, the court would have no jurisdiction to determine whether she can leave the country. A person cannot lose their rights (in this case as provided under the Interim Charter in Article 4) simply because they are suspected to have committed a crime.

The Junta needs to "put up or shut up." Direct her arrest. Then the Supreme Court can decide the extent of her civil liberties. But I'm okay with the self-inflicted controversary because it continues to present Yingluck as a victim and she'll gain more support for it.

The bureaucrats just got pay raises and new uniforms. I'm sure they'll survive.

More importantly Sangsit seems to have overlooked the repeated dozen military coups in Thailand THAT DISRUPT the entire government bureacratic process. He is focused on an effect and not the cause. But certainly, now is not the time to point to the Junta as a problem unless he wants an Attitude Adjustment Holiday.

These Thai Peoples were exercising their rights under the Junta's Interim Charter, Article 3 - Sovereign power belongs to all Thais, and Article 4 - Recognizes human dignity, rights, liberties and equality of the Thais.

As Abhisit pointed out last year, Article 44 VIOLATES Article 3. The Junta hides behind a double standard, if not an outright lie, in its so-called rule of law for Thais. This Junta will only leave a legacy of distrust and division when it exits from power by its economic failures.

Defamation only counts if you're on the right political side. Right now that side is the military.

Even though Gen. Prayuth says don't criticize unless you have the facts to support it, I doubt the NCPO will allow Yingluck to sue Thavorn for deformation.

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Obama should be prosecuted for buying votes because thats all this is.

political spam

Immigration has been a central pillar of the United States since before there was a United States. The Democratic party, which is 20 years older than the Republican party, has always represented immigrants and has done so broadly, inclusively, effectively.

Prez Obama is no different concerning immigration to the United States than was the first of the predecessor party's presidents, Thomas Jefferson. Prez Obama is not different than the first literally speaking Democratic party Pres Andrew Jackson and others, to include Presidents Grover Cleveland, FDR, John Kennedy, LBJ.

The most prominent Republican party president that was open to accommodating illegal immigrants was Ronald Reagan who learned the explosive nature of the word "amnesty," which only the immigration snipers use today.

There is more to immigration than politics but immigration policies like any other policy includes politics. There are however aspects to immigration that transcend politics.....

If we look to institutional actors, racialized politics seems to play the largest role in determining whether those actors are pro or anti immigration. The question that arises is whether these coalitions will hold if our nation ever moves beyond anti and pro immigration to seriously debating the particular issues of immigration reform. Or will the racialized politics that drive myths about crime waves and conspiracy theories about a Mexican takeover of the Southwest, or Muslim’s preparing to enact Sharia Law, prevent the public from engagement with the specifics of immigration reform?

http://thesocietypages.org/sociologylens/2011/05/22/immigration-and-racialized-politics/

You can add Republican President G.H.W. Bush to your list of presidents supporting immigration amnesty.

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OK. Patiently waiting here for the anti-US comments.

While I wait, I'll pray for these good, brave young men and women.

"While I wait, I'll pray for these good, brave young men and women."

Well aren't you special. I love how some people get all patriotic and teary-eyed about the brave young yada yada ...and think it's all so wonderful, while at the same time ignoring all the jobless, homeless veterans on the streets in the US. or just totally acting like they don't exist ... like all the other flag-waving & praying Americans in the photo.

Hope you're waiting patiently and praying for this ignored, once brave, not so young anymore veteran and the thousands like him. Do you suppose he's featured in Veterans' Day Parades?

And military grocery stores in the US take in more than $100 million a year in food stamps from these brave young ,,, whose families live in poverty.

Food stamp redemption at military grocers has been rising steadily since the beginning of the recession in 2008. Nearly $104 million worth of food stamps was redeemed at military commissariesin the fiscal year ended Sept. 30.

http://money.cnn.com/2014/02/17/news/economy/military-food-stamps/

And then there's medical care

CNN reported on April 30, 2014 that at least 40 United States Armed Forces veterans died while waiting for care at thePhoenix, Arizona, Veterans Health Administration facilities. By June 5, 2014, Veterans Affairs internal investigations had identified 35 veterans who had died while waiting for care in the Phoenix VHA system.^[4] An investigation of delays in treatment throughout the Veterans Health Administration system is being conducted by the Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General,^[5][6][7] and the House has passed legislation to fund a $1 million criminal investigation by the Justice Department.^[8] On May 16, 2014, the Veterans Health Administration's top health official, Dr. Robert Petzel, retired early at the request of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki.^[9][10] On May 30, 2014, Secretary Shinseki resigned from office amid the fallout from the controversy.

Curious-did you confirm the man's identity as a vet?

The government has to see public support growing to outlaw possession of child pornographic material before it takes any legislative action?

Do Thais need Prayuth's 12 Values + 1?

“Government spending is accelerating in Thailand, but its efforts are paying off….Economic growth is expected to increase 2-3% in the first quarter of 2015.”

Success? Efforts paying off? This is a disaster!

Compare to sampling of the government’s previous predictions:

- Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya said: "The government is confident that the Thai economy will grow by 4 per cent this year” - The Nation 2015-01-13

- Gen Prayut said, “the Thai economy should grow by 3.5-4.5 per cent next year,” - 2014-12-15

Then compare to independent predictions:

- TMB Bank's research institute TMB Analytics has revised its GDP growth forecast for year 2015 down to 3.5%, after determining that the economy was recovering more slowly than earlier expected. -2014-12-24

- Don Nakornthab, director of the Bank of Thailand (BoT) Macroeconomic Policy Office says, “Recovery of domestic consumption and private investment in Thailand is still slow as the private sector is still waiting for global economic recovery and massive government investment on basic infrastructure projects,” - 2015-02-02

- “Reports state that the investment in infrastructure is due to abysmal economic growth in 2014. Estimates peg the country’s growth to be only 3 percent in 2015.” - thaivisa.com 2015-02-11

The Government has failed to meet its commitment for making SUBSTANTIAL investments in the Thai economy and that is directly weakening economic growth. But it “takes a bow” for now expecting only 2-3%? Anything below 2% is deflation.

It’s going to take a lot more than a floating market at the Government House and hopes to save the Thai economy for 2015.

If only Gen. Prayuth would put a floating market on every canal. Then they too would be clean and fresh smelling.