stephen tracy

Just now, InMyShadow said:

Your joking right? The attacks on prayuth are Non stop!

No freedom of speech my ass. The only people that should be concerned are Facebook fanatics deeply distressed at not being able to trash the junta

Well I guess that covers 0000000.1% of the population

Life goes on

A Thai friend of mine took the view that he authorities didn't have anyone competent enough in English to understand what's being posted on TV. He said the same about the BP. Somehow I doubt this is true though as you don't need to have superb English reading abilities to grasp the general sentiment of what's being said. I've noticed the BP is more lenient in what you can say and what you can't compared with TV. Posters in there get away with a lot more, whether it's anti-junta sentiment or pro-junta sentiment.  Personal attacks are not unusual.

Just now, Srikcir said:

Actually, Thailand is not a member.

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/CurrentMembers.aspx

 

Thailand, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, and Qatar were vying for four seats allotted to countries in the Asia-Pacific region in the UN rights group. Thailand was the only country not to make the cut.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2014/10/22/1413954464/

But Thailand (aka junta) has the "privilege" along with 28 other countries that have retaliated in 2016 against citizens who cooperate with the United Nations and get punished, through intimidation and reprisals:

“I think we should see these individuals as the canary in the coal-mine, bravely singing until they are silenced by this toxic backlash against people, rights and dignity – as a dark warning to us all.” - U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour

https://www.chiangraitimes.com/thailand-one-of-29-countries-in-un-report-on-member-states-punishing-human-rights-activists.html

In fact Thailand's poor human rights performance caused its National Human Rights Commission to be downgraded to "B" status - it was judged not impartial or effective enough to submit reports on human rights in Thailand to the UN Human Rights Council, nor can it actively participate in human rights conferences organized by the UN Human Rights Council.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/opinion/aec/30278458

Note: underlined emphasis is my own.

 

I stand corrected.

1 hour ago, Russell17au said:

What, the law that states that you must attend court on the set hearing date or an arrest warrant will be issued for your arrest. That law is in every country in the world and it takes a guilty gutless person to run away and hide instead of facing the courts and it means the courts in any country not just Thailand. You break the law you pay the cost.

Let us do away with all the laws and then we can become a proper lawless society which it appears that is what you want, because these particular laws do not suit you but they do suit the country

Bordering on hysteria. No one is suggesting - as you are - they all laws should be nullified but it is incorrect to states that the laws in Thailand suit the country. There are many people currently rotting in jail that would strongly disagree with you, and yes, they are Thai. Thailand, may I remind you, is a member of the United Nations Council for Human Rights (an inconvenience  for the junta), which means it should not be prosecuting an individual (or individuals) highlighting human rights abuses, particularly serious ones such as forced labour, human trafficking, speech crime and abduction.

Just now, ELVIS123456 said:

Thailand Laws are applicable in Thailand - not UK, UN, USA, anywhere.

Nothing any bunch of Expats say on a Forum is going to change that.

You would be far better off trying to adapt to the situation as it is here.

Andy knew what he was doing and did it anyway - the wrong way - on purpose.

He has achieved his 'martyrdom' as a 'glorious human rights activist'.

Spare me. I would now say 'go home Andy' - but he already has.

Maybe some posters should too -  seeing they dislike the Laws here so much.

 

Laws, just like the governing entities that create them, are rarely permanent. Would you also offer the same sage advice (forget trying to change anything) to Thais? Would you urge them emigrate if they are unsatisfied with current laws governing the country? Should people all over the world simply stop attempting to bring about positive change and do nothing? If that were the case, it would still be illegal in many places to claim that the earth is spherical and not the center of the solar system. Slavery would still be permitted in most places and women would not be allowed to vote.  Your comment is not only thoughtless, it's actually slovenly.

Just now, Russell17au said:

Your Grandparents Etc, were activists same as I was in the Vietnam war, like your family I fought for the good of the people and it was the governments that cancelled the commitment and left the South Vietnamese people to face the North on their own. This is exactly the same principle but it appears that you cannot understand it or you are just trying to start an argument. How do you think Andy knew about the people and the conditions? Did the company tell him? he had to have meetings with the people to find out what was happening. Are you really that thick not to know that he needed to meet with the workers to gain the information that he had.

Your personal convictions aside, there are many that would disagree that the Vietnam War (or as the Vietnamese call it, "The American War") was waged "for the good of the people".

Just now, Russell17au said:

All activists make these un-written promises same as your Grandparents and Great grandparents did so that things would be better for you. What if your Grand Parents and Great Grandparents walked out of the un-written commitment that they made before it was finished. Even though it is 2 different things the principles are the same. I have been involved in a war where there was a commitment and the promises were made to the people only to be left in the s**t when we could not win the war.

1) "All activists make these in-written promises", not a fact. Most activists do not necessarily make promises by nature of the fact that they are often dealing with power structures and mechanism that they know they cannot beat. Most activists settle for exposing an issue with the aim of creating awareness. This is where activism is most effective, 2) "Your Grandparents and Great grandparents" also made these promises. Also, not a fact. My ancestors made no such promises to me or anyone else. 3) In war commitments last as long as the resolve and resources of those waging the war, and this varies depending on numerous factors. Also, people that wage wars are not activists in the conventional sense of the word.

Just now, Russell17au said:

Then it shows that he has not done his homework on what can happen to him before he came into Thailand and promised those people that he would fix things for them. He should have known before he started this what would happen but he ignored that. He was not forced to come here and try and do something stupid that could get him in prison. It is up to you to check things first and find out what the consequences are if you do try to change things and you must also think of what the ramifications are if things go wrong before you start. So now what has he gained? absolutely nothing because now the factory just goes back to the way it was and he has deserted those that he told he would fix things for them.

Not absolutely nothing, the company has been exposed for serious labour and human rights violations, including forced labour and human trafficking, which has been noted by multiple international organizations and companies and created public awareness. It also prompted companies under the umbrella of the Finnish Workers Union United to refuse to handle Natural Fruit products and highlighted the venality of the Thai "government" and the fact that its judiciary is anything but independent. So, not an insignificant victory.

1 minute ago, The Old Bull said:

Prayut believes the people love him . In fact they hate him and loading the armed forces with people that hate him is a stupid move. If there is ever a revolution 

having armed you enemies will not go well for the junta.

It's good that he's stupid. Let's just hope the people that installed him or equally stupid and shortsighted.

No autopsy or SCI report?  "The dog ate it sir". 

Thaksin was behind it! He ruins everything for the general.

Just now, Shaksey said:

 

Rapists deserve harsh punishment but no-one, not even those who have done it themselves should be raped. 

I wouldn't shed a tear. Especially if the victim was a child.

Just now, Voodoochile said:

NONSENSE! some people deserve even worst

The guys in India that recently gang-raped an 8 year old girl over a 5-day period and then murdered her springs to mind. In one report I read on it, when one of the guys was about to bash her head in with a rock to kill her after the fifth day, one of his friends told him to wait so he could rape her one more time. Not sure there's such a thing as a punishment nasty enough for that.

2 hours ago, Elkski said:

First off Mack's haircut is a popular style.   What kind of jerk brings this up.   Secondly it's all you old farts who have out up and overpaid taxis these last decades that have made this taxi scam issue so common.   Thank goodness for the younger generation!!! There is hope in this world.    I do worry about this guy's health.   

The RTP have stepped up the pressure on taxi's.  The Thai people are tired of taxi scams too.   I think the time is ripe for a change. Thai people get no pick ups from taxi's too.    

Some of you old guys need to take your old ideas back to the bar or grave. 

Why wouldn't every farang and Thai far and wide be cheering this guy on?   

 

PS.  The Rooster said Mr Mack's language skills were quite good including a comment about using the 4-5 tonal sounds correctly.  How many have had the Rooster say that about them?   

How do you know how old people are?  Rather presumptuous . And as a Thai speaker, Mr Mac isn't particularly impressive. He's not bad. If you can't use tones correctly, you don't speak Thai. It's fundamental to the language.

11 minutes ago, Elkski said:

This isn't about the kids haircut or how he can afford to live in Thailand.

This isn't about if he makes money on YouTube or if he is after fame.

 

This is about the very common issue of law breaking taxi drivers in Thailand.  Some of you claim that poor taxi drivers can hardly make a living.   I don't believe this but it's not relavant.   The real issue is this taxi scam or a refusal to pick up happens so often for Thai and non Thai. .  This happens so often it affects almost every tourist who takes more than 4 taxi rides on vacation.   Luckily law enforcement or TAT have realized how bad this reflects on Thailand.   It can be said that taxi drivers are the ambassadors of a country.   Now is the time for change.  It has to start somewhere.  Whether it's over 20 baht or 200 baht is not the point.    All you people who have put up with this for years are guilty of growing this problem.   

I suggest we all approach taxis with our phones on video and report each taxi who refuses service or doesn't want to use the meter.   

 

I know this will piss many off but if more Americans had been visiting thailand the last 20 years this problem would not be so bad.   We don't put up with BS like this.  

In all the years I've lived in BKK I can count on one hand how many drivers asked for a set fair rather than use the meter. That's a pretty good ratio given that I take taxis every day. Once I agreed because it was evening rush hour and I was going to airport and the traffic was hell. And what he was asking was not unreasonable for a journey like that. Not even a fraction of what you'd pay in North America, UK, Oz etc. The other few times it happened I just got a different taxi, simple. Some posters here have been making sweeping statements about drivers that simply don't apply to all... not even close. This particular guy tried it on and got outed but I'm not sure it was the right way to go about it. Personally, I would have handled it differently. But I'm not seeking internet fame. As far as refusing a fair, I think that's up to the driver. I personally wouldn't want to drive from Sathon to Sukhumvit between 5 and 7 pm on a weekday. It's not worth the money or the hassle. And finally, regardless of what nationality someone is, American or otherwise, if I refused a fair and that person told me, as a taxi driver, I should go pick rice instead, or something to that effect (as been mentioned in this thread), I'd tell them to go and fist themselves. My taxi, my decision.