PilotEd

I think Thai women are amongst the most beautiful in the world. Their smooth brown skin is a feature.

Why are the Thais so hung up on whitening their skin and narrowing their noses?

This lady could be from Sweden if she died her hair blond.

Time to really promote Thainess.

Wouldn't it have ben wise for him to take the test to prove that no one is above the law?

To me it indicates that he probably had been drinking.

But Thai elites would rather appear out of line than give up their excess privileges.

I have often said that I am sure that the vast majority of these girls didn't have dreams of growing up to be prostitutes. They do it because there is no other work for them that pays a living wage plus enough to help their families.

When I first came to Thailand I admit that I was like a kid in a candy store but soon enough that grew old. I wound up marrying a village girl who never worked the trade.

However, I tell you if I had met the right one in those circumstances I would not have let her past stand in the way.

When the Thais get a government that actually will help raise the economic circumstances of all the people not just the elite the Tourist trade may decline some. Just remember that prostitution is the oldest profession. Has always been with us and always will be. Should be legal.

Here's all the proof you need that Prayut is beholden to the corporate elite.

Keep them barefoot and pregnant and begging for any job just to buy a bowl of rice.

Just pass a law that taxes any off shore trust owned by a Thai. And tax at a higher rate than if they kept their money here and invested it. It is relatively easy as the USA has a similar law forcing banks to report any accounts owned by Americans. Unfortunately the USA law has loop holes to aid the rich in hiding their trusts but just don't build those loop holes in.

Okay, okay I will wake up and stop dreaming.

Politicians from both sides of Thailand's divide have baulked at the sharp curbs on their power, while analysts say the draft is undemocratic and harks back to an era when a royalist and military elite had a stranglehold on politics.

That is a key statement buried at the end of the article.

And real, democratic elections are never going to happen under this junta. It will keep getting pushed back until they feel they can manipulate a win for themselves.

Love the phrase: "having their attitude adjusted".

Does anyone here remember that phrase from the 30's and 40's Germany?

The Junta has created its' own underbelly.

I can tell you that as long as Prayuth and his cronies in the elite (yellow shirts) control the conditions of the election and how many of the seats must automatically go to certain segments of the society as well as who may or may not sit then there is no chance of a true democratic election. As an outside observer with very little effect on me one way or the other, my prediction is that this will not stand for the five years Prayuth is asking for.

What a farce. I do not doubt that Yingluck did some things wrong, But this is just a sham by the yellow shirt elites to disenfranchise the voters who legally elected her. (I know that there was vote buying but convince me that the yellow shirts didn't do the same.) This government will not stand because the majority of Thais do not really approve. And all of Prayuth's TV speeches will not convince them. They want "populist" programs.

Don't worry. The court won't be confused by any facts she may present. They have already been instructed to ignore them.

In 2006 I had an operation for stenosis at Bangkok Int'l. I was on the table for 6 hours. It wound up costing me the equivalent of 15000 USD. I sent a copy of the disc that was provided to me by the hospital with details. I sent a copy to a doctor friend (radiologist) in the USA. He said the operation was done well and that in the USA it would have cost $100000. With Medicare paying 80% it still would have cost more not even figuring traveling costs. So if I have been ripped off I am OK with that.

Is no one else concerned that the Thais are now going into the paranoia security business. We'll have to start paying attention

to our phone calls.

Using the example of WWII resistance to the Nazis is as valid now as then. Remember "Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it."

If the junta is so sure of their rightness they should allow opposing speech and let the people see for themselves that they are the good guys. But since they know they are an illegal takeover government they can't allow free speech.

"I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it." (attributed to Voltaire)

The real villain here is alcohol.

Too many young punks from many nations come to Thailand because they know the bar owners are only concerned with profits and won't cut them off. "Come to Thailand and get laid and drunk and there are no penalties".

It is obvious from earlier replies that the consensus is: Please tell us why Thailand needs submarines other than to keep up with the neighbors. What enemy does Thailand have or potentially have where a sub force would be helpful. This is nothing more than an excuse to spend money that can be used much better elsewhere. Hopefully not on the military at all.

Expect more.

It is not just that they lost power but that they lost it to an illegal military takeover that won't even listen to their grievances.

They are setting up rigged elections to assure that the Thai elite retain their privileges.

It won't be too long (I suspect within 5 years) before their is a counter revolution and the beat goes on.

I fly semi-frequently from Phitsanulok to Bangkok and return. I am not fully handicapped but can only walk short distances. I always request a wheelchair and have always received that service. I can climb and descend the ramps but have always received courteous assistance.

So my experience is very good with Nok Air.

My only complaint is that they require that I sit in an aisle seat which means I have to get up to allow others in and out as I am the first on and last off.

"We have designed this constitution based on countering the problems of the last 10 years," Paiboon told AFP, a draft copy of the document on the table in front of him.

"Thai political parties are different to other countries'... they can be bought," he adds.

In the eyes of the country's elite, democratically elected politicians have ruined Thailand with populist policies and cronyism that lead the poor astray.

They long for what they regard as a golden era when parliament was overseen by unelected elders who kept such populism in check.

That says it all. Can't have the people enjoying the fruits of their own labour. And, of course, the elites are never guilty of cronyism or nepotism.

Thank you father Paiboon for looking over the child-like poor of Thailand, However, if they are children it is because you see to it that they don't get an education.

Typical of a conservative authoritarian government to try to control morality.

Someone needs to explain to the General that there is only "democracy". There is no such thing as Thai democracy any more than

there is western democracy.

Democracy is a Greek word that means a government ruled by the people. In other words, one person, one vote and the chips will

fall as they may.

BTW - the U.S.A. is a representative republic (that is rapidly degrading to an oligarchy) not a democracy.

What Thailand has now is an autocracy. One person, all the votes.

I await for the General's explanation of what a Thai democracy will be.

If I were to guess it will be a combination of oligarchic control along with a sham democracy.

"Yet his influence persists in Thai politics, with Shinawatra-allied parties drawing the loyalty of the rural north as well as urban working-class voters for their populist policies.

But Thaksin is loathed by much of the country's royalist elite, which is backed by parts of the military and judiciary."

And there is the situation in a nut shell. This is just another case of the have's versus the have nots.

Prayut needs to see this through and then say "I told you so" when democracy is restored. He needs to ignore the bitter and twisted and move ahead with not restoring, but bringing democracy to the country that he loves.

He could look upon Fiji for inspiration. The UN and USA spewed the same narrative as they do with Thailand now when Frank Bainimarama staged a coup in Fiji. Then as Frank had promised restored democracy and actually won the election in a landslide. Ban Ki-Moon even acknowledged this success of democracy.

Prayut can take solace the majority of Thai's support him ergo support peace and stability. The other 7% are why reform is needed.

Good luck Prayut. Time will show that you are sincere.

I think you are getting your polling solely from Bangkok. I don't believe the majority of Thais do support him. If you polled up country you would find that 7% number phenomenally low.

It is clear that this is a puppet government run in the background by the wealthy elite.

Perhaps the Shinawatra faction won't specifically for a new party but eventually the power will return to the people (Red Shirts) because the pen is mightier than the sword.

At that point there will be a price to be paid by the Yellow Shirts but I hope it is not violent vengeance but a proper democracy.

The world is changing, the pendulum is swinging back to the left where there is more sharing and Thailand will have to become a part of the change.

The other thing that disturbs me and seems to go unnoticed is his asking certain dissenters to turn themselves in for "attitude adjustments".

How does he propose to do that? Waterboarding? Indefinite imprisonment?

Shades of Pinochet, Shah of Iran etc. All who said they were doing it for the good of the people.

Let Thailand hold an election now and see who wins. I suspect he know the answer to that so will not let that happen. Ever!