philotruth3

corruption? lets get one thing straight. Every where in thailand, in every household, in every office, in every government building, in every business, and even in every family relationship the custom is to pay to get things done. I've experienced it 1000 times. The evidence is OVERWHELMING that this is true. We are talking about amounts, not about practice. What they are really saying is they want a bigger piece of the action. Their cronies want some money. If you want some of the money then why don't you agree to share like Thaksin did? "Buying votes" is spreading the wealth. The people wouldn't want him in if the yellow shirts treated them better. After all they had their chance. They got voted out for a reason. Anyway, I don't look at the yellow shirts as the class of people that should be complaining. It's not clear that the yellow shirts have made their case at all. If you want to improve on that and try to change your entire culture then great. Everybody is all for that likely. But to tell one party they shouldn't use the same practices that everyone else does is BULLSHIT.

no gumment can allow themselves to be forced out by a terrorist group of thugs can they , and replace it with a dictator ship with suthep at the helm ,perish the thought

Why do Farlang get their noses into Thailand business, you have no vote, you are just guests in my countwry

if you not like how we do things, get out and go home, Thailand will be a better place without you

Answer: Better off without help? No country is an expert in everything. We all consult outsiders, there are plenty of foreign experts in most countries. and 2) Thais can't even run a bus service, you crash buses every other day almost.

3) because you are attacking someone without having laid out the charges In fact farm price supports are not fraud. its fraud to say that they are when all governments do that.

4) someone said the rich are paying people to protest. 600 baht per day that's fraud.

5) this is a democratically elected government which has already called for an election,

Finally, if you don't like farungs opinion you don't have to read the forum! go crash a bus instead.

They were probable naïve backpackers that would do anything to caught a cool photo to upload to there Facebook account, thinking they were superstars and with a naïve attitude from there own country, thinking they were safe lol seen this kind of attitude from people I know holidaying in the land of smiles

They are giving 500 baht a day to travel from Chonburi,so maybe silly farang are on more

Is this true or a joke? If the rich are paying to have a protest, the western and Thai media should have a field day with this. Its a major, major scoop in the story.

I support her. The charges are lame. Why don't we hear specific? That would make us shutter with rage? They haven't come up with anything substantial except she's too good to the poor and her cronies. Well of course the cronies on the other side, being the spoil rich people, aren't going to like it, Where's my violin!!!

I think she does have a responsibility alright, to let people earn a living and disperse the crowds. They can't elect another leader because they are too stingy to work with the poor. The poor which is the majority of thailand wont vote for those thugs <deleted> THEM!

@philotruth3

It was the "harvesting humans" that caught my eye to be honest, but having read rest of that post and the last two words in particular of your response to me I stand by my comment.

I support elections, but if after the election it turns out the govt is corrupt, inept, authoritarian and considers itself above the law, then democratic protests are justified.

What suthep wants is another matter, I have no time for him and his fascist council, but PT as an elected govt created this mess with their misrule.

I hope elections take place, I know PT will win, they will be the next govt and that's as it should be. However, if they rule in the same criminal manner then protests to remove them will be fully justified. It's not enough to win, by winning you are obligated to rule for the good of all, not for yourself and your family.

I pretty much agree with much of this, PT shouldn't have pulled the vote for amnesty but its not exactly "misrule". It's only speculative the bro would even dare come back. The US congress pulls that shit every week. Wrong yes, but typical. and she's already called for an election and they are still putting everyone out of work, people who can't afford it. That's not protesting, its tyranny. They don't want an election , they want power. I feel you are giving yellow shirts the benefit of the doubt but not yingluck..... truth is nobody knows precisely how corrupt or honest she is. I just haven't heard much substantial criticism, everyone repeats the word corruption without demonstrating anything she's done wrong except an amnesty bill, I can't see that is an impeachable offense.... now, her brother, they should bring him to justice or at least keep him out of the way.

I stand by my harvesting humans characterization in the US. Corporations push the drug culture heavily in the entertainment biz, then arrest the kids when they copy the big stars. They don't by in large arrest the big stars and wealthy kids. Its a crime to be poor. Of course all the kids are copying the entertainers who do drugs openly. You can't allow the corps to make money promoting it and then give kids 2o years for the same behavior, It's worse than anyone can describe. The Thais have no idea how bad corruption can get. I sense most are gentle and humane by comparison. I know there are exceptions but they don't lock people up or allow luring them into crimes like the US does.

Okay I don't mean shoot them needlessly. But she has a responsibility to maintain order so that people can make a living and survive. They don't want to compromise, they only want her to step down so that THEY can have power? They were already in power and got voted out. The poor suffered too much under their regime and they don't try to make compromises, so why would anyone want them in power? They are border line terrorists.

Yingluck ought to get tough, she's being a cowardly liberal. There are millions of people hurt by this, so much so that many will go bankrupt and lose their life's work, be it a store, or small, medium business of some kind. They've shut down the country losing billions in tourism and local business, creating confrontation, not wanting to bargin, they just want power. The charges are next to nothing and relate to years ago. She should arrest them, shoot whoever resists if necessary. Conservatives would not allow this, its not democratic, only an attempted takeover. It would be one thing if they had substantial claims. They don't. They are committing treason. Wake up Yingluck!

.............................."They've shut down the country losing billions in tourism and local business, creating confrontation, not wanting to bargin, they just want power."..............................................

................................."She should arrest them, shoot whoever resists if necessary."................................

Interesting. So in your opinion the Army was justified in their actions back in 2010 ?

That wasn't an elected government, it was a coup to begin with. So no. This wouldn't happen in the U.S. which is more corrupt than thailand. Take the drug war. the US is harvesting humans for jail cells, profit and politically scaring people into giving up their freedom. The Thais are naive by comparison. The "corruption" everyone talks about means those in power treat their cronies better, as if that's not the case everyone in the world in every government every to hold power. The yellow shirts are just mad because the want to let the farmer's rot and take over their land. F!ck that. Once something gets big like this people just follow along as if they are on the right side. The point of democracy is to work with people, that's never been good enough for the yellow shirts. They are wealthier and want to rub dirt in the face of the poor, worsening the cycle of poverty. Think about the video, how they frame supporting rice farmers as corruption. What government doesn't do THAT? Hell he US supports the OIL INDUSTRY! with subsidies!

Erm,, okaaaay

That figures it would be all you have to say because I laid it out pretty clear. THey aren't protesting in the us for price supports for farmers. Because it's not corruption. It's what humane societies do and have done for centuries. And,she's already scheduled an election. This is a coup and nothing more. And AGAIN people are having their lives and businesses ruined just so the wealthy can have a bigger piece of the pie. If they came out with a compromise I'd support them, but they are offering nothing. Shoot them.

Criticize these protestors all you like, but the violence (just like 3.5 years ago) appears to be almost exclusive to the Red Shirt side of things.

Yingluck ought to get tough, she's being a cowardly liberal. There are millions of people hurt by this, so much so that many will go bankrupt and lose their life's work, be it a store, or small, medium business of some kind. They've shut down the country losing billions in tourism and local business, creating confrontation, not wanting to bargin, they just want power. The charges are next to nothing and relate to years ago. She should arrest them, shoot whoever resists if necessary. Conservatives would not allow this, its not democratic, only an attempted takeover. It would be one thing if they had substantial claims. They don't. They are committing treason. Wake up Yingluck!

Hunting isn't as good as it used to be for the older guys and they are getting sadder and sadder about it. In the 4 years I was there I noticed a slow but steady increase in younger westerners. The Thai women are holding out for younger men more and more. Good for them.

The old geezers can go for the older women now or stick to their porn and I can stop throwing up.

Of course there is only one little problem with that scenario, the older gals are often far more prudish. Ya just can't teach an old dog new tricks, it seems male or female. That's a big reason why we are such youth oriented cultures.

I was traveling in thailand on a bus at night sitting in the front row on top of a double decker tour bus and the driver was dozing off and swerving from one side of the road to the other, the whole bus was asleep except me! I had to go down and bang on the drivers cabin door and scream at him to wake up. He stopped the bus and took a walk. it was bizarre. The bus companies don't take care to make sure their drivers get enough sleep. it's pathetically stupid.

I think that is more accurate. I've met several people who got there stuff yanked away, a few beat up

<deleted>, it is very rare here. If I read TV, it seems to be a lot more common in LOS than here.

Generally, I find Cambodia a lot cheaper than Thailand. Been here for 5 years but go to Thailand pretty much every month. I do not party but I do like a beer and a good feed and I can get it for much less here in SR than in BKK. I also know that some pretty decent places can be had her as there is an oversupply of accommodation.

Cambodia is cheaper to holiday, the restuarants, bars and hotels are all cheaper but rent and groceries are more than thailand but there are exceptions.

There is a common scam for motorcycles with 2 people to drive by and rip the packs, purses and laptops away from people walking and drive away, I heard that from at least a dozen people, because on the way over a guy warned me, so I started asking people I met about each area and if they heard it was safe. at least 2 of them claimed it happened to them personally, the rest were just saying . I hate it when people exaggerate how bad something is too, I'm just saying what I heard but it feels pretty safe to me. The violence was all late at night stuff I heard from guys out drinking or walking home alone. I didn't worry in thailand I feel more need to be aware here but i don't know, but I hope I am wrong. One guy had alot of stitches and said it was a stab wound from the beach, another said he was drugged and robbed at the beach, another said he was pushed by a big dude in the street at 3am, he said he showed a knife and the guy backed off. I have also read online that cambodia was not as safe as thailand, especially in the country side. but yeah, pretty much all hearsay. mostly depends how good you are at staying out of trouble.

I hope, I could help. I read one post about a bad and cheap choice at supermarkets. Thats not true. You get particular more then in Thailand. And cheaper. Ah: cigarettes: no-name brand (Ara), one box $2,50, L&M 1 box $4,60, Marlboro 1 box $10 (but even this is just $1 per package).

Alcohol and ciggerettes maybe but things like oatmeal, jelly, cooking oil, dairy products, all considerably more here.... tuna $2-3 here but $1.1 in thailand., package dry goods are all more expensive here than thailand. 7 to $15 for a few dry tacos and mix. and the selection is not even close to thailand where they have big-cs and another big dept store(forgot the name) competing , here there is no dept store in sihnoukville. period, no way the selection for most stuff is comparable. The bike shops here have 1 of everything, if you are lucky. I bought a bike-light because forgot mine in thailand... they had 1 and it broke in two ways the first day. (the switch and the mounting) In thailand they had several at the many bikeshops. of western quality and it didn't break. I tried to buy cooking stuff, bring it all from thailand or you'll be sorry. I have been unable to find an electric wok anywhere, couldn't find a little can opener for less than $5. They have the same few brands and models at every store.

And another thing, at the dept stores in thailand the prices are marked and the same for everyone, here most things have no marked price and there is a higher price for westerners in all the little shops, but speaking kmer helps.

most of the budget places are 1 room - not 1 bedroom, and very, very modest in the less than 150 range in sihanookville, but with air and hotwater? maybe if you know someone and get very lucky, 1 room w/air starts at 150, but most of them are nothing to be excited about, but there are a few, the good ones go fast...hotwater is a luxury here and so is a private balcony. all western apts in thailand have those. the electric goes out once a week in the whole town for 1 to 4 hours. my internet has been down 3 times in two months beside the power going out . Refrigerators are standard in nearly every apt in thailand, but not here, you have to buy you own. Bedding was including in thailand, not here.

I saw a video on youtube implying I could get the same for less here, not true.

Again there is a big difference in price at the western super markets and the market where the locals go.

lots of furnished apartments in PP for $250-$500 a month.

I looked for a week in pp, everything near 250 was a shit hole except one nice place but you had to go up 3 flights on a narrow circular outdoor stairway in the rain that I wouldnt want to be too drunk on and no place to put things outside like a bicycle.

Its more expensive here generally. I'm not sure about the $500 range, I can't see spending 6k a year on rent.

If you go to smaller towns like sianoukville its cheaper. Siam reap is too but never been there.

Western restaurant food and beer is cheaper in Cambodia, but EVERYTHING else is more expensive and generally lower quality. Food at the grocery stores is often double in price here and selection is poor. If you go to the markets and eat like a local it can be about the same as Thailand. but again the selection is way better in Thailand.

Accept for the beer. I couldn't find 50cent drafts in thailand.

I moved here from Thailand and kind of regret it. but we'll see. Some people do like it better. The westerners are friendlier here than in thailand. They don't generally ignore each other here as was so common in thailand. I think the kmer men are friendlier here to than thai men. But the thai women are friendlier than the kmer women, that's for sure. Here women are afraid of being seen too friendly to westerners. Its way more conservative.

Some people say kmer are more honest, I havent found that to be the case. Others say the poor steal like crazy here, I think that is more accurate. I've met several people who got there stuff yanked away, a few beat up. That's rare in thailand.

But 1500? all depends on where you go and what you spend your money on. traveling back and forth might be a drag as the roads are bad and the border is a shit hole on the cambodian side. The southern one is much cleaner and less hassle, but the roads going either way are sketchy.

While there are child molesters that we should be throwing in jail and leaving there forever, (i don't understand why they let them out) it is also worth noting that america is on a witch hunt and thousands of people are being unfairly charged and having their lives along with their families destroyed. Even teens are been charged as sex offenders for texting themselves half naked. So accusations are often bogus,; be prudent but skeptical.

"Never eases to amaze me how the 'Pattaya Brigade' rush to the defense of anything heinous or derogatory stated about their precious domain"

Actually gay people have a lot of experience with this topic. They can tell you who are the closeted group, its the haters. The ones who go out of their way to attack people for it. This has been shown true over and over.

Of course people that live their get mad when they see these articles. We don't like being associated with something that has nothing to do with us and is way overblown. Every one I know says people back home get suspicious of them, just like you are asking what we have "to hide" This is a forum for xpats living in thailand. most know exactly what the story is. its overblown and we need to find out why people are doing that. And secondly, why don't they see part of the problem as economic. Are these people upset when teenagers go to work to sew the clothes they wear for $2 a day? Or get exposed to chemicals making their electronics? Conservatives don't care about people, these is just a convenient way to attack people. Conservatives like to dominate, and they are the child molesters as well, child molesting is an act of violence. COnservatives like to dominate, you can see it in all their policies, who is more conservative than the catholic church? I want to sue this news organizations. they are irresponsibly driving people insane, for money, hatred and political purposes. They are evil,

" I think it's a moral duty to beat the crap out of a pedophile, when you are sure of it." AGREED! Whole heartedly.

SO why haven't any priests had the crap beat out of them? Not even one!

In fact nowhere does this happen. Probably because there aren't nearly as many molestors as the sex warriors claim. It's happening in Russia and their photos are all on mainstream porn sites. All you have to do is visit a few porn sites and you'll have underage looking teens on your computer in the cache. And that is enought to get you arrested, but the search engines and banks and criminals that send you to the photos are not charged. Go figure.