ronnie50

I thought he already was that (a special envoy to ASEAN - that's why the ASEAN reps met with him recently isn't it?)

Not defending Thaksin, but the people DID choose the party they want (not Thaksin's). They wanted Move Forward. The usual royalist/conservative suspects contrived to get rid of that party and the TRT party is now in bed with its sworn enemies instead. As a minroty ruling party, TRT is pushing the envelope (too far probably). Nothing has changed really, the same conservative people run the country for their own vested interests and are letting TRT drive the clown car for a while, until the real rulers think TRT has overstepped its boundaries - which it might be getting close to now.

Exactly my point. What were they thinking? If this wasn't part of the deal done with the Amart to let him come back and dump Move Forward from the coalition government, then the Shinawatara's are playing with fire. Let's hope it doesn't result in another Army 'free fire zone'!

I think it's the usual tripartite suspects tightening the screws - and using their various proxies as always. They're sending him a signal, not a judicial signal, that's a smokescreen, it's something else. Possibly something bigger. I hope not another coup. Why couldn't he just stay in the background and give directions from there?

I don't get you. You are agreeing Trump said illiegal protests, but are taking issue with some other added words..

Well, I guess it isn't up to him to determine what protests are illegal. It's funny (not really) how Trump supporters forget that the judiciary and judges rule on what's legal and what's not. It ain't Sunny Boy who gets to do that.

But Jared will be whispering in his ear, I bet.

Seems he's pushed the initial deal with the Amart for his return from exile as far as he could. I thought the deal was that he was supposed to fade into the background - but he's done the opposite. The Amart are restless, this is clear, and not good news for Thailand if they are scared of him (again).

Oh well, at least President Dufus hasn't (yet) sent in the National Guard with live ammo to shoot the kids like your pal Reagan did when he was Governor of California in 1969. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/02/video-ronald-reagans-press-conference-after-bloody-thursday/284045/

Thanks. The domestic EMS finally showed up today on Thai Post EMS Tracking - six days after I was given the number by the sender. Still no clue what happened to the tracking (letter) overseas. Still says arrived at transit location (Haneda) on 1 March. I posted it personally at a Thai Post Office on 25 February. To the clerk's credit, she did say it could take up to three weeks (regular airmail with tracking number). It cost 260 THB. To full EMS overseas, just a letter, they wanted 1,200 THB. Not sure outcome would be any different!

I was told by BOI one year (12 months) of proof of the above mix in order to apply, Where did the 2 year figure come from?

While Thai EMS works quite well most of the time when getting new passports delivered domestically, their EMS tracking system leaves something to be desired. Five days ago I was given a domestic tracking number for something being EMS'd to me in Bangkok (from Bangkok). The number still isn't recognized in Thai EMS tracking. Likewise, an EMS letter I sent abroad got as far as the transit country (Japan) a week ago, and the destination post office still has no record of the tracking number. Real hit and miss.

You mean the two world wars that the US stayed out of for the first 3 years and 2 years respectively? Seems to be a centuries-old pattern there..

Yes, it's the blue sign in Thai language.

Fully agree with that. But if America in NATO can't be trusted to act under Trump, or will use its significant clout at the NATO table to vote down what needs to be done in an continental security emergency situation, then they're better off without USA.

They do it because they can - no one will do anything to them for running red lights or zipping through crossings (unless they hit someone in the process). Ask yourself this, 'have you ever seen the Thai police chase a speeding vehicle?' Of course it's not right that they run reds and pedx, but that's besides the point. Thailand has lots of very solid laws, but they're ignored - and that's because they're not enforced.

While this might seem counterintuitive, NATO might be better off without US forces in the era of Trump. It seems clear he wouldn't agree to act against Russia if Putin invaded or threatened a NATO allied country. So NATO would be better off without the US and its contrary meddling in the organization. However, that means the rest of NATO - particularly UK, France and Canada (and all the others) would need to really up their game (money, troops, IT, etc), and become deliberately more aggressive.

Great, thanks for the quick reply.

If convenient, there are some very popular pharmacies on Ratchawithi Road (Victory Monument) opposite the big government hospital of the same name.There is one in particular, but I forget the name, that is really well-stocked, has very good prices and is not a rip off. You'll figure out which one by how crowded it is - usually 3-4 people deep - though it's not a big place. It's near the shops that sell hospital equipment. I think if you go past the 7-Eleven you will have gone too far. Used to be cash only. Maybe they take cards now. It's cheap because they don't give out VAT/GST receipts. If you need that for insurance (e.g. print out pharmacy receipt with your name), you'll pay more. Also, during the pandemic, a place called Bangkok Drug Store has an online pharmacy (with a real shop near Sala Daeng), used to deliver for an extra 20 baht or so. Prices reasonable. They don't have everything though.. not like the place above.

In order to tally up your passive income, to make sure you 'measured up', did the BOI want to see the gross amount of the pensions, etc., or the net amount of the three different income streams? I guess there might have been taxes at source, or global medical insurance deducted each month from one of them. Do you know if it was gross or net income they tallied up? Cheers.

Well, Pattaya, for many years, continues to have foreigners openly soliciting business for acounting, legal advice/representation and tax consultanting - all banned to foreigners under Thai law. Yet, they make no attempt to hide their activities - and the authorities do nothing. But if some foreign smuck who is a nominee owner of a bar or restaurant gets caught opening a beer or serving a pizza to a customer - they pounce! Crackdown complete.

Good idea.

Back in the day, the bottles (empties) were kept in a tray next to you. It wasn't for your sake, it was so they could drop an extra empty into the tray when you and your companions weren't watching. Very old trick. The waitress would put enough cash in the til to match what you actually ordered, and put the rest into her pocket.

I'm sure many will disagree, but I reckon Kier Starmer looks a lot like John Major (once did). Similar personalities too. Different parties, but both individuals kind of twerpy.

From a few days ago. NYT's Hannah Beech the correspondent here. It goes from bad to worse for all involved (China, Thailand - and Myanmar). Well written and good interviews. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/world/asia/scam-centers-myanmar-thailand-china.html