Retiredandhappyhere

8 hours ago, lucifer666 said:

It never ceases to amaze me how many morons think that they can get away with anything here

Perhaps it is because the so-called  "morons" see Thais getting away with anything everyday of the week?

Prawit's excuse for "owning" a couple of dozen expensive watches is so insulting to the intelligence of the media and to all Thais, but, most of all, it is a total disgrace that his boss is apparently allowing him to come up with obvious nonsense like this, while allowing him to remain in such a senior position of power in the country.  Surely, he must realize how degrading this episode is for the country, which is becoming a laughing stock on corruption and other issues.

On 1/18/2018 at 6:11 AM, HiSoLowSoNoSo said:

"Yesterday, the Ministry of Commerce responded that it would investigate the matter. If the vendor is found guilty of overcharging customers, she would face up to seven years in prison and/or up to a fine of THB100,000."

 

At the same time they should investigate the National Park Authorities for charging foreigners 10 times more for park admission fees 

No need to worry, as the Ministry of Commerce will be along soon to arrest the officials at the National Parks and have them jailed for up to 7 years and and/or fined up to 100,000 baht.  If they find that the National Park officials were instructed or authorized by the Government to overcharge foreigners, then those Government officials will be pursued, with no expense spared, to whatever country they end up hiding in until they are brought to justice.   

4 hours ago, robblok said:

Where I live for sure your neighbors know.. but not others of course. I drive around often on my old motorbike not my car.. the looks i get

Years ago I purchased a new Toyota Sports Rider but told nobody even on the day my wife and I travelled 95 km to collect it from the dealer.  However, my then Thai wife must have been boasting about it, as when we arrived home in the new car, about 12-14 neighbours were lined up outside to greet us and inspect the vehicle.  She seemed delighted but I was quite embarrassed.

Many Europeans were laughing at the woes and alleged weakness of the UK Government following the last (admittedly unnecessary) UK election, but are we permitted to find the current situation in Germany slightly amusing?  It would seem that whatever convoluted solution to the problem emerges from the current talks, no individual party forming the new coalition is going to be completely happy and any planned EU developments might be delayed.

Strange how the "United States of Europe" concept, previously often denied by many pro-EU supporters, has reared its ugly head now in a very public way. 

The whole election promise has been, is and will be a complete farce.  I hope the International community recognises it as such and will categorically state so in due course.

6 hours ago, kensisaket said:

The article did say "owned"; and, was not specific over what period of time.  I'm sure he has more than one watch, 19 maybe.  I made more than one comment on this post; and, can tell you from personal experience that expensive watches are status symbols for the wealthy in Thailand.  I still believe that this may be backlash for going after the Shinawatra'; thus, my reference to a witch hunt.  If you get a chance to talk to some of the Thai military try to get them to open up about promotions, making the military a career, assignments etc.  A lot of those things involve paying off someone in the higher echelon.  I believe the police are the same way.  You can make your own assumptions about the junta and how they gained a lot of their wealth based on what I just said.  It's damn near impossible for a farong to think like a Thai; however, it's not out of the realm of possibility that they may not even consider that to be corruption.  

Oh, so that makes it OK then.  I robbed a bank last week but that's OK as I don't consider that a crime!    However, as I am not a member of the current government, no doubt they would take a different view?   

3 hours ago, kensisaket said:

Declared or not, this is obviously a witch hunt. Additionally, the operative word here is "owned".  Just like owning several cars over a lifetime.  Trading up is not uncommon.  

To my knowledge, when you "trade up" your car over the years, you still end up with only one car and not 19!

The Junta has made massive claims about reducing or eliminating corruption, so it is no "witch hunt" when a leading member is asked to explain his unusual wealth.  Not to do so would confirm to the general public that the Junta is not serious about its intentions regarding corruption.

3 hours ago, kensisaket said:

I worked with a Thai company in Bangkok for several years. Owning expensive watches was common among the higher paid Thai's (status symbol).  It's not a crime to own an expensive watch(s).

 

It is if you cannot explain how you managed to pay for it (or them), particularly if you supposedly own about 30 million bahts worth of them and, in addition, have apparently increased your other assets by a further 30 million in the last 5 or 6 years on a salary alleged to be no more than one million per year.

Lucky for us, the NACC is on the case, so we can be sure of a totally transparent,  impartial and fair investigation into this particular case.  

2 hours ago, Dave67 said:

The root cause for all this shit including people crammed into pick-ups and kids on motorbikes is a complete lack of usable transport infrastructure a 3rd world transport system. Don't get me started on the police issues. Unfixable unfortunately 

Go on Dave, get started, as in common with many other retired ex-pats, I've got nothing to do all day and I enjoy a good rant.    Try and keep it down to a couple of pages though, as I am a slow reader and I like to be in bed by 9 o'clock and my better three quarters does not like me reading in bed, particularly while otherwise engaged.

The first claim was that the tourists were politely asked to move because they were sitting on the hotel's land.  Now, apparently, they were only asked to move because otherwise they might be injured by falling branches from the tree they were sitting under.

This new concern for the safety of tourists is very commendable and the hotel, instead of being criticized unfairly, should be congratulated on its humanity.   

It will be interesting to see how long the new measuring of the hotel's plot takes and whether we will ever learn the real outcome. 

3 hours ago, KhunMhee said:

So the news flash is that airports charge more than the streets? Wow that's been going on forever. Look at the real criminal the price of rent at Airports. Shops are expensive in a building likely very heavily subsidised by the government. Then follow the money trail to where it's being spent or in the extreme case who's pocket its filling. Nuff said but that's a realistic look into things to thump ones chest and bark loudly will distract the masses and make one look amazing 

And looking good in what is supposed to be election year cannot be a bad thing for the General (oops, sorry, chief politician), particularly when he currently has no opposition.  His regular TV broadcasts and campaign trails around the country, often involving "gift" project announcements,  also ensure that he has at least several months electioneering under his belt than any of his potential rivals.

4 hours ago, John1012 said:

May is a dithering appeasing incompetent and should never have been voted in as PM. The conservative MP's should replace her, but they have no collective courage. Unfortunately there is no other option to govern the UK, that Corbyn cretin with his sidekick Jabbot the mathematician are unsuited for anything , both supported the IRA and by doing so have the blood of innocent Brits on their hands and should not be in any position of authority, the Lib/Dums are totally spineless... so basically we in the UK are f*cked...  

Can we take it that you are unhappy with the UK then?  What do you think of your neighbours, wherever you happen to live?

I am reminded of the old joke about the old farmer leaning on his gate when a couple drove up in their car and asked  him what the people were like around here, as they were thinking of moving into the area.  The farmer replied by asking them what the people were like where they now lived.  When they replied that the people back home were miserable and  unpleasant, the old wise farmer told them that they would find the people round here would be exactly the same.  

6 hours ago, Pilotman said:

I will say this for the man.  he is on the TV each night, talking to the people and engaging with them.  What he says  is often true and sensible and at least he is there  every day to put his point of view. Actions speak louder than words and he and his government have achieved more since the coup than the previous governments ever did.  How many UK PMs would do the same, none is the answer. 

Yes of course he is able to put his point of view whenever he wishes, but nobody else is allowed to.  As a supposed EX-army man and "new" politician, he can appear regularly on TV and travel around the country meeting hundreds of potential voters, making speeches and delivering gifts, whereas his potential competitors are not allowed to meet in groups of more than five, without breaking his law.  One day, they might even be allowed to form a political party in time for the much-heralded but non-appearing election.

As for your comparison with the UK PM, her Government was in fact ELECTED and she is obliged to appear once a week in Parliament to answer questions put to her by any of the 600 or so ELECTED Members of Parliament, all of which can then be seen on television by the ELECTORS.   The UK media (TV and Newspapers) can also be as brutal as they like in asking questions and in investigating any possible wrong-doing, without any of the nonsense of being "invited" in for attitude adjustment, so your attempted comparison with the UK system is absolutely ridiculous.

3 hours ago, steven100 said:

why don't you move then if it's so bad ....    ????????????

Oh give over Steven!  Can't you think of anything new to say?  

2 hours ago, steven100 said:

the world is so full of low life farangs ......  as I said ... I have nothing to do with them ...   thai's yes .... farang no

Oh Steven, you love the Junta but you absolutely hate all farangs.  What a strange person you are!

If a simple thing like Prawit's watches and non-disclosure of unusual wealth can take many weeks (if not months), then the Rolls Royce thingy can be rolled out for several years, until it is almost forgotten, with the main blame being (supposed;y)  with "foreign agencies" who, for some reason, will not hand over required information.  Naughty foreign agencies! 

Does the previous owner not know the name of the guy to whom he sold the car?  Even if he sold it to a dealer, the dealer should know the name of the new owner.   Or am I just forgetting where I am?

Perhaps Thai Visa should run a contest to see which poster can write the  most accurate NACC's final report on this case?  It would no doubt produce some amusing predictions, although none would probably be as funny or unbelievable as the actual report, if and when it finally comes out.

On 1/5/2018 at 2:55 PM, Hayduke said:

 

Chai yo…as it is written...there are not enough hours in the day, to sing praises to the astounding and limitless accomplishments of the ‘people’s uncle’.

 

He is truly the incarnation of all that is pure, noble and holy and the world trembles in awe before his unrivaled magnificence. The man’s brilliance knows no bounds and such sublime perfection has surely never before walked the earth in human form. We are surely blessed by the opportunity to live, even for a moment, in the divine light of his sacred benevolence.

 

But your words of wisdom are wasted on the heathens, infidels, and naysayers. They will never renounce their evil sacrilege, repent their sordid apostasy, nor accept the holy truth. As wicked blasphemers they will forever be denied a place in Thailand’s brilliant future of limitless joy and everlasting happiness.

Surely the above could have been written (but with all sincerity, this time) by Steven100?  He could not have put it better himself, although he might have mixed in a few more hyperboles, where he thought yours was perhaps a bit lacking.

On 1/5/2018 at 2:55 PM, Hayduke said:

 

The main problem is that the General's achievements since the coup are mainly in his own mind and he cannot understand why the media do not reflect on them on a daily basis.  Any confusion is caused by the Government constantly making statements or giving orders and then back-tracking on them.

As he is the Commander-in-Chief in this country and holds unrestricted power due to Article 44, he is responsible for everything that happens in the country which is carried out by the military, the police and all officials dealing with the economy.   The following matters can therefore be laid at his door:

1. The lack of investigation into the excessive wealth of top officials

2. The failure to arrest the errant monk(s), despite using thousands of troops and police in alleged attempts.

3. The convenient disappearance of Yingluck.

4. The Hua HIn Park corruption scandal and the Army's decision that the Army's actions were all above board.

5. The apparent lack of any progress in the Rolls Royce corruption scandal.

6. The lack of transparency in the Prawit watch(es) scandal and investigation into his excessive wealth.

7. The lack of transparency and confusion regarding the death of at least one army recruit.

8.  The lack of any progress in the Red Bull Heir case.

9. The official verdict into the death of the Phuket land official while in custody.

10.The lack of transparency in the purchase of the submarines from China. whose usefulness is in question.

11.Lack of resolution into the purchase of hundreds of fire engines which are rusting away in store.

12.Lack of information about the hundreds of buses purchased but apparently not in use due to duty problems.

13.The very selective raiding of red-light establishments in Pattaya and elsewhere.

14.The fact that it is rarely the true owners of the above establishments who are arrested.

15.The horrific road carnage is only dealt with in any meaningful way at New Year and Songkran.

16. Despite the high income from tourism, it appears that little is done to improve sewage and waste disposal.

17.The economy is lagging behind other Asian countries.

18.The ongoing and apparently never-ending "road map" to elections.

19.The way in which the new Constitution is designed to ensure that the military maintains its hold on power.  

20. The fact that only fairly minor criminals involved in drug and people trafficing seem to end up in jail. 

I feel sure that other posters might be able to add a few more to my list and it goes without saying that Steven100 will be along shortly to shoot every one of them down in flames and explain how the PM has done a wonderful job in every respect, or that they were not his responsibility.

21 hours ago, wvavin said:

Probably this guy is too young to understand that farangs and Thai balconies just don’t mix. It’s a fatal combination!

Though not in his case!  

Someone in authority needs to carry out a complete review of the punishments meted out for various crimes and arrive at a more sensible deterrent for the various levels.  Smoking on the beach  -  one year and/or 100,000 bahts while breaking someones nose and cheekbone  -  maximum one month and/or 1000 baht is just one comparison which makes no sense at all, but there are many many others which could be mentioned.

The glaring disparity between sentencing for different levels of crimes is not only absolutely unfair, but also makes a mockery of the justice system and a laughing stock of those who maintain it.

IF this is as far as the investigation into his possession of several expensive watches goes, then the supposed "anti-corruption" drive will be seen for what it is.....a total farce.   Hopefully, though, this is just the start of a detailed investigation but we can dream can't we?