Eric Loh

I am just interested to know from the NCPO whether this has any political connection. Just for my peace of mind.

Government must consider re-locating those schools that are in congested city areas not only to ease the traffic but as a safety consideration for the kids. In Singapore we had the same problem of lots of schools in the central city area. Major schools like the St Joseph and RGS and probably half a dozen schools were in the very busy central part of the city and was a daily traffic nightmare. New schools were built on the city fringe with easy accessibilities by road and now by train. Some grumbling in the beginning when forced to move but eventually everyone see the benefits. Will the education ministry take this up? Maybe....or maybe not.

If only the judiciary process work just as fast to prosecute and jail the sons and daughters of the well connected involved in the accident fatalities.

It is not really the closing down of the mine but the manner that the mine is being closed that is disturbing.This kind of abrupt arbitrary decision from a single source of power without proper assessment of the environment issues, no court orders and consideration of the thousands that will suddenly find themselves with no job are serious concerns for investors as well as infringing on human rights.

Whilst I appreciate your concern for the thousands of workers affected I don't have any sympathy for the companies or the investors at all. They are after all in business to make make but would they get away with unsafe working practices in for example in Australia?

I suspect that they would be shut down overnight and not allowed to re-open until after the site was totally cleared up and made safe.

Investors are simply gamblers and businesses are there to make money for the investors and shareholders. They would still make money if they worked to international standards and regulations but not as much.

What about the human rights of the local people who are affected by the poisonous toxins in the water supply.

What about the companies who use unsafe business practices and skimp on safety measures just to make even more profits?

Shouldn't they be punished and made to clear up the mess that THEY made?

I fully understand where you coming from and I have no sympathies for unethical behavior of mine operators. What I am commenting which is disturbing is the arbitrary decision making of one man without proper due diligence of the matter at hand.

The environmental problems are still disputed on both sides and even today Khaosod report state that the government have no scientific link of the issues and the company operation. There are 2 sides of the protestors and there seem more supporters than detractors. Most environmental complaints are on magnesium and arsenic which the company retaliated that no such heavy metals are used in the mining operation. There also are no attempts to test the earth around there for natural arsenic and magnesium. I am not speaking for the company but here lies the problem of a lack of a proper standard.

Cyanide is used but is not mentioned and company said it is used within international standard and the operation passed the yearly environmental assessment evaluation.

I am on a neutral stance but only feel that a rush and dictatorial style decision making is never the right decision making and seem to be playing to the people's gallery before the referendum.

It is not really the closing down of the mine but the manner that the mine is being closed that is disturbing.This kind of abrupt arbitrary decision from a single source of power without proper assessment of the environment issues, no court orders and consideration of the thousands that will suddenly find themselves with no job are serious concerns for investors as well as infringing on human rights.

Just be conscious of the cultural differences in the job interview. Values of modesty, respect and courtesy are some of the characteristics candidates are expected to possess and display. In Thai culture, reverence and respect for elders and seniors, are expected virtues in candidates and you are expected to demonstrate these values in the interview. Remember "you have to go along in order to get along".

You should be able to articulate on your winning qualities with confident and without boasting. Thais do not like excessive selling of oneself and boasting.

Good luck.

Time for the PM to exercise the 44 and put it to good use.

"Possible disruption and violent". He got to be kidding. Is he trying to gain sympathy by making things up? People are hauled up for just acknowledging on facebook, standing around, eating sandwich, reading books and other innocuous actions that has no physicality or direct confrontation with the draft constitution. Who would dare disrupt a charter training session less creating violence. This guy is exaggerating by a million miles. .

I hope Somchai learned that disturbances and even shootings at few Philippines election polling centers should never be an excuse to call Yingluck government to delay an election and worse when he try do everything in his power to stop the election.

Really doesn't matter what the poll said. The new MMA used in the next election will result in lesser seats for PT and the Dem will gained more seats. It's the era of the mid size parties who will be brought together by the establishment by coercion or promises of plum government positions and aligned with the Dem to form the government. It will also probably create a situation for an unelected PM. All that in the new constitution; a real game changer to prevent Thaksin-linked party from forming the next government.

This is totally unfair and biased, what options do rich women criminals have? We don't have the "monk" option.

Goggle Anne Reese, Thailand actress ordained as nun after killing a cop in a car accident.​

In this climate of fear and economic hardship, who's going to have the motivation to think and innovate.

Considering that the establishment is always finding ways to reduce tax payers money to help the poor so they have a larger pie for the spendings like military hardwares, I say this is good Thaksinomic move by Somkid.

2 of my favourite human rights quotes.

"Fear is not the natural state of civilized man" Aung San Suu Kyi.

"Peace can only last when human rights are respected, where people are feed and where individuals and nations are free" Dalai Lama.

Time for RTP to set up an Intenal Affairs division to deal with crooked and corrupted cops. The Thong Lor investigating team should be suspended and investigated.

Isn't infidelity is marrying more than once. Certainly not a trump card.

Yes. Stock exchange and banks too!

I'm lost with the holiday dates.

My neighbor says the long holiday is 5 days:

- Fri 6th

- Sat 7th

- Sun 8th

- Mon 9th

- Tue 10th

Is this correct?

I think the 5 days start from 5th (coronation day), 6 (extra holiday) followed by the weekends. Monday is Royal Ploughing Day and is not a national holiday but Government offices are closed. Practiced every year. Most private companies remained open. All back to work on Tuesday. So actually the civil servants will enjoy the 5 days break but private companies optional.

One thing I am certain of

Thaksin will never set foot in Thailand again, the UUD will never murder again they are finished.

Plus the probability that Yingluc will see the inside of a cell - a bonus

And maybe Thailand has a bright future with a stable democracy for the first time

In other words, you'll accept any government doing anything so long as its anti-Shinawatra.

The part about "maybe Thailand has a bright future with a stable democracy for the first time" flies in the face of all the junta is doing. But your top priority is the keep out the Shinawatra's, regardless of what the Thai people want. Clearly you don't care about democracy.

that is you opinion I gave mine, it is very obvious that Thaksin creates a division within the country, something he promotes, no matter how I look at it, Thailand would be better off without him.

He is long gone so it's a mute point, you can keep on carrying the flag but you are now in a very tiny minority, the vast majority of people see him for what he really is - some fools just don't see it

You are hilarious. Very tiny minority !!! You can't see that his party has been winning the election for the last 15 years and possibly the next election. If it is a very tiny minority, the junta need not fear him or re-jig the charter and will hold the election tomorrow. Stop trolling.

This guy is frivolously giving out holidays. No holiday for my company. Now the banks and government offices are closed and a normal working day disrupted and productivity suffer.

I'm not taking a for or against position here (so as to stay legal) but this all looks very much like game, set and match to the generals, really. If people vote 'yes' the generals formalise their grip on power, if people vote 'no' then the generals stay in power while they write another constitution. What's the point of this referendum, and why is it being described as 'crucial', when it's really just a façade, going through the motions, as it were?

Perhaps we should coin a phrase 'as busy as a Thai constitution writer'?

The full story does say that the military have promised an election by mid 2017 even if the constitution is rejected. What it doesn't say is how this will all work which is the worrying part.

Not to worry.

Prayut said that if the draft charter fails to receive public endorsement, a contingency plan has been prepared.

Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Krea-ngam clarified that if the draft was rejected in the referendum, the Prayut government would amend the 2015 Meechai draft charter and have it promulgated without another referendum. Promulgation might be in the form of approval by the junta-appointed NLA and royal endorsement - same process used with the 1997 Constitution. The junta would then proceed with its appointments to the Senate and national election of the House of parliament.

Agreed, nothing to worry as everything is under control (pardon the pun). He has spoken.

"It reports that if the draft constitution is voted down in the Aug 7 referendum, a new one will be written from scratch and no past charter will be used in its place. The scary bit was then added: Ill use the version in my head and heart. I wont use anything else.

Standing still is now considered as rude and can be hauled in for AA.

That's what happen when you fallen out of favor with powerful allies.

Export increase 0.9% from a negative percentage last year. Far from impressive.

Singapore. No wish for other citizenship.

Which proves the point that "this guy has expressed a contrary opinion and is being detained because of it".

he is an active politician and they have been told to keep their mouths shut which I actually agree with, they had many chances to make changes for the good of Thailand and its people but instead chose another path one which will be tightly shut if this charter gets passed

He slammed the charter as a step backwards, called the charter a democracy in retreat, weakened people power and risks conflict. These are quotes from Ahbisit and very similar to Wattana charter criticism. The detention and harassment are selective or you too blind to see.

What they are all saying which you refer as the other path seem to harmonize with the universal values of freedom, equality and justice and you seem to disagree.

How do you know that Ahbisit didn't get a visit by the authorities and he agreed to keep his mouth shut, same goes for the rest, you have no idea, all we know for sure is that Wattana refuses to comply, wasn't he one of the ones that cheered when the kids were blown up in Trat by a grenade

Clutching at straw and diversion as usual. You really has no point to make. Ahbisit made his first statement slamming the charter as risky on March 18. A month later on April 11 he again slammed the charter. Does it look like he was visited and agreed to keep his mouth shut? you don't think the media will lap up the opportunity to report something so significant? Well unless he received a personal Skype linkup like his pal Suthep.