zaphod reborn

Yes, it is protectionism. The EU is economically and politically corrupt. It's membership economies are in shambles. You can sanction Thailand for participation in human trafficking, but using environmentally unsound fishing practices is a farce.

The police are too aligned with the interests of the probable suspects in these crimes. The investigation should be done by an independent auditing firm and the results given directly to the prosecutors.

Let the kratom evidence planting operation commence!

Sigh.....it has always been a universal traffic rule that it is prohibited to park on a bridge.

And doubtful that Thailand would follow this international standard, or ever enforce such a prohibition.

With the scarcity of jobs in the PI, why is any company allowed to hire a Thai foreign worker? I can't see Cognizant needing to hire a Thai IT worker, when there are probably thousands of Filipinos that could qualify for the position.

It would be far better to legalize Pot, reason being two fold it would give rice farmers another income, by licensing the rice farmer fees collected and tax on pot could go to treatment of more serious drug use. Also it could help train The royal Thai police to be better at there job of enforcing laws. It is a shame that you can kill a police officer and get bail and travel the world at will if your rich. Yet same crime and poor you would not be on the streets for years awaiting trial. You can rob the country blind and still have valid passport to travel and thumb your nose at the government.

It's also good for the tourism industry. Pot tourism has boomed in Colorado, Oregon and Washington where pot has been legalized.

"Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, director-general of the International Trade Promotion Department, said her agency would soon outline a concrete plan for submission within the Commerce Ministry, and then to the Cabinet."

If Thailand really wants to encourage foreign investment in commercial truck manufacturing, it needs to reform its foreign investment act, eliminate tariffs on the import of parts for manufacturing trucks, ease restrictions and red-tape on bringing in foreign experts and provide guarantees about not raising minimum wage. Otherwise, this investment is going to Indonesia and Vietnam.

As a libertarian, I abhor drug laws, except for smuggling and large distribution prohibitions. An intelligent reform, which retains criminality of drugs for Thailand, would be legalization of mariuana and kratom for personal use, and treatment programs for larger amounts. Amphetamine is a scourge in Thailand and should remain classified with heroin. People caught with personal use quantities should be placed in treatment programs, with re-offense a short prison sentence (less than 3 months). Distribution for sale and smuggling deserves strict prison sentences.

Drug arrests are low hanging fruit for police forces worldwide. It is easy. Currently, the police officers in Thailand pad their arrest statistics and their wallets by arresting people for drug offenses. Often they plant drugs on the suspects. It would be better to eliminate this temptation by legalizing drugs, but at least keep the minor drug offenders out of jail.

He's Irish, so I hope they checked his BAC while he was in the hospital. After all, the PM says they are going to crack down on drunk driving.

"fix the problem once and for all". Who comes up with these promises. Overcharging and scamming is genetic for the Thais.

May, might and relocation threats ?

Yes the type of table thumping deterrent that's bound to scare officials into compliance.

He should stick to threatening reporters.

No, read his actual quotes. He used the word "will". In its headline, NNT reported it as "may". Typical Thai journalism.

Yet, again US sticking it's nose into other countries activities; enough issues for US to fix in it's own backyard....civil unrest, police shootings,unemployment,etc, etc.

Human trafficking is an international crime. One country cannot stop it alone. In this case, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia all share responsibility. The US has lots of problems, but it can organize international coalitions to reduce the prevalence of this crime.

Six police officers transferred pending investigation into hidden Rohingya graves
BANGKOK, 5 May 2015 (NNT) – Royal Thai Police Commissioner Somyot Pumpanmuang would reportedly transfer the commander of Satun Provincial Police and five other policemen at Padang Besa sub-district in Sadao district of Songkhla in connection with the discovery of 26 graves of Rohingya migrants.

Police General Somyot told reporters that warrants had been issued for eight people, four of whom had been arrested. The arrested men were Myanmar nationals between 40-48 years of age. Police believe state officials have been involved in running the hidden shelters. Pol. Gen. Somyot said he was transferring the head of Satun Provincial Police, Police Major General Soontorn Chalermkiat, because of the latter's close ties to the masterminds of the Rohingya trafficking ring, who were residing in Satun.

Amazing how they can immediately arrest the Burmese involved in trafficking, but can't seem to ever find the Thai government officials who masterminded the scheme. Transfer a few low ranking police officers to other posts, while the masterminds are free to continue their crimes.

I think this would have been a more transparent PR photograph:

Abiding by any international standard would be a new concept in Thailand.

And Thailand takes another step towards non-competitiveness. I guess they really don't want foreign investment in industry.

Tobacco smoking should be banned forever. It should only be used as a pesticide.

Yep, wean them off tobacco and get them onto pot. Pot is good for the economy and health of the nation.

The lottery only causes misery. It should be shut down. Selling lottery tickets - what a useless occupation!

I think many of us have jumped on a scooter whilst having drunk too much.

Speak for yourself. Those who understand motorcycle safety would never ride after having drunk alcohol.

"He has advised that the subject of quake-resistant buildings should be added to the curriculum for bachelor's degrees in engineering."

That's nice, but don't you first have to hire structural engineers who have training in places like Japan, California and Chile so that you have a pool of instructors who actually understand earthquake-proofing? Or, will it be like the entire Thai educational system, the blind leading the blind?

I don't understand where this media rights organization is coming from. In the US, a political party cannot own and operate a TV station.

"At least four people were with the man before he disappeared, and the family did not get a chance to talk to them while they were in Thailand."

Well I'm certain that they were thoroughly interrogated by the police before the police concluded that this was just another drunk farang who somehow fell overboard and drowned. Obviously the wife and her accomplices friends are blameless. They are Thai, and Thais would never be involved in this kind of wrongdoing.

This is one case where a little "enhanced" interrogation might have been useful.

It would be good if minimum wage could rise to 320 or 330 baht/day. Unfortunately, looking at the export figures, a minimum wage increase just isn't in the cards right now. The rise to 300 was a big hit to foreign investment, and another minimum wage increase would send more companies packing to Indonesia, Vietnam and the PI.

"High-rise buildings built after 2007 in Bangkok can withstand shaking from earthquake of 6.3 magnitude, according to the Building Control Division of the Department of Public Works of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration."

Nonsense. Thai engineers wouldn't have a clue about soil liquefaction. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_liquefaction

I'm certain the soil underneath the buildings in Bangkok was never strengthened to avoid this earthquake phenomenon.

They never hit bedrock here... but if the piles are deep enough the building should stand. (but it won't feel like a gentle sway at 50+ floors up) It's the thousands and thousands of other buildings and bridges that are going to kill everyone.

Obviously, you never lived in California. If you read the linked article, the building may stand, but will no longer be safe. The shifting sand under the building causes damage that is difficult to detect.