bkkcanuck8

Not surprised he got assaulted, I thought it was pretty much known that would be a likely outcome for unauthorized filming in bars of the type as indicated by the area. Usually the bars have signs around indicating that is not allowed. Simply put, the bar does not want you filming people in the bar which may violate the law (nudity on stage), and some of the women may not want to be filmed without authorization... To be quite honest, he was really asking for it IMHO... I don't think this will be given a high priority...

Ever heard of the term 'Florida Man'... yep, things like this do happen in other countries...

It really depends, if you want wealthy people who will spend their money in central areas visiting places that will bring well-to-do Thais more business... and relying on trickle down economics to reach the poorer people - then focusing only at the higher end is wise. If you want people that are more likely to move to less touristy areas that will look to spend their money locally and thus more likely to reach people that are not connected but regular people... then you need a mix. It does not tend to be the people on a tighter pension that tends to cause issues IMHO.

Canada's Visa Waiver gives you up to 6 months. I had a friend from Japan stay for 18 months on a 6 month visa waiver plus two extensions... which was not a problem since she could easily prove she could stay without employment or support -- so it was a non-issue. Thai Retirement Visas are glorified tourist/visitor visas that last up to 12 months (non-permanent - same rights as a tourist just longer).

That is like saying someone taking a couple of cooking courses now needs a visa... It really depends on length of the courses...

There was no prostitution in Thailand until the Vietnamese arrived recently... 🤣

Does not mean you have to can't work to change it more to ... let's say Bangkok... where it is accepted, but in specific areas that are not the main areas. Pattaya and the entire metropolitan area have and are growing fairly rapidly in size and it is becoming more diverse... it might be time to take two or three designated entertainment districts that are not along the beach or close to it and concentrate out of the way. It would be a long term project, but if places like Cabrini-Green area of Chicago can change - anything can. I do agree that there needs to be more investment in helping people that might feel no choice but to work there - before they end up there.

The 60 day renewals are not the problem, it is just that at a certain point you should be required to show that you have the means to be here without working. Canada's visa waiver entry allows you to stay 6 months and I had a friend stay in Canada on one of those with 2 x 6 month extensions (submitted by mail)... but she was required to submit proof that she could stay without resorting to working locally (which for her was no problem since her family was fairly wealthy). If there is a noticeable enough outcry of foreigners working illegally, then just send out the immigration enforcement in force and crack down making an example... Simply put, it is not the length of stay -- it is the corruption or lack of enforcement of abiding by the agreement not to work. BTW, the 1 year visa that allows retirees to stay here is just that - it is a glorified tourist visa that allows you to reside here a year by showing that you have the means not to work locally. Other than the length - it is effectively the just a temporary non-immigrant visa just like a tourism visa.

If they were serious, they would change the law to stop all statute of limitations from tolling while someone is avoiding court by fleeing/residing in a foreign country.

No, you just have to put yourself in their position and figure what they would or would not do - given the negotiating position they landed in. They wanted some control over the government, and they basically negotiated with Thaksin's minions to retain some control... then figure out what Thaksin would accept or risk - given he was out of the country with significant amounts of money. Would you accept coming back and just going to prison for 8 years, or even 1 year ( a Thai prison)... no... of course not... not if you had the money to live a comfortable life in exile... The military backed government did not want to be seen just caving, but they were willing to rig it... come back for prison, and pretend you are going there... and then you will get a pardon... and then we will figure out how to have you serve the rest in comfort somewhere if it is home confinement or special accommodations... does not take much to figure out how it would go down... You would have to be an idiot to think he would come back to Thailand and risk serving a long sentence in general population in a Thai prison...

No, but when there was a wiff of talk about Thaksin coming back to Thailand... I basically walked through the entire process of what would happen when he came back and told it to my Thai friend and she was going - no that won't happen... but this was exactly how it went... so my theory panned out. Thaksin would not have come back to Thailand until he had guarantees in place... and every detail agreed to... There is no way he would risk going to prison in general population for a long time or any real length of time (unless of course he funded the prison and he was the first and only prisoner during the period of incarceration). He also made sure to return before the Pheu Thai were holding the reins of power because doing it after would have only resulted in the fall of the party and putting him at risk. Doing it while other powerful military linked people were responsible for the government - mitigated it.

Not likely, this whole deal was arranged under the agreement with the former military influenced regime - a deal that was put into place to keep influence over the current government.... too many secrets that may be unravelled if the deal is unravelled will leave powerful people potentially exposed.

Losing face is almost like being murdered.... that gives her a good argument for self-defence...

As someone who has been on a plane that had to divert because some passengers were being unruly (and then could not take off again because at that point the pilots were over the limit on hours before takeoff)... causing me to miss an important meeting... I would prefer there was just a hatch on board that they could dispose of passengers mid-flight and let them worry about the consequences. Thai's are too nice, they should have at least got out the duct tape and just taped them nice and firmly and be 'forced' to respect others rights as well... 🤣

In case you missed it it was in response to a chain of messages starting with someone asking what the punishment equivalent would be "in the states" (aka United States of America), to which I was replying to someone saying it was 'federal' and only a fine. (also in case you missed it -- Thailand is not a federation. However, Earlier I also pointed out earlier what the possible charges were in Thailand and they would have more charges to apply and potentially more serious if they wanted to go that route.