Classic Ray

The problem is the lack of a safety culture backed up by a policy of not enforcing the law regarding neglect accompanied by large damages awards and prison sentences. Whilst I would not like to see Thailand become a litigation crazed society, there is certainly too much protection of large companies and rich individuals at the expense of the generally poor victims.

It always amazes me how these political trips always coincide with the start of a weekend, so that after the hard business of looking at someone putting on a performance, the politicians are already in a place they can enjoy a relaxing weekend, having already travelled by official transport during work time so there is no delay to the R and R period.

I am not sure promoting health and group tourism within an industrial area is appropriate. A good idea to promote import/export would be a free port area. Also I hope the Government will promote investment by giving tax breaks to investors as well as cracking down on corruption in the award of contracts and syphoning off of funds by officials. Without these incentives, who would want to invest there?

No previous history check before enlisting? Or just need to pay the entry fee?

For many police officers the job is simply an additional income stream to be able to fine people or share in the fines imposed by other officers. It also enables them to own businesses such as bars and brothels or conduct illegal activities without fear of interference by other police. As long as a share of the money is being passed up the chain, all is ok. This is mainly due to deliberately poor salaries forcing them to have other incomes. Corruption in Hong Kong and Singapore police was only controlled by the carrot of living wage salaries coupled with the stick of vigorous anti-corruption investigation by outside bodies such as ICAC. The drive for this must come from non-corrupt Government, which could be difficult to find here.

Hard to believe they were taking in over $2 billion PER DAY?

Will MRTA also have to take on the debt owed by BMA to BTSC in respect of the Green Line extensions?

No mention of any action against the sellers or manufacturers of the weapons?

Why are any politicians involved in the promotion process for any police officer? The police should be independent of any political control and promotion should be governed by merit managed within the hierarchy and HR dept. Anything else makes the process corrupt.

What about authorised hunting or pest control? Will that be restricted as well, as it usually involves gun possession in a public place? They could also include a competency test for everyone, including the police, applying for or holding a firearms licence. With a bit more rigour than the vehicle driving licence procedure.

Judging by the number of 20 - 40 year old ICE cars still happily driving the roads of Thailand, cheap and easy to maintain and repair, I don’t see the incentive for this position to change. The level of poverty and indebtedness, and lack of corrosive salt, means that people will eke out their vehicles until the last possible moment. This could be 20 - 40 years in the future for those with newish vehicles now. I can’t see any Thai government willing to subsidise replacement by EVs or even to invest in a comprehensive charging station network. The power network is nowhere near ready to supply the extra load anyway. it’s petrol and diesel continuing for me, I’m not impressed with the quality of the Chinese EVs I’ve seen here, let alone all the hazards of exploding Lithium Ion batteries.

If she was taken away with the intent to sexually assault her, kidnapping is a correct charge. A child of that age is deemed not capable of consent, at least in UK law.

Remove the beam from your own eye, before worrying about the mote in someone else’s!

No, the first rule is to preserve the scene. Then CSI can examine the area for any evidence such as drag marks, weapons etc which would indicate whether the dock was a crime scene or just where the body drifted to. Removing the body to another place before retrieving it from the water risks losing evidence such as property during the transfer process.

Like most laws here, it will be enforced at the whim of the local police.

Maybe change the work permit rules and let some of the Russians and Indians drive the baht buses. Then watch the sparks fly!

Many people here think the same about child passengers as they do about the sacks of cement or labourers usually carried in their pickup beds. Even hisos rarely use child seats in their saloons. These same people cannot afford minibuses which are considerably more expensive than pickups, and trust to Buddha or Allah that when they carry multiple people on pickup beds or motorcycles that nothing will happen or they could not prevent it. Police never enforce the laws anyway.

And they allow the police (and military?) to purchase imported firearms at discounted prices. Wonder what happens to all those “extra” guns?

Banks and money exchanges use your money for short term investment. Transfers could be instantaneous, but they have no incentive to do this.

Where did the money go? In crime, always follow the money!

That’s exactly what is wrong with the RTP and what used to be wrong with Western military and civil service. Seniority/dead men’s shoes ignores merit in favour of long service/creeping. Allowing them to choose posts never puts the right person in the right job. For lower ranks they have a competitive exam on mostly irrelevant questions, with different pass marks for those with different types of degrees. Pass numbers are severely limited. Instead of this being a qualification that enables you to apply for suitable posts, you can choose your next post based on exam position. And it only lasts a year before you have to go through the whole charade again. All at candidate’s cost.

I have had a fatty liver for over twenty years and was diagnosed with type 2 over 15 years ago. I take metformin and now a cocktail of others prescribed by my specialist to rectify kidney and liver blood levels. Have some side effects so I have to return to see him. Main danger is things like retinopathy which can blind you, and bad circulation which can lead to amputation. Make sure you get regularly tested for these and please see a doctor for metformin etc.

No,no,no, that’s entirely different. All the breweries/distilleries are owned by hiso families who can’t have their income streams affected. I’m sure they are the biggest advocates of cannabis recriminalisation.

Even in defamation crazy Thailand, I can’t see any reason for withholding the name of the hotel, active fire investigation is no reason. The investigation could be aided by publicity if previous guests or staff could shed light on good or bad practices of fire prevention in the hotel.

The system is fundamentally flawed. Police salaries are pitifully low, and they all have to provide their own uniforms and equipment, and pay their own travel for training etc. Some even have to pay to maintain their own stations and running costs. This forces them all to have a second source of income, a side business, or generate money by unofficial fines, protection money etc. They also have to send money up the chain. Salaries that were cut during Covid have still not been fully restored, guess where that money has gone. Without fundamental reform (which is in no senior officer’s interest) the payment of a living wage and elimination of corruption will never happen.