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After 26 Summits and countless sub-committee meetings on a variety of topics is there a published roadmap of progress and achievement on the agreed agendas; not just Thailand but all members of ASEAN?

Which member country has shown the greatest transparency.

When we know this we will be better able to judge likely outcomes. Or, as I suspect, most of these meetings have become mere talking shops and an excuse for a jolly in a foreign country at the expense of the taxpayer. Perhaps someone in reply can make my cynicism disappear.

India should be looking to feed its own population and ensure freedom from hunger for ALL it's population before considering exporting. Does the Federal Government of India really need the revenue from rice exports? Or is it more likely that with more freedom exporters are exploiting the market to fill their own pockets at the expense of the Indian farmer. How many farmers have committed suicide in India over the last 12 months?

CORRUPTION

Elephant Festival, Surin.

One that didn't get away.

In August 2013, John Sparks, Asia Correspondent for UK Channel 4 News, produced a report "Nightmare island where traffickers imprison Burma's Rohingya". He was referring to the island of Turutao.

Was this report acted on by Thai authorities in Bangkok, as the local police, forest rangers and other officials were either in collusion with these traffickers or preferring to turn a blind eye to events on parts of the island.

I feel that some of the recently discovered deceased may have been saved from being transported to the mainland had there been an immediate response to this report by responsible incorruptible individuals.

You are correct that the report and the allegations should have been investigated and in a country without major political unrest that might have been the case. Still the situation in Thailand was different and we might recall the demonstrations in Bangkok and the standoff between the Government and demonstrators and that from December 2013 Yingluck Shinawatra was only the Acting Prime Minister looking for new elections to find a way out of the deadlock that occurred in Thai politics.

The Channel 4 report on the Island was only one in a flood of reports coming out of Thailand and mainly focused on the events in Bangkok. Sadly as a Thai I have to say that the instability in Thai politics that had carried on for a decade didnt help to focus on people that did deserve our attention and help because we regarded the political fight between parties and groups as more important as the human misery our inactions caused. In that respect I will accept that as Thais we all have to carry that responsibility.

Perhaps the reason why these cases do not make the news is because that Thai media are afraid of losing their advertising revenue!

In August 2013, John Sparks, Asia Correspondent for UK Channel 4 News, produced a report "Nightmare island where traffickers imprison Burma's Rohingya". He was referring to the island of Turutao.

Was this report acted on by Thai authorities in Bangkok, as the local police, forest rangers and other officials were either in collusion with these traffickers or preferring to turn a blind eye to events on parts of the island.

I feel that some of the recently discovered deceased may have been saved from being transported to the mainland had there been an immediate response to this report by responsible incorruptible individuals.

maybe they could use their submarines

TOP SECRET

"Due to the farsighted officials of this government we have been busy creating an underground tunnel system that would enable our :High Speed Trains to deliver this aid direct to Base Camp 1. From there our Army of volunteers who have been training to become Sherpas will Take over from the Gurkhas & carry the vast amount of aid we are providing down to Kathmandu. Please do not be concerned about the safe arrival of this Aid. It will never arrive" - Anonymous spokesperson - (Gender Equality).

In a more serious note. I believe that this aid if sent overland via Bangladesh and India will be pilfered en route. Decades ago I came across M&S shirts, Moss Bros., suits etc on sale in Calcutta. Imported clothing unavailable in India then. This was shortly after aid carrying trains were despatched from Bombay to Dacca,(East Pakistan in those days).

"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."

Transfer, not suspend? What kind of close ties? Who was holding the noose while the others played? Now the US government is showing concerns I hope we do not see another face saving 'Thaiwash'?

I recall a CH 4 documentary broadcast sometime during 2012/13. The reporter visiting an island on the south coast, reputed to be a Thai Nature Reserve whose local were alleged to be in league with trafficking gangs. He discovered that certain parts of the island were "No Go" areas for the local police. Does anybody know if there was any kind of follow up by local media or Central Government?

Asdecas,

Suggest you study your history. Khmer speakers because of the Khmer Rouge??? Please. Khmer Kingdom ruled tha area centuries ago.

You'd do well to study yours, old boy: the language of Cambodia is Khmer. One of the reasons there are so many Khmer speakers around that part of Isaan is because the fear of the Khmer Rouge drove them and their families to seek refuge from Kampuchia (as it was then named) in Thailand, in particular refugee camps close to the border.

From there many were assimilated into surrounding areas and never went back.

Asdecas,

Stop squirming.

If you are so well informed regarding Thai history you should know that many Cambodians were enslaved and transported to Korat and neighboring areas because of the shortage of labour. This happened often and over a long period. Long before the Khmer Rouge were even thought of; these slaves worked the soil, lived in secure hamlets, owned nothing were isolated from the rest of the population and as a result maintained the language of their forbears. When slavery was abolished many of these hamlets became Bans. Emancipated families stayed, still working the land but gradually becoming tenants and some even buying the land.

I happen to live a few miles south of Surin in a village that has a Primary School. Many children start school with little understanding of Thai, as all the adults address them in Khmer. Many families have been here since the 1930's.

You are correct regarding the exodus and refugee camps. But this only augmented the use of Khmer, it was not the root cause.

Perhaps we can all now get back to the original post regarding what to do etc.,

How much alleviation from hunger and thirst would $427 million bought on earth instead of being spent on this research? How has this circumnavigation of Mercury helped mankind? Or is it just another case of research for the sake of employing presumably intelligent people who are fixated on one particular issue?

That 427 million wasn't from your pocket, now was it? I bet that research has produced a crapload of technology that you will employ in your household during the years to come as well. A few things that produce constant industry leaps for mankind = wars and space technology research - go figure.

PS. How much has the hunger and thirst problem been resolved thru billions and billions of $ and € and £, that's been thrown into Africa so far?

Pure conjecture, Give me one example where this project has provided derivative application technology for domestic consumption. Perhaps this time around we will get a gold plated technology that replaces Teflon and only 15% of the worlds population can afford to purchase.

You are right on the button when you state that the monies wasn't from my pocket, not all of it anyway. And I am still paying my tax, so am entitled to voice my opinion as to where this is wasted.

I presume you are aware of the billions of aid money actually spent by the donating countries on admin rather than at the sharp end where it is really needed.

How much alleviation from hunger and thirst would $427 million bought on earth instead of being spent on this research? How has this circumnavigation of Mercury helped mankind? Or is it just another case of research for the sake of employing presumably intelligent people who are fixated on one particular issue?

"there side"? or Off Side! Good game!

Shouldn't the Supreme Court give it's verdict before any impeachment proceedings. Let JUSTICE be seen to be done before any political haranguing begins in an assembly where presumably political clout comes before justice. Rightly or wrongly everyone seems to be making judgement out of evidence that has been garnered by the prosecution without an equivalent response from the accused.

INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.

It's hardly moaning when people get shot, there were fatal shootings in Pattaya in recent years. Also there it goes on 24/7 for a week, compared to a few days stopping after nightfall. Totally stupid.

And thrusting entire buckets in the face of passing motorcyclists.

It isn't just farang though.

I have witnessed a young Thai man being chased along a water canal with nose to tail traffic on both sides of the waterway. He was pushed in by four others and when he tried to lift himself out of the water he was clubbed unconscious. Floating face down and obviously unconscious his attackers continued to beat him around the head with some wooden poles. This occurred at 13:30 hours on the 2nd day of Song Kran, three years ago. I did not see any farangs about these pr**s were Thai. This occurred deep in the countryside with hundreds of Thais watching and nobody went to the young man's assistance

?THAINESS?

I have seen farangs enjoying themselves in a boisterous and jokey way; have never seen malice,vindictiveness or violence..

Don't blame farangs just because they stand out from the crowd of locals.

arminbkk,

Check out iamKohChang.com. The owner of this site was already ensconsed on the island when I first went there in 2005. He is a Brit and is still on the island. check him out. He is a good source of up to date info and no bullshit.

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Interesting, but I do wonder just how much noise is generated?

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The island is 70% natural rain forest, best preserved in Thailand. Not like Pattaya, laid back and relaxed but it rains a lot this time of year.

And don't forget the mosquitoes and sand flies. How many motorcyclists were killed or critically injured last year? How many people drowned in the race that occurs just off shore?

I lived on the island for 21 months, 2006/07, last revisited in 2010. Promised myself never to go there again. Too much concrete, inadequate infrastructure for the burgeoning development taking place.

A once beautiful island spoilt by avarice.

How do I know what type of board I am buying? Wall boards I have seen do not have any labels. Is a viva board manufactured in Thailand?

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Ok did the math 300 chartered flights times average load of 250 per flight comes out to 75,000 or about 425,000 short of there projection. So to reach goal of 14,500,000,000 Those passengers got to spend 1,933,333,333.00 baht each.

Perhaps the chartered flights originating overseas are using bigger a/c & special seating, being on average shorter persons, then 2 tier seating could be a possibility that TAT are arranging along with filling the cargo bays.

SORRY, now you have to do maths with a few more variables.

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One recalls the days when, telegraphing ahead and arriving by elephant, one could arrange a chotapeg or two followed by dinner with HM Honorary Consul.

Now, one is lucky if the ruffian is wearing a shirt.

You were lucky; arriving by elephant, bullock carts more like it. But I did prefer the burrapeg.

The concrete pool cracked and dried up, dehydrated animals die. Why are they starving?
Isn't this sodden typical. Wait for an incident to become a disaster before reacting.
Presumably these monks hit the trail every morning with their bowls. Did none of them spread the word when the pool firtst started to leak or were they presumably waiting for divine guidance?

These macaques would not have reached the population size reported without the encouragement of the monks in the first place as the temple is not on the tourist trail.

I wonder how many monks died of dehydration or starvation!

"The NACC panel is considering if it should forward names of officials linked to illegal land title deeds and forest encroachment to the NACC."

What is there to "consider"?

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It is possible she simply panicked big time and it escalated out of control. In Africa you might be wise not to stop in case of a road accident, even when it is against the law, you drive directly to your embassy and then report.

Nah,there is more to this story than meets the eye, I will leave TV's finest to decipher what really went on.

Typically a mob of angry Thais would assault and kick a persons head in after an accident so maybe she did the smart thing?

The really smart thing is not to drive alone when you are a foreigner.