MarcelV

I have been to Panare Beach a few times, but have never seen more than a few people around there and I found the beach less than appealing anyway. Some people profited off of this for sure.

Nonsense. If you just stay out of trouble and don't mingle with questionable types, you will be fine. I have lived in the area for nearly 7 years and have done just that. No problem.

They can not be voted out, only overthrown. Democratic forces alone will never be able to get rid of the junta-appointed senators.

To answer this question: yes, if I could, I definitely would.

Okay, I admit those statements seemingly contradict each other. I should have said "stable" in quotes. With the military pulling all the strings, the Thais are too afraid to stand up and fight. So the military rule by force, as any dissenting voice is simply squashed, by jailing the culprit. I call that tyranny.

Since I came to Thailand for the first time (and the country appeared on my radar) back in 2014, the situation has been stable and the Thais seem too tired to fight. But I keep hoping for a revolution during my lifetime, even a massacre of unknown proportions on the streets of Bangkok, when young people rise up against the military tyranny and elites and change Thailand for good. Even though it may costs tens of thousands of lives, it is what Thailand desperately needs to open people's eyes and strive for a better tomorrow.

I had a procedure like that in Narathiwat, down south. There were three Muslim girls wearing headscarves present. I felt rather uncomfortable in that state.????

No insurance, no license, no helmet, on his phone, with a few drinks behind him and way too many kids. Nah, no sympathy from me.

Good initiative, but let's wait and see if the money ends up in the right hands AND is spent on education instead of iPhones or down payment of a car.

Never heard of her. Can't imagine she's any good. Have fun, Dutchies.

If a Muslim kills anyone it's always jihad, right? ???? What you need to do is study the history of the conflict, going back all the way until at least 1909. You would see that Islam is only part of the Malay struggle for self-determination. That's not exactly what trans-national jihadis are going for, innit?

Since I moved to the deep south myself, I have prayed everyday for the insurgency to end and for the amazing, resilient people of the south to put away their differences and work on a new, common future. By the grace of God (insha'Allah), the negotiations will be successful and peace will return. I don't want to live in fear anymore and neither does anyone else.

Who's gonna ensure them that it's safe?

Shopee any day for me. I live in the restive deep south, where Lazada charges 200 baht delivery fees minimum. Shopee doesn't charge those "hazard" fees and is thus cheaper. The products are mostly the same anyway.

The state has been imposed since 2004. If there is anyone to blame, it's Thaksin.

Has there been a follow-up published yet? I am curious to know if the suspects have been identified.

Good point. Many parties profit from the unrest. Peace means loss of income.

Probably drug or weapons- or people-smuggling related. Sad but not something that us normal residents of Narathiwat Province (or Thailand in general) have to worry about.

Yup. I know firsthand as I have lived in the area for nearly seven years now, being one of very few farangs in the 3 Southern Border Provinces region. Late last year we had a car bomb explode in town and cause havoc and many victims. The perpetrators still haven't been caught. The only way out is political, but both sides seem to not wanna give an inch. Some parties aren't even invited to the negotiation table. It's a mess without an end in sight.

No wonder the Prachachart Party sees this as unwelcome. Looks very much like a provocation to bring soldiers and a monk to an Islamic school.

Terrible attack again. My heart goes out to the injured police officers and the family of the deceased.

Smiling does not imply happiness, nor the other way around. The happiest people in the world are always shown to be from Scandinavia/Northern European countries, even though they smile way less than Thais.

You keep on blaming others for delays, Hammerman. Dredging, fishing nets, safety inspections. If you had done your preparations well, none of it should have been a problem, or could all have been part of the equation.

My heart goes out to the volunteer and his family. May Allah bring him prosperity in the future.

I am not an ESL teacher, nor am I from a native English speaking country. Plus, in my country you need to have proper qualifications as a teacher, meaning a four-year B.Ed. I have about zero percent chanceof becoming a teacher in my country of origin. I am currently on my fourth waiver and still have until Oct. '24. Last year I finished St Roberts' diploma in teaching, but apparently that is not recognized in Thailand. I was advised to become a teacher in The Philippines with it, which is impossible for a foreigner anyway.