tif

I'm predicting the overwhelming majority of expats vote UKIP. Classy lot that they are.

"If she wants to go to eat noodles then she can go but if we prohibit her then she cannot go," Prayut told reporters Thursday, indicating the military would continue to monitor her movements.

Why would they do that? Do they think she might try skip the country?

Probably yes.

I know I do.

Bluespunk give her a break? she was not a 'great' but i doubt she understood all the workings around her, for me this is extremely distasteful, the victimization and bullying...

I wonder if posters would be quite so sympathetic if this were Samak or Somchai? And if not, why not?

When one is born into privilege and one looks to history to see that it has always been this way, it is difficult to gain another perspective.

For my own experience here in Thailand of over 30 years, I have met on occasions members of the wealthy Bangkok elite.

They do live a separate reality, they have absolutely no connection with the masses. The circles in which they mix are so removed from everyday Thais, they have no inkling of the lives of the working classes.

Even the Bangkok media companies, owned by the elite cannot depict rural people in a drama series without making them a parody, uncouth, laughable country bumpkins.

It is a sad indictment of the ruling class, but true however.

The military come from a similar high class, whose forefathers commanded elephant armies for the aristocracy.

Nothing will change here unless there is a democratically elected government and they are allowed to make the mistakes our early democracies made.

The continual interference in Thai politics by the military, as if it is their right and privilege, will only serve the elite and continue to supress the working classes.

And give rise to ever more rapacious megalomaniac carpetbaggers such as Taksin. Why they are unable to see this defies belief.

"If she wants to go to eat noodles then she can go but if we prohibit her then she cannot go,"

disgusting treatment of the ex-PM

PS Churchill : "In war, resolution; in defeat, defiance; in victory, magnanimity"

I believe you are forgetting how this Puppet 'PM' treated the country she was supposed to be administering, not filling her and her 'brother's' overseas bank accounts. The word 'disgustingly' doesn't begin to cover it. Start with 'contemptuously'.

BTW, if the General has hopes of emulating his chum Xi's MO, she could eat those bloody noodles as her last meal.

Where other countries believe their economy is boosted by their citizenry actually working the General's sole idea for boosting GDP is ever increasing idleness. What with this brilliant idea and everyone on their smart 'phones all day, it's a wonder anything gets done at all.

Ridiculous,when is this country going to grow a pair I wonder. Yingluck is nothing more than a private citizen now and has been impeached and banned from politics for 5 years. It is martial law <deleted>, they might as well treat her like everybody else or simply leave her be. The special treatment hiso's eeceive here is a national disgrace, it should be the first thing the people demand. 2 tier justice is sickening anywhere, especially here where the prison systsem is so chaotic. Despicable

The way some complain about the 'junta' I got the impression Ms. Yingluck is treated like anyone else

It remains to be seen whether she is perceived to be as 'anyone else' by the current admin. If Yingluck is, as it is widely thought, allowed to flee/escape prosecution, this would, in my view, be the true test of whether this country has any hope of joining the civilized world or remain forever in it's feudalist patronage drenched past. Democracy cannot even begin to take root in a country which perpetuates either.

I'm not questioning what you write, but I'm not completely sure I understand. Therefore, for my understanding please elaborate a bit.

You think the true test would be a possible 'let go' of Ms. Yingluck? If I see this correct then you still need to more clearly indicate if you see the 'let go' as offering hope to join the civilised world, or if you see the 'let go' as remaining in it's feudalistic patronage system.

Thank you

Not to be pedantic but I didn't use the words 'let go' I said 'allowed to leave', which seems more appropriate given the current rumours swirling around, not least in the country's major newspaper. If she is allowed to escape the upcoming very serious charges against her in that she was party to Thailand losing 7 trillion baht it will send a very strong message to the rest of the world that this country is indeed a very long way from ever being able to call itself civilised and it's stated aim of working towards a democracy would be dashed. Thailand may very well call itself 'Thai style democracy' but someone should tell them that like truth, there is only one, and it is universal. They can stamp their tiny feet all they like, they will still be perceived as they always have done: Third World, if they allow this chance to prove they truly care about justice for all (which is the cornerstone of any democracy anywhere) slip away, again.

Ridiculous,when is this country going to grow a pair I wonder. Yingluck is nothing more than a private citizen now and has been impeached and banned from politics for 5 years. It is martial law <deleted>, they might as well treat her like everybody else or simply leave her be. The special treatment hiso's eeceive here is a national disgrace, it should be the first thing the people demand. 2 tier justice is sickening anywhere, especially here where the prison systsem is so chaotic. Despicable

The way some complain about the 'junta' I got the impression Ms. Yingluck is treated like anyone else

It remains to be seen whether she is perceived to be as 'anyone else' by the current admin. If Yingluck is, as it is widely thought, allowed to flee/escape prosecution, this would, in my view, be the true test of whether this country has any hope of joining the civilized world or remain forever in it's feudalist patronage drenched past. Democracy cannot even begin to take root in a country which perpetuates either.

Surely more charges could be made against her and not only with just the rice scheme.

There are many more charges against her. The water management scheme has also been found to be riddled with corruption It's simply people are only focusing on the rice.

The US does this all over the world so why not in Thailand?

Thailand has nothing the US wants to steal, can't move it's strategically placed land mass, can it.

Successfully downloading off of the .ua address, the .cr and opb connects but not the .se. I'd simply keyed in the pb when I'd had that error come up. I'd expected to see the new red phoenix, but all of the links still show the galleon. Like another poster I was concerned about viruses, but so far ok. Shame the comments seem to have been disabled.

I'll try Kickass. I only download now and again if something interests me. I research beforehand as even though it's free, don't want to waste bandwidth on a lot of the cr4p (mostly) out there. And people pay for it! Little wonder these sites are so popular.

Thanks

Has anyone been able to access the newly uploaded PB? Getting 'page unsupported' error coming up.

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Western man goes to massage establishment. Selects masseuse and gets massage. Masseuse asks "You want special?" Man says yes (no way to prove his intention by saying yes). Man receives intimate massage. All done, man tips masseuse for massage. Is this paying for prostitution act or tipping a masseuse for massage?

Same as above, but man says upon departure, "Here, use this 1000 to buy your baby some clothes." Is that paying for a sex act or is it a gift?

Woman meets man at bar; the two go to hotel and have intimate sexual actions, together and consensual. Man gives woman money for taxi upon her departure? Is that prostitution by Thai law?

P.S. Chinese medicine includes massage of male genitals as therapeutic and very beneficial for good health. Is therapeutic massage (paid for) prostitution in Thailand?

Your wife's a real lucky woman. It must have been your intellect.

And class. I particularly liked the bit about 'buy your baby some new clothes' Eew.

Prayuth's been sharing way too many cups of Formosa with Xi http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/is-this-north-korea-chinese-netizens-squirm-as-party-tightens-grip-on-internet/2015/01/28/79cfc809-21ea-4437-9d4b-5ece2cfc75f6_story.html

I know the part about gmail to be true at least as I'd had the 'error' come up for several days until I switched my search engine to Bing.

Having said that, bit odd coming from an admin who are unable to even throw a firewall around their government offices ...

It is a good way to get a real understanding of Thailand and her people by getting out and mixing with people from all social demographics of the country. You will never get an understanding and have absolutely no idea if you just speak to one person or read about it in the papers. The U.S needs to get out amongst the real people and educate themselves.

Oh okay, so does that apply to all of the World's governments? Or merely the sole preserve of the US, again?

I wouldn't be surprised if it was the other way around. The highly visible bars might be cracked down upon and the backstreet bars with their illegally trafficked Burmese, Lao and Cambodian girls left along.

Didn't someone post quite recently that the locals were very happy with the army closing all the Thai on Thai brothels up in Whoop Whoop?

TAT will not be pleased to hear this,as that is what a lot of tourists

come here for,not just for temples,culture,food etc,if this does take

off,what will a sterile,squeaky clean Thailand be like.

regards Worgeordie

Hopefully nothing like the sleazy booze addled sexpit it is now. The locals, and farang bar owners alike, will have to put some imagination and effort into providing entertainment venues for all, instead of merely throwing up a bamboo bar stocked with upcountry farm girls for the 'quality' few. Can't bloody wait!

Nice bit of ivory behind him.

Yes, a government office here shows it's importance by how many sets of elephant tusks it has stuck on it's desk.

Just wait it out

http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=CAD&to=THB&view=10Y

I just punched in GBP. I was shocked.

Is it really diplomatic protocol for US consular staff to be meeting with red shirt leaders.

I find this 'a source said' very hard to believe. The UK are constantly insisting they haven't the right to interfere in this country (or any others) judicial or political process and I doubt the US (overtly) deviates from this stance.

Piratebay's back up tomorrow 4pm.

The Thais are dealing from an incredibly weak position. These MNCs can have a functioning car industry up and running in Myanmar in 5 years. The junta and the NLA need to wind their necks in now.

Or Vietnam, who it has today been reported to be in the process of changing it's foreign ownership laws from the 49/51 (same Thailand) to allow majority foreign shares, both commercial and domestic (home ownership).