Srikcir

So the two men organized the drugs and stashed them in the house. How are the women connected to the drug activity? Unless the two women immediately confessed to drug possession, trafficking, etc, to the police, what is the evidence against them that justifies arrest? Arresting the women seems more like hostage taking by the police to force the two men into surrending.

Her message is irrelevant with regard to law. Her offense is defacing private/public property. She could have written "long live Putin" and still commit an offense (likely civil). Freedom of speech here does not apply. That said, the ICC did launch an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity carried out in Ukraine by Russia, and issued arrest warrants against Putin and another Russian Federation official related to unlawful deportation of Ukrainian population, etc. No amount of public support or disagreement will alter either action. PS: Thailand has non-member status with ICC.

Wasn't it NIDA polls while Prayut was PM 2014-2023 that consistently showed that something like 90% of Thais supported Prayut?

Remember Prayut's Peace and Order, as in his National Council for Peace and Order - the name of his 2014 junta? After almost 10 years in power he needs better messenging.

Since the 2014 to date my perception is that there was a reprioritization from exports to tourism, the latter focused mostly on the military loyal partner China. Agricultural exports may have remained relatively unchanged but they're low value products compared to high value industrial exports. In the interim the government seemed to increase construction of infrastructures (highways, light rail, high speed rail) part of which was foreign financed. Good for foreign financing partners getting annual fixed returns on investment and return of capital but poor for Thailand GDP growth that is long term with annual risk to service loans without raising fares beyond what is affordable to Thais. A new economic flexible strategy is needed. Unfortunately, the junta's 20-year natiobal economic plan memorialized in the Constitution is a likely barrier to change regardless of any new Parliament support. The government has essentially "trapped" the economy and I don't expect that to change from the next election even with a progressive landslide in the House.

I paid for $130 renewal online using Pay.Gov, enclosing printout of emailed receipt with my application. But had to also go to my bank for a paper 100B bank draft to be included in my renewal package - not very efficient in an electronic age and not having personal transportation! Not to mention it took the bank 45 minutes to make one (additional charge) as it seems they never did one before. Had about same ten days for receipt of old & new passports.

Mine sent back EMS by Thailand Post. Next day delivery.

National Organization of Powerful Elites (aka NOPE)?

If you qualify for the pensioner Long Term Resident visa, you're virtually undisturbed by Immigration for ten years except for the annual (vs 90-day) residence report and a review of financial qualifications at the five year mid-point.

Any relationships to the CCP or the Politboro?

I agree that gere are perfectly capable Thai hospitals to handle this person's injuries. In fact there is nothing in the link/article that suggests that there is no inpatient insurance coverage. There is no mention of unpaid hospital medical care. What is at dispute is the cost of getting the patient back to the UK, likely an insurance elective rider that was not taken. How about any of the concerned relations come to Thailand as an alternative.

Will Thailand ask Russia for anti-air missiles for top of its government buildings?

Just some semantics. Prayut did not "rose to power" but rather "grabbed power. " The former implies a peaceful transition for Head of State while the latter involves military force. Paradoxically, Prayut has argued recently and the Constitutional Court agrees that he was not the PM from 2014-2018. So I guess he must had "fallen into power" at that time without knowing it?

On the other hand it might be safer to drive a garbage truck instead of any other vehicle in Thailand.

Sadly, his mugshot won't be made public under 2020 New York State law, not even under a Freedom of Information Law Request.

Trump said he was "indicated." Nothing criminal about that. So remain at Mar-a-Lago. Then he can complain about the resulting socialist arrest warrant.

Let me help with a simple foreign policy that has more to do with domestic policy: become a participant to the 1951 Refugee Convention, formalize protections for asylum seekers condistentbwith the UNHRC, and do what's necessary to be upgraded from "B status" to "A status" accreditation by the UNHRC.

So to date he faces only two investigations - nothing else? No immediate arrest upon entry into Thailand? That seems to leave a lot of opportunity for negotiation (ie., house arrest, banned from politics for one year, etc.), especially if the next election favors an anti-military coalition in Parliament.

Prayut ignored election laws and the Constitution when he overthrew the Thai caretaker government in 2014 just prior to elections and installed himself as PM. Goose-Gander.

One could make the case that the tourist harmed the nation's reputation as well as the firm operating the bungee jump. So potentially both civil and criminal defamation. Especially when jumper posted on social media. And facts to the contrary are irrelevant. Defamation in Thailand is about state of mind.

As I recall, the anchored homestead lay beyond Thailand's sovereign territory - exceeding 12 nautical miles. But floated within Thailand's Economic Zone. Legally according to Thai authorities, it's location violated Thailand's EZ because residents could catch seafood from the homestead within the EZ that would belong to Thailand as a natural resource. Also note as I recall, the homestead was owned by a married couple - Thai wife and foreign husband. So there was some ambiguity as to violation of the EZ, ie., by foreigners. Also that the homestead that was floated out to sea by a Thai boat/tug and legally manufactured in plain view in Thailand. The couple had advertised selling and creating a "neighborhood" of similar homesteads for the same area. Again potentially disturbing Thailand's economic interests without permission. Regardless, I believe that the Thai Navy unilaterally removed the homestead (to protect Thailand's sovereignty which was not at issue?). But I don't think anyone was prosecuted.

Sounds like a one-party control of government. Who would have thought?

Thanks the military wasn't sent in, it might be years before any resolution.

What do you think a military-controlled House and Senate is - including a seemingly bias judicial system, control of the Minister of Defense by military irrespective of any elected PM, Election Commission, anti-corruption agencies, chairman of the National Police Commission, oversight of State enterprises, control of grassroots politics monitored by ISOC, etc? Even with a majority opposition coalition in the House, there is no complete control so long as the Senate remains pro-military, nor the military that is able to exercise what seems to be its "sovereign right" to bypass any Constitution for the "Good People."

It's disturbing that Prawit even makes this "offer." Shows he has the power to do another coup. He could offer inside that there will be no further conscrption (all volunteer military except when declaration of war), the military will give up all its private enterprises and natural resources, reduce its number of generals by half, take a 10% reduction in its budget for the next ten years to improve income inequality, allow semi-autonomy in the Muslim Southern provinces to obtain peace in a decades long insurrection, forbid active military from any political position require 5 years retirement for active military before pursuing political positions, etc. What he offers instead is just more elitism and barriers to democracy.