bamnutsak

Just when you think this scandal zigs into a cover-up, it zags into even greater corruption. Ye gads, the last honest person here surely passed away decades ago. What a cesspool of CORRUPTION. YIKES! No wonder they were trying to bury this story. Definitely a limited run series.

My point was that they are not really serious about this Wallet Scheme. There' way too much headwind on this. There will be much slow-walking of this so that in three years they'll be saying "what wallet?" Srettha left it in a taxi and the driver kept it.

Future headline... Deputy finance minister defends digital wallet scheme It seems like they're focused on inflation, by reducing/controlling costs of living (electricity/fuel), and extending debt/loan repayments, rather than stimulating the economy. But who knows with this "government" as they are sending quite a few different messages all at once. There seems to be little cohesion or synergy.

I think I said as much in my last sentence?

Sort of oldish news...the arrest warrant was mysteriously withdrawn. Suspect many top tier Thais are both supporting the Myanmar dictators, and profiting handsomely. Thai senator’s link to Myanmar arms dealer jolts Thai justice system Thailand’s justice system was forced to swing into damage control mode after a series of disclosures pointed to senior judges and police officers attempting to spare a senator prosecution for alleged drug trafficking and money laundering after the arrest of Myanmar arms dealer Tun Min Latt. Supreme Court President Chotiwat Luengprasert has ordered an investigation into whether senior judges at the Criminal Court had abused their power to cancel the arrest warrant issued for Senator Upakit Pachariyangkun last year. A fact-finding committee was set up recently to gather information from all relevant sources for the Supreme Court judge within 30 days, according to the Court of Justice’s spokesperson, Sorawit Limparangsri. The panel has no authority to interrogate any responsible persons in accordance with the penal code, he said. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-senators-link-to-myanmar-arms-dealer-jolts-thai-justice-system/

My opinion. Based on reading many, many, many articles. We're still allowed to voice opinions here, right? Or do we need to check with you first? Most "gossip" here has much more than a shred of truth.

The new Minister of Health, Cholnan Srikaew MD (PTP) seems woefully out of touch... He assured that cannabis will not be reclassified as a narcotic under Category 5 of the country’s controlled drug list, noting that cannabis with a THC content of more than 0.2% by weight is already regarded as a controlled narcotic. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/public-ministry-to-set-up-national-health-security-board/ Many in this new government will have to work very hard get out of the bottom quartile. I think BJT, as part of the coalition, will simply re-introduce the Cannabis Control Act in Parliament. It overwhelmingly passed the first reading last year. This essentially enables a Cannabis Control Board to manage all aspects of Cannabis production, sales/marketing, use. DTAM (Traditional Medicine) within the MoPH will sit on that board and be responsible for Medical Cannabis solutions. Not much will change re: normalized personal use.

Anutin tapped the right chap I'd say... he's rumored to have some demons. ‘Mafia-style’ former MP released after guns charges A former MP and four members of his entourage were released on bail on Sunday after being detained overnight for carrying firearms in public without permission. Chada Thaiseth, a former Uthai Thani MP, reportedly has been on an official list of mafia-style figures. More than 100 policemen, both in uniform and plainclothes, intercepted his convoy on a road in Uthai Thani province on Saturday afternoon. Chada’s group was driving as many as eight vehicles and a search found several guns and illicit drugs in the cars. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/30316547

...like my brother, Raluek Leepkai, the Embezzler. Raluek Leekpai disappeared in 1989 after police issued a warrant for his arrest on charges he embezzled the equivalent of $8 million while working at the Thai Farmers Bank in the southern city of Songkhla. Some reports have said Raluek may have fled to the United States. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/06/22/Thai-prime-minister-under-attack-over-fugitive-brother/8392740721600/

Well he could do what MoveForward did and call out the Police and highlight the problem, but Srettha is weak, incompetent and puppet, so he just spouts platitudes because, quite frankly, he is not a leader. Paying for a position, or leveraging your birth-right, is just part of the Thai National Psyche. Nothing can be done about it. POLICE ‘HAVE NO DUTY’ TO EXPLAIN ‘ELEPHANT TICKET’ SCANDAL BANGKOK — Police top brass remained silent Monday on the bombshell revelation by an opposition MP that police officers can advance up the ranks just by securing a letter signed by powerful figures, without having to go through the formal channels. Move Forward Party lawmaker Rangsiman Rome showed evidence of the shortcut, known as “The Elephant Ticket,” during a censure debate on Friday, and accused Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his deputy Prawit Wongsuwan of turning blind eye to the alleged corruption. But a police spokesman said the force isn’t required to provide any response. “The opposition MP made the accusations against the government, so the police have no duty to respond,” Col. Kissana Phathanacharoen said. “However, the police may verify the content and authenticity of the police appointment documents published online.” https://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2021/02/22/police-have-no-duty-to-explain-elephant-ticket-scandal/

Didn't one kill the other, and then top himself? And why is this guy "Acting"? What happened to his superior? Oh my! Highways police chief axed over overloaded truck ‘bribe” sticker controversy Highways Police Commander Pol Maj-Gen Ekkarat Limsangkart has been transferred to an inactive post at the operations centre of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), while the overloaded truck “bribe-paid” sticker scandal is investigated. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/highways-police-chief-axed-over-overloaded-truck-bribe-sticker-controversy/

This one will die down. It is amazing how well they can control a "situation". The original alleged murderer has apparently killed himself. A few top Pol. Generals have been inactivated. A few may be prosecuted. The rest will be swept under the rug. Yes, a "thorough" investigation will be completed.

Given the wide-spread RTP/Immigration corruption involving the Chinese gangsters in the recent past, these folks came in on VOA (2,000 baht), then proceeded to buy longer term visas/extensions directly from Immigration offices. The cost of the VOA was immaterial. Most Chinese tourists are honest, some are criminals. Unlike the RTP, where few are honest. 110 bent immigration cops busted in visa scam swoop The Royal Thai Police (RTP) yesterday revealed they uncovered a massive visa scam involving 110 bent immigration cops. The Deputy Commander of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, held a press conference at the Police Club, where he exposed details of the illegal operation. The corrupt cops illegally offered visas to foreigners, especially Chinese investors. According to Big Joke, the outlaw officers formed a network with local visa agencies, illegally issuing visas to foreigners, especially Chinese investors looking to do business in Thailand. https://thethaiger.com/guides/visa-information/110-bent-immigration-cops-busted-in-visa-scam-swoop

When you say "agent" you mean a real estate agent? When you say "we", is your partner Thai? Did they enter into this contract by providing their Thai National ID? Entering into a contract for many services here, ranging from post-paid mobile phone service to internet service is usually challenging for a foreigner, and requires a Work Permit. Can you share any details on the Contract you signed? Which service? Monthly price. You experience sounds unusual, so without more detail my guess is that maybe you're not really a potential customer of True Internet, yet? Have you now cancelled the contract?

For me, at CW last Thursday, no, these were separate transactions at separate desks, accomplished within ~ 40 minutes with appointments for both, ext stay/ret at 09:30, 90-day at 10:15. I was serviced early for both appointments. I did not ask the desk L1-35 IO who processed my TM.7/Ext Stay-Ret, if she would process my 90-day report which was due that day. Once my passport was returned I just went to Counter 4, then desk B66, to file my TM.47/90-Day Report. In the past there was one year some of us had a new 90-day report out of cycle requested/processed in the Desk L area, but that was a brief unexplained anomaly.

Don't forget that per the current Constitution Chapter II Section 8 The King holds the position of Head of the Thai Armed Forces. So some care must probably be taken when talking about limiting the military?

Well, given that "Bangkok Traffic" was assigned and said to be solved by 2022, it's not too much to expect that mafia-style gangs - which are literally part of the Thai social fabric - will be eradicated. You could make a point that the entire Thai social pyramid is built on the mafia and corruption. And that most of the power and authority rests with corrupt organizations. There is no shame on senior politicos like Anutin who proclaims this sort of gibberish with a straight face.

Is "Captain" his nickname, surname or rank? I often see his name in the press as CAPT Thamanat.

Huh? I think the good doctor is confused. And what the heck is a National Health Security Board?

Your reporting office is CW? Other? I think we'll know when they fix it as people here will start saying that their application was approved in the previous era as ~ 3 - 7 calendar days. There is clearly something broken, at CW at least.

Did you pay any money when you signed the contract? How much? What service and term did you agree to? What prompted you to seek out True? Talk to neighbors, see what they use and what is available. Most places still only allow one provider. Note that AIS Fibre and 3BB are/have merged so that should make things easier.

So are the Vikings one of the "good" motorcycle gangs here? And is he chapter President, or Club (THA) President? And can you change from a Wife extension to a Retirement extension in country?

Big Joke, having purchased his Elephant Ticket early on, leap-frogged his peers (class number) in rank. (BTW, some of his peers were unhappy with his "advancement".) He is 53 or 54 years old, and tradition still favors rank, and length of service, and age. Big Joke will become National Police Chief, but maybe not for a few more cycles?

Given how incompetently this group of officers (and influential people) tried to cover up the original crime, it strains credulity to insinuate that this group of idiots somehow staged a suicide. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Meanwhile the two most senior police (Generals) who were also at the party, have been place on leave.

The bulk of the criticism (95 %)of the government's "policy statements" as presented yesterday was mostly about it's unprofessional, slap-dash nature. With vague "plans" and very little detail on timelines and metrics. And very little criticism (5 %) was about the breaking of campaign promises. Most of his plans were just bullet points, representing "ideas". Srettha earned a failing grade, but as is the custom here, he was given a Thai "C", because, well, no one can be failed. Srettha appears to be lazy, unprofessional and unable to forge, let alone lead this alliance. He's doomed, and the powers that be will ride him into the ground. It will get much much uglier.