Sir Dude

Russia is a nation that brutalizes its people, to stay in control, and they in turn brutalize everyone they meet third party to oppress.... an awful an horrific society.

All of this sort of nonsense from these nutjobs is nothing other than mental illness... should be sectioned, the lot of them.

It could all just be part of the slow-moving plan to get rid of everyone that opposes the military and certain individuals/elite families. Obviously, they are most scared of MFP (now PP) and what it represents, to the point that they even did a deal with Thaksin in desperation to buy them time to get rid of MFP and its charasmatic leaders. After that, they need to deal with Thaksin's influence in politics and his party... and there are plenty in the Thai intelligensia that are will to do their bidding by bringing court cases etc. against who they need out of the way. The plan all along could well be to slowly come full circle back to the only political choice being military-backed parties, as all others will have been "dealt with". Can't shift that sixth sense of mine nagging me that Anutin will untimately end up as PM... facepalm that will be.

Well... here you go if you want to understand money laundering: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YOLuCRxKXY

People that are on work permits have to submit a tax return before they go to the Ministry of Labour to renew their work permits, as the MoL will not issue a WP extention without the previous year's tax return being filed, and you also give them (the MoL) your tax readout from your employer. Therefore, people that get a renewed WP that has been issued by the MoL merely have to produce the blue WP book, with the extension approved, to immigration. You can't get the WP without having filed a tax return the MoL is happy with (as they check)... don't have to give immigration anything regarding tax, at least not in the major city immigration center I deal with.

Stop saying "foreign"... it's the Chinese in all these sectors regarding hospitality and tourism. Face it Thailand, the Chinese are pulling their usual slow but sure grey-zone tactics to take over economically... come on Thailand, even Stevie Wonder can see it.

Calling BS on this one... no way.

I did mention a couple in that post that I think have grated the financial world here (like the digital wallet) who consider it to be a disaster... and we all know who owns 30%+ of the SCB etc. Also, I think the increase property ownership proposals for foreigners has also got the conservative nationalists into a hot hissy-fit, with the hotel industry also panicking about the Chinese etc. swallowing up whole floors of apartment blocks and then renting it out to only Chinese tourists etc. These are industries with powerful people running them. I do think the tax law has ruffled many local and powerful rich Thais, and that seems to have been overlooked, as most of the focus/discussion has been regarding foreigners paying tax on their pensions and income from elsewhere.... I don't think it should be underestimated how much umbridge these types can take at such changes if they stand to lose out. Could also be many in the business community worried about the dumping of cheap Chinese goods everywhere... which they have only just a few days ago thought about addressing, coincidence much (just speculating though), and again powerful protectionist attitudes prevail here too. Things are often not as they seem here and countries like Thailand (as you eloquently put it before) are "gentle juntas", but juntas none the less... can be a lot of smoke and mirrors going on above a bed of organized deceit, and corruption always finds a way. I think a very few select individuals are being puppet masters and they don't like what they see, hence the dealing with of so many loose ends right now. However, having said all that, it's subjective, and I might be being too cynical as have lived here a long time. Cheers.

Well, it all looks like it's going according to a planned script. The election didn't go as planned for the elite few, so they stalled and made a deal with PT to give them enough time to get rid of MFP, as they were the bigger threat to the status quo. Thaksin and PT didn't stick to the deal and have wondered way-off script with all kinds of new policies that, quite frankly, looks like have made many powerful individuals uneasy, as it's not going in the direction the elite want. Now that Srettha and all his cabinet are basically dismissed by the not-so-free court at the top (and the decision is not subject to appeal), the way is clear for Anutin to take over and rule on behalf of the military and certain other individuals that pull strings from the shadows. So, gone will be the digital wallet (kind of handy though that they sucked up the personal information of pretty much everyone in the country in the process) after so many registered, gone too will be the visa changes, and wouldn't surprise me if the new tax law will be quietly binned... as that must have really riled up a whole load of rich Thais, politicians, and businessmen. As an epilogue to this farce, we have witnessed a coup without there actually being one, and it'll go back to how it was... no need for tanks on the streets. Will give them a gold medal for desperate evil cartoonish scheming though. This sort of MO still works, but for how much longer is anyone's guess as change is inevitable, for sure when the dinosaurs of yesteryear start shrugging of this moral coil. Although, in the short term, let's hope we all benefit from the baht going down... would be nice.

Well, can that "The Ministry of Grand Plans and Lofty Ideas" is at it again.

Kind of ironic coming from a country and government that is hugely anti-immigration and anti-foreigner... there's a word for this in English.

This is what China does to enable it's "dumping" practices on foreign markets. China can out-cost everyone because they subsidize their industries so much... Why? Well, I'll tell you why, it's because the CCP is desperate to keep people in jobs... as that's the deal with the Chinese people, we keep you earning and you give us power. This deal is called the "heavenly mandate", and if the CCP lose this, it's a massive issue. Trouble is, the over production and dumping of subsidized products on foreign markets is going to irk many government... already has with the US/Europe/West as they aren't stupid, they know what's happening. Thailand is also already feeling this with many products like EVs to solar panels etc. Good luck ASEAN as you have not the ballz to confront these self-serving bullies, and it will destroy your native industries... as Chine doesn't care.

I hope Obergruppenfuhrer Anutin isn't made PM... will be a disaster for all.

Unnamed party accused of bribing senators with cash and cars etc.

A DTV visa could be a nice way to stay and work half the year, then bail on holiday for the other half (maybe remotely work), and still dodge the silly new tax-resident laws coming in. For example, it would be pretty sweet for a teacher to get a half-year contract at a school, then bail to the beach in another country and teach online for the other half... nice

I guess Anutin couldn't take the humiliation of announcing this himself... might detract from his rep.

Well, nothing has been set in stone just yet and it's all pretty ambiguous with lots of wild speculation, so I'll throw in my 2 pence worth. Personally, I just can't see them trying to tax pensioners on their pensions, as it would be financial suicide (maybe even diplomatic too with the DTAs) in many ways and put off almost everyone from coming here to retire (unless that's what they secretly want). People that live and work here might get hit that are tax residents, but again, not easy to police and enforce (enforcement is a moot point on many a thing here)... however, if you want to bring in a large amount of money, then just spend one year as a non-tax resident (less than 180 days), and just travel or visit relatives for the rest of the year, bring in what you want to without being taxed, then become a tax resident again the next year... ta-da, carry on as normal without paying.

Well, let's give some context to and analysis of the results of the UK election. This is how I see it: 1. The result isn't a ringing endorsement of Keir Starmer and his party, more a punishment episode handed out to the Tories (won't call them conservatives as they aren't now). Labour have actually lost a few % of the popular vote since 2019. Thing is, the political map is deceiving due to our archaic "First-past-the-post system". 2. Everyone knew that the Tories were in for a bashing, just a case of how bad it was. The other big loser of the election was the SNP in Scotland, and rightly so, as they are guilty of the same as the Tories... i.e. not listening to voters and doing silly stuff, self-inflicted outcome. 3. Reform have done well and have scooped up a lot of Tory voters from last time, even though they only got 5 seats. In a Proportionate Representation system they would have got like 100 seats. I guess the other big winners where the Liberal Democrats as they upped their seat number from like 11 seats to 62 or so in 2024... a big increase, so looks like many voters lent their vote to other parties, but not Labour. 4. The cautionary tale from this election is that voters are much less loyal to the two main parties than they were before in the days of voters voting Labour/Tory regardless of anything... voters are more fickle and volatile now if parties are seen as not delivering or being dishonest. This might actually be a good thing and help governments stick to what they promise and deliver solution (which is what they are supposed to be doing). 5. Labour has been ambiguous about many of its policies and it is not the same party that Tony Blair ran and go into power... it is a very different beast now, and a sanctuary for everyone and anyone who simply doesn't like the Tories, from apologists of a rainbow of topics to union barons to moderate center-left types to the far-left loons to communist Corbyn types and on and on. All these factions are going to start calling in favours and trying to steer the narrative and policy in their direction... controlling all this will be very hard. 6. It is inevitable that taxes will rise and the boats will keep coming, plus starting a love-in with the EU again could all grate many folks.... buyer's remorse is a real possibility. As you all know, you reap what you sow, I'm afraid. However, having said all that, I hope they sort it out, and the proof will be in the pudding... we'll see soon enough. I guess, with the expectations and impatience of the modern day public, failure to deliver will instigate a punishment too at the next chance to vote. Democratic governments everywhere need to wake up out of their slumber and deliver, as people are getting the hump with a lot of things. Cheers.

I haven't read the entire thread, just some of it, but having a good view of what's going on in the world and understand supply and demand is obviously crucial. I suppose the clear message at the moment is that the world is becoming more dangerous and chaotic all the time currently, so if you are not an "ethical investor" and want to go for stocks/shares, then the defense sector looks like a good bet (the likes of Lockheed Martin/Raytheon/Northrop Grumman etc.)... although it could be argued that this boat has already sailed, I don't see a new era of enjoying the peace dividend will happen anytime soon like after the Cold War and fall of the USSR.

Well, let's wait until the dust settles on Srettha's impeachment on June 18 by the military-learning senators, and how the cards fall with Thaksin's LM charge. Both of them could be being "dealt with" as the deal isn't going as agreed/honoured with the elites. With a bit of luck, they both get stitched up and all their policies are quietly dropped/brushed under the carpet with some bureaucrat saying "Nothing to see here, move along" in classic Thai style... it was all a "misunderstanding".

It's not beyond the realms of possibility and this avenue of "fixing" issues has been used a lot. Also, notice how a LM charge has just materialized against Thaksin all of a sudden for that interview in south Korea in 2015... clearly a few warning shots from the elites about not straying from the deal, and Thaksin might be getting too involved with politics for their liking. As for Stretta, he has up-rooted/U-turned/brought in a far few policies quickly that might be making some influential figures uncomfortable... can throw in the dispute with the BoT over interest rates too. Could be some powerful non-plussed types pulling strings from the shadows at the moment.

The usual opaque nonsense from the clowns in charge and their general ineptitude. This whole idea has trouble and difficulty written all over it, with so many negatives that can/will transpire if enforced. It's not just scaring away the very foreigners they want to attract, both workers (teachers/digital nomads/businesses etc.) and wealthy retirees, but what about the Thais working oversea and their remittances for the survival of families etc.? I forecast the locals getting the hump over this one too... might well be the final nail in the coffin for many too, just not worth it. However, having said all that, it could end up on the books but not enforced once they realize how much damage is done and the resistance to it there is (from multiple quarters), like many other "laws" that are effectively ignored... but they have the optics of it being a "law" that can be selectively enforced if so needed.

Yeah, terrible choice of photo for this article. Notice it's a left-hand drive car too... wonder where that was taken.

They are slowly walking it back and watering it down. By the look from the above, when they are done moving the goal posts, folks will have the options of spending it in 7-11/Big C/Blue Flag shops as they are way cheaper than the Mom & Pop shops... and all the wrong entities to be profiting from this hand out. They might even restrict it to just the government Blue Flag shops so they get as much back as possible... wouldn't surprise me at all if they announce that in the next few weeks. Compete bunch of liars and rotten to the core.

From my observations, it all basically goes wrong for Thai students at high school because it's little more than 6 years of mindwashing nonsense learning fluff or nothing at all... along with nonsense activities. By the time they get to university, it's mainly too late... they sink or swim in class sizes of 50 etc. as that's not "teaching", it's a lecture. You often hear people talking about/promoting how important critical thinking is and how it should be taught etc... but I see very little evidence of it being taught or even of people knowing what it actually is (observation, analysis, logic, systematically following processes of thought, judging relevence of ideas or augments, spotting errors or inconsistencies in comments/arguments, reflecting on your and others' assumptions and beliefs or biases, reasoning, balancing pros and cons/good and bad plus forming defendable opinion with supporting evidence etc.) so as to get to the best conclusion at a given time. However, having a properly educated population that can think critically and freely, simply isn't in the interest of the 1%. Thailand needs a compliant and subservient workforce/populous to the elite. You can see it in the politics and establishment regarding how scared the puppet masters are of change and entities like the Move Forward Party... the dinosaurs even jumped into bed with Taksin and allowed him back with little sanction, just so that they can hang on to power for a little longer and forestall the progressives and change. Although, they are kidding themselves as change is inevitable and it's coming... the internet and social media has seen to that, and these kids that have been leaving university for the last 10-15 years or so won't stand for the same nonsense forever, as they will be entering positions of power shortly.