wolfmanjack

Usually I don't respond to these police topics but this is nonsense. Since when is a storage compartment carrying a knife in public. What if one is going camping, picnicking, etc. with knives. I wonder what the details of the law is as in some countries it is the length of the blade and the clear function such as a switch blade that defines the legality. A Swiss Army knife? That's a toolkit. Plus to be searched without a warrant I thought required very reasonable cause.

"I'd like to explain that people cannot just carry a knife in public. It's illegal,"

Maybe they expect a toolkit to be in the boot (trunk).

Pickup trucks do not have trunks.

The power and the money is all the Shinawatra's crave, now their down and out Thailand can vote in politician's that work to help the people not use and abuse their position to benefit their own family. Yes, they are not the first to abuse their position as PM, but hopefully they are the last. As for the coup and governance of Prayut, I am becoming frustrated that reform is progressing slowly, but at least it is transparent and non corrupt. The only worry is the impeachment of other MP's could be unfair to opposition parties in the next election. Hopefully the NRC can forgive and forget this as the main culprit Yingluck impeachment has been enough a punishment to the Puea Thai party.

I don't know. The politicians that used others cards to vote and politicians that allowed their cards to be used should face some sort of additional punishment to make sure it does not happen in the future.

Hua Hin is certainly nice for a family in a good hotel, preferably along the coast from the main beach, the town is pleasant , but the reality is it is one of the cheapest sex tourist and sex-pat places in the country. The girls and bars are cheaper than Pattaya. There's soi after soi of it and in different areas. I don't live in either and have visited both many times and like them and like a night out there (although HH bars are too empty), but it's the continual denial of what it really is and pretence that HH is some up market expensive place by many of the ex-pats that live there is a joke.

The reality.

Looks like the red light district is a hell of a lot bigger than chiang mai's is these days.

bangkok has a street that has several sun shops. Have a thai go and ask there how much they would pay for it.

I have an oil filled electric heater i bought at global house. I didn't use it this year though.

Another source said that the twin pipe bombs could have been planned by core leaders of a political group that had lost its political benefits, by hiring men in uniform

Because of libel laws, these reporters talk in code. I will translate: Somebody said Thaksin directed his minions in Bangkok to hire RTP officers to plant the bombs, maybe. That's what they are strongly hinting at when they make these vague, unattributed statements.

Yes - that's most likely the intent of these vague statements. But I still can't see how a small-scale bombing like this would benefit the man in Dubai. It would seem to simply give the current regime an excuse to ramp up security, extend martial law, and perhaps push off elections further into the future. Remember that the coup-makers claim that they will only allow a return to democracy when things are stable. Incidents like this suggest they still have work to do. I don't see how it helps Reds/PTP regain power...

Really oxymoronic for the Reds to orchestrate this bombing if they really want an early election. Could even be a PDRC/PAD set-up to influence the NRC and the NCC to insert more lopsided reforms and laws to limit PT ability to win the next election. Seem the junta has already concluded the motives and the perpetrators even before any arrest and trial.

Has Thaksin and his red shirts always demonstrated clarity of thought and logic in their actions and statements?

Do they have a track record of getting people saying different things, lying, seeking sympathy outside of Thailand, and orchestrating bombs, attacks, intimidation?

It was be in Thaksin's great interest to destabilize the country as much as possible, including weakening the economy, causing unrest, all whilst pretending to cooperate.

He isn't interested in any kind of reconciliation. He wants total control. Reforms will be designed to prevent or at least make that harder for him. He can't wait for the statute of limitations to expire on all his outstanding court cases and needs that conviction and jail sentence squashing.

He will have a plan and it will comprise of lots of different elements as always,

An early election, even if PT win, and have an overall majority, which isn't guaranteed won't give him the amnesty he craves judging by public reaction last time. So he'll want much more turmoil and unrest, failing economy, tourist numbers way down - then he can orchestrate his return and the savior, the man who paid off the IMF "with his own money:.

the time spent outside the country should not count towards the statute of limitations.

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't get on my knees and thank the stars above that I wasn't born a Thai.

The on-going news clearly depicts Thailand in all its glory ... yes the land of scams, rip-offs, prostitution and violence crime; mostly perpetrated against any foreigner stupid enough to visit.

The raids came as part of the government̕s drive to lift Thailand out of Tier 3, the lowest grade in the United States̕ Trafficking in Persons Report.

This is NOT going to be anywhere near enough for the US to reconsider its position. Apart from all the underage prostitution there still remains high levels of human trafficking and slavery. Add to this the mix of martial law, the removal of fundamental human rights, the on-going discrimination and the media being effectively forced into silence unless it meets with gov approval and you have the perfect recipe for potential sanctions ... it amazes me to this day how Thailand has managed to escape sanctions over the years.

You could offer me $100 million and I still wouldn't step foot in Thailand ... human dignity has no price; unless of course if you're a Thai and then they'll sell it for 100 Baht.

Apart from all the underage prostitution

That old urban myth! While it may happen in the THAI bar scene, it would be hard to find for the average punter in Thailand for a two week holiday. I have spent many an evening walking from Pattaya Walking Street to the Naklua bars up Second Rd and back down beach Road, and if there were any underage girls, they must have been hidden away somewhere. Certainly not in view.

For the US to criticize Thailand is utmost hypocricy. Prostitution is legal in some states and there is plenty of illegal going on elsewhere. They should deal with their own problem before lecturing other countries.

Of course, I know as much about what goes on in the States from first hand experience, as you know about the Thai scene, which is ZERO.

I do not know in which country you live, but I do know that it has a prostitution scene, so why are you so down on Thailand, ESPECIALLY as you have never been there?

One time when i was in thermae a woman approached me with her 16 year old niece and talked with me. She told me she was teaching her niece how to get into the business and asked me if i wanted to be her first customer. I also met a girl in a chiang mai bar that admitted to being only 17. Those are the only 2 cases that I have personally witnessed.

The tony jaa movies were okay and were fairly well known around the world.

They just need to concentrate on action films where the dialog isn't as important.

Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan did it from Hong Kong so these "talented" directors should be able to make international quality movies that will bring in more $$$ and bo worth seeing.

And yes hiring bilingual people to do the subtitles would help a lot.

She should have skipped speaking thai period but even that may not have worked with this guy.

I went to a park in Lampang with a truck load of locals. This park had a Falang Price a thai price and the locals got in free. They did not want to accept my DL so all the locals started berating the guy and he eventually let me in for the local price. Free.

Other parks I have been allowed to use my DL, some have asked for my WP. Some have refused no matter what documents I had. I am now getting a yellow book and will carry that with me whenever I go. Every bit of documentations helps.

Based on the population pyramid there are apprx

2.6 mil Age 20 - 24

2.4 mil Age 25 - 29

2.8 mil Age 30 - 34

2.9 mil Age 35 - 39

apprx 10.7 million plus however many 18 and 19 years old so quite a few more than 6 million between the age of 18 and 38.

Also the NGO numbers most likely include the university girls that turn a trick to get new phones and the ones that have sugar daddies.

( http://www.indexmundi.com/graphs/population-pyramids/thailand-population-pyramid-2014.gif )

If it's implemented, this could really hurt. Wonder what sort of jobs the country could offer to these tens - if not hundreds - of thousands of workers.

7-11 is hiring

Need a university degree and only pay 50 baht an hour.

What the writer doesn't realise is that NO ONE CARES about Thailand courting this or that.

The world will still turn if Thailand chooses to unfriendly the USA, and the USA won't bat an eyelid.

What's the usual response in the UK or the US from people when you mention Thailand?

Don't say it. We'll get banned.

Honestly, Thailand needs to wake up to the fact it's in its own little introspective bubble and the rest of the World considers it to be the World's [fill the blank, begins with 'B']

The response I almost always got when i mentioned Thailand was "Oh Taiwan, Yeah I know where that's at". Most Americans i knew had no idea thailand even existed but that was before the hangover movie was filmed here so I am sure that has changed.

Nothing more surreal than seeing a police officer salute a military man. Yep, we know how is in power!

I used to date an army generals's daughter and have seen the police salute her just because his hat was laying on the back seat.

Need to start taking licenses away from these crooks

You mean some of them have driving licences?

Any taxi driver that has a taxi license also had a drivers license at the time they got the taxi license.

Kevin, it sounds like your wife is worse than mine about keeping in contact with her kids.

This day and age with smart phones, video calling etc etc there is no excuse for it. It isn't like the old days where the custody parent can control all contact and it sounds like your kids are old enough to be arranging meetings.

in my experience it is ALWAYS about money.

i have 2 children i am not permitted to know/see due to greed, dishonesty and 'face'

i am fully aware of the living standards of these people and am fearful daily for the lives that my children must endure due to the indifference/greed of their local relatives.

what can we do but pray for the day that our children see them in the same light that we do.?

it is so sad that children are used as pawns in the game of greed that is so prevalent here.

and then as free labour/dogsbodies as they mature....

So sad!

So painful!

I feel for you. I am lucky int he fact that my in laws all know what is going on and are on my side so whenever my ex causes problems they stick up for me.

Maybe just seeing them now and again makes her feel sad and she can't face it.

Throughout Asia, when couples with children split, the parent that doesn't have custody often has little to do with the kids. It is thought to be unsettling for the children to be bounced between homes or parents every week or fortnight. In the West, the reverse is thought to be true and parents who don't contact their children are judged as bad.

I could understand that in the past for parents that lived far away from each other but not for parents that live 30 minutes away.

Also with the internet these days it is easy to chat and do video calls. I keep track of what the kids do on the internet and she only chats with them once or twice a month.

However when she does show up she thinks she has the right to tell us how to live. I just tell her when she starts paying her share and starts being a part of the kids lives then she can have the right to make comments.

The fact of the matter is she has always been the type of person that wants to have her cake and eat it too. Ever since the kids were born she has always wanted to go and live her life and do whatever she wanted but still have the "family" be there when she decided she wanted to be a part of a family. Sort of like toys she locks in the toy box and brings out once in a while when she feels like playing with them.

In a nut shell she wants to have the love of a family without the responsibility of a family.

My daughter is still playing along with that game but my son isn't.

You know the last time I talked to her about signing the divorce papers she still talks about the kids taking care of her when she gets old. I told her not to count on it and she came back with "why not"?

She just does not get it and I doubt she ever will.

what a load, no wonder the US has become a crappy country when it does garbage like this. Giving yl and her corrupt crew somewhere to whinge and bitch after being caught with their fingers in the cookie jar is a joke, Thailand should tell them to take a hike and make it harder for the US to do business here pulling stunts like this. Have to wonder if a lone figure in a far off country has been making political donations to someone, definitely not how a world class country should be acting, sucking up to these dodgy ex ministers but then you cant help stupid

if you are American, then feel free to criticize your own country.

If you are not American, then feel free to criticize your own country.

Otherwise, feel free to keep your clap shut.

(btw, did you read that Russel also met with Abhisit and the general running the foreign ministry, or are you posting in total ignorance?)

I am american and I do not mind people from any country criticizing the american government.

It was for the farmers. I want to help the farmers. The farmers are poor you know they need help. Don't take away this support for the farmers. This is the sick strategy the Shin clan is using.

What they really did was selling rice very cheap to friendly Thai traders. They made it look like it was sold to other governments (G2G) in order not to reveal details of the transactions. Hey you can't reveal confidential info about sales between countries (governments). It's secret.

The Shins are a shameless bunch of crooks who keep misleading the Thai people. Luckily they can finally be stopped. It's not easy but it is happening.

Question......Why are gov to gov deals secret?

Answer........ Because they are selling the countries resources at a lower price than they are being sold to the countries own citizens.

So tell us, did ALL the restriction mentioned in the OP became law early 21st century or not?

The point of my post was and still is, has anyone noticed the new restrictions that apparently came into force 16 days ago.

That is what i asked.

That was my point.

Has anyone noticed the new restrictions that were introduced, according to the OP, 16 days ago?

No. The new restrictions supposedly do not allow bulk sales anymore and i bought over 10 liters between 2 and 3 pm a couple of days ago at makro so no change there yet.

Actually this law has increased the amount i drink because when I have 10 liters in the house i tend to drink whenever I want but if i don't have the alcohol in the house I have to decide if i want to get in the car to go buy some. I usually end up not going instead.

See? Drinking is killing your motivation.

Actually it is the other way around. When i have alcohol in the house i am motivated to drink. When it isn't here it is hard to get me motivated to get off my butt to go buy it.

To me the most criminal act in the whole thing is Americans teaching English

Depends on what state they are from but i can honestly say that I have met many english that I can not understand a damn thing they say. I have never had an englishman say the same about me or ask me to repeat myself.

When I lived in the USA I carried a pistol in my car. Whenever i got pulled over by the police I would put the pistol on the dash so the cop could see it before he approached my car. Then I would place my hands on the steering wheel so he could see them.

Most of the time there was no problem. A couple of times however the cop would be so freaked out that he would pull his gun on me, have me exit the car and handcuff me before he would talk to me about why he pulled me over.

These are the types of cops that are scared shitless and are prone to kill people even when they do nothing wrong.

Before you guys jump on me about having a gun in the car i lived in a state that people having rifles hanging in their back windows and pistols in their glove boxes was common. It is even legal to walk around town with a pistol on your hip if you wish.

Being an early bird and like to go shopping early to beat the traffic in Bangkok, its impossible for me to buy a decent bottle of wine when I want to. If I would purchase more than 20 liters (about 29 bottles of wine), I would have no problem. These rules are just plain stupid.

You only have to purchase 10 liters not 20 liters.

I have got caught out a few times when I forgot what time it was but I just went to the mom and pop stores or i increased the amount i purchased.

Actually this law has increased the amount i drink because when I have 10 liters in the house i tend to drink whenever I want but if i don't have the alcohol in the house I have to decide if i want to get in the car to go buy some. I usually end up not going instead.

For example I went to makro to get a couple of bottles of wine but due to traffic or whatever it ended up being 2 or 3 minutes after 2 pm and they wouldn't let me buy only 2 bottles so I ended up getting 10 liters. Now I will end up drinking a lot more this week than i normally would have.