traveller101

You find the true numbers at thairsc.com (Thai Accident Information Centre). Multiply the 26 accidents by a factor of between 8 and 10 to get to the true numbers. I live in beachside Rawai and hear every day at least 3 Ambulances sirens blaring at different times. Rawai/Naiharn Beach area covers around 5% of Phuket. Nuff said

Care to provide some evidence, links, to support your thesis? And please enlighten us mere mortals about "the tyrannical plans of the WEF". I recall another speaker featuring prominently at the WEF 2020 as well as 2022. Her name is Greta Thurnberg - according to your twisted logic now part of the club. Seriously?

Negotiations between debtors and illegal money lenders (loan sharks) with government officials acting as mediators take place. There is a law, in effect since 2017 (The Act prohibiting the collection of interest at an excessive rate). A rate in eccess of 15% per annum is illegal and results in the offender facing criminal sanctions - jail up to 2 years and/or fine up to 200'000 baht. Why mediating - unless these loan sharks charge !less than 15% interest

Please can we get a TAT free day every now and then- I am sick and tired to of their almost daily predictions, Marketing campaigns addressing particular countries, targeting a particular type of visitors, assumptions, projected revenue targets, optimistic clap trap and delirious euphoria. Generally wishful thinking, pie in the sky, take your pick ..... except publishing actual facts about true numbers of tourists and approximate $$$$$ spent using accurate calculators (which automatically exclude the faulty hardware used by TAT) available everywhere.

He has apparently been charged with committing "premeditated murder". Which carries a 3 to 15 year prison sentence according to the criminal code 290. I'm lost for words

From the article: "Srettha pointed out the danger to World Trade and the safety of 60000 Thai Nationals on the island" (Taiwan). Let me get this straight - in the event of a major regional military conflict erupting - presumably starting with an invasion of Taiwan - Srettha's main concern is related to $$$$$ followed by safety concerns of Thais living in Taiwan. Never mind the 25 Million Taiwanese living there and general loss of life in the region due to warfare. This statement might be somewhat understandable in the context of addressing a domestic audience. Certainly way of the mark on the international stage in front of his peers at the ASEAN Japan summit.

Interesting - you seem to know it all - from personal experience?? Anyway, keep up the good work teaching others - so far 22 posts/comments and counting.

He forgot to add - vote for me and the American Nightmare comes alive!

Those informal moneylenders charging interest rates north of 300% are just common criminals, Extortionists under the Thai criminal code. A few have been arrested, but no follow up Infirmation. Penalties include a maximum 5 years jail and a fine not exceeding 10000 Baht A minimum fine of 500'000 Baht might be more effective as a deterrent.

Legal and moral questions aside, the breath and lengths of this case presented to the public (including full name, age and nationality of the foreigner) is astounding to say the least. Culminating with the highest cop in the Land personally pursuing the case in Germany. I would very much appreciate receiving equally detailed updates on cases involving alleged thai miscreants committing crimes against foreigners (beatings, murder, traffic hit-and-runs etc). TIT

A first step to address the problem of reigning in aggressive and sometimes violent "loansharks" - cap the maximum interest rate for unsecured loans, applying to all financial institutions as well as non-registered private lenders. 25% per annum would be a good start. It goes without saying - Enforcement and stiff penalties for offenders is the key to success - and everybody who points out .... TIT .... is of course right, unfortunately. The 7 rogue lenders demanded a DAILY interest of 3'000 baht. A total amount of 1'095'000 baht per annum. The interest based on this would most likely exceed 100% p.a.

"Increase in the minimal wage means so many thousands of jobs lost" "The market should be left to set the prices of goods and services" 2 statements of an uneducated, ignorant person. They're both plain wrong on all fronts. What's been suggested here is the implementation of unfettered capitalism in its purest form. With disastrous consequences last experienced in the feudal society of the middle ages. In today's times, it would propel the already large wealth gap between "haves and have nots" to extreme levels.

Here we go again ..... blame the victim.

BS on Steroids - get your brain checked

Can only speak for Phuket regarding "to improve driving safety". Live here since 2017 and drive a 530cc Scooter on a daily basis - 55'000km to be exact accident free. As a novel idea I propose the RTP actually be present on the road and enforcing traffic rules. Apart from the very few Checkpoints known to everybody, collecting money from tourists, the whole force is nowhere to be seen, neither day or night. Result: Wild West, mayhem and carnage 24/7. Culminating in cement trucks occupying both lanes in my rear mirror and closing in on the same road (Viset Rd Rawai) where the accident happened while I drive at 100km/h. TIT

First, the question whether an alcohol/drug test was administered remains unanswered. The other questions were answered by the statement, the Russian lady reportedly resumed her normal life. There is no information whether she has been charged with any driving offence.

It would also be interesting how much you actually receive, if you satisfy the various rules and requirements. I can only speak for Australia and Switzerland, comparing the two countries. Maximum pension p.a. (in US$) Australia single married/partner 18'000 27'300 Switzerland 33'000 49'500 Primary eligibility criteria: Should your net assets (excl. your home) exceed US$192'000 (single), US$286'000 (married/partner), your pension starts reducing with every $ above those values. It is called the "asset test". Switzerland's requires one's contribution to the pension scheme for a consecutive 44 years. Note: you can contribute a stated minimum amount while living abroad to fulfill this requirement. Switzerland's pension is paid to wherever you live and indexed. No asset test applies, everybody gets it. Australia does not pay a pension for people living abroad

Carpet bombing Gaza followed by an invasion to 'exterminate' Hamas with rather high and inevitable 'collateral damage' is the best reward for Terrorists. Why? It virtually guarantees a steady and growing supply of new recruits for generations to come. Want proof? Look no further than America's attempt and eventual success in achieving the stated goal of 'eliminating Al-Qaeda'. And everybody lived happily thereafter if it were not for ISIS and other Terrorist organisations filling the vacuum with no shortage of new recruits and fanatic disciples filling their ranks.

Just a guess based on the fact he drove a run-of-the-mill scooter. No or not enough Tea-money for the ubiquitous pick-up truck.

So be it. You seem to be comfortable with the notion of eradicating the whole population in order to achieve the goal of eradicating Hamas. It's called Genocide, the most serious war crime.

The archetypical black and white thinking on display. Inciting wholesale violence and hatred. Have you ever wasted a thought what 'eliminating Hamas' means in practical terms? Dropping 6000 bombs and counting, telling over a million people to leave to the south, order hospitals to close and transport all patients to the South, presumably on stretchers with hundreds of ambulances lining up outside ..... creates fertile ground for the recruitment of future members of Hamas, driven by unimaginable hatred towards the people inflicting misery and death on their loved ones. It plays right into the hands of Hamas - the subhuman vermins and their leaders responsible for the indiscriminate brutal mass murder of 1300 Israeli children, women and men. The current course of action will never achieve the 'elimination of Hamas', only strengthen their base. I wholeheartedly agree that Hamas and other Terrorist Organisations need to be eliminated. But there is only one option to achieve this aim - take away their power base and support from within the population.

Let me sum it up - plain common sense or in your case a complete lack thereof.

Finally you answered my Yes or No question (re: whether or not a 50 year jail sentence for using a government vehicle for private purposes is harsh and unreasonable)............. After several more posts of uttering gobbledigook desperately trying to justify the unjustifiable.

Ok - so 50 years can be regarded as unreasonable and "way over the top", to put it mildly.

A core principle of criminal justice - Let the punishment fit the crime. Question for you: Did the judges in this particular case follow the above principle? A simple yes or no will suffice. Thank you