jackspratt

In fact, if you bother to read the Convention, it has no application under the current circumstances existing in Thailand.

Firstly, it applies to parties in an armed conflict ie war.

Secondly, it applies where two or more parties (ie states, not political movements within a state) are involved.

The full Article 18 reads:

Art. 18. Civilian hospitals organized to give care to the wounded and sick, the infirm and maternity cases, may in no circumstances be the object of attack but shall at all times be respected and protected by the Parties to the conflict.

States which are Parties to a conflict shall provide all civilian hospitals with certificates showing that they are civilian hospitals and that the buildings which they occupy are not used for any purpose which would deprive these hospitals of protection in accordance with Article 19.

Civilian hospitals shall be marked by means of the emblem provided for in Article 38 of the Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field of 12 August 1949, but only if so authorized by the State.

The Parties to the conflict shall, in so far as military considerations permit, take the necessary steps to make the distinctive emblems indicating civilian hospitals clearly visible to the enemy land, air and naval forces in order to obviate the possibility of any hostile action.

In view of the dangers to which hospitals may be exposed by being close to military objectives, it is recommended that such hospitals be situated as far as possible from such objectives.

Let's keep some perspective folks.

Why are you (or anyone else) bothering with these crap O-A visas?

As you seem to have plenty of the folding stuff, why not just put the minimum necessary in an ordinary Thai bank savings account (I guess it's still 800k like most other retired expats who use the bank deposit scheme) and couple that with an ordinary Non-Imm O visa from Penang or back in USA? Seems much easier than keeping over 2.5M baht in your various bank accounts and still getting the stiff-arm from the immigration folks. [As an aside, the fact that you even had that much money to begin with probably pisses off the lowly paid civil servants at immigration to no end and they either figure by making it difficult for you will earn them a "donation" to make it all go smoothly or they just want to give you a hard time because you've got so much more money than they do.]

Of course, the other super easy way is to just get the pension letter from the US Embassy in Bangkok (about B1000) and use that (along with a few hundred thousand baht in a local bank) to extend your "retirement" visa

Maybe because they work for some people. Just because they may not suit your circumstances doesn't mean they are not a good alternative for others.

The OP's problem has nothing to do with his original OA visa - which has been pointed out, expired several years ago. His problem is to do with the inexplicable thinking of the IO in Samui when processing his extension.

I am surprised Maj Gen Khattiya hasn't been subject to a high powered round between the eyes.

As a warrior, I am sure he would understand.

Count your blessings.

I treated myself to a Garnim (from the guy in Pattaya) for Christmas... I have used it around our little area (Kalasin) and considered it mostly a "Big Boy Toy"....

Took my first long trip last week when I drove from Kalasin to Pattaya, and all I can say is "Thank You Santa".... Worked Great, made the trip very easy, even when I did not listen to it and took a couple of wrong turns, it / she got me right back on track and without calling me an "Idiot" or giving me "That Look" that the Thai wife always uses...

Pianoman

I would be wary about buying Garmin units from a private seller in Pattaya, if you are expecting "new" as he advertises.

http://classifieds.thaivisa.com/automotive...-new-47458.html

I recently installed some updated maps on such a unit, which my friend had bought as "imported new from UK".

While I was looking around the files on the unit, a discovered a .csv file which had recorded the unit as travelling about 8,000km around Europe over a period of 3 or 4 weeks before it ever arrived in Thailand.

Caveat emptor.

Reminds me of the discussion I had a few years ago with a guy in Oz - the subject was automatic transmissions, and driving in the country (ie outside the metro areas).

Him: Auto is dangerous, because you will relax and not focus on your driving. With a manual, you are changing gears, and must therefore stay alert.

Me: When driving on long, open roads, how often do you change gears?

Driving from Cha Am to Bangkok, and then from Bangkok to Udon along Highway 2 a week ago, it occurred to me (not for the first time) how it would make driving so much easier with cruise control (which I used extensively in Australia).

As Spoonman rightfully says, it is instantly off with a tap on the brakes.

The issue is not the legality - it is his non existent mandate.

Using UK - Tony Blair had been "removed or whatever, it would have been acceptable for another member of his party to take over.

however if the Tories had made an impromptu alliance with the Lib Dems - resulting in a Tory PM - it would have raised a lot of problems - as it has in Thailand.

THis is further complicated in Thailand by the apparent ease with which they can "dissolve" - legally - political parties.

the normal procedure in this hypothetical situation UK if the Labour Party could not have formed a govt., would be to go back to the poles.

North or South Pole?

This then begs the question, under the rules of the constitutional monarchy, what is the official role of the military? I had always assumed that protection of the monarchy, who is the head of state, would be one such responsibility, though I don't know for sure.

I would speculate that the current position vis a vis the army and the palace suits both parties' interests. Perhaps this is an area that is worthy of further debate as (hopefully) Thailand grows up politically.

I detect a sense of disappointment amongst the Maoist/Trotskyite red supporters (you know who you are) that this situation now has a chance of working out peacefully. A minor detail here, a legality there become important - whereas previously legalities were to be brushed aside as inconveniences.

Don't think of it as a loss for your massive egos - rather, (hopefully) a win for Thailand.

I am not a violent man.

Change need not be violent.

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

Thomas Jefferson

Is this the slave-owning Thomas Jefferson we read about in the history books?

Based on current Red rhetoric, that would seem to make him a yellow shirt.

Well done Tom.

You call it a nice deflection, but you are the one avoiding the point.And we still have to hear your views on Dr Tui.I don't suppose we ever will.

First point.His views are on the record, and easily researched.Why are you asking me why I dislike the man? Is it ignorance or do you share his views?

Second point.I agree that he can travel where he likes but if he openly peddles his racist, reactionary and hysterical views I shouldn't lose very much sleep if someone in righteous anger threw something pungent in his direction.

But he can't, can he?

Khon Kaen was not an aberration when it comes to the reds trying to suppress free speech in Issan.

That is why hopes for free, fair and open elections up here are just a pipe dream.

One wonders what has happened in the case of Mr Ingram and Ms Li, who so eloquently pleaded their innocence of shoplifting, even if the face of quite damning video evidence from the King Power store from whence they stole the Givenchy wallet.

When last heard of, they were going to sue the pants off King Power (aided and abetted by the English press, and a local blogger).

Does anyone have an update?

Another day and still not "retaken it" yet as he said he would.

I can feel your frustration - no martyrs, no red cannon fodder, no appealing to the international stage.

This guy will be around for a long time after you cease pounding out your mindless, trollish drivel.

It was VERY stupid to attack a hospital... let's be honest - but to evacuate is pure 'theater' and politically motivated - no doubt - but who's brainwave was it to attck n the first place? here's a gun - now's where's my foot?

You probably can't see them because they have been in plaster for many weeks now.

Does your orthopedic surgeon (or your psychologist for that matter), give you any hope?

I have just completed a return trip (Udon - Cha Am) which took me through on complex routes through parts of Bangkok 3 times.

Without the aid of my nuvi 260 + Thailand maps (TSM 10.1 and SE Asia 4.5) I would have been completely stuffed.

As it turned out, the directions given were faultless, making the trips (aside from the bl00dy traffic) very easy.

I have now renamed my nuvi as Mia Noi

LOL

So what did he do ?

Kill patients ?

Beat up nurses ?

Make people die through lack of treatment ?

They did nothing.

The hospital can run as normal last night and today but IT DECIDES NOT TO, have they been "paid off" to put on a media circus show and play to the TV and other YELLOW media for the "mass propaganda".

More propaganda, just like Silom BTS attack and the claims of Suthep and the Yellow shirts and Yellow newspapers after that happened.

Pure BS.

So you are saying the invasion of a hospital is OK? Under any circumstances?

You have been completely brainwashed.

Your post implies an important condition precedent ie there is a brain to wash.

Landof the free....pretty simple really....a lot of the world's quality media don't have any axe to grind, so they tend to be less biased....in most of the world, when a military coup takes place, deposes a popular elected leader, writes a constitution and makes it a crime punishable by 20 years in prison to criticize the constitution...then the world media views that constitution with a bit of suspicion...

Then when a group of armed (I saw the arms with my own eyes) paid (500Baht a day rent a thug) yellow shirts come out and close the airport and a new government is appointed by shadowy figures behind scenes who fund the yellow shirts, then, forgive their suspicion, but savvy reporters tend not to believe every shred of propaganda and outright lie that comes out of their yellow mouths...

If Thaksin was corrupt then he should have been dealt with as prescribed by the constitution ie in a court of law...he wasn't he was deposed in a military coup...however you look at it, this is undemocratic...so they question the legitimacy of the present incumbent

I have googled this assertion, and have been unsuccessful in getting a result.

Perhaps you would be good enough to pinpoint the particular clause you refer to.

Already posted.

Gordon Brown has never ducked out of taking part in a General Election the way that Abhisit did in 2006 in the full knowledge that it would shatter the democratic system and allow a military coup to take place.

In his heart of hearts Gordon Brown knows that he is likely to lose at the General Election, but that didn't stop him calling an election and allowing the people decide. Abhisit on the other hand clings to power from within his military bunker and refuses the opportunity to negotiate when offered to him by the reds. Abhisit prefers to slaughter people.

That's the difference between Gordon Brown and Eton-educated Abhisit.

Is this the election that Brown was constitutionally required to call prior to the end of the current Parliament on 10 May, and have the election on or by 3 June?

Based on your "rationale" Aphisit should wait until October 2011 before he calls an election.

Oh! but wait - he has offered to call it nearly 12 months earlier.

It seems you prefer to slaughter logic.

It's the luck of the draw.

Most certainly so....but I have a cunning plan if ever stopped, blame Mrs Soutpeel, see if she can deal with it Thai on Thai...quite ironic as Mrs Soutpeel doesnt drink...

She would probably change her mind if she tried a good WA red.

I have driven from near Udon Thani to Cha Am today, via Highway 2.

If a few buses of police were held up in Udon, it is not going to make much difference. We passed probably 50-70 full police mini-buses, together with about 6 large black police trucks in a several different convoys between Korat and Saraburi.

In addition, we went through probably 4 large police road blocks where all pickups with more than a couple of adults in the back (red shirts or not) were being searched, plus vehicle and drivers licence details being taken, and being input to some form of electronic device about the size of 2 iPhones. The road blocks were a mixture of police and army. In addition to the road blocks, in 3 or 4 places between Udon and Korat the road had been narrowed to a single lane, and army guys were noting and taking details of all "likely" vehicles which went past (without any search).

There was also a large red shirt road block just south of where the Kumpuwapi road comes out on Highway 2, but nothing after that.

Did not see any easily identifiable red shirts in vehicles heading south, but did pass two vehicles returning home with red shirts between Kumpuwapi and Nong Han.

With a farang driving the car, we were waved through on each occasion - easily the most hassle free drive south I have had in 3 years.

An update.

This morning I drove from Cha Am back to Bangkok, to get a visa (for a 3rd country).

Along the way we passed a convoy of 50+ white Toyota mini buses, all full of (I assume) police. Also in the convoy were about 6 large black police trucks, and a few of the normal brown and white pickups.

After enduring the horrors of Bangkok traffic (thank god for GPS), we drove south again to Cha Am. At about 1pm, 20 - 30km out of Bangkok (south west) there was a red shirt road block - set up, at all places, alongside one of those Highway Police offices built in the middle of the highway.

Unfortunately (for the red shirts) the stable door was left open in the morning, and the brown horse had well and truly bolted.

I have driven from near Udon Thani to Cha Am today, via Highway 2.

If a few buses of police were held up in Udon, it is not going to make much difference. We passed probably 50-70 full police mini-buses, together with about 6 large black police trucks in a several different convoys between Korat and Saraburi.

In addition, we went through probably 4 large police road blocks where all pickups with more than a couple of adults in the back (red shirts or not) were being searched, plus vehicle and drivers licence details being taken, and being input to some form of electronic device about the size of 2 iPhones. The road blocks were a mixture of police and army. In addition to the road blocks, in 3 or 4 places between Udon and Korat the road had been narrowed to a single lane, and army guys were noting and taking details of all "likely" vehicles which went past (without any search).

There was also a large red shirt road block just south of where the Kumpuwapi road comes out on Highway 2, but nothing after that.

Did not see any easily identifiable red shirts in vehicles heading south, but did pass two vehicles returning home with red shirts between Kumpuwapi and Nong Han.

With a farang driving the car, we were waved through on each occasion - easily the most hassle free drive south I have had in 3 years.

Can we now anticipate the whingers from pages 1 & 2 to come forth with more nonsense on this issue?

Or against all expectations, some of them may consider retracting their ill-considered remarks.

The vast majority of people sleeping at the airport are stranded and desperate to leave Thailad because their scheduled flights were cancelled by volcanic dust and they were supposed to return to their jobs after a scheduled vacation.

They're not at the airport because they're fleeing "Red Shirt Mayhem".

The thread title is duplicitous.

Given that it accurately reflects the headline in the online "newspaper" from whence it is taken, how can it be duplicitous?

I gotta say (not wishing to come between the star crossed lovers) that the size of the tank is fairly germane to the OP's question.

And no, I am not from the UK.