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This is another in what has become a long string of actions by this government to encourage foreigners to leave. Visas are more difficult, working permits are more carefully monitored, fees have gone up, and so on. It seems to me to be a fairly clear attempt to minimize interference to this governments increasingly strong-armed political operations. They have only to learn from the neighbors to the east, north and west, that one way to deal with 'meddlesome' foreigners and all their shouting about justice, democracy and human rights, is to just rid the country of them.

The idea that Thailand is a Democracy has always been laughable, but now any pretense is gone. This current government ignored the constitution (as it stood), took over the government by force, outlawed the opposition, outlawed media that prints unflattering portraits, and forbids public assembly of opposition groups. Sounds to me like the classic pattern of totalitarian regimes everywhere. When are those elections coming? Ha.

As for investment, they have clearly thrown their lot in with the Chinese and not the west. I suppose I don't blame them. The U. S. is not going to defend Thailand or even look out for its interests. America is waist deep in its own problems and in any case, always looks toward Europe rather than Asia. They will regret that, but try to tell that to anyone in America.

Is Thailand still advertising itself as a democracy? What a joke. But the idea that the cronies who run Thailand have anything to do with democratic rule has always been laughable.

Undecided on whether the couple are guilty or not, but don't believe King Power (as in the company) to be a part of the subsequent extortion attempts by the police.

This year has given Abhisit plenty of reasons for complete police reform from the top down. As much as it's a daunting task it's starting to cost Thailand dearly.

This is hilarious. How do you think Abhisit got his job? The decades old entrenched interests of Bangkok (not even Thailand) are back at the controls. They stole the government right out from under the noses of the people. Declared themselves in charge (they certainly weren't elected), spit on the constitution and re-established the old power structure which means virtually all the illegal activity in Thailand is either under the control of the police or the army.

That acts of public extortion have become a commonplace right in the airport is a measure of how secure they feel.

You may not like Thaksin, but he's like a day at the beach compared to these thieves.

What is particularly ironic is that many (most?) of the graduates of Thai business schools study marketing. Does the concept of 'know your customer' have any meaning to these folks at all. What this really demonstrates is how little the management of Thai Tourism understands it's customers. I guess they have their jobs because of who they know and competence doesn't enter into it.

Obviously....

#1 drug = Tobacco

#2 drug = Alcohol

#3 drug = Cannabis

This kind of sentence makes no sense at all, when governments allow the sale of cigarettes and alcohol which takes far many more lives than soft drugs like dope. Heroin is another matter; but the death sentence?? A good long jail term is punishment enough... and hanging!? I couldn't think of a more barbarous and inhumane way of ending someones life.

#3 are prescription drugs.

Taksin, the big lair

On BBC, He denied to be a person behind the protesting

BBC : Are you the man behind what we are seeing ? Are you orchestrating…. almost daily contact with your video links to your supporters?

Thaksin: yes ….no I would like to give them moral support …. I never I never I never instigating them… I want them to fight to get true democracy………….The poor cannot get help … .during my administration………..the poor feel like you know the democracy really mean to them

BBC : You're keep talking about democracy but this is the democratically elected government and these protesters are simply try to force out of the government thru their ways on the street and that is not democracy.

Thaksin: No no no they are really just protest ……if you look at the way the government come to power…. they form the government in the military barrack…..by the help of the army commander and also the privy councilors……

BBC : Would you like to return to the country, would you like to lead the country again? Is that what behind this?

Thaksin : No No No It is not really behind…. If I were to go back to the country… It should be for the good of the country………I am now happy outside…. I am not care going back or not…….but I am worry about the poor..I worry about the middle class people ..they need opportunities….. It should be democracy for all….

BBC : You of course were found guilty of corruption charges, would you consider going back try to clear your name?

Thaksin : No , I can clear my name easily…..I 've done nothing wrong…

The government in power is not there as the result of any election. Thaksin backers won both of the free elections that were held and the winning parties were disbanded by the courts (who support the power elite of Bangkok) for buying votes (as though everyone didn't do that). Their PM kicked out for appearing on a cooking show. Come on, who's shitting who here....

The government in power now is an illegal government according to the Thai constitution. The people currently in power don't want elections. They want legislators 'appointed' (by whom?); that's not democracy. If another election were held, the Thaksin supporters would win again. So in the interest of maintaining 'peace and order' the fascists ride again. The army is mobilized and shots are fired. Will these generals go groveling in front of the king? Is that the price to be paid for maintaing the stranglehold on power?

The benchmark incident for nightclub fires was the Cocoanut Grove fire in 1942, in Boston, Mass. USA when nearly 500 people were killed. Flammable decorations, inadequate warning system and exit doors that opened inward were the proximate causes of all those deaths.

Surely this incident is known to fire departments throughout the world and my guess (I have no first hand knowledge) is that Thailand has laws on the books requiring safe operating rules. But these were subverted. But this is in no way unique to Thailand. Even in the U. S. where the tragedy occurred and the laws are on the books, it has happened over and over. There was the Beverly Hills Nightclub Fire in Kentucky in which 165 persons were killed. The law required a sprinkler system and fire alarms, but neither was present.

IN 2003 in the U. S. in Rhode Island an illegal pyrotechnic display caused a fire in which 100 people died. Trampling at the exits, flammable decorative material and lack of a legally required sprinkler system were the proximate causes of those deaths. This tragedy took place less than 100 miles from Boston, the scene of the aforementioned cocoanut grove fire.

Those skeptics who have written of laxity in Thai standards should do more than just demean Thai efforts at improvement. The problem of illegal and unsafe buildings is obviously not unique to Thailand, nor, as the above cases show, is there anything peculiarly Thai about subverting the safety regulations. Rather than use the tragedy as another opportunity to dump on the Thai government, why not do something useful?

When you see an unsafe condition, report it. If you are in a club or department store or any public place that has inadequate fire preparedness, make it your business to call it to the attention of the authorities and insist that they do their job and put it right. Don't stop complaining until the situation is remedied. Involve the media, involve local government officials and neighborhood groups. This tragedy could be the impetus of a major improvement in the public safety.

Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Very sad since such devastating loss of life is 100% avoidable.

To say that Thai people don't know how to have safe place (as some have) is ludicrous. Of course they know.

The steps necessary to have a safe nightclub were spelled out after the tragic Cocanut Grove fire in Boston, Mass., USA in which 492 people died, the worst nightclub fire in U.S. history. It is because of the laws that were created after that fire that there have not been other such tragedies. I'm sure Thailand has such laws on the books.

Adequate outward-opening exits, clearly marked battery operated exit signs, no flammable materials in construction or decorations...these are just a few of the routine steps taken throughout the world to ensure safety. But these laws must be enforced.

I think therein lies the problem in Thailand and many other countries. Nightclub owners pay the police or building inspectors to 'look the other way' and the venues become firetraps. Anyone who has been to MBK shopping center in Bangkok can imagine the horror if there were a serious fire there...hundreds would die. Why isn't something done?

Because the government doesn't protect the people, it just fills its treasure boxes. When people insist on a government that does its duty, the nightclubs will be safe. Who will go to jail because of this tragedy on Ekamai?

Everyone's hearts go out to the victims and their families. They are only guilty of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It is particularly sad since the loss is so unnecessary.

Can anyone tell me where the good used English language bookstores are in Bangkok? I just moved to Ranu Nakhon and I need a library desperately! I'll be in BKK next week and want to take an empty suitcase down with me to fill with books, something a bit meatier than Tom Clancy and John Grisham. Thanks!

Dasa Book Cafe. On Sukumvit a bit down from Emporium. Large selection and not only English titles; also German and French.