Orac

This matter is not the sole prerogative of Thai political figures you know . Check the links below before you all become so self righteous.

With power comes money or is it a case of with money comes power?

Political figures the world over are all the same.

.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_richest_American_politicians

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/09/12/richest-politicians-brita_n_3900819.html

I don't think the issue is so much that you get wealthy politician all over the world but more that there is normally some indication of why they are wealthy in the first place.

Doesn't make much sense unless there is some problem with the previously done tests. The profile isn't going to change no matter how 'unfair' the taking of the sample was - sounds more like the prosecutors are not happy with the records/details of the first tests which is why they are saying the case is not complete yet.

"This measure is suspicious. We want the government to check rubber stocks to see if the 210-billion tonnes of rubber kept in storage earlier is still intact. "

What is suspicious is that, even in Thailand, there is anyone gullible enough to believe in the existence of 210 billion tonnes of rubber. Would probably take a warehouse the size of Thailand to keep it in.

A couple of badly thought out suggestions together with a load of ridiculous waffle and silly analogies.

If ministers are named before elections does this mean they can't be changed afterwards. What if the don't perform, are impeached, resign or die - do we have to have a new election?

As the article does acknowledge, it would effectively destroy small parties and coalition government since small parties would not be able to have ministers. Small parties would end up merging into larger parties and become factions inside them - Sound familiar??

With regards to parties making clear how they are going to finance their promises then when not get the press to do their job properly and provide the scrutiny needed.

..which makes up more than a fifth of the economy..

Over the years I have been here this figure has varied massively. This is closer to my personal, gut, feeling on the matter (15-25%). The way that tourism issues make headline news here always put it above everything I had seen quoted before. Add in another couple of rice messes (poor harvests due to poor irrigation leading to drought or flooding) and this will move up closer to 40%. That same flooding issue will also put off new investment in manufacturing here too and they could see this heading closer to 50-60%. We all know that the car companies were spooked by the flooding in 2011 and everything was "made up" with an poorly thought out "first car" scheme that was rapidly put in place like a band-aid at the time.

Every single threat that is observed is met with scant regard around here. Proper flood defences? An idea that was never fully implemented but was always fundamentally flawed and focussed on solving the issue with further development rather than the promotion of selective planting, etc to make the ground hold more water. National infrastructure underinvestment (or the consequence of graft) is destroying this country. For each bloated political pocket there is another less efficient part of this country. These are noticed by the international customers that bring the money into the country. 2 more floods affecting the trade parks or another decade without serious investment in a national infrastructure project and it will be game over.

Myanmar should be ready to pounce by then.

You make good points there which lead to a bigger issue. My concern would be that tourism figures can be looked at as a warning of far deeper problems in that foreigners are rapidly losing confidence in Thailand and this is just the first real indicator since it can react quicker to changes.

Though many would choose to deny it given the nationalistic attitudes that abound, Thailand is very much dependent on foreigners. Be it tourism, foreign direct investment and the markets these foreign controlled factories supply, or the many countries that buy Thailand's agricultural products such as rice, rubber and sugar.

I hope I am wrong but feel a terrible sense of foreboding that we are just seeing the tip of a far bigger iceberg in these figures.

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The Koh Tao murders have cast a harsh spotlight on the safety of tourism in Thailand which is hugely reliant, like most things, on peoples perceptions. What it has exposed is the lack of care and general relaxed attitude the authorities and others involved in tourism here have towards the safety of foreign visitors. Every incident now is being picked up by the foreign press and, where before it would have had little impact, is now being seen as part of a larger picture be it the recent ferry accident or the tiger mauling in Phuket which is in the uk press today.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/thailand/11179252/Tiger-mauls-tourist-in-Phuket-tiger-park.html

I agree with the majority of what you write, but for the latter. One has to be a complete moron to even think of petting a tiger at a zoo - end of!

Too true! The problem is that it is allowed to happen and that the people running such 'attractions' believe they can evade their responsibility by getting tourists to sign some sort of waiver. There will always be people stupid enough to do such things and part of it is down to the naive assumption that , like most developed countries, it wouldn't be allowed if it were unsafe.

Another black mark for Thailands tourist industry

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/thailand/11179252/Tiger-mauls-tourist-in-Phuket-tiger-park.html

Current legislation going through gives exclusions for education, religion and 'public interest' apparently.

http://prachatai.org/english/node/4430?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+prachataienglish+%28Prachatai+in+English%29

There's something I don't get about "3rd gender." Don't most transgender people believe that they are the opposite gender of the body they are trapped in? For example, a man who feels he is really a woman, born into the wrong body. I don't think such people believe they are a 3rd gender, they believe they are one of the two genders.

I'm not questioning the fluidity of gender, or saying that you gotta be a boy or a girl, but that most transgendered folks don't want to be a 3rd gender, they want to be accepted as male or female.

Based on that the article makes little sense as it firstly argues that transgenders need more rights then goes on to say that women have less rights than men.

Apart from a fairly basic conformation of sexual discrimination rules i am not sure how much further they can go with legislation since the issue is more of a societal recognition issue than a legal one. The very act of trying to write laws that specifically cover transgenders is both counterproductive to an equality argument not to mention extremely difficult as they would struggle to get over the first hurdle, as an earlier poster pointed out, by having to legal define what transgender is in the first place.

"discrimination based on gender and gender identity is a crime"

Strangely that was neither difficult nor did it require a definition.

Though on the face of it, it could be that simple it opens up other complications by effectively making gender an optional choice rather than a biological condition. The obvious one being should someone be allowed to marry someone based on their gender identity which effectively legalises same sex marriage - not something I am against but something that must be taken into consideration.

Gender identity is different than sexual orientation. That being said what is the issue of same - sex marriage in a Buddhist culture?

As i said, personally i have no issue with same sex marriage. The effect such legislation might have in relation to Buddhist culture though is another interesting area given sex discrimination there is basically enshrined. I would be interested to know if the argument has come up before, as i am sure it must have done, regarding the rights of females/transgenders to be ordained as monks.

There's something I don't get about "3rd gender." Don't most transgender people believe that they are the opposite gender of the body they are trapped in? For example, a man who feels he is really a woman, born into the wrong body. I don't think such people believe they are a 3rd gender, they believe they are one of the two genders.

I'm not questioning the fluidity of gender, or saying that you gotta be a boy or a girl, but that most transgendered folks don't want to be a 3rd gender, they want to be accepted as male or female.

Based on that the article makes little sense as it firstly argues that transgenders need more rights then goes on to say that women have less rights than men.

Apart from a fairly basic conformation of sexual discrimination rules i am not sure how much further they can go with legislation since the issue is more of a societal recognition issue than a legal one. The very act of trying to write laws that specifically cover transgenders is both counterproductive to an equality argument not to mention extremely difficult as they would struggle to get over the first hurdle, as an earlier poster pointed out, by having to legal define what transgender is in the first place.

"discrimination based on gender and gender identity is a crime"

Strangely that was neither difficult nor did it require a definition.

Though on the face of it, it could be that simple it opens up other complications by effectively making gender an optional choice rather than a biological condition. The obvious one being should someone be allowed to marry someone based on their gender identity which effectively legalises same sex marriage - not something I am against but something that must be taken into consideration.

There's something I don't get about "3rd gender." Don't most transgender people believe that they are the opposite gender of the body they are trapped in? For example, a man who feels he is really a woman, born into the wrong body. I don't think such people believe they are a 3rd gender, they believe they are one of the two genders.

I'm not questioning the fluidity of gender, or saying that you gotta be a boy or a girl, but that most transgendered folks don't want to be a 3rd gender, they want to be accepted as male or female.

Based on that the article makes little sense as it firstly argues that transgenders need more rights then goes on to say that women have less rights than men.

Apart from a fairly basic conformation of sexual discrimination rules i am not sure how much further they can go with legislation since the issue is more of a societal recognition issue than a legal one. The very act of trying to write laws that specifically cover transgenders is both counterproductive to an equality argument not to mention extremely difficult as they would struggle to get over the first hurdle, as an earlier poster pointed out, by having to legal define what transgender is in the first place.

Most Thai's even don't know where Mars is.

Most Thais don't even know where Europe is.

I would be impressed if they could just show me where Thailand is on a map let alone somewhere as insignificant as Europe.

Dear oh dear, and these pea brains actually listen to this nutter. David Icke would be a made man over here!

Not only listen to him but actually voted him into parliament previously apparently.

Thailand is a Buddhist country. These aliens should be converted if they want to be Thai people.

I thought the problem was that some of them didn't want to be 'Thai people'. Also your acknowledgement that they are not 'Thai people' pretty much makes their case for some form of independence.

Thai media is also mindful of draconian defamation laws and how reporting certain issues, naming names etc can be injurious to LIFE and limb.

I somehow don't think that giving the media some sort of protection from defamation laws is quite the sort of reform they are aiming for with this poll which has a faint whiff of 'political' manipulation about it.

Only corporations and politicians? Did Channel 5 not get a mention or was it quietly brushed under the carpet?

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No conformation from Prayuth that he is allowing UK police to investigate....

@Thai_Talk: MT @WassanaNanuam PM says UK PM asked to take care of Koh Tao case; UK PM asked 20 Qs; he could answer all 20, to satisfaction of UK PM.1/2

@Thai_Talk: TR @WassanaNanuam 2/2 [Gen Prayut]:... [uK PM] asked not to let it [Koh Tao murders] happen again; said Brits like to travel to Thailand.

Has anyone seen any photos of this meeting between Prayuth and Cameron. The general is desperate for international recognition at this Milan get together with loads of pics with him and the usual suspects from SE Asia. That he has had a meeting with a G7 leader yet no photos have been released speaks volumes.

Simle answer to that. it was a phone call or behind closed doors

It was face to face according to the OP. Also no mention of this in the Thai press that i can see though obviously details have been given from the UK side.

I would think this is a ratchet up of pressure from the UK side after the Thai govt basically denied that their top diplomat in London was summoned. I would be fairly confident that the Thai PM did not instigate this meeting, especially given the lack of reporting on the Thai side - basically an "Oi - i want to talk to you" from the UK PM.

Will be interesting to see what happens next.

Has anyone seen any photos of this meeting between Prayuth and Cameron. The general is desperate for international recognition at this Milan get together with loads of pics with him and the usual suspects from SE Asia. That he has had a meeting with a G7 leader yet no photos have been released speaks volumes.

That's not even an Apple phone so I doubt that she will get much joy from Apple Singapore.

If he/she had been given the iphone back there probably wouldn't have been a problem.

Would be useful to see pictures of the two guys concerned along with the passport photo.