allan michaud

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To be honest with you the fact that the parents even let their own children swim in the Chao Phraya says it all really

Yes indeed, a kid died a couple of weeks back in a drainage ditch near out house in Khon Kaen. Lots of local kids swim in it, (it's disgusting) although looking at them most can't swim. I have explained to my boy the dangers and told him it's stupid beyond belief to swim in that muck. It's as much down to the parents as anyone else.

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"For now the cause of death is being blamed on miscommunication between Monchai and the helicopter crew"

​How would a miscommunication cause him to fall out of a supposedly secure harness?

'Don't hit the harness release button'

'Hit the harness release button'

As a cameraman I have hung out of several helicopters using a harness and I don't understand how this could have happened. Incompetent morons.

The word's "clutching" and "straws" spring to mind.

Outstanding work. I do wonder about these tear gas canisters though. Surely they are only meant to emit gas not physically hurt people? Other than the idiot who might have holding it when he activated it, I don't really understand why people are being injured. Anyone able to explain?

I also wonder if these are the same tear gas canisters that killed several yellow short protesters a few years back?

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He looked at me in a funny sort of way ...so I shot him ....Nice example of Thainess!

Where I come from (UK) it would have been a glass or bottle.

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If that's not unlawful neglect then what is?

That's absolutely horrible. The Thai are so lax when it comes

to safety. Someone should be charged, start with the supervisors

and safety inspectors. alt=bah.gif>

They will only be charged if they are not rich enough to buy off relevant parties. Sorry state of affairs.

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Is the increase in numbers down to more dying at the scene rather than the next day which I believe takes them off the statistics?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

That's the shocking thing, that the actual numbers of dead must be far higher than the already horrific 20,000 per year that is officially reported. I am sure the 1st car policy has helped too, putting lots more drunken idiots on the road for the first time.

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Based on there being around 30,000 deaths on the roads per year, Songkran is actually safer than any other time of the year.

30,000/52 = 576 per week.

It's nearer 20,000 but the average day (55) is still worse than Songkran (53)... so clearly all the extra measures are working

"Police have been criticised for being lenient with Tang, who has posted several photos on Facebook showing him boarding a plane, singing karaoke and dining with a girlfriend."

So the police should arrest him for posting pictures of himself boarding a plane, singing karaoke (I can see why that might be considered offensive) or dining with a girlfriend.

Hmmm.

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Scrap Songkran, save the water for something useful.

If there were no more water left for drinking and Thai people were dying of thirst, Songkran would not be cancelled as it would affect tourism revenues.

Maybe there should be a call for a return to the traditional Buddhist ceremony that I understand it is laughably based on, just a little water is splashed by monks I believe... they could all be issued with government approved giant water pistols too.

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Yes she is right.

Same thing happened 4 years is happening again now and the crims still haven't faced court.

This is what happens when you deny people the right to vote and chose to turn your back on democracy .

How do you think people are going to react when a looney in a park declares himself the peoples medium and wants to set up a sovereign state and everyone must answer to them.

The sooner an election the better otherwise the same mistakes of four years ago will be repeated by both sides

What possible difference will another election make right now? It just puts us all back to square 1 and only delays the inevitable, sweeping reforms. The only way out of this is dialogue and serious reforms of Thailand's political and social scene. I don't think Thailand's 2 extremes are anywhere near talking, do you?

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Exporters.SG website shows Advance Trading 2008 (Thailand) Co., Ltd deals in aluminium scrap. I suppose they are expanding their business.

http://www.exporters.sg/member_profile.asp?co_id=106520#trustprofile

A couple of interesting variants on the name, which all happen to be involved in scrap metal and were also set up in 2008. Advance Trading Co, Ltd http://www.exportersindia.com/advance-trading/ Advance Bangkok Trading Co Ltd http://www.recycleinme.com/rim-johnlee/home.aspx

And with a straight face too.

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I have never known a country that has so many road accidents as Thailand … will they ever learn ?

That is why Thailand is number 2 or 3 in the word for road deaths. And in answer to your question, very doubtful.

...instead, use it for personal gain.

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while politicians should no longer be allowed to make rice policy a populist tool,

That goes for all populist policies.... they should outlawed under the reforms.

This is a classic example of how Thaksin has used a populist policy to gain millions of votes at the expense of the taxpayer, and has cut the throats of the rice farmers for years to come. This industry will collapse in September when the new crop comes in.... you just watch this space.

The house of cards is about to collapse in extraordinary fashion.

Define populist. Outlaw populist things. Free school uniforms? Child tax benefit? Populist is a silly word like social. It stigmatises without thinking.

Dito.

A few sensible comments but also more dumb ones. Why seek to control regional prices (as did Thaksin with the current scam) it's not going to work?

Thailand's rice farming techniques are clearly inferior to most other rice producing countries. Thailand's 2.6 tonnes per hectare is dramatically lower than Vietnam's 6 tonnes, China's 6.5 tonnes (China has the current record of 14.8) and below Cambodia's 2.8 tonnes, so maybe they should be talking AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. It seems realistic that they should be able to increase productivity to nearer 4 tons in just a few years, with soil remediation and the intelligent use of man made fertilisers.

A quick look at fertiliser stats was interesting http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.CON.FERT.ZS/countries I noted Thailand's consumption continues to rise dramatically while Vietnam (noted for its massive use of chemicals) has reduced it's consumption equally dramatically. That would seem to indicate that the Vietnamese are now understanding that you cannot simply throw ever more chemicals at crops and are cleaning up their act... while Thailand is simply continuing to make the mistakes others have already made.

STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES!

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Just hope the yellows don't provoke then or it could get nasty. Nice to see that Chalerm has assigned a detail to protect Sutheps residence now say thank you by keeping your people away from the reds.

Yes, The Reds Shirts ND Chalerm have a track record of peace, honesty and law and order. Back to history lessons for you.

The reds have a history of violence so I think you should be the one going back to history lessons.

I think you will find mr toad was being sarcastic.

"Meanwhile caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said... pass the Chivas"

Woo Hoo! Go Thailand, into the top 10... oh! wait! errrrm!

Still got a way to go to challenge the global top 3 placings in both "Road deaths" and "Gun related deaths".

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Why do people assume these are Japanese bombs, the Allies bombed Bangkok on a number of occasions during WW2. It would be funny if the Thai news sources gave the reasons as to why that might have been the case though.

They must be British or American bombs as the Thai's never fought the Japanese, they allowed them to invade.

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Caption Competition time

"Pass me that hammer Somchai"...

"Should get a few baht for this one...where's that scrapyard again?"

"No, I'm telling you, it's a giant 'ammer 'ead mate. Werff a small fortune that is" To be read with a cockney accent.