allan michaud

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Live now, don't think of tomorow. Gouvernement I've got a problem, please do something about it.

It worked for the Banksters in 2008. A lot of debt here is due to complete ignorance of even the most basic financial management. I have been astounded by the stupidity of some people I have met here who have lost everything to loan sharks.

The biggest contributor to the sliding reputation of Thailand is the fact that thais can commit any crime against a tourist and get away with it due to the complacency of the police. When will the penny drop ?

Complacency is not the correct term, 'lack of interest' would be more accurate. They could not give a toss what happens to you unless you offer money.

I do think the media paranoia over Ebola is way out of proportion (at the moment), however, the threat this horrible disease poses to nations like Thailand, were it to get here, are truly scary. I for one am glad to see they appear to be taking this very seriously. That is the second intelligent report from authorities in 2 days, what's going on?

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I mean it seriously when I say, this is Thailand, and if it were to be found that it was Ebola in fact, would the truth win out vs the fear of losing tourist dollars. and would there be a delay in making a truthful , informative, disclosure.

I would fully expect a long delay and lots of denials. They already did it with bird flu a decade back and that may well have contributed to the deaths from it back then.

It doesn't take a genius to work out that this was murder, but good if The BIB are investigating it properly this time. Any death so soon after an insurance policy has been taken out should really set alarm bells ringing for any investigator of a competent manner.

The death penalty for these two people wouldn't be a bad thing, considering their confession.

I am amazed at how intelligent and clear the police statement is on this. Why do they seemingly not go to such lengths in other investigations?

I think it has to be the death penalty because violence towards farangs seems to be rising and I feel certain quite a few of the huge number of balcony deaths here are not accidents either. Anything to put people off even considering doing this.

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I've noticed on a thai dating website many girls are wary of scammers. Many profiles say 'no scammers!'

What I don't understand is why some girls are so scared. It's a very easy concept to avoid being scammed. If someone online asks you for money, you just say 'NO'.

i can't help but feel some of these girls believe there are some genuine men on there who will send you iPhones and gold etc for a small release fee. At the end of the day, it's all about 'GREED'. The scammers are bad sure, but many of the people who get scammed are stupid and more importantly 'greedy'.

Many people nowadays (anywhere in the world) think it's their god given right to just have money.

The last sentence should have continued "... without having to work."

I remember my father saying to stories like this. "A fool and his money are soon parted"

All sounds like hot air to me, nothing solid mentioned at all, so I have to assume this is nothing more than a dream right now.

Gotta love Thai reporting. The man was dead, 'suspicious' doesn't come into it.

Let's put some stoner falang on a Buffalo and lead him around. alt=wai2.gif width=20 height=20> alt=wai.gif width=20 height=20> alt=blink.png>

Thus, projecting an illusion of “Foreigner Friendship”.

“The idea for the festival originated in Bangkok tourism business circles”

“Only about 75 people attended the event, far short of the targeted 300.”

“The festival’s cost is estimated at around 200,000 baht”

Right. Another brilliant plan. alt=clap2.gif>

Clueless.

Perhaps, painting the Buffalo with Camouflage would have helped...

There is so little to do up here I would have probably attended... had I known about it.

How did they advertise it? If you want people to attend they have to be aware of it's existence.

I left the place after 40 years and only miss a few things.

You mean Switzerland?

Let me think now... yes, the thread IS about Switzerland....

I was going to ask the same question as it was not at all clear where you left 40 years ago, so no need to be sarcastic. The article IS NOT about Switzerland, it is about where expats are happiest and Switzerland happened to be number 1. The fact the title starts with 'Thailand' meant you could have been referring to leaving Thailand or Switzerland or any other country on the planet.

FYI, in case you didn't get the memo. Tigers and people don't mix well.

unless heavily sedated.

I'd love to know why their appointed lawyer withdrew.

It's only going to get exponentially worse; not better.

We truly are in the last days. Wake up expats!!!

Considering the huge number of 'accidental deaths' here, particularly the old fell off a balcony routine, you would think embassies would try to investigate some of the thousands (it must be in the thousands as the UK had over 350 dead last year (up 31% on the previous year) and the Aussies had well over 100) of deaths here each year.

The title was missing one key word 'could'.

Anyone know what happened to the Thai cure for Ebola they claimed a couple of weeks back?

powder ? whats that used for?

I think in this case that it is just dried MJ ground to powder so it is even more compact. They usually just press the harvest into blocks.

No way this is just THC crystals for hash pressing.

says the expert...

He's no expert.

He doesn't have a clue as to how the stuff is really made.

Depends if you use the Moroccan or Indian method... not that I would know anything about that kind of thing.

I think the correct term is pissing in the wind. Waste of time and money, the Thai's just don't care.

God I love Thailand !! Another murder set free on bail, immediately

to jump bail, disappear for a while, perhaps money paid to the police,

and then the whole case does the gentle classic Thai fade away...

Reminds me of the case where the Thai couple tortured the Burmese

girl. They were given bail, jumped immediately, and to the best of

my knowledge were never heard about again.

This must be a well worn path. Perhaps a month in a wat somewhere,

a name change, and then carefully back to your original life since in

essence the police have no interest whatsoever in actually solving the

case unless a hiso Thai was murdered....

You don't even need to jump bail, even if convicted just appeal against the length of the conviction and stay free. This happened a decade back, Thai guy gets, I think 14 years, doesn't appeal conviction, just the length, tries to get it reduced and is still free 8 years later (2011) not sure if he ever spent time in jail. Farcical.

A great example of Thainess.

I'm really amazed at the reception of this news item - what the hell people - first REAL advancement to the story, and sign that the (social) media and requests/demandmends for transparency have been heard high up, and most of the comments go to Thai bashing and further conspiracy theories of how the case will evolve?

What the hell people... When WILL you be satisfied of the inquiry?

Are you looking for a specific outcome perhaps? Even if the investigators are ONLY allowed access to the evidence at hand, as it's still the only "concrete evidence" holding the case up(, and of which the sentencing will be based on), the processing of such evidence by a third party(the investigators) most certainly will moot a batch of issues already risen.

Sometimes I just don't get what people are after, but I'd like to know what the bashers are expecting of this... alt=rolleyes.gif>

I will accept the 2 Burmese did it if the British police say they are happy with the DNA match, nothing less. So far the General has said different things in the press here. For the summoning of the Thai rep in London, he said the rep went off his own back and was not summoned and today he is quoted as saying the UK Police will simply be observers, playing down any chance of them being allowed to be directly involved in the investigation. I don't see why you are so keen to jump the gun here and convict these kids after all the bull shit that has been spoken by the RTP so far.

To those who yesterday were saying this is great news and the Thai's have regained their 'face'. It seems pretty clear they have no intention of cooperating fully. Just more lies to save face at home.

That is a very slippery slope. How do they plan on defining a troll? Protesters complaining about corporations or governments?

Provincial governors told to look closer into problem of people's debts

BANGKOK, 18 October 2014 (NNT) – Provincial governors have been told to look closer into the plights of people in their provinces, especially into the problem of debts incurred from non-formal loans, after a woman set herself on fire this week upon learning that officials at a government-run help center for the public were unable to help her clear debts worth 1.5 million baht.

According to Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda, about 400 complaints have been submitted to the government's Damrong Tham help centers in the provinces, and 257 of the cases have been solved, leaving 98 outstanding cases. He said non-formal loans are illegal, and the provincial governors and the local police need to come up with measures to address them.

According to M.L. Panadda Diskul, the minister to the Prime Minister's Office, 4,224 complaints about non-formal loans have been lodged with the service center for the public at Government House.

Police General Woraphong Chiewpricha, the deputy commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, said the police force possessed a list of the individuals known to be non-formal lenders. The police are monitoring their behavior, and will make arrests on anyone of the individuals if he/she clearly breaks the law.

-- NNT 2014-10-18

Well I don't see that working as anyone in a position of power (particularly the police) in this country is most likely either connected to, related to or benefiting from many of these loan sharks.

My rating for both David Cameron and General Prayuth Chan-o-cha has just stepped up a notch, very sensible approach by both men - they have done the right thing and IMO Thailand has restored "face"

Lets see how this pans out

You are jumping the gun a bit mate, nothing has happened yet. I will only agree with your sentiments when our (UK) investigators make their final report and we hear that the Thai's have fully cooperated. Only then can you claim that 'face' has been restored.

I hope the General will make a public statement in the Thai media to clarify this, having made disgraceful claims a couple of days back that the Brits had not summoned the Thai rep in London and in fact the Thai rep had simply gone to update them on the situation. That was clearly a bare faced lie.

I am sure they are monitoring them very closely... to make sure they a getting their fair share.

We need a new British Ambassador . . . one with balls.

Oh, and a British Government with balls too.

So far, Mr Kent has been pathetic, and his public strong condemnation of the Thai Govt for deliberately misquoting him badly was heard loud and clear. Not.

Spot on, I am utterly disgusted by his actions and words on this so far, he should be sacked. Maybe someone could start a 2nd online petition calling for his head.