realfunster

Looks like a plan to me ! An indirect admission, if it were needed, that they have been having some ‘issues’ with Chinese visitors.

Having watched a few murder documentaries, I can't recall anyone ever going on about the almond smell as a major issue when doing the dirty deed with cyanide and I definitely don't recall anyone running around with bags of almonds as their death delivery system. I think it much more likely she simply added/sprayed or poured some cyanide into something the victim ingested. I could imagine given the relatively pungent tastes and aromas in most Thai food- quite easily done. I have even heard of cases where a spray or spill of cyanide concentrate to skin/face/clothing can lead to death.

Not disagreeing but the video doesn't show that, doesn't look like much to me at all... . The OP photo does show a bit more of a dynamic situation but you will note that is sourced as "Google" and totally unrelated to this incident- from what I can tell. It's almost as if the foreign oriented press here in Thailand know what topics are going to get a reaction and try to manufacture something along those lines to generate traffic

Well, it will be interesting to see it play out. Let's hope it doesn't end up in farce or worse, violence. The opposition parties will need to get a very clear majority and mandate to give themselves a strong bargaining position in forming a government and selecting a PM. From a practical perspective the current incumbents are not going to lie down quietly, whatever the result, and if they lose, will no doubt be taking a very active role in the formation of the new government via democratic and "other" means. For obvious reasons, I could imagine that Paetongtarn would not be a popular choice in the smoky back rooms where such things are decided, so someone more palatable from the opposition side to the behind-the-scenes dealmakers might come to the fore...

I have been listening to this blaring on for around 30 minutes now. The classic air raid siren noise. As this might well be the end, I have taken the liberty of making myself a nice cup of coffee (with sugar and full-fat milk - in the circumstances, why not ?) and enjoying one last cigarette. I’ve said my emotional goodbyes to my dogs. That was really tough. The wife is out, that’s a shame but meh, never mind. Take care and see you on the other side my AseanNow friends…

You've jogged my memory there, I can recall sitting on the throne waving my arms around in years gone by. Think many hotels used them for a while ? These toilet light sensors were a big thing around 15-20 years ago, happily I think it was collectively decided to cease and desist from using them. Now we just need to unite to get rid of those damn auto-flush sensors. Quite irritating to have the Niagara Falls roaring under your posterior when trying to read the news on your phone.

Glad the brown trend is on the way down. Flamin' horrible colour for a car. ????

Must admit upon starting to read the article, I was highly sceptical that anyone could have driven their motorbike into such a small space but indeed, the CCTV does clearly show that is what happened ! A one in a million shot !

Bang Saen was a half-decent and convenient (from Bangkok) one day seaside trip option over a decade ago. Typically, not that busy and it was fairly pleasant to sit at the beach and enjoy some food and drinks. Unfortunately, we saw only ever increasing litter and dirtiness in general, and particularly in the water. It was not very enticing to go for a dip with various bits of flotsam and jetsam. We haven't been back since and this article does not encourage me to visit to check if things have improved for the better.....

Good luck with that...

What do you mean exactly, that they should have cancelled Songkran events nationwide ?

Speak for yourself. For the majority of TVers (being non-American) the CDC have little, if not zero, relevance. Aside from sovereignty issues, have they not also overseen one of the worst COVID fatality rates in the developed world ? Quite an achievement for the wealthiest country on the planet and one which is relatively blessed with a low population density One wonders why you would be hanging on their every word… Personally, being British, I pay more attention to the UK and European governments’ guidance and have actually visited the UK and several other European countries twice since COVID travel restrictions were eased, in April and December 2022. It’s literally the exact opposite to Thailand across most of Europe, no government “guidelines” on masks and around 5-10% of people wearing them. I imagine others have also visited countries that are more significantly “normalized” after the main COVID waves than Thailand and are struggling to rationalize the different approach here compared to many countries. As for the Thai MoPH, I trust and respect their intellectual capability and competency about as much as any other Thai government department, i.e about as far as I can throw them…

Yes, I believe it was for a TH service/maintenance center. Using your above-stated logic, as China is about the biggest user of everything, maybe we should all just pack it in and let them be the “obvious location” for producing everything ? ???? However, I suggest that there is a bit more nuance involved in global geopolitical and economic decisions and if anything, that with COVID supply chain disruption the tide is turning away from globalisation in general including a re-evaluation of China’s global role after the Ukraine situation. History will judge in due course whether the seemingly logical approach of global engagement via economic means post cold-war, in an attempt to build a stable world, was successful or whether it was just manipulated by certain countries for their own gain…..

Spot on, it’s been a major issue for years now. Just as COVID broke I was visiting the north and you could literally taste the smoke in the air. When the rains arrive in early May, these three will no doubt be claiming the credit for this meeting having contributed to solving the issue… A challenging one for Thailand, who can’t even control their own burning. How do you cajole others to control theirs ? Thailand uses the economic excuse internally - not wanting to add burdens to farmers. I wonder if Myanmar and Laos, which are much poorer, will just use the same reasoning ? I expect Thailand has closer ties with Laos and may be able to apply some political and economic pressure, as for Myanmar, who knows. Anyway, time for Thailand as the ‘heavyweight’ in this threesome to take the lead and give an example to the others on how to significantly reduce the burning.

True enough, you and Bangkok Barry are the calmer voices of reason. Not sure I have your confidence in the Thai judicial system though...

Brave man. Really hope that works out well for you.

Peculiarly written headline, I guess constructed as such to meet the never ending demand for Thai soft power... Anyway, upon reading the article, it's actually incorrect, she is British-Thai-Malaysian. Thank the lord there's no Cambodian in the mix, that really would have been awkward. Edit - having googled her, I found this ????

I am overdue a visit, haven't been for 15 years or so. Samui does hold a special place in my heart, having spent a good few months there in my younger days. My last brief visit around 2005 was also after several year hiatus, can't say I was that impressed. The charm was fading. Mind you, that's exactly what the old hands told me when I went there for the first time in the mid 90s. I guess it's a natural human reaction to things changing and 'progressing'. It's probably still better than Phuket though ????

Shame that...

Good lord alive. You should watch the video in the linked article. Not only is she a total idiot for doing this but the quality of her reversing is absolutely shocking. She is weaving all over the place and at times is even fully in the inside lane and not the hard shoulder. Some much bigger lorries having to take evasive action to avoid her. Extremely lucky that she didn't cause a massive pile-up killing herself and/or others.

There can indeed be a thin line between "populism" and generally accepted state subsidies and welfare programs. I would say that you calling the PT THB 10,000 "welfare" is pushing it to the very limit, I would say, for the most part, that "welfare" should be targeted at those in need. On the positive side, it would mean that the money is given back from the government purse to the public, so at least they (government) cannot misuse it or siphon it off....

1) Yes, it is an absolutely tiny tip of the iceberg. 2) Let's see if he is effed, my recollection is that on many occasions similar offences go relatively unpunished. Many others ? Let's see. 3) Momentum ? One swallow does not make a summer. Refer point 1.

Would be nice to see who the company was. And yes, you are absolutely correct, if more people did this then things might just start to change. I guess a reasonable chance it was a foreign company, many of whom are operating under anti-bribery regulations. Could have been a Thai company but they would need to have the right connection to be brave enough to do something directly against a government official like this. As others have commented, unfortunately it's endemic here. Those butter-wouldn't-melt government officials, who are generally held in high regard within Thai society, are amongst the worst offenders. I have heard many stories that would make your toes curl at how much some of them cream off the top of budgets or like this guy, by offering to remove a problem, with the right backhander.

No worries. Anyway, it's interesting to see that the initial reporting appears to indicate that an extradition is not forthcoming, somewhat likely China is not particularly keen on extraditing their citizens, I guess that might be viewed as weak in their eyes or they may consider it essentially an all Chinese affair (apart from the Thai lady with apparently limited involvement). Might also explain what could be a face saving statement from Damrongsak. A nice way for RTP to avoid any local follow up or pressure on why an extradition is not being demanded ? "No have kap"

I wondered about this myself and Googled this matter a few days ago. Aside from being curious to find out if a treaty existed, I was interested to see if there were restrictions for possible death penalty cases, as with some countries. Anyway, I easily found a link that indicated there is an extradition treaty with China. Do you know something we don't ? http://www.thailawforum.com/database1/Treaty-of-China.html