jonclark

I'd suggest you accept it and chalk it up to experience as if you peruse it you could leave yourself and your 'working life ' open to further scrutiny. Without a contract they have got you by the knackers.

Hope this helps

edit - misread the original post

Irrespective of the politics it's a positive step forward especially for the people who live close to the border and rely on border trade and the like to make a living.

The skeptic in me though can't help but notice that now the Dems have been shoved out, the whole temple issue (from the Cambodian perspective) has become unimportant? Perhaps Hun Sen and Taksin colluded on the issue to divide the government, thus weakening it. Pure speculation, but it would be interesting to see if the issue flared up again if PTP was removed from power. I am fairly sure in my own mind that this is all to do with Taksin and Hun Sen dividing up the profits from the oil in the gulf of Thailand and nothing else. Remember Taksin has spent the last 3 years in Dubai - Oil central.

"All he did was offer moral support and tell them it's their job to serve the people," Yingluck said.

I not sure what i find more incredulous1) that a convicted criminal is telling the government its' job or 2) a criminal offering moral support; an oxymoron if ever I've seen one. Only yesterday we had a report stating Thai kids are happy to cheat, lie, deceive, well bugger me senseless, it doesn't take a genius to see why they think like this. This demonstrates why kids think it is morally except able to be this way as their parents voted for a man / party which exemplifies this way of thinking, and yet they complain when their kids turn out as criminals.

Arrrrrrrggggghhhhh this country drives me crazy sometimes!!!!!!

^{My colleagues and I have also made similar observations over the past 10 years. Some friends who work in universities here also agree that the standard of student performance has dropped noticeably over the last decade of us teaching here. PISA measures mostly application of math/science skills to solving problems. This is the main reason why they have perfomed so poorly on this exam. Once the MoE changes its policies to de-emphasise rote learning and puts more emphasis on application, analysis and synthesis skills, then their scores might improve. The kinds of tasks are rarely addressed in regular classrooms in Thailand.}

I agree with you, but changing the teaching and learning style requires re-educating the teachers; in most Thai schools the teachers are an aging population , nearing or starting to think about retirement and I don't fancy many of them enthusiastically embracing new learning methods as many are set in their ways, (rote teaching is all they know). Also what is needed is changing the system of 'school directiors' . In many governemnt school the director changes every two - three years and their arrival is always heralded with a sweeping superficial facelift of the school. They implement their policy for their tenure. This needs to change

What is needed is new enthusiastic graduates, properly trained, with a decent pay packet to stop the private sector snapping them up.

The alternative is to give all students a PC tablet and let them 'learn' on their own!

Fixing the Thai education system is a long term project and I honestly don't think many of the current politicians have the foresight to start this, as the rewards will be reaped by a government 5, 10 , 15 years down the line.

I think the children behavior reflects perfectly that of the politicians that lead this (once) great country. Can't blame the kids - its the adults that need fixing first; after all the kids only copy what is put in front of them.

The reds like Hun Sen so much as they want to create a dynasty just like Hun Sens Cambodian one right here in Thailand. Glad I hold a UK passport and have the option to leave. Thai people - Poor bastards who'll be robbed blind and told to enjoy it. The reds are identical to the dems who they usurped.

I think from the reaction of the other canteen users it's fairly <deleted> obvious she is rarely seen there. Does anyone really give a monkeys if she eats there or not?

What is of more interest is the alleged phone call with Taksin where she claimed she was tired- Anyone got a link to that story?

Thailand hub of fake cameras !!! huba huba huba

No matter how veiled the speculation, do not go there.

2) Not to express disrespect of the King of Thailand or anyone else in the Thai royal family, whether living or deceased, nor to criticize the monarchy as an institution. Speculation, comments and discussion of either a political or personal nature are not allowed when discussing HM The King or the Royal family. Discussion of the lese majeste law or lese majeste cases is permitted on the forum, providing no comment or speculation is made referencing the royal family. To breach this rule will result in immediate ban.

Several posts have been deleted.

Perhaps this advice should be passed on to several serving politicians....

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Mr Thaksin has always been an astute business man, dedicated to the economical development of his country. .

Dude I think you're in love !!!

<snip>

his government hadnt made Thaksin a special case with a foreign minister dedicated to houding the man around the globe while doing utterly nothing to bring home such notables as Kamnan Poh and Vattana who reportedly reside just over the border.

<snip>

Fair point, but Kamnan Poh and Vattana are keeping relatively quiet. The Abhisit policy for Taksin was to as far as possible 'let sleeping dogs lie', and if PTP continued that policy in the spirit of reconciliation Thailand would make more progress a lot quicker than it is presently. Unfortunately Yingluck and Co seem intent on waking the whole kennel and upsetting their entire political neighborhood.

As for the posters who harp on a bout being a sore loser, its not just Abhisit but the 12 million people that voted Dem that are also very pissed off. Is alienating 12 million people a good way to start reconciliation ??

You'd think that PTP would want to consolidate its position and appeal to Dem voters to join their party, strangely they are doing the exact opposite. Their majority won't last forever. If they continue in this vein and people take to the streets watch their coalition partners become jumpy.

How long before the government realizes that a couple of foreigners still call for civil war and some even for murder and makes us all pay the price ?

Isn't that what the Macedonian passport holder has been doing for some time now??

Nope - that's been my position for many, many years now.

I understand the drug companies eagerness to use the disease, because it is a very interesting, fast-mutating virus. But I do not consider that it is something for doctors and hospitals - just sell the retro-viral drugs over the counter in pharmacies, if people want to slow their death. Because it is not curable - it'll get you sooner or later.

You really are showing your ignorance - Currently the range of AV drugs can allow a 21 year old who is HIV + to have a life expectancy comparable to that of a hiv - individual of the same age (source The Lancet). If you think that saving the lives of the millions who are hiv + is not worth it as the disease is not curable you are a sorry individual. But I applaud your honesty

Remember most of the disease that are curable today, where once uncurable, however the data collected by doctors and hospitals from their patients allowed drug companies to devise pharmaceuticals to change the incurable into curable. That is a point you fail to address in your post.

My worry is that if PTP submits a write for a royal decree / pardon and it is rejected this could lead to all sorts of unrest. What will PTP do? Go against the wishes of the King?? If they do what role will the military and many people who see the monarchy as the guiding pillar in Thailand take?PTP are gambling in the monarchy submitting to their will, should that gamble fail.....well lets not go there, I'm fairly sure we'd see Jatuporn slapped with a lest ma jest charge as he can rarely shut up when required to do so.

Missing the biggest problem - The lack of new graduates entering the teaching profession - result, large classes, unmotivated, over worked, under paid and resourced teachers in their mid fifties looking for early retirement.

Under the first phase of the Yingluck government, the Poll said Thais were less satisfied with politics when compared to the period of the Abhisit government.

well done, Yingluck

Hang on...wait a minutes.....yes, yes, Yingluck is......oh....oh dear, what a disappointment; She says she's going to think about these poll results...suppose a bit of action wouldn't be too much to ask, would it?

What a coward!! Wonder if he had to change his underwear when he got back to his home??

"As long as the country is not yet democratic, we never know. There's still hierarchy,"

What a knob, a democracy and a heir achy are not mutually exclusive. All countries have those who are more equal than others. Wonder if he includes the monarchy as part of his hierarchy?

I think what he means to say is

'As long as the country is not yet communist, we never know. There is still hierarchy.'

said Aree in his spacious new office

Ooops looks like you're part of the heir achy - Knob head !!

That new bunch of ministers ..lol ..oh you've got to love them..travel insurance..for a tourist from a Thai company - The claim will be forgotten as soon as the plane takes off. If they want quality tourists then they need some quality attractions. Not bemoaning Thailand, but its worn out and tired, the once famous beaches are a mess of low quality development gone crazy, the temples are knackered, crowded (but still a pleasant day out) and the National parks are shrinking by the day, lacking species coupled with a grossly biased two tier entrance system and as for the scams and other tourist &lt;deleted&gt; - When I leave I sure as hell won't return as a tourist. Good luck

Does the UK have the death penalty? If so, than all 3 countries have the death penalty. This cowardly murder should warrant death, regardless where it occurred. Next time you got your arrogant butt kick by a combat hardened US Marine, and as embarrassing as it may be, just go home.

No the UK doesn't, except for treason i think - The right to life is rightly sanctioned by the government irrespective of the crime. Having served alongside US Marines in my Army days I know they are professional in every way and are mainly a great bunch of lads who take pride in their work.

Unfortunatly for the family of the deceased this British lad won't be sent to a Thai prision as it goes against all basic tenements of the UK and EU rights system. My own view is that the US should seek his extradition to the US to stand trial and be placed in a US prison if found guilty . Not sure if that will fly legally but i think it is the best way for justice to be served. I think you'll fund being a foreign national, in the US prison system, convicted of killing a US Marine will not be a nice experience either.

This hardly seems to be a model for reconciliation??

reconciliation - (as defined in the online Cambridge dictionary) " the process of making two opposite beliefs, ideas or situations agree."

Just a couple of points

1) When will PTP start issuing little red books to the rest of the population

2) Would the government be of supportive of 'yellow villages??

3) Is Thailand going to turn into one giant rainbow patchwork quilt?

4) When are PTP going to acknowledge that their end game is to turn Thailand into a communist state with papa Taksin at the top

Sitting next to Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha, he told the gathering he understood “how difficult” some EU tourists could be..

Sorry but this must be a translation problem - as it infers that because EU tourists are "difficult" they are in some way responsible for some / part of the problem.

(If they are so difficult tell the EU not to send its tourists here!!)

This country is about to implode - Yingluck is naive and foolish, not only can she not see the writing on the wall, she's actually helping the people paint it.

Couldn't agree with you more. Sad but true. She is being played like a violin and either doesn't realize it or does but she is helpless and only following Big Brother's orders. Either way she and her government are digging a hole deeper and deeper each day. There is a saying "when you find yourself in a hole stop digging". I suppose the hole isn't deep enough yet.

I think they are hoping that if they dig long enough they'll come out the other side!

This country is about to implode - Yingluck is naive and foolish, not only can she not see the writing on the wall, she's actually helping the people paint it.

If you don't like it - Tell your wife to defer these matters to you.

I think all expats married to Thai lady need to remember that in Thailand it's a man world - The man is the head of the family, you make the rules and decisions in your family. If you pay and you feel strongly that you are being overlooked / disrespected etc. by having the waiter return the change to your wife, have a word with your wife, explain your point of view she'll understand.

That is why it is vital that all expats who live here learn Thai so that they can take the lead in family matters, from ordering dinner to dealing with officials. Its a case of not being the timid foreigner and being a strong leader of the family, otherwise you're, in the eyes of some people, just being a bit of a pussy and being lead by the woman.

An old friend told me once in Thailand the man is the head of the elephant and the woman the tail. An elephant always walk forwards!! Think about it.