jonclark

Now, let's look at things from a Thai perspective:

Suppose we let foreigners have the right to buy land and houses,... what do you think will happen?

I believe that inflation will occur because rich (relatively to Thais) will buy lots of land and houses because they have the means. Houses and land price will go much higher. How will the average Thai afford a house now? Sure, in time, his salary might go up, but it will take time. And, if there is inflation, cheaper Thailand will not be for very long!

What do you think?

So, aren't those laws needed to protect the average Thai citizen who does not usually have as much as foreigners?

It is not that they want to keep foreigners out of owning it. The top 15% want to keep anyone else out of owning it.

Pretty much hit the nail on the head with that statement

.....'hi-so' certainly don't want foreigners living in their midst. I know I don't!

Why ?? What's wrong with us????

Some people, call them xenophiles, like to immerse themselves in foreign cultures and environments. Other people, call them xenophobes like to bring their cultures and environments with them whether it be Branston Pickle, towels on deckchairs, bare-chested men in public or wearing socks with sandals.

I know what I prefer.

You've kinda got the two extremes there - any middle ground for the majority to sit??

...... education, leadership, and voice.

One can only dream I'm afraid - would be nice though

Oh come on don't be so cynical. We the uneducated masses have no need for this information, it's far too complex for us simpletons to be able to understand and it only concerns our health, nothing important.

So, shut up, grow rice and if you get sick no one will know, the problems will disappear. We know what is good for you

The issue here is the principle of with holding information from the public, rather than the content of that information.

.....'hi-so' certainly don't want foreigners living in their midst. I know I don't!

Why ?? What's wrong with us????

So the police want the woman to extract 500 Baht from a gang of people who collect debts as compensation for the assault administered by the same gang.

Word to the not so wise - BIB - get off your arse and do your job !!!!

Now, let's look at things from a Thai perspective:

Suppose we let foreigners have the right to buy land and houses,... what do you think will happen?

I believe that inflation will occur because rich (relatively to Thais) will buy lots of land and houses because they have the means. Houses and land price will go much higher. How will the average Thai afford a house now? Sure, in time, his salary might go up, but it will take time. And, if there is inflation, cheaper Thailand will not be for very long!

What do you think?

So, aren't those laws needed to protect the average Thai citizen who does not usually have as much as foreigners?

You are right that the average Thai doesn't have as much as the average foreigner, but whenever i drive out if Bangkok and see the big housing projects under construction with prices starting for example from '7 million baht' (You know the type of housing projects - Ban Siri etc) These are way beyond the price of the average Thai i assume you are talking about.

Where are the low cost housing projects for the low income families to get the first step on the property ladder ???? Exactly there are not any because they are not profitable and the rich Thais who have already bought the land want to make a profit and are more than happy to price out the average Thai.

The argument about foreigners pricing out low income Thais is smoke and mirrors. Most of the expats here who want to buy houses are buying houses in a higher price bracket than the average thai so are not in direct compitition.

Ahhh, it's so good to be home again. Intelligent conversations, food without fish sauce and Palm oil, clean water and air. Why did I spent 8 years of my life in Thailand???

Ahhhhhh yes. And Canada is so great that here you are.........boring us all with your views, on a Thai forum.

Go and club a seal or whatever it is you guys do for fun.

Or stay in Thailand drink Lao Kao and club your wife when you get home drunk - But that's a little off topic don't ya think?

Back on topic - It seems that the majority of people who contribute to this forum have enough experience of Thailand and its' legal landmines and pitfalls to know that whatever the authorities may say is worthless, and I'm sure a number of our Thai friends will concur with that point.

Basically, keep your money in your wallet and if, like me, your an expat working over here, keep your money until you return home and then splash out on a new pad. Take your money out of Thailand - that's the only way to keep your investments safe. After what I've seen happen and the horror stories I've heard over the last couple of years Thailand owes a debt of gratitude to the expats that have stayed here and the tourists who've come (and don't give me that bo**ocks about being guests the majority of expats here are active members of Thai society and are not guests.)

Personally I wouldn't buy land here until I've seen new land laws passed and then foreigners successfully win land dispute cases based on the new laws in court. The only way to have any certainty that the law can be successfully applied.

Thailand has its' current laws , but you have your money and you have the choice, choose wisely !

"Mr Nirut believes rules could be drafted that could attract foreigners while ensuring the government would not be criticised for "betraying" the country"

Oh yes 'betraying the country' - Good old fashioned military rhetoric , gotta love it, stir up the nationalistic pride and tie the hands of the government or parties looking for change.

But how would it betray the country? - well we [whoever we are will remain a mystery ]won't give a reason..........and don't ask for one, cause it's jolly unpatriotic to do so.

Bangkok Post Quote

'For anyone involved in land ownership on behalf of foreigners, what they should be sure of is concern for the nation, ethics and morality in applying the law to make sure they are good Thai citizens," he said.'

Can anyone give me five names of politicians who have shown concern for the nation, ethics and morality and are good Thai citizens ????

P.S - Equality and Fair play are both ethical and moral traits aren't they?

Is Marc lying????

Is this part of the governments policy of highlighting it's successes since claiming power six months ago, that we saw posted yesterday......or is that ......I'm confused

Poor Buggers - can't think of anyplace worse than Aranyaprathet to be placed in quarantine. Hardly any medical facilities and the place is an absolute s**t hole.

Many parents pay the comparatively large fees and expect what they perceive to be a western education (debate as you will what this actually entails at your leisure). Their main perception of this is that in school they expect their children to be using English.

As the point of the OP was that he doesn't see why his children should be forced to learn / study Thai. Many of the Thai parents of students concur with this, because as you rightly pointed out, their children have already learn t Thai and therefore don't need to learn it anymore. So, some parents feel that the time being spent studying Thai is not needed and given that they pay the school fees their opinion should be bloody well listened to. After all their children can learn Thai at home.

This 'attitude' is then passed on to sons and daughters. I have a number of students whose English (reading writing etc...) is excellent, and whilst they can speak Thai, their reading and writing of Thai is way down what would reasonably be expected for their age group in a mainstream Thai school.

I'm not suggesting that Thai students at international schools are mono lingual in English. Rather that Thai has been forced into the curriculum to give Thai students an opportunity to achieve a higher level of Thai. Because up until a few years ago Thai was not a statutory requirement for International school in Thailand resulting in poorer levels of literacy amongst the Thai student population.

As for International Students. As I stated in my first post, they generally enjoy TFL and in that respect the OP should give his children the opportunity to experience a new language, irrespective of how useful he or she perceives it to be in the long run.

Hope that's clarified my earlier comment.

Why not invest the 6 Billion in becoming more energy efficient rather than continuing to be a hugely energy hungry country and wastes huge amounts of energy on super chilly air con and bloody annoying giant TV screens at places like Siam Sq BTS Station.

Interesting to hear the government official talk of the need to place the reactor near a river for cooling purposes. Does anyone have any idea what volume of water would need to be extracted for the purpose of cooling. It just may give an idea of what rivers can support that level of extraction and hence the possible locations. I can only think of Meekong and The old Chao Praya - anyone else any suggestions ???

Or can they use salt water?? Not sure of the physics of reaction cooling process.

Also interesting to see how they reconcile water extraction for the reactor with the farmers need for increased irrigation, which is generally sourced from major rivers

Having taught in an International School here in Thailand for the last few years. The reasons why International Schools are now required to teach Thai is due to meddling from the MoE who for whatever reasons decided that all schools must learn Thai. And remember that a lot of Thai children go to International Schools and many of them were learning English as a first language (so therein may lie the answer). As a result of the Moe Decree most international schools opted for a two tier approach, with mainstream Thai for the Thai students and Thai as a Foreign Language (TFL) for the International students.

Overall, the International students taking TFL are really receptive to learning Thai and see the benefit of doing Thai as, unlike say chemistry,they get the immediate benefit of the class the next time they go out. Ironically the Thai students and strangely their parents find learning Thai the most difficult. Parents don't want their children learning Thai - there seems some stigma to it, bit what it is and why eludes me. Whilst the Thai kids take their Thai lesson as a chance to sit around and use their PSP's.

Go Figure !!!!

A survey was needed once again to state the bloody obvious. Duuuhhhh!

My Daughter goes to a school very close to saphan taksin and due to over crowding she is either late arriving at school or late coming home. Added to the fact that all the schools, government and private chuck out at the same time and use either saphan taksin or surasak, it makes for a nightmare at school opening and leaving times. I think not only should the the trains be more frequent, but they MUST add extra train compartments.

All in all they've got themselves in a bit of a mess as saphan taksin station is wedged between the roads of the bridge, making adding the extra line and platform nearly impossible.....unless they built a new platform above the extisting one????

As teachers they should

a) refuse to have them in school - they have a duty to protect the other kids - when the proverbial hits the fan as the grandparents will no doubt complain that the school must provide an education - invite the local police chief to sit in and get it out in the open.

Personally i think the teachers are on the take in this too. Letting an 11 year old out of the class to deliver drugs and teachers stating they are scared of the grandparents - (80 years plus)

Think which the report fails to mention is the level of education at the school - If the students are all on drugs - have a random drug test and boot all the students who fail it out of the school and only readmit them when they have completed a rehab type course and help the parents with prevention strategies. Why should the students and parents who send their kids to school, sacrifice their opportunity to an education. Opportunities are scarce enough here anyway.

See if taksin were still in charge - those grandparents would be face down in a ditch with a bullet in their heads now - no questions asked !!!

Why all the moans and groans about this - TIT things change instantly - So go with the flow and enjoy an extra couple of days holidays, beer, sun, cute girls in wet T-shirts, what more could you ask for.

Speak to your friends back home ask them what they'd prefer beer and sun or work !!

Right I'm off the protesters are going home, I'm gonna go get wet

Enjoy

This country goes through governments, quicker than Newcastle goes through mangers. Lets just be thankful that at least booze wasn't banned over songkran - At least we can have a few beers while we watch the country tear itself a new arsehol_e

I just can't believe how incredibly selfish this small group of people have been. The whole purpose of this summit was to develop economic stimulus packages to help literally billions of piss poor people around the Asia pacific region during this economic downturn.

They obviously feel their quest is more important than the millions of unemployed, sick and hungry who may have benefited from this summit in someway. A true democratic value if ever their was one.

Just so they could get 'their victory' millions will now have to wait for a new summit to be arranged (when all the leaders have a free slot in their schedule) and then once an agreement has been made, wait for the benefits if the deal to trickle down to them.

In my many years here I've always kept put of Thai politics as my friends say foreigners should keep out of Thai politics - but here the red shirts are involving foriegners in thier dirty political dance.

Selfish, selfish little s**ts

I know this idea will probably be ridiculed, but as usual when something racist, unequal or biased occurs many views are expressed which follow the TIT line and nothing ever changes.

Have foreigners ( and i hate using that term as it is intrinsically divisive) ever tried petitioning the government with a list of points for consideration? I am fairly sure that as tax paying members of this society a unified voice and cause goes a lotf arther than comments on a forum thread. We are a lot better financed than most, and most people would consider themselves to have better than average education and throw in a couple of foreign news networks to cover the story and things may change. hel_l we could even get ourseleves a special coloured t-shirt!

We know what the inequalities are - why not seek change?

Has anyone actually read his book??

If so maybe they can add something to the topic regarding what the offending paragraph etc. actually contained. How did he criticise the monarchy? Did he suggest the monarcjy was behind the coup?

What's the story.

I notice that it's Burmese immigrants - I wonder if and when the government will use this incident as justification for any future heavy handed deportations of illegals, as we saw recently with the Rhyoniga, all in the name of keeping Thailand safe for tourists.

But, anyway a terrible incident, condolences and thoughts with the family.