jonclark

19 hours ago, scorecard said:

Just imagining the response if some group had demanded same information about trips made by members of the previous shin governments.

 Fair point.

But does that point make this current demand any less valid??

Many posters have got the wrong end of the stick here.

Thais are not lazy - how can they be? There is a less than 1% unemployment rate.

Everybody is working !!

To all NES English teachers - I suggest you bookmark this page and bring it out as evidence 101 as clearly this is a precedent that will no doubt be useful to you all if you ever are accused of injuring a student; so long as you repeat over and over again that you  didn't intend to hurt the student you will be fine. 

Get some big dogs, tell them they are welcome to come in..but you ain't tying up the dogs..See if they wish to persist with the form. 

22 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

I have never had a mobile phone,I never want a mobile phone,

does this mean I will be forced to buy one,if so it would just

be left at home, once again the majority has to jump through

hoops ,for the minority (criminals,terrorists,and people who get 

lost !), Governments around the world use these threats,as an

excuse to control their populations more and more.

regards Worgeordie

The masses jump through the hoops because the fire of fear has been well and truly lit under their backsides; knee jerk reactions to fear have become the norm and to say it ain't so is to align yourself against your government. 

A lot people getting really worked up. 

From what I can see there is no mandatory requirement to make tourists purchase local sims for their phones. They are free to use roaming on their own phones if they wish. Most western based people will probably do just that - For example vodaphone offer roaming - phone, text and data for 5 GBP a day extra. Not a great deal tbh, more than the local cost - but not a huge amount, with the added benefit that family and friends at home can still contact you using your existing phone number. 

This is also not aimed at long term residents  - just tourists as far as I can tell. 

And at the end of the day - If the Thai authorities, CIA, FBI, Mossad, FSB, MI5/6 etc. etc wanted to find you using your phone.....they could. If you are using UK roaming in Thailand, pretty sure GCHQ could find you anywhere in the world by the time it takes  you to finish reading this sentence if they were so inclined. Surveillance and coverage is now pretty much universal unless you want to live like a Luddite.   

What I find amazing is that it is fairly obvious that a Thai employer is providing these jobs (which supposedly are reserved for Thai) to migrants anyway. 

Those fiendish devils, giving immigrants jobs reserved for their brothers and sisters and then complaining that they have been stolen from??? Send them ALL for attitude adjustment, how dare they put jobs for migrants above jobs for Thais when there are sooo many without work.

After all the official Thai unemployment rate is between 0.5% and 0.8% - The data can't be wrong ...can it?? 

https://www.bot.or.th/English/Statistics/Graph/Pages/Unemployment.aspx

16 hours ago, bark said:

5 % is nothing to pay; for someone to do everything for you.

If u not like to pay. cook your own food.

Sadly 5% is actually quite a lot for most Thai families to add on to their meals, especially if they are only getting the minimum wage, as this will effect them the most. If the price of food in restaurants does increase, then they will eat out less and that - for the restaurant and service staff - is not a good thing as it means less customers. And Thai customers are the vast majority of most restaurants business. 

Wonder if this charge will be levied at food courts?? 

2 hours ago, Alive said:

The best soil in Thailand is probably under Bangkok and the vicinity. It's too bad that the world has built all its major cities on the best soil. This is more money for Bangkok. When someone in BKK wants something the government tosses billions at them. You never see the government doing the same for the rural areas if they aren't areas where Bangkok's wealthy vacation. Anyways, I just see it as more waste, more for the haves and more environmental destruction. If Bangkok does face rising seas or more flooding the entire wealth of the nation will be used to save it. The future looks bleak with this develop BKK first, always and forever policy.

Whilst what you say is completely true, its important to remember that Bangkok and its satellites accounts for about 45% of total annual GDP, which may explain why so much money is (re)invested back into Bangkok compared to other Thai cities. 

39 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

With respect, please read my links.  Seems a lot of the problems were caused by mismanagement and politics.

Obviously it was caused by mismanagement and politics, both at a local, regional and national level and by players across the political spectrum, with each group intent on pursuing their own overlapping agendas. YL took office 1 week after the floods were first reported in the North (start of August). Begs the question were people interested in what was going on during the election campaigns, given that the house was dissolved in May 2011. What was being done and by whom during that 2 month period? Given that the house was dissolved were those in power able to make meaningful strategic decisions? 

And I think to add a bit of balance, we should also say that Abhisit is also being investigated as the flood bridged the premiership of both of these individuals. 

Its very likely therefore that this case is being brought against YL to deflect and distract from Abhisits role, given its a member of the Democrats bringing this case, not the government. 

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

So many people are happy to sit in judgement after the event, but I bet none of them have ever been in charge of managing an event of such magnitude. There is widespread flooding now, albeit of a lower magnitude right now. Is Prayut to blame for that?? 

You cannot go around making one person culpable for the failures of countless governments (both civilian and military) which has embedded and ingrained incompetence, laziness and lack of accountability in the Thai Civil service for countless generations. The heads of the various civil service branches tell the government what they want to hear, just like they are telling Prayut what he wants to hear right now- Thailand is great and everyone is happy, exports are rebounding, tourist numbers up, the rains are under control, there are fewer and fewer bombs in the Southern provinces etc. etc. 

The buck stops with the government, but the failures are systematic not down to a single persons decision to do or not do something. 

My ideas:

1. Pedestrianize central Bangkok, enclosed walkways, sidewalk cafes and lots of opportunities for new businesses. 
2. introduce parking fees more expensive that those offered by public transport (for a family of 4) as opposed to being currently free.
3. Use the parking fees to directly pay for improvements to the transport system
4. Raise car tax

Bet some of the kids robbed a couple of bricks when the cops weren't looking. 

I'm going to go out on a limb here but given his age and also the nature of what he was caught up in (signing illegal title deeds to potentially valuable land). It would come as no shock if the DSI boys decided to go a bit Bruce Lee on him during the interrogation (as those higher up would probably like the names of the recipients of who got a dodgy title deed) for future investigation (a.k.a. a brown envelope) and got a bit carried away. They didn't mean to...it was an accident we hit him a bit too hard. 

They then realized their mistake on a 60 (ish) year old man who had spent most of his life stuck behind a desk, lashed him back in the cell, bodged together a suicide with socks!! And crossed their fingers. 

10 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

So no governments around the world seize assets as a preventative measure to stop people hiding them whilst investigations, court cases, and deliberations are ongoing. Some mask this through various judicial systems. 

Here, the court processes are so low that lawyers can play smoke and mirrors and delay, delay, delay and then say oh dear statute of limitations have expired.

 

 

Governments around the world do seize assets, but this is done with the consent and understanding of the courts and most of the governments that do this are still legally bound by their actions to ensure the governments remain accountable. That is not the case here! 

It is not done outside of the legal system, in a unilateral fashion against political opponents with absolutely no independent oversight. 

You are correct that the legal system here is poor and it needs urgent reform and renovation. But that does not make it obsolete, surely you can see that?  Going outside of the legal framework in this fashion means any 'conclusion' that is ultimately arrived at will have no legal basis whatsoever. However, judging by the rest of your post it is clear that you see 'revenge' as the primary motivation here not accountability and the rule of law - as the law has been sidestepped and made irrelevent. 

As for what was in her suitcases, clearly it was money, that was the answer you were fishing for. Although neither you, nor I have any evidence of that, that must be the only possible reason she and her family took so many suitcases, right? 

Gentlemen, can we focus on the article and not get sidelined into the rights / wrongs of Taksin and how that translates or is interpreted as justification for action against his sister. 

The issue with this order is not whom it is directed at, but the nature of the order. That the government has granted itself the power judge, jury and executioner, against its enemies. (I use the term enemies as I assume the previous government wasn't removed because they were viewed positively).  

 By sidelining the entire legal system the government clearly has shown that this is a political witch hunt. And lets not forget the government has granted itself immunity from future prosecution as a handy little caveat. 

If you agree with the actions then consider if you would feel as agreeable if a future government aligned to the shinawatras old power cliche were to grant itself similar powers?  

In a nutshell this discussion should be able whether governments should be allowed to steamroller the legal framework of a country for their own political goals, or should the legal system (for all it misgivings and wrongs) be the framework by which all citizens are tried under? And is enshrined in all previous Thai Constitutions. You decide. 

I have to say hats off to the OP for his persistence. Well done.

I am confused by many posters who say that having the yellow book doesn't help. Fair enough that it doesn't give you any direct benefits, but it does put you in the system and give you a Thai ID Number. If in the future you intend to apply for PR / Citizenship then having as much official documentation as possible is useful as evidence.  Obviously it doesn't guarantee anything.

The little pink card is incredibly useful for any official transaction - banks, hospital, post offices (which also require ID to send packages now). 

Does that mean the media can't report on the PM as the coup did some pretty bad damage to the county's international image??

And the media definitely should not ever be allowed to report or replay 'patriotic'  songs written by the incumbent PM (or any politician).  The tsunami did less damage to the country than those oral abominations. Give me Jedwood anyday!

On 8/12/2016 at 9:22 AM, DavisH said:

Good post. Anyone not in possession of a motorbike licence from their home country should NOT be allowed to rent a bike. Period. Inexperienced riders + road conditions + Thai driving mentality / law enforcement = a  recipe for disaster. 

Agreed, but the wider context is simply who is going to enforce this rule? The renters of the motorbikes which are effectively mom and pop type businesses? Can't imagine them turning away business. The police?   TBH many of the locals, Thais and expats alike ride bikes without licences so the police already have their hands full with that issue. 

The only real solution would be to properly licence and inspect all bike renters, but for that to happen there would need to be a complete paradigm shift in approach and attitude, which is wishful thinking.

I wish the lad and his family the very best.  Experience is a great teacher I hope he survives to learn from this. We were all young once and did bloody stupid things without thought of the consequences. Really sad to some posters negative comments about this accident.

3 hours ago, dominique355 said:

 

clearly you are being sarcastic?

 

 

Quite possibly, but we must appear sincere!

2 hours ago, djjamie said:

And the excuses begin.

but, but, but more people voted for the charter than voted for Yingluck.

Yup those excuses have really begun.

Accepting the Charter at this point in time was a good thing, despite the climate of fear. intimidation, detentions and restrictions related any open debate of the Charters. Politics is a long game. Being able to set up an election with some ground rules in place next year is the end goal.

But Jamie for the love of god, stop it. The Charter referendum was not a vote on the popularity of the government or the establish political parties.

Only a squeaky voiced politically illiterate fool would interpret the results as anything else  other than a vote on accepting the Charter, or not. That's why the PM when to such lengths to ensure all people had as much factual information as possible and prevented political parties intervening.

BTW What is your fixation with Yingluck? Do you sub-consciously fancy her as you cant stop mentioning her in every post?  

1 minute ago, djjamie said:

Ahhh the excuses to disrespect the majority. No wonder the support has dwindled for the UDD and PTP. The frustration  shows.

 

Love it. The majority have spoken and some hate it.

Lets not forget jamie that the majority (of which you are so fond of using to justify yourself) had their leader removed in a coup. 

The vote was for a Charter. It was not, and was never intended to be a reflection of the political colours of the country, how could it be political gatherings of over 5 people are banned? The majority of those who voted, voted to accept the Charter. That does not mean the military are popular to the disadvantage of PTP / UDD / The Democrats. It means the people agree with the provisions contained within the Charter for moving the country forward towards elections. 

For a person who likes to use facts, you do tend to over think and muddle facts with personal opinion. 

The PM is totally correct. This is "The People's Constitution". He just hasn't told us which people he is referring to. 

Still one thing he has got spot on. Thailand is the land of the copy and he's just copied the name commonly given to the 1997 Constitution of Thailand. 

Perhaps 'My Peoples Constitution' might be a better name?

Ahh well good luck to him, he needs it.