KhaoNiaw

From my own experience, I suspect that cancelling and resubmitting sends you to the back of the queue. (Though they could also be doing them completely at random). I once cancelled and resubmitted after about a week on pending and finally received an approval the day before the 7-day grace period was up, saving me a trip in person on the last day. My last report took about 10 days for approval from CW.

The murdered officer was specifically assigned to his position to clean up the sticker racket after the recent negative publicity and supposedly as clean as a police officer can be here. They were saying on the radio that there were 3 problems 1) he previously refused to meet Kamnan Nok to discuss the sticker issue, which has recently been affecting the Kamnan's overloaded trucks 2) at the dinner he wouldn't consider the relative's promotion and to top it off 3) the murdered officer beat him in some kind of drinking duel.

Following in the family (his father's) footsteps.

He was the one who had invited/ordered Sivakorn to attend the dinner. Supposedly he was coming under pressure from some fellow officers and had just removed himself from the officers Line group

Thailand has already signed contracts to buy more electricity than the country needs from dams in Laos that haven't even been constructed. https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/energy/opinion-thai-investment-in-laos-hydropower-reveals-dire-disconnect-in-the-mekong/

Sounds like it's just an affectionate way of calling you. You know (I hope) something of how she feels about you. You know her. None of the people telling you what is 'correct' or 'inappropriate' know anything about her. Does she have a cheeky sense of humour? Does she have younger family and relatives around? Is it something her friends have started? If it actually worries you, ask her. She'll probably tell you the reason and if she knows you don't like it, she'll probably stop.

Some news sources are saying that the gun used in the killing has been identified as belonging to a police officer. That would seem a bit strange though, when they're saying that it was probably the police officers who organized the evidence cleanup - not only destroying video from the CCTV but even going as far as scrubbing the scene of blood etc. Maybe someone has done the right thing with the murder weapon.

It's nothing new. This is a man who has legitimate business interests worth billions of baht so the illegal stuff may well be many times that. As we all know, promotions and positions in the police are bought and paid for. But police officers don't just do this themselves. It's suspected that Kamnan Nok has 'funded' the promotions of many of these police officers. They're all connected to the highway police. He runs a huge fleet of trucks and is also in the infrastructure construction business. He runs the 'sticker' game with the highway police and as the overloaded trucks (paid for and allowed to run by the stickers that identify them) cause the roads to deteriorate, he makes massive sums on the contracts to repair the damage. It's not new, been going on for decades, but he might actually have overestimated his influence in this case, as no-one wants it brought into the public eye, especially when there have been other recent revelations about the truck sticker game.

Interesting story. It was a monthly meeting where the police officers turn up for their money. 21 out of 30 people at the dinner were police officers, all highway police officers or connected to the highway police. Kamnok Nok is in the transport business and supposedly organizes, runs and collects for the transport 'sticker' business. His legitimate declared businesses bring in billions of baht. They know very well who he is. He probably paid for the positions for a lot of the officers. Buying a position themselves isn't the only way to go up the police ladder. Makes sense for someone in the business to 'invest' and then he owns those officers. Kamnan Nok is also fairly young and supposedly gets aggressive when he's drinking. Unidentified witnesses said he told the dead officer to leave or there would blood. The officer tried to apologize and stayed. The apology wasn't accepted. So let's see where it goes. Has Kamnan Nok come to the end of a promising career or will it blow over, especially now the gunman is dead.

Thais are actually catching up with the world and might have heard stories of foreigners trashing the place or bailing early. In Thailand, if you were trying to be a responsible owner who registered for the TM30 system etc. and you want to put a 1-year contract in front of someone who isn't working here, what would you ask?

Something I also found interesting. Will now have to go back and read this again, one of my favourites:

Submitted 22nd August. Received approval today. (Bangkok)

This is the guy who dropped off 2 million baht in a paper bag for judges at the Supreme Court.

You want to be teaching the ones that can. ????

The OP was asking about contributing under Section 40, which is a way for the self-employed or others outside formal employment to join. I'm not sure if he's aware that this doesn't provide health coverage, only daily payments intended to cover loss of income due to injury or sickness.

You would be entitled to a pension. They're go to anyone who has made the contributions. 20 years should put you between 4-5,000 baht a month or you could take it as a lump sum. I've known foreigners who've done both. I understand not wanting to take it though. You can log into the Social Security Office website to check your total contributions. For the OP, I found an article in Thai Rath explaining the qualifications that apply for Section 40. No. 7 says that you don't have Thai nationality but hold a Thai ID card beginning with 0, 6 or 7 (but not 00). If you're retired and over 65 it wouldn't be possible though. See No. 2 on the list, 15-65 years of age. https://www.thairath.co.th/lifestyle/life/2692205

I'm not trying to explain it. I don't get mine separately, just saying that it's all there in the online system, which is very well set up and works exactly as it should.

Actually the annual road tax system is already online and works very well. All the testing stations are linked into the system and once your vehicle has been tested the information is already in the system and you can pay the road tax online without submitting any documents. I've done it for the last two years. I successfully registered for the system using my social insurance number. It takes about two minutes online. If you haven't paid the compulsory insurance, you can also do that as part of the process (if you've paid it already the system 'knows'). So the joke's on you here really. We know that there are some duds but there are also a few of the Thai online processes that are done really well and make life much easier.

She was only putting in 750 baht per month. If you're earning an excellent salary in a company, you're probably also paying into a company provident fund and can also afford to make your own pension plans.

This year my work permit book was declared full after 23 years of stamps. I was issued with a new blue book. Nothing digital.

I've done the tax online for the last couple of years. Registration worked using my tax ID (correction) Social Insurance number. If you have more than one vehicle you can add them all under your online account. All done in a couple of minutes and the tax disc is sent out to you by registered mail and you get the tracking number. My insurance is due a couple of months earlier so I already have that when I pay the tax. Some people might prefer letting the testing station do the tax as well if it's convenient but I'd rather not go back there again to pick up the disc. The testing stations are all connected to the online system so I get home and the information is already entered. Nothing to upload or email. If you haven't got the compulsory insurance, you also get the option to pay that first to allow you to pay the tax.

You haven't quite followed my point. Anyway, I don't think Thaksin holds all the cards you seem to think there. He wouldn't be back if there was the slightest chance of him revealing his financial dealings. Too dangerous for him.

Of course people can be pardoned or treated above and beyond the law. But Thai law actually sets statute of limitations for corruption at 20 years. But this is suspended if the the accused / convicted flees the country. It's quite obviously a useful tool for the higher powers.

There's no limit on corruption convictions/charges.

Can't see it. If he does the dirty on this agreement with Pheu Thai, the numbers won't add up for him with the MPs, even if all the senators vote for him. With Ruam Thai Sang Chat and if they managed to persuade the Democrats to join them, they'd still be short. And probably need Bhumjaithai and Anutin to back out of this deal and go back on their word that they wouldn't be part of a minority government. Not impossible though I suppose. It sounds like Prawit's brother and Thammanat are getting two of the plum ministerial positions. So unless there's another big twist I think it'll be a Pheu Thai PM. Anyone for a late bet on Paetongtarn being proposed though? That would be the way to get around senators indicating they wouldn't vote for Srettha. I'm sure they'll do as they're told though.