Thai at Heart

Seems fair to me...

Though I am sure how they define reckless... did she deliberately ram the bus off the road or was it down to driver inexperience?

The people who were reckless were her parents in allowing her to drive in the first place...

Lets hope this will be a warning to other parents...

She was speeding and underage.

How she avoided a custodial sentence god knows. For thailand 30mn seems a high figure, but I wish the families all the best in getting more. She commited a serious crime.

And you have never exceeded the speed limit... or is it OK for you as you are older???

Just wonder how many TV members living in Thailand let their children drive without the appropriate licences, or do other things which are illegal just because their peers do so, or even do things which are illegal themselves, just because Thai's do...

Let the man without sin cast the first stone.

That's not the point is it. I would expect to be punished if I caused an accident whilst speeding with 9 deaths. If you are speeding, all bets are off. It's illegal.

If you aren't speeding the whole issue of guilt changes. Being underage, she was automatically breaking the law.

Seems fair to me...

Though I am sure how they define reckless... did she deliberately ram the bus off the road or was it down to driver inexperience?

The people who were reckless were her parents in allowing her to drive in the first place...

Lets hope this will be a warning to other parents...

She was speeding and underage.

How she avoided a custodial sentence god knows. For thailand 30mn seems a high figure, but I wish the families all the best in getting more. She commited a serious crime.

Hahaha.

They sent it on headed paper and requested to meet with her.

They didn't ask her out for a coffee at their house did they.....

Are you implying she was ordered--or otherwise pressured--to attend?

Not at all. 2 members of various committees asked her to attend to discuss issues pertaining to these responsibilities to places where these two people carry out their professional responsibilities. They send a letter using official note paper, signed, dated, containing a reference.

And the interpretation is, "she was asked privately".

It's like getting a letter from your doctor asking you to come to the practice to discuss your recent health issues.

And someone claims the request to attend is private.

Or a business calls to offer the boss another training course to follow up on one they attended one year before.

Obviously a private request???

Ah ,competition. It means we can't charge what we like and offer a horrible service.

Damn that pesky competition.

I expect protests.

I think it stands to reason that Thailand does have to stand on it's own 2 feet one day when it comes to educating its own people. I suppose the first step is to "Teach the Teacher" English. Slowly they can progress into teaching the lower classes first then go from their.

But the writing on the wall I see coming here soon is replacing the Native Born English Teachers with lower paid Foreign Teachers, like ones from the Philippines. The quality of English is not as good but there is no doubt there wages will be lower, there hours longer, and the accommodations not as nice.

I personally seen this happen in Poland, when it came out of Communism. By early 1990's very few people spoke English, except at tourist locations. But by then English became very fashionable, and everyone wanted to learn. Many Private English Schools opened up successfully with Native Speaking English Teachers. Teach the Teacher started then and was handled by the British Counsel. English Lesson slowly became part of the early grades in school. By the late 1990's most Polish Teenagers could speak some English, even when there parents couldn't, and some pretty good. Now they employ all Polish Teacher to teach English.

This is quite funny, because in the private sector in the UK, they tout the fact that the languages are taught by native speakers.

Why would I want to learn French from a British person speaking French.

I await the rest of the world appointing farangs to teach Thai...... I mean if Thais are the best equipped to teach English, presumably this goes both ways?

Shouldn't we just worry about all the stuff they spray on it and the toxins in it ? And when I look at the corn ads on fields , is GMO not already in Thailand ? I hate monsanto , they are an evil company.

Yes. The Thai govt did their own trials on GM papaya and allowed it to cross pollinate already.

Looks great, if they would provide a photo.....

For your personal enjoyment. T@H.

saplek.jpgsaplek2.jpgsaplek3.jpg

I won't be adding it to my bucket list.

Pretty obvious it is not an official UE invitation if it had no seals or stamps to indicate it as such. Given the world sees YL and even Thaksin as political targets it is easy to make the assumption that this invitation has nothing to do with the UE. At any rate, with YLs pending court hearing she should not be allowed to leave unless the current gov sees it as a way to be rid of her. In which case they should make her pay a surety bond of a few hundred billion baht.

Its on official paper. What do you want? Candlewax and a cygnet ring?

Believe it or not, unlike in Asia, not everything has to have a stamp to be official......If you think PTP is going around forging letterheads, then they really are playing with fire.Letters from Mps, Presidents and PMs all over the world are sent with no stamp.

A signature is sufficient....

Did you see the EU presidents signature on there ?.

The point you are missing is that it is not an official invitation from the EU Parliament. It is from two blokes who work there asking her informally.

I'm afraid you missed the point once again. Nobody is saying Pheu-Thai have forged the letterhead. They are saying these two guys have been put up to it. The most compelling evidence is that the language they use is more like Asians style rhetoric than anything I normally see in the West, but I wouldn't expect any Thai to realise that.

Don't get your green pants in a twist, explain to your bosses it has never been an official invitation from the EU Parliament... You lot do know the difference between headed paper and stamped right ?

Apparently not.

In Europe they don't have to place a stamp on things for they to be official.

What you are implying is that either these members of parliament have fraudulently produced these letters, someone else in Europe has fraudulently produced these letters or someone in Thailand has fraudulently done so.

Go and exercise your mind a little and Google "letters from Ronald Reagan". Note, the letters have a letter head and a signature. Very standard for letters in the EU. Company or organisation letter head and a signature. Nothing else. The lack of a stamp means nothing.

Not everything needs a stamp for it to be official.

It is on a letterhead from the EU parliament or whatever organisation they represent. If they don't have the right to use it, they have committed fraud. Are you accusing a member of the EU parliament of fraud?

Believe me, people don't need to stamp things in the developed world to make them official, anymore. That went out with the death of candles since not having one to hand meant it was a pain to use a light bulb.

Pretty obvious it is not an official UE invitation if it had no seals or stamps to indicate it as such. Given the world sees YL and even Thaksin as political targets it is easy to make the assumption that this invitation has nothing to do with the UE. At any rate, with YLs pending court hearing she should not be allowed to leave unless the current gov sees it as a way to be rid of her. In which case they should make her pay a surety bond of a few hundred billion baht.

Its on official paper. What do you want? Candlewax and a cygnet ring?

Believe it or not, unlike in Asia, not everything has to have a stamp to be official......If you think PTP is going around forging letterheads, then they really are playing with fire.Letters from Mps, Presidents and PMs all over the world are sent with no stamp.

A signature is sufficient....

Did you see the EU presidents signature on there ?.

The point you are missing is that it is not an official invitation from the EU Parliament. It is from two blokes who work there asking her informally.

I'm afraid you missed the point once again. Nobody is saying Pheu-Thai have forged the letterhead. They are saying these two guys have been put up to it. The most compelling evidence is that the language they use is more like Asians style rhetoric than anything I normally see in the West, but I wouldn't expect any Thai to realise that.

In their positions they can request who the hell they like to come and pass by. There is no obligation to go. It's not a court. This request isn't personal, it is in line with their responsibilities and jobs.

Are you claiming they didn't write it? Are you claiming they have no right to write such a thing? All they ask is that whenever it's convenient that she visit and discuss.

I don't see why everyone has their nickers in a twist. It's a committee member covering Asia asking to have a meeting when it's convenient. It's not a summons.

They will probably ask Abhisit next as a member of the opposition. Not sure they will ask Prayuth. This of course is also made all the harder since basically they can't meet her in Thailand because politics is frozen solid there.

Looks great, if they would provide a photo.....

Pretty obvious it is not an official UE invitation if it had no seals or stamps to indicate it as such. Given the world sees YL and even Thaksin as political targets it is easy to make the assumption that this invitation has nothing to do with the UE. At any rate, with YLs pending court hearing she should not be allowed to leave unless the current gov sees it as a way to be rid of her. In which case they should make her pay a surety bond of a few hundred billion baht.

Its on official paper. What do you want? Candlewax and a cygnet ring?

Believe it or not, unlike in Asia, not everything has to have a stamp to be official......If you think PTP is going around forging letterheads, then they really are playing with fire.Letters from Mps, Presidents and PMs all over the world are sent with no stamp.

A signature is sufficient....

What is the joke in the picture, because I can't really find one in this story.

He lost his foot. Hohoho! and nearly died. Hahaha! boing

If they planned to write it to perpetuate democracy at all costs, they wouldn't need to have an "organ" to deal with a crisis.

If they did it correctly, all the right organisations would be independent, the law would be firm, clear and fair, and the system would take care of itself. Their infernal meddling is what leads to these damn crisis.

Hahaha.

They sent it on headed paper and requested to meet with her.

They didn't ask her out for a coffee at their house did they.....

But why - ignoring your boorish sexist language - do you believe the EU should not wish to have a dialogue with the last truly legitimate Prime Minister? Presumably the EU also wants to send a message to the Junta.Politics are often symbolic anyway.

You may not be an admirer and that is your right, but your peremptory dismissal of what she stands for is in effect a dismissal of the Thai People's judgement.Despite your denials it is rather clear which camp you and your "binary choice" reside in.

I just posted a (link to) meeting report on Thailand, from the European Parliament. Read it, no mention on Ms. Yingluck, but still interesting.

BTW why would the European Parliament President invite the Thaksin clone? Do you think the European Parliament President is blinded by "democracy == elections" to the point of ignoring the influence of a criminal fugitive and his vote buying RPPS scam ?

Personally I would expect the President of the EP to be a bit pragmatic although also in Europe 'das Kapital' still controls decisions.

But Rubl, why would they be blinded, Yingluck did win those elections with an absolute landslide. No ifs or buts are in order, the Thai electorate delivered a very clear message in those elections. Europeans tend to listen and respect such message, unlike the likes of you, who would immediately turn to vote buying policies, an uneducated electorate and more silly excuses.

What do you suggest in return, they inivite some of the NCPO people. People who have taken power by gunpoint, abolished the constitution, replacing it with one that gives them absolute power.

People who send people that criticise them to re-adjustment camps, who curtailed freedom of press and freedom of speach ?

Or who claim to return Thailand to democracy and yet have suggested provisions into the new constitution that would make it a democracy in name only ?

But Sjaak, with all statements by various people including Thaksin, Pheu Thai members, etc., it should be clear to even MPs from the EP that the election had nothing to do with democracy as 'we' know it. 'the Thai electorate' ? You mean the 15m who voted Pheu Thai? With Pheu Thai having said to have paid out 800 billion Baht directly to rice farmers, all 1.4m households participating (out of 3.2m aimed at). Those 3.2m households represented 23% of the population, no figures on what the 1.4m represent. Looks like a classical vote buying exercise with taxpayers being duped.

The EP may want to ask Ms. Yingluck about responsability and accountability plus a bit of transparancy, administration, commissions looking into things. All those elements we accept as part of a democratic system. Well, some of us only I guess.


As for your question who they might invite in return, maybe a few academics respected by both sides and one or two others from 'each side'. On the other hand the meeting report I provided a link to suggest that Thailand hasn't been a democracy for a long time already. Some points raised from decades ago.

As for constitution, interesting that a more 'proportional representation' is rejected by posters here as well as the ability to elect a non-MP as PM in case of parties not being able to agree on one. Even Greece had a judge appointed as PM a few months ago.

The apologists for repression become ever more desperate.

This one trollishly maintains

1.Contrary to all informed opinion the last election in Thailand had nothing to do with democracy.There is no other way to describe this a massive lie.

2.Those Thais who voted for PTP were bribed with populist policies, effectively vote buying.

3.Invoked the irrelevant Greek precedent ( an interim measure for a few weeks) of a non elected PM.No democracy of course would accept this measure in a constitution.

At one time this member used to provide a sensible alternative view.One can only surmise that the emergence of the worst and least legitimate government in living memory has unhinged him.

You can't go around calling any policy that puts money in the pockets of the majority as vote buying.

That is a blatantly misleading statement and doesn't hold up against any scrutiny anywhere in the world.

Political parties offer their supporters financial benefits to vote for them in the way of taxes or benefits all over the world.

It isnt vote buying, it is electioneering and like it or not, legal

Thank you for your contribution.


"You can't go around calling any policy that puts money in the pockets of the majority as vote buying."

Errr ... that's exactly what it is. Unsustainable populist policies. Buying votes by promising more money than you have to give. Dishonest.


As a side note : we will take you more seriously if you don't write your comments like a North Korean press release.

All parties in democracies campaign on the basis of policies they hope will appeal to the electorate.Western countries for example offer the electorate social benefits - and credible critics suggest that these programmes on such a titanic scale cannot be afforded.There is significant waste and excess in this spending but I do not think David Cameron is going to be asked to reimburse these costs personally.

There is nothing like this in Thailand but there is a massive bias in government spending towards urban areas.This is part of the reason why Thailand has one of the most unequal societies in the world.By your logic this urban bias is also populist vote buying except that it tends to work for the parties in hock to the unelected elites.

If a government is fiscally irresponsible whether in supporting the poor or wasting money on corrupt generals ridiculous procurement scams, it is possible in a democracy to kick the bums out and replace it with one more in line with popular feeling.But of course the people are never trusted in Thailand.

As to your North Korean squib my response, kindly meant, is don't try and play out of your league.

Ummmm, a little late unfortunately.

Kannot.

The UK could fix the roads,they just choose not to.

Stock photos.

I am in the UK presently,the roads are atrocious.

My yearly road tax is £290.Screenshot_2015-11-25-09-00-03.pngScreenshot_2015-11-25-08-59-16.pngScreenshot_2015-11-25-08-58-03.png

Have u any idea of the cost of fixing one pot hole and what has happened to local govt funding who are responsible for just about everything other than motorways?

By the way, drive a smaller car, zero Road tax. Your Road tax doesn't go directly to fixing roads.

But why - ignoring your boorish sexist language - do you believe the EU should not wish to have a dialogue with the last truly legitimate Prime Minister? Presumably the EU also wants to send a message to the Junta.Politics are often symbolic anyway.

You may not be an admirer and that is your right, but your peremptory dismissal of what she stands for is in effect a dismissal of the Thai People's judgement.Despite your denials it is rather clear which camp you and your "binary choice" reside in.

I just posted a (link to) meeting report on Thailand, from the European Parliament. Read it, no mention on Ms. Yingluck, but still interesting.

BTW why would the European Parliament President invite the Thaksin clone? Do you think the European Parliament President is blinded by "democracy == elections" to the point of ignoring the influence of a criminal fugitive and his vote buying RPPS scam ?

Personally I would expect the President of the EP to be a bit pragmatic although also in Europe 'das Kapital' still controls decisions.

But Rubl, why would they be blinded, Yingluck did win those elections with an absolute landslide. No ifs or buts are in order, the Thai electorate delivered a very clear message in those elections. Europeans tend to listen and respect such message, unlike the likes of you, who would immediately turn to vote buying policies, an uneducated electorate and more silly excuses.

What do you suggest in return, they inivite some of the NCPO people. People who have taken power by gunpoint, abolished the constitution, replacing it with one that gives them absolute power.

People who send people that criticise them to re-adjustment camps, who curtailed freedom of press and freedom of speach ?

Or who claim to return Thailand to democracy and yet have suggested provisions into the new constitution that would make it a democracy in name only ?

But Sjaak, with all statements by various people including Thaksin, Pheu Thai members, etc., it should be clear to even MPs from the EP that the election had nothing to do with democracy as 'we' know it. 'the Thai electorate' ? You mean the 15m who voted Pheu Thai? With Pheu Thai having said to have paid out 800 billion Baht directly to rice farmers, all 1.4m households participating (out of 3.2m aimed at). Those 3.2m households represented 23% of the population, no figures on what the 1.4m represent. Looks like a classical vote buying exercise with taxpayers being duped.

The EP may want to ask Ms. Yingluck about responsability and accountability plus a bit of transparancy, administration, commissions looking into things. All those elements we accept as part of a democratic system. Well, some of us only I guess.


As for your question who they might invite in return, maybe a few academics respected by both sides and one or two others from 'each side'. On the other hand the meeting report I provided a link to suggest that Thailand hasn't been a democracy for a long time already. Some points raised from decades ago.

As for constitution, interesting that a more 'proportional representation' is rejected by posters here as well as the ability to elect a non-MP as PM in case of parties not being able to agree on one. Even Greece had a judge appointed as PM a few months ago.

The apologists for repression become ever more desperate.

This one trollishly maintains

1.Contrary to all informed opinion the last election in Thailand had nothing to do with democracy.There is no other way to describe this a massive lie.

2.Those Thais who voted for PTP were bribed with populist policies, effectively vote buying.

3.Invoked the irrelevant Greek precedent ( an interim measure for a few weeks) of a non elected PM.No democracy of course would accept this measure in a constitution.

At one time this member used to provide a sensible alternative view.One can only surmise that the emergence of the worst and least legitimate government in living memory has unhinged him.

You can't go around calling any policy that puts money in the pockets of the majority as vote buying.

That is a blatantly misleading statement and doesn't hold up against any scrutiny anywhere in the world.

Political parties offer their supporters financial benefits to vote for them in the way of taxes or benefits all over the world.

It isnt vote buying, it is electioneering and like it or not, legal

Thank you for your contribution.


"You can't go around calling any policy that puts money in the pockets of the majority as vote buying."

Errr ... that's exactly what it is. Unsustainable populist policies. Buying votes by promising more money than you have to give. Dishonest.


As a side note : we will take you more seriously if you don't write your comments like a North Korean press release.

But why - ignoring your boorish sexist language - do you believe the EU should not wish to have a dialogue with the last truly legitimate Prime Minister? Presumably the EU also wants to send a message to the Junta.Politics are often symbolic anyway.

You may not be an admirer and that is your right, but your peremptory dismissal of what she stands for is in effect a dismissal of the Thai People's judgement.Despite your denials it is rather clear which camp you and your "binary choice" reside in.

I just posted a (link to) meeting report on Thailand, from the European Parliament. Read it, no mention on Ms. Yingluck, but still interesting.

BTW why would the European Parliament President invite the Thaksin clone? Do you think the European Parliament President is blinded by "democracy == elections" to the point of ignoring the influence of a criminal fugitive and his vote buying RPPS scam ?

Personally I would expect the President of the EP to be a bit pragmatic although also in Europe 'das Kapital' still controls decisions.

But Rubl, why would they be blinded, Yingluck did win those elections with an absolute landslide. No ifs or buts are in order, the Thai electorate delivered a very clear message in those elections. Europeans tend to listen and respect such message, unlike the likes of you, who would immediately turn to vote buying policies, an uneducated electorate and more silly excuses.

What do you suggest in return, they inivite some of the NCPO people. People who have taken power by gunpoint, abolished the constitution, replacing it with one that gives them absolute power.

People who send people that criticise them to re-adjustment camps, who curtailed freedom of press and freedom of speach ?

Or who claim to return Thailand to democracy and yet have suggested provisions into the new constitution that would make it a democracy in name only ?

But Sjaak, with all statements by various people including Thaksin, Pheu Thai members, etc., it should be clear to even MPs from the EP that the election had nothing to do with democracy as 'we' know it. 'the Thai electorate' ? You mean the 15m who voted Pheu Thai? With Pheu Thai having said to have paid out 800 billion Baht directly to rice farmers, all 1.4m households participating (out of 3.2m aimed at). Those 3.2m households represented 23% of the population, no figures on what the 1.4m represent. Looks like a classical vote buying exercise with taxpayers being duped.

The EP may want to ask Ms. Yingluck about responsability and accountability plus a bit of transparancy, administration, commissions looking into things. All those elements we accept as part of a democratic system. Well, some of us only I guess.


As for your question who they might invite in return, maybe a few academics respected by both sides and one or two others from 'each side'. On the other hand the meeting report I provided a link to suggest that Thailand hasn't been a democracy for a long time already. Some points raised from decades ago.

As for constitution, interesting that a more 'proportional representation' is rejected by posters here as well as the ability to elect a non-MP as PM in case of parties not being able to agree on one. Even Greece had a judge appointed as PM a few months ago.

The apologists for repression become ever more desperate.

This one trollishly maintains

1.Contrary to all informed opinion the last election in Thailand had nothing to do with democracy.There is no other way to describe this a massive lie.

2.Those Thais who voted for PTP were bribed with populist policies, effectively vote buying.

3.Invoked the irrelevant Greek precedent ( an interim measure for a few weeks) of a non elected PM.No democracy of course would accept this measure in a constitution.

At one time this member used to provide a sensible alternative view.One can only surmise that the emergence of the worst and least legitimate government in living memory has unhinged him.

They scream and moan about being apparently at the beck and call of foreigners but jump to attention in a trice when the Chinese ask.

Very telling. Seems to me they have a really hard time working out who they want to be friends with and why.

Love it. Ask the court first, then ask the junta.

Nice heirarchy

We do not want smart people giving opinions. We do not want alternative ideas flooding the brains of our people, especially not young smart people who just might start thinking independently.

Great way to move the country forward into the 21st century. Lets just keep the population dumb enough to be led like sheep.

Never met a smart red-shirt. All the smart Thais I know are anti-red shirt.

Why would a smart person support Thaksin + Pheu-Thai ?. They only stand for corruption.

The smart people stand for reforms ASAP and a government from free and fair elections.

No need to ask which camp you fit into.

"Never met a smart red-shirt. All the smart Thais I know are anti-red shirt."

John, as has been pointed out in a previous post you really should stop embarrassing yourself by writing posts like these. Continuously calling people who are against the junta stupid is just wrong coming from a person who is so clearly not very bright.

"The smart people stand for reforms ASAP and a government from free and fair elections."

What reforms John?? The lottery reforms?

hey, he is a junta-hugger who also happens to be a bigot...

"Never met a smart red-shirt.

I've met a lot of smart red shirts. I've met a lot of smart yellow shirts. EJ is just off-the-chart bonkers. He expects a self-appointed "PM", former general who is in a long line of Thai generals to overthrow governments and install their own junta to lead the country to democracy.

Now of course that is the party-line from the current self-appointed "PM", but "smart people", to borrow the phrase, are smart enough to know better...

I will tell what I have definitely met. An awful lot of arrogant yellows who think the world is set in stone with them on top of the pile.

All those who cheered for the coup and went against the primacy of elections, now have an awkward unintended consequence.

Free speech as long as it supports me. Of course I doubt anyone will dare to rail against this in Thailand because it will lead to re-education.

All u numpties who cheered for the tanks are utter fools.

Although local organizers want top dollar from foreign participants, they are unwilling to provide the same standards and facilities as other similar marathons around the world provide runners.

Pay world class atheletes who are predominantly african to perform in Thailand ??? What do you reckon?

Although local organizers want top dollar from foreign participants, they are unwilling to provide the same standards and facilities as other similar marathons around the world provide runners.

Pay world class atheletes who are predominantly african to perform in Thailand ??? What do you reckon?