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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

"Pheu Thai does not need a new leader because Thaksin is already the real leader": Chalerm

By Somroutai Sapsomboon

The Nation

Published on July 6, 2009

Chalerm Yoobamrung, chairman of MPs under the Pheu Thai Party, says there's no need to find a new party leader because everyone already believes that the real head honcho is former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"Thaksin fever is very strong. So, we should let Yongyuth [Wichaidit] remain in the party leader's position. We don't need to find his replacement because Thaksin's red-hot popularity will overshadow everybody," Chalerm said.

Other leading party members are reportedly searching for a new figure to lead the party for the next election.

However, Chalerm told The Nation in an interview that no one could erase the public perception that Thaksin is the de facto decision-maker.

"No matter who will rise up to the party's helm, the people know that he or she is not the real leader. The new leader may be the legal leader but he or she will not be the real one."

The key factor helping Pheu Thai to sweep the recent by-elections in Sakon Nakhon and Si Sa Ket was the party's offering of Thaksin in its direct-sales campaigns, he said.

"We have a good product so we should sell it openly. Why should we be shy about the product? In marketing terms, we could make a profit from this product so why not?

"I don't see any disadvantage in offering Thaksin as our selling point. We should regard this as us selecting the right product. Other products would not be worth the investment," Chalerm said.

During last-stretch campaigning in Sakon Nakhon, Chalerm declared on stage that Thaksin is the real leader of Pheu Thai. He told voters to elect the Pheu Thai candidate if they wanted to help Thaksin return home.

If the party assigned him to lead campaigns for the next election, he had a clear message ready.

"If voters elect Pheu Thai candidates to more than half of the House's seats, we will form a one-party government. If I become the prime minister, I'll take six months to issue laws and executive decrees to pardon all those that were affected by the September 19, 2006 coup so that everything can be started anew."

Pheu Thai would propose Thaksin as its economic team leader to compete against the Democrat's team, seeking to become the next government to tackle the economic crisis, he said.

The Thaksin economic team would comprise Olarn Chaipravat, a former deputy prime minister, deputy Pheu Thai leader Parnpree Phahitthanukorn, who is in charge of economic affairs for the party, former finance minister Suchart Thamrongnawasawat, Surapong Towichakchaikul, an economic expert of the party, and former commerce minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan.

"Now, political parties are fighting over economic issues. For the economic issues, if we don't offer Thaksin as the selling point, whom should we?" Chalerm said.

But if Pheu Thai really wants to elect a new leader, Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's sister, is the most suitable person because of three reasons, he said.

She is young, she is good at business because she has run over Bt100 billion worth of businesses, and Thaksin's charisma would rub off on her leadership.

While Yingluck was considered as fitting for the top party post, Chalerm was not reticent about saying he should be the next prime minister if Thaksin's supporters wanted to help the former premier come back home.

"The prime minister does not need to be the party leader. It will be fine if the party can find another prime minister's choice but if the party gives the post to me, I'll need only six months to issue new laws to grant amnesty to all sides. There are several capable persons in Thailand, but very few of them are brave enough [to take on the challenge as PM]."

Personal reasons prevented him from being ready to hold the party's reins but he could not elaborate. He said that would not inhibit his ability to work for the party.

He said he will leave politics at age 65 and he is now 63. He would not defect from Pheu Thai before his retirement.

Earlier, it was reported that former Senate speaker Manoonkrit Rupakhachorn, former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh or Pracharaj Party leader Snoh Thienthong would be made the next Pheu Thai leader.

Chalerm said the Democrat-led government had lacked tangible achievements to show for its half year in power.

"Abhisit is good only at studying but he does not know how to work. Some said Abhisit should be allowed to remain in office so that his performance could be compared to that of Thaksin. But I'll say the longer he stays in office, the more dead meat he will become. By now, he is 90 per cent dead," Chalerm said.

In the past people were not sure whether Abhisit was good at working, but the public lost hope in him after he became the prime minister, Chalerm said.

Not only would northeastern people have no faith in Abhisit but also all people nationwide, especially businessmen, he said.

"I can tell that Thaksin became more outstanding when Abhisit became the prime minister. Thaksin was less outstanding when Samak [sundaravej] and Somchai [Wongsawat] were the prime ministers.

"Six months after taking office, Abhisit has failed to solve problems so it's a good time for the people to miss Thaksin, so I decided to offer Thaksin as Pheu Thai's selling point," Chalerm said.

If the next election was held within a year, Pheu Thai could capture House seats in all northeastern provinces except Buri Ram and Nakhon Ratchasima, he said.

Buri Ram is the stronghold of Newin Chidchob, the de facto leader of the Bhum Jai Thai Party, while Nakhon Ratchasima is the dominion of Suwat Liptapanlop, a key leader of the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party.

While Newin's Bhum Jai Thai cannot compete against the Pheu Thai for House seats in the Northeast, Pheu Thai will not underestimate the Bhum Jai Thai, Chalerm said.

"Someone has grown in his political career because of Thaksin's charisma, not because of his own charisma, but he got the illusion that he grew up because of himself. His illusion has been proved wrong," Chalerm said, referring to Newin.

The Democrats and Bhum Jai Thai would not be able to join forces to wipe out Thaksin's influence in the Northeast, he said.

"They can try but they won't be successful because the sky is closed for the Democrats in the Northeast. They can borrow Newin's hand but he has no hands left after he lost two by-elections," Chalerm said.

"It will bode well for us if Bhum Jai Thai joins hands with the Democrats to try to make inroads into the Northeast. In that case, I'll tell voters that Bhum Jai Thai is a part of the Democrats. If they do that, all of them will be dead politically," he said.

The government may last until year-end but it would dig a deeper hole for itself the longer it stays in office, he said.

"No government can survive if the people are in hardship. And the government has failed to come up with new ideas to tackle the problems during the past six months. It copied the populist schemes of Thaksin. The situation has changed but the government still uses the same old obsolete measures to deal with the problems."

Pheu Thai could snatch half of Bangkok's House seats in the next election, leaving the rest for the Democrats, as Pheu Thai's stability has been bolstered by the two by-election victories, he said.

"Earlier, some party members hesitated and pondered hard about leaving but now everyone wants to join Pheu Thai," Chalerm said.

There was nothing to be afraid about offering Thaksin as the party's selling point because it is not illegal to do so, he said.

"In the past, we changed our name from Thai Rak Thai to People Power and then to Pheu Thai. If our party is dissolved again, we'll change the name to the Thaksin Party.

"We have to make it clear instead of being shy. We have a good product so we have to sell it," Chalerm said, laughing.

-- The Nation 2009/06/07

Chilling! The lunatics in charge of "Bedlam" (Where is "geriactkid"??)

A disinterested person reading the comments calling for Thaksin's demise or comparing him to Kim Il Jung and Hitler, would wonder as to the sanity of such people making these wild and exaggerated statements. Do you people ever stop to consider what your comments reflect? Whatever, Mr. Thaksin's sins and faults they are no more than many of the people currently in power. And yet, I do not see any of you clamouring for the death of various military generals or condemning various ministers past and present.

I would have respect for your views if they were at least consistent. Thaksin is an easy target. However, I dare any of you brave self appointed defenders of democracy to go and confront one of the army generals and tell him what your views are. You won't because you are scared of the ramifications. Instead you piss all over Thaksin because like good bullies you can get away with it. The constant cheap shots at the people of Isaan, the Redshirts and Thaksin speak to your arrogance and ignorance.

People do not follow a leader like Mr. Thaksin unless they feel disenfranchised and without hope. Treat the supporters of Thaksin with dignity and respect and stop exploiting them, and you will see Mr. Thaksin's support disappear. More importantly, I defy any of you to put your identities behind your pleas for Mr. Thaksin's death in a public statement, such as a newspaper ad, instead of hiding in an anonymous forum tossing cheapshots. You won't because you are cowards. Talk is cheap. If you are that unhappy go out in public, stand up and say something.

Sir,

We are entitled to our opinion...under the "belov'd leader" a bully boy or two would have been around to our newspaper with various threats to put up and shut up!

A "piffle" on your offended sensibilities! The man (and I use that word against my better judgment) is and was a liar and a thief, his megalomania and corruption dam_n'd near broke this country of hard working, land deprived, mis-used peasants (and I use the word in the "Chinese" sense, proud country folk) in order to enrich himself, his family, his cronies, his classmates and his extended Clan, then had the cheek to blame everyone else for his troubles.

Sir, you have hitched yourself to the wrong horse for all of the wrong reasons.

The fact that a court of law believed them and jailed the perpetrators should be enough for you. They had the evidence before them (which you do not) and acted accordingly. Remember also they were awarded compensation by the courts.

This is a key point, worth emphasizing. The court did rule against the perpetrators. For sure the judge had more facts available than any of us do. There's not much reason to assume bias, so the girls probably were victims of a crime to some extent.

What I think happened is that the women were well aware of the nature of the business before signing up, but were then surprised by unexpectedly harsh conditions once they got there (different than the original deal). Given Asian business practices, wouldn't be the first time.

The fact that some girls are in Bahrain of their own free will, doing great and getting along well with the management is interesting, but proves nothing. Seems like this particular group of girls ran into criminal operators, and basically got cheated. That's what the Thai court thinks.

By the same token, if this was an extreme case of slavery and abuse of innocent unsuspecting girls (as some posters suggest), I think the punishment would have been harsher, even in Thai court.

At last.....common sense...alas, some posters wouldn't wake up if a country outhouse fell on them....brick by brick!

in general I am not really impressed with any embassy operating abroad, not with Western Embassies and not with Thai embassies. Their normal point of view is one of "som nam naa" and your own problem. Chapeau therefore that this embassy has reacted in a decent and great manner. Human trafficking should be stopped at all cost.

where does human trafficking begin and end? Should young girls in Shan State in Burma not be allowed a helping hand (paid for, of course) to make it across the border into Thailand? I know many stories of girls ending up in Thailand to a far better life than they would have otherwise have known in Burma. Most of the millions of Burmese living in Thailand would never be here without "human trafficking". So why stop it at all costs? In what capacity are you to stop any other human being's choice to do what they see as an improvement to their lot? Before you want to stop something at all cost you first have to define what "human trafficking" is.

I would argue that many human traffickers do a better job at solving world poverty than any fat UN bureaucrat. Just what have they ever done for the Burmese people?

Furthermore, I don't believe that there are many Thai girls so gullible as to believe that in such circumstances, they were heading to supply anything other than sexual services. Thais are a lot less stupid than many farangs give them credit for.

Hear hear....Well said that man

A happy day for democracy in Thailand!

And one of its premier proponents:

Chalerm and sons...

Just a little VX gas...nobody would notice...policemens wives could sleep at night knowing their husbands would come home?

11 provinces warned of heavy rains, flash floods

BANGKOK: -- The Meteorological Department Friday warned residents of 11 provinces to brace themselves against heavy rains and flash floods.

In its daily forecast issued at 4 am, the department said Chiang Rai, Phayao, Sukhothai, Phetchabun, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Phetchaburi, Ranong, Chumphon and Phang Nga could see heavy rains, possibly leading to flash floods.

The heavy rains would be unleashed by a high pressure ridge over the North and upper Northeast, the department said.

-- The Nation 2009-05-29

Any wonder there is flash flooding in these provinces, if they are anything like Nan province with it's massive forest clearence and scrapeing hillsides totally clear of any and all vegetation. I think the people know better...they just don't give a dam_n!

I love it, the police say 34 were girls hahaha and who were the other 34, Aliens ?

Awwwww so sweet, Thai boys taking their girl friends for a trip to the zoo. 1 2 3 awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

It must be love, love love...

Bloody killjoys, probably M4 & M5 's having an adult day out...a victimless crime...wowsers!

So is it illegal for a husband to loan his wife money ?

"If the Thai spouse has enough money to buy the house that is fine, but if the Thai has no money and uses money given to him or her by a foreigner to acquire property, that is against the law. If we check and find out later that a Thai person has been using money from a foreigner to buy land anywhere in Thailand, we will revoke title deeds," he said."

As many will tell you, YES! It is illegal for you to give or lend your wife money to buy property, in fact if she buys a property she has to prove that she bought the property with her own money, which was aquired before the marriage!

I thought everyone with a marriage visa knew that??

The number of unsolved cases is much lower than the 2500/3000 number.

from the human right watch report 2004:

After the putsch, the junta runs an independent committee to investigate the killings. They did not found or prove with evidence that higher ups are involved.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/01/16...al_30062378.php

there is no doubt that the police isn't corrupt , but to celebrate it as a victory against Taksin, that after 5 years the DSI is going to check some cases is nothing more than delusional and propaganda.

It is sad and a shame that it did take so long time to start the investigation and we can hope that these culprits in the Kalasin police got exposed, indicted and finally convicted.

But blame everything on Thaksin is just too easy and it is not earnest or diligent or advocacy of human rights. It is ugly hypocrisy, nothing more.

Everyone who still comes with that 2500/3000 figure and blamed it solely on Thaksin is a disinformated, clueless naive or a liar and propagandist.

Take an Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) or Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) article, or a blog entry by Awzar Thi (a member of these organisations) - real true advocates of human right, the once that expose the war on drug crimes since they happened, so take an new fresh article statement and look and what they say to some current development and the human right problems in Thailand. Post them and look at the reaction you get from the self-declared advocates of snakehead hunting, wannabe judges, self-righteous fighters for the truth to be known.

The victims of the war on drugs are for them just welcomed cases for their personal hate and smear campaign. How low that is.

Think carefully HT, you're arguing over guesstimated figures...fair enough, but how logical is it that "drug lords" would kill hundreds of their lower echelon to avoid being fingered as "drug lords" when it would be easier to finger them as murderers?

What on earth would you gain by killing your own people, what would it do to your credibility amongst your peers?

Surely, just leaving the country, like so many modern politicians do, would have solved the problem!

Sorry HT deep, penetrating logic does not seem to be your forte. It might be best if you stick to pickling herring??

Those of us who were in the country when K. Taksin geed up the police to "arrest" known drug dealers knew that it would be abused by all and sundry...It got so bad that even people who had sold their house were terrified of a police squad banging on the door at midnight and being one of the "disappeared" by morning.

Hundreds of people were killed because they had "unexplained wealth", the police didn't bother to investigate they just went out and killed them, with the PM's approval...remember when he was asked by the media how far the police should go...his reply was along the lines of "if they have nothing to hide, why should they run?"

I think the question should be...Where do they get these Psychopaths in the first place? Surely they should become obvious in any Psych test to join the service? To kill without thought is not natural or normal, soldiers don't kill indiscriminately, loading people onto trucks face down and then piling other people on top is only stupid, not psychotic?

To solve the problem, have a truth and reconciliation commission, clean the slates, fire the mentally ill and move on!

Why not use that that island in Montenegro that Thaksin's buying?

It would stop him getting lonely.

Yea good idea,

and when he's feeling bored he can bump a few of em off like the good old days

I know a guy who has 2 sons that would be perfect for the job of guards, they've not been in the army and they've not been in the police force and the both are very handy with their drivers pistols?

edited by mario2008

[

'MIA FARANG': When Harry weds Somsri, business blooms

The Nation, Published on Jun 14, 2004

Thai women who marry Westerners are now being looked up to, instead of down at

KHON KAEN - To the many thousands of Isaan women who leave their villages and end up marrying a foreigner, being a mia farang has it burdens. Some have to tolerate insults, all have to bear a certain stigma.

But the reality behind marrying outside their culture is the economic and social advantages it brings to the country, and this is finally being recognised by provincial authorities in a surprising and practical way.

They will also be asked to persuade their husbands' friends and families to visit Thailand to help boost tourist arrivals, the governors say.

The phenomenon of the mia farang has been well noted for decades among the households of the region, but it has been very much a taboo subject at community level and above. But that is all changing as the economic reality of marrying a foreigner sets in.

To Thais, especially in rural areas, a commonly held prejudice of a Thai woman walking with a Westerner is that the woman must be in the sex industry and the man her customer. It might be grossly unfair, but that is the perceived wisdom.

But now the first mia farang club has been founded in Roi Et and similar ones are in the pipeline in most provinces of the Northeast.

The clubs will be initiated by the provincial governors and officially recognised, Roi Et Governor Nopporn Jantarathong told The Nation.

"We have invited [the mia farang] to be official guests for our bunpavet - an annual Isaan Buddhist ceremony - and to wear Thai silk dress, like at other provincial ceremonies," Nopporn said, giving just one example of how the province recognises the contribution of the foreign husbands to the mia farang's family.

"It is a historical and drastic change," he said. "These women have been looked at in a negative light for too long, but it is a fact that they exist and they are not a problem.

"To the contrary, they bring in foreign currency and have boosted the province's economy for decades. Why shouldn't they be recognised positively," the CEO governor said in explaining his decision to set up the Roi Et club, known officially as Mae Ban Ruam Jai Club (housewives come together).

Khon Kaen Governor Jade Thanawat said his province will set up a club similar to the one in Roi Et by next April when most of the wives bring their Western husbands to their home towns.

"We are trying to work out the best form of cooperation between the province and the mia farang. The club is one very interesting form," Jade said.

However, he accepted that giving official recognition to mia farang might be too sensitive an issue for many people and could lead to opposition from more conservative elements of society.

"Therefore we have to spend some time studying it carefully before announcing the policy," he added.

In Roi Et, there has been no such hesitation. Governor Nopporn said he is planning to give even more recognition to the province's mia farang by holding an official "wedding ceremony" for them in the province.

"It is to send a message that they are now honoured by the governor. Looking at what they have done for the country, they deserve this honour," he said.

Roi Et resident Athika Sarawithee, chairman of Roi Et's mia farang club, said she is very happy with the policy.

"The recognition is very important to us. We have been looked at negatively for too long," she said. Athika is currently running for the Tambon Administrative Organisation (TAO) in her home town.

Nopporn said the new policy had been running since February and he was now evaluating the number of extra visitors and the amount of Otop products sold.

"I have seen some women bringing as many as four groups of visitors with them this year," he said.

Anthika said communication among the club's members was still poor as many of the members live abroad.

The issue is attracting more and more interest from local academics and non-government organisations. Some of them are planning to conduct a series of studies on the impact of mia farang, especially the cultural and social aspects.

Kamol Sukin, Sumalee Phopayak

The Nation

------------

Vast potential to be exploited

A recent survey by the National Economic and Social Development Board's (NESDB) northeastern office found that more than 15,000 women from the region had married foreigners (two of the 15 provinces have yet to be surveyed).

"They met their husbands while working to survive economically in Bangkok and in tourism towns like Phuket, Pattaya, Samui, Hua Hin and Udon Thani," the survey said.

"Annually, these women bring at least Bt40 billion in foreign currency into the country - about 6 per cent of the region's total GDP - through their present lifestyle, and they also visit Thailand at least once a year. It would be a lot more if we could make them visit more frequently or convince their husbands' relatives and friends to visit their homes too," Decha Vanichvarod, director of the NESDB's regional office said.

I've edited this quote for berevity...Phrae Province has just started the equivilant of a "Farang Club" and Chiang Mai has one that has 16,000 members...I think the exercise of getting your collective heads out of your fundamental orifices might be beneficial to all!

Their are thousands of Thai women married to foreigners, whether they were "Secretaries" or "nurses" or whatever is beside the point...they generally make better wives than (please excuse) "white women" as they respect their husbands even if they're not wealthy...look around in any Ozy, US or european city and see the smiling faces of working class Thai women walking with working class men...isn't this what its all about??

Thank you Mr Yoobamrung.

You are a good citizen of the kingdom.

I appreciate your effort to catch fugitives from justice.

It is only through the civic actions of Khun Yoobamrung and his brave, intelligent family that Thailand can hold it's head up, with pride, in the international arena...Belov'd leader Taksin should praise the diety for the good fortune of having this trustworthy, noble, paragon of virtue in his camp!

(Is my medicine ready yet?)

50 million baht? That's what, about US$1.5 million. Don't think it would go far in the real world when you're on the run.

When you're on a salary of about ฿9,000 a month you can hide for a long time with Bt50 mil.

Worm turning time??

And who shot dead these poor innocent girls at point bank range? A Thai male - for sure.

A story like this would be a HUGE HUGE story in the UK and Fleet Street would remorsefully follow it for weeks - if not months - but here in Thailand - it will be lucky if it gets a few column inches in any of BKKs dailies - before it is buried for good -

It may not have received much attention on this website, but the story has definitely been covered in the newspapers. The last I read, it was suggested that the two girls were killed by a relative who may have entered the house looking for some papers regarding some family dispute over land.

Aaaah! The drunken uncle lurches in, the girls give him an earfull, he takes his woes out on the innocent?

"Drunken uncles" the bane of Thailand...just a guess?

when oh when will Thailand introduce a Health and Safty

With a sense of invincibility typical of youth, the group ignored the warnings, Mr Sakda explained.

all to common with Thai Youth, even more notable when they drive motorbikes ! ,

Young men and women know that they're immortal, that's why they do what they do... join the army etc.

With a rocket? How artistic

New Skytrain route over river begins operation; commuters get three-month free ride

BANGKOK: -- A new extension of the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) or so-called Skytrain connecting Thonburi with downtown Bangkok goes into operation today, helping commuters avoid notorious traffic jams from the Taksin Bridge to Sathorn Road while effortlessly crossing the busy Chao Phrya River.

The new 2.2 kilometer elevated train extension route from Saphan Thaksin station to Wong Wian Yai is Thailand's first BTS train running across the river to facilitate people living on the Thonburi side wishing to travel to the main business areas of the city.

A free ride on the route is also offered to the public during the first three months it was announced after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva presided over the launching of the new route.

He told reporters the government will go ahead with electric train route extensions to cover all areas of the city of Bangkok.

Public transportation development is an urgent policy priority for the government and necessary to help stimulate the economy, he said.

-- TNA 2009-05-15

What took them so long? The infrastructure had been installed over a year ago...Oh yeah! They couldn't work out who would get a slice of the train buying pie

If Cambodia's Royal Oxen are correct - prices for rice could be soon on the rise .

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/1...amp;twt=thelede

Cambodia's Royal Oxen Forecast Poor Rice Crop

And only a fool would doubt the "Royal Cambodian Oxen"!

http://www.notthenation.com/

It's a pity that most of TV's bloggers wont understand it

My wife has a habit of not throwing things away. Even things such as broken TV remotes she insists on keeping.

For this reason, one day I let her know just what a hoarder she is..........

Even to this day, I swear at times I can hear the echo from the hand to face (mine) connection.

Well, it could have been worse...

This is a great thread...apart from the wan--r further up!

Pay attention...I'll only say this once!

When you transfer your money from your country of official residence, transfer it in the original currency into your Thai account, where the bank will gladly change into Thai Baht. The money will arrive within 24 hours.....You only pay the initial transfer cost usually $20-$30 regardless of the amount! Then you can take the Thai Baht out of any ATM and only pay the ฿20 standard fee! On the upside, your money is changed at the T\T rate (which is the best you can get!). OK?

So your saying that I can't access the money for 24 hours if you transfer from country of residence? If you take the money out of the bank you transfer it into say the Siam bank, if you withdraw from there ATM's you DON'T pay the 20 baht charge only if withdrawn from another bank i.e. Kasakorn or am I wrong again

No, what I am saying is that the money normally takes from "instant" to "24 hours" to transfer depending on what time you do the transfer from your home bank...You need to have the money transfered into a Thai account...then you pay the normal Thai charges for every withdrawel, you don't get slugged 150 baht for every withdrawel plus the home bank charge for an "another bank ATM" and the charge for transfering to a foreign bank! OK?

GUNS DON'T KILL.....PEOPLE DO

... and people kill more with guns (when available)

Perish the thought that I might disagree with you but buddy, I think you're wrong...Take the UK for example, the English olympic pistol team have to practice in France because it's against the law to posses a pistol for any reason! Just take a look at the crime figures for the UK.

The usual weapon of choice is the kitchen knife...places where guns are freely available have remarkably less anti personal crime as more people take responsibility for their own defence! IMVHO

Are u really saying that the anti-personal crime rate is less in Thailand and the USA than in the UK?

No, what I am saying is that in places in the US where it is allowable that a citizen can legally carry a pistol there is much, much less anti personal behavior.

The amount of anti personal crime is neither here nor there, what is important is, what is the weapon of choice? All over the world it is usually what ever comes to hand, a kitchen knife, wielded by a member of the family or a close friend?

Licenced, lawfully owned pistols are rarely used in crime. They are usually expensive to buy and difficult to posses!

GUNS DON'T KILL.....PEOPLE DO

... and people kill more with guns (when available)

Perish the thought that I might disagree with you but buddy, I think you're wrong...Take the UK for example, the English olympic pistol team have to practice in France because it's against the law to posess a pistol for any reason! Just take a look at the crime figures for the UK.

The usual weapon of choice is the kitchen knife...places where guns are freely available have remarkably less anti personal crime as more people take responsibility for their own defence! IMVHO

Update:

3 Thais killed, 1 Swedish woman injured in shootings near Khao Sarn Road

BANGKOK: -- A Thai man shot and killed his wife and two other Thais near Khao Sarn Road Monday night and accidentally shot and injured a Swedish tourist, police said.

The shootings occurred on the Tanao Road.

Police said the Thai man, Surapan Kritsamphan 44, went to see his ex-wife, Yupadee Laphanan, 35, while she was selling clothes at her shop to try to mend their relationship.

But when she refused to mend the tie, the man became angry and opened fire at her, their son, Polkrit Kritsamphan, 19, and her new boyfriend, Arkom Surojwong, 33.

Yupadee and Polkrit died at the scene. Arkom died on his way to a hospital.

Surapan fled the scene.

The Swedish tourist, Karin Matiweka, 21, was shot once on her back. She was rushed to the Vatchiraj Hospital and is now safe.

-- The Nation 2009-05-05

"Surapan fled the scene".

He killed his ex wife and his son...jeeeze! A gun in Thailand can cost around THB 80K, where would the husband of a clothes seller get that sort of money?

Of course he fled the scene...all pride, no shame!

Pay attention...I'll only say this once!

When you transfer your money from your country of official residence, transfer it in the original currency into your Thai account, where the bank will gladly change into Thai Baht. The money will arrive within 24 hours.....You only pay the initial transfer cost usually $20-$30 regardless of the amount! Then you can take the Thai Baht out of any ATM and only pay the ฿20 standard fee! On the upside, your money is changed at the T\T rate (which is the best you can get!). OK?