kimamey

That will be nice comfort, that the PM will keep people informed!

That was my first thought. I don't really know if this is going to be a problem for the kingdom in the longer term or not but it seems a bit different from the approach taken when there was concern about the downturn in Europe and the effect that would have on Thai exports and therefore its economy. Then it was a case of don't worry as we have plans to deal with that problem. Now it's a case of we will tell you about the problems. That seems to suggest they have no idea or no intention of doing anything about it.

This isn't so much of a problem if they're planning on the economy growing though domestic consumption although if inflation grows that may be more difficult. It will be better if you need to import a lot as well but that may not be so good for the Thai economy.

From my own point of view it's bad as ~I will be needing to move money from the UK very soon.

They will have to cut interest rates here soon.

That's a possibility I suppose. It might make it easier for those who have stretched themselves buying a new car under the tax rebate scheme. Or any other borrowing as well to be honest.

Bravo, Khun Abhisit!!!!

I haven't looked at these disputes closely enough to decide one way or the other although I do sense that Abhisit is being a little nationalistic over the temple but surely he's getting this all wrong. He seems to be giving a statement that on the face of it seems to be measured, knowledgeable and worthy of further scrutiny. Shouldn't the correct response in the current political climate be ' I don't know anything about that'. 'I haven't be told about that'. 'I will set up 5 committees to report back next year so I can pass it on to somebody else who will make a decision'.

Isn't Hun Sen getting his ex Thai PMs mixed up here?

No.

Abhisit has one tired and failed argument using Nationalism as a way to beat the democratically elected government. Let it go son. How is he still leader of the opposition anyway?

Because the opposition want him to be leader as far as I remember.

At least he's leading his party from within Thailand.

Well this is certainly educational for me. I never realised that transgenders had no sense of humour.

When was this letter sent? The advert ran from the 28th December to 13 January and they're sending a letter now? Have they only just noticed?.

Maybe they were too busy getting unsuspecting males (probably farang) to buy stuff in Ikea.

do you trust those eyes ...

Do we trust that it's those eyes we have to trust?

That will be nice comfort, that the PM will keep people informed!

That was my first thought. I don't really know if this is going to be a problem for the kingdom in the longer term or not but it seems a bit different from the approach taken when there was concern about the downturn in Europe and the effect that would have on Thai exports and therefore its economy. Then it was a case of don't worry as we have plans to deal with that problem. Now it's a case of we will tell you about the problems. That seems to suggest they have no idea or no intention of doing anything about it.

This isn't so much of a problem if they're planning on the economy growing though domestic consumption although if inflation grows that may be more difficult. It will be better if you need to import a lot as well but that may not be so good for the Thai economy.

From my own point of view it's bad as ~I will be needing to move money from the UK very soon.

Incinerators would produce smoke and pollute the air more in the City.

Toilets would have to be cleaned, who is gonna clean them?

Immigrants maybe as Thais are too expensive now.

"The prime minister said projects in various clusters in the provinces had to respond to the national strategies."

Can some one explain that to me maybe I am wrong but it sure sounds like gobbledegook to me.

I think it means it's nothing to do with us if it goes wrong. It clearly puts the responsibility on the 'projects in various clusters in the provinces'.

I assume the government is just responsible for the money and it's distribution. You can make your own assumptions about that.

If the "originals" weren't so expensive then there would be no need to pirate books / CD's, etc.

There's the root problem.

Of course the counter to that is it wouldn't need to be so expensive if everyone paid for it. I'm not sure why government agencies should be entitled to buy at only 20% of the price.

This will be combined with hazardous waste caused by cheap and substandard goods that are imported to Thailand

Which will also be combined with the hazardous waste caused by cheap and substandard goods that are produced in Thailand.

It makes you wonder if these people are talking about some other Thailand, a land of zero pollution, no waste, spotless beaches and sea, and rivers filled with crystal clear waters.

I have read the tourist brochures also.

"The rising number of tourists might also lead to more waste and water pollution, especially since Thailand is only able to dispose of about 36 per cent of its garbage properly and 20 per cent of its wastewater, he added".

dam_n tourists, time for a crackdown on tourist arrivals.

Can I assume that the other 64% of garbage is dumped on the side of the roads and in canals poluting the water and rice fields. I guess 80% of the sewage is produced by the record number of tourists arriving every year, so they just dump it into the tourist beaches, the tourists produce it, so they can swim in it.

Why don't they just issue (or even sell if they must) every tourist a little paper bag and a pooper scooper so they can clean up thier dump and take it home with then in thier suitcases?.

That's a good idea. It'll make it a lot easier to smuggle stuff. Customs aren't going to be in a hurry to check those suitcases.

If ever a proof of the sheer xenophobia of the Thais was needed, this report says it all. Every sin imaginable is thrown at all and sundry, from "cheap, shoddy goods" to tourists having the audacity of using the toilet during their visit! Yes, it's everybody's fault except the Thais!

As others have said, just wait till the AEC actually kicks in and then listen to the screams of outrage from the pampered cartels and monopolies who have grown fat on protectionism.

I think you are right.

it will be like watching Alf Garnett

I don't think so. I used to think that was a really funny show but now I realise it was reasoned, educated social debate.

Intyteresting how the countries that are always rushing to defend certain poor oppressed people are absent from the listing? Where are arab countires, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, Iran, Cuba, Venezuala, Bolivia, Russia and China?????

I demand that Turkey sponsor a freedom flotilla to bring these poor refugees medicine, cement and weapons. childrens toys.

I don't think it works the same for them. If you see an emergency situation involving their own people or religion then yes you'll see some action otherwise there's less interest.

AV is enough of a heavyweight to have the current Government, the Red Shirts and the Authorities running around in a bit of a panic...

I think they might refer to him as a nuisance.

Abhisit et al should now start to really apply some pressure to these lackies, get after them while they still have their tails well and truly between their legs. Wonder how long before we hear from the fugitive mouthing off in their defence, "they were only doing their job, it had nothing to be with me - bla bla bla"

I cant understand how anyone believes that Abhisit is some political heavyweight ( 'get after them'). Hes only a lightweight lackey who took orders from someone above!!!!!!!

So you agree that he wasn't responsible for the orders to shoot demonstrators in 2010. I'm sure he'll be glad of your support.

As for being a lightweight, that's debatable. His main problem seems to be the party he's a member of which has a problem in winning elections. If he were given the backing to change things that might change.

He's obviously too heavyweight for the current PM as she's scared to debate with him. Not that you can blame her as he's a politician who's stood in elections before he became a party list MP. Yingluck isn't really in the same league as she's never stood in an election and her only experience that relates to her current job as far as I can see is that she got her last job through her brother as well.

It remains to be seen if she can stand up to him and work for the country instead. At the moment she's only a lightweight pretty lackey who takes orders from someone above.

Seems quite a few quite here keen on Muslim Immigration, so have you been lobbying your home governments to increase Muslim Immigration and non-integration there?

In the past while I lived there yes I did lobby for the humane treatment of persecuted people admitted into the country regardless of their religion.

When I was working in the UK I was surrounded by Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus amongst others. I never found them a problem any more than anyone else. There are problem ones but they aren't the majority.

by deporting them you mean put them in a boat with no food, water or oars then dragging them out 10km and leaving them there... isn't that what the Shinawatra family like to do with these kinds of people?

You seem to be mistaken, it's what Abhisit ordered done with them.

In January 2009 Thailand’s National Security Council, led by then-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, authorized the navy to intercept incoming Rohingya boats and detain the passengers before pushing them back to sea. Later that year, Thai security forces were captured on video towing boats with Rohingya out to sea, which the government initially denied, but which Abhisit later conceded, saying, “I have some reason to believe some of this happened.” While the recent “help on” strategy has meant that intercepted boats are re-provisioned, the Thai navy is still pushing back to sea boats filled with Rohingya, with some deadly results.

http://www.hrw.org/n...gya-boat-people

I thought that myself but wasn't sure so thanks for your input. I would class myself as an Abhisit supporter and I certainly don't like the Shinawatras or their party but you can't hide from the truth.

That's a very sporty looking taxi.

Thanks I hadn't noticed that. Maybe it pays better than we thought. Not sure I'd want to risk riding in it though not given the way some can drive in a clapped out Toyota.

If you were the accused in the OP then it might be the perfect taxi seeing how it is a $200,000 vehicle.

http://carscoop.blog...es-bangkok.html

Thanks for that.

Mr Thaworn said Mr Tarit and the four other DSI officials put charges against Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep as “ordinary civilians,” not as prime minister and deputy prime minister – their positions while on peace-keeping duty.

Surely, as "ordinary civilians", they had no authority to order the army to do anything, so anything the army did was of it's own accord.

I didn't realise they had charged them as civilians so you've made a good point. I've always wondered why the army went and murdered those people when Abhisit told them to if he was just a puppet of the military. I think this is an example of lack of forward thinking. An all too common occurrence from what I've seen. Just say something and hope nobody notices you've spoken rubbish.

If those who were killed were not there, they would not have died. A case of Som Num Na.

With the exception of course of those who had no choice being there, like soldiers, medics, etc

Probably a valid point.

That's a very sporty looking taxi.

Thanks I hadn't noticed that. Maybe it pays better than we thought. Not sure I'd want to risk riding in it though not given the way some can drive in a clapped out Toyota.

Sukhumphol said the existing measures were adequate but needed improvement.

I'm sure that doesn't make sense.

I think it's already banned but as you say ignored.

Wouldn't think that is the case as there's tens of thousands of converted pick-ups being used as songtaews or 'Baht buses' in Thailand.

It is also legal in Singapore, provided the passengers are seated in the back, the rear is covered and a maximum passenger limit is displayed on the rear of the vehicle.

That's just what I read a while back so don't know if it's true. I think buses may be different as they're covered and have seats. I know it doesn't make much difference to safety but laws are often like that.

I think it's already banned but as you say ignored.

Wouldn't think that is the case as there's tens of thousands of converted pick-ups being used as songtaews or 'Baht buses' in Thailand.

It is also legal in Singapore, provided the passengers are seated in the back, the rear is covered and a maximum passenger limit is displayed on the rear of the vehicle.

This is just something I read a little while ago so I don't know if it's true. I think the buses may be different in that they're covered and have seating. I realise that's not much different but maybe someone else will clarify the law for us.

Google says that white rice will last 4-5years.

Although it says Jasmine rice can last indefinitely if stored correctly.

So, assuming the Thai Government can keep building or finding warehouses, this could go on for many years making several people very rich in the process.

I would assume that a temperature and humidity controlled environment would be a necessity and that insects and vermin would be kept out?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

One source says that rice has a shelf life of 1-30 years, depending on variety, oxygen levels, humidity and temperature. I would imagine that, in warehouses with 30+ C temperatures and 80-90% humidity not to mention an abundance of veevils, as usually found in Thailand, the useful life of the rice would be very near the low end of that range.

Thanks for the information about shelf life. It's as I thought, dependent on many variables.

It's at times like this I wish I had a large hangar at my disposal..........and also, a way of utilizing 3 million tones of rice husks

Apparently, rice husks make good filler for bricks or construction material. But, whoops, that would screw up the cement market. Also used for Biomass for boilers, but then, that would mess up PTT gas business. Oh, what to do with this stuff without messing up someone's market.....

It's funny I was thinking about construction when I was writing my reply to that post but I wasn't sure of the facts so I stuck to my specialist subject. Sarcasm.