kimamey

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

It seems the video is from a camera which is installed in the car.

What does it show before the motorcycle rider gets upset?

Probably there is a reason why she didn't publish that part of the video.

According to the article that seems to be from a phone but she later provided CCTV footage. As you say there's nothing showing what made him stop. I have doubts he would done it deliberately when riding a bike and she should have been further back anyway. Maybe that's why the cop wasn't that interested.

If he finds the person who hit him is the same one who apparently cut him up then that might explain his anger. Shock can be a reason also.

55 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

It appears to be the policy in the UK to go very gently with asylum seekers (read illegal immigrants). Only recently there was a case of someone granted asylum despite committing sexual assault while under consideration. WHY! Then he attacked his former partner and her daughter with a corrosive liquid which severely injured her - and him too because he was an idiot - and he saved everyone a lot of trouble by jumping into the Thames and drowning himself.

Asylum seekers and illegal immigrants are 2 different groups of people.

Asylum seekers have to make themselves known to the authorities in order to claim asylum. They also have to be in the UK to claim asylum except in a few circumstances such as applying though the schemes for those from Hong Kong, Afghanistan and Ukraine.

Illegal immigrants tend to hide rather than present themselves to the authorities. One of the reasons we may be seeing more of them is because now they come over in boats and Nigel Farage can go and film them. They used to hide in lorries and other vehicles and jump out without anyone knowing.

One of the issues has been that there aren't enough legal routes for someone wanting to come to the UK to claim asylum so they have to come illegally and then claim.

1 hour ago, quake said:

 

All adult sex work should be legal in the uk.

if its consenting adults, including brothels, should be all above board.

like any other business, pay tax, paid workers, health and safety. and all that goes with it all.

Better for the girls and gentlemen involved on all sides.

walking the streets is not safe for all the sex workers. 

 

Works ok in other countries, uk should do the same.

 

 

 

 

 

There have been attempts to tackle this but I would imagine there are difficulties in regulating it. I know it happens in other countries but I've not looked at how well it actually works.  I think some at least do pay tax which is how the case accusing the tax office of living off immoral earnings came about. It's probably the higher paid ones as otherwise it would be difficult to explain your lifestyle.

4 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Not if it is soliciting, owning or managing a brothel, pimpng or advertising sexual services!  

So it hasn't really changed from what I said although definitions may have been updated.

5 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

Regardless of whether or not they are upheld for whatever spurious reason (suddenly decided to get baptised, turned gay etc), the system is being abused on an industrial scale, so much so that even someone from Thailand is actually taken seriously for asylum and is allowed to remain in the country.  

I think it's usually based on the law rather than 'spurious reasons'. There are problems with people suddenly becoming gay or religious but I doubt the numbers are as great as papers like the Mail would have you believe. What qualifies as 'an industrial scale'?

Asylum figures are always difficult to interpret as there are so many variables, but it seems that since 2021 the approval rate has been just above 70%, but this is higher than the pre Covid rate. I don't know why this would be. Would those on specialist schemes for those from Hong Kong, Afghanistan and Ukraine be included. I don't know. This would have been at the end of Priti Patel's stint as Home Secretary and the beginning of Suella Braverman's. Maybe they were both too woke.

Obviously none of this applies to this guy who seems to like pushing his luck. I didn't see what what grounds he's given for claiming asylum, but unless it's very good I can't see it succeeding. It's not as if Thailand is dangerous or particularly oppressive.

17 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

Aren't they???

I can't remember the numbers now but according to the last figures I saw from the government, no they aren't. Also a large percentage of appeals against rejection are upheld. That may have changed but I doubt it.

5 hours ago, brianthainess said:

I love to see my home county's flag on display.

Well obviously that needs removing

5 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Not to mention that, oftentimes, I see torn and colour-faded Thai flags. Where is the pride in that?

Yes I've seen that as well. I think it's like a lot of national pride, both here and elsewhere, where it's important if you can use it against someone. 

Many times I've seen a 1 or 2 baht coin on the floor with Thais seeing it but just walking past. I pick it up as it has the king on it and could be trodden on. Plus if I collect enough I can buy myself something 😃

5 hours ago, sungod said:

 

Bad, foreigners (and some locals actually) who support Hamas climb over our monuments and pull down our flag everything weekend now with the full blessing of the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan. 

You may be right but I haven't seen any evidence of Sadiq Khan giving his blessing. If you have then I'd be happy to see it.

17 hours ago, Banana7 said:

Hosting the national flag of any nation comes with responsibilities.  It's not a decoration on or for a building, it is the proud symbol of a nation. The flag should be taken down at sunset and raised to top mast at sunrise. It can be at half or lower mast for extraordinary national events like mourning the death of a Minister, etc..

 

Watch a Police station, military base, or military ship and see the flag timing. It's disrespectful to leave the flag up overnight!

 

It seems like The Jootee Tin Dredging Company needs to show more respect for Thailand's flag by taking care of it seriously, properly and with honour and respect.

 

Maybe the foreigner was showing more respect than the company?

 

Basically it's theft and obviously something that Thais take very seriously, if it's their flag of course. Any other nation's flag, I'm thinking of the UK and US mainly, then make mud flaps out of it or wrap it round your bum, who cares. I'm British and I don't care if people paint it on trucks or make shorts using the image or even a doormat, it's nice to see it, but at least don't use double standards.

If you fly it upside down of course then that's punishable by death. 😄

Very sad.

Maybe if Chinese authorities warn there citizens of these dangers, alongside the others we've seen recently, then hopefully the Chinese will stop coming and tourism will suffer and then it will effect something important enough to get the Thai government to actually take some responsibility.

Money.

On 3/3/2024 at 12:59 PM, impulse said:

 

Zebra crossings in much of the world just convey permission to cross with no fear of a jaywalking violation.  They don't convey right of way.  The traffic signals do that.  Or they don't, if there's no signal there.  There's quite a few zebras in Bangkok that have signals.

 

 

Do you figure traffic would ever move if there were no signals to regulate pedestrians at intersections like this?

 

Edit:  Reminds me of some protests in So California where I lived in the '90s (where zebra crossings do convey right of way).  Protestors completely gridlocked traffic by simply walking back and forth across the zebras.

 

Wasn't there one in, Phuket I think, where they had signal lights and there was a video of vehicles ignoring them. Including a police pick up.

17 minutes ago, quake said:

 

I find the treatment of females in the Thai version of Buddhism, just weird.

What's with this crazy calibrations,  when a young man goes in the temple for 

3 months. and for the ladies, you just be quite and go cook the food.

Why are women not just equal.

Seems outdated and backward.  

 

 

 

 

It keeps the power with the men doesn't it.

1 hour ago, pixelaoffy said:

Recieved an email from UK parliament petitions informing me as I had signed the petition asking for uprating of UK pensions for all expats, the gov had responded . Of course we knew the answer would be ' no consideration and there is only increases with countries that have reciprocal arrangements'. The quote from gov statement  I like the most is this 

"The Government's response says that successive Governments have maintained the view that it would be unfair to place additional burdens on UK taxpayers to fund increased pensions for people who decide to live abroad".    Additional burdens ? Such as the millions it spends everyday to house and feed and pay those who come to UK illegally...everyday and the £66 billion, yes its correct , of paying out of work benefits to those of working age. Expats in Thailand,or anywhere else for that matter, have to more to worry getting any state pension in the future as the uk finances go off the cliff and bankrupt because the madness of the culture  ' I  want and can take anything from UK government whether I am British or not...because it will always be there ".  Big Shock coming sooner or later 

I had one of those as well. I wrote to my MP about it. The only credible excuse is the amount it would cost and the fact that it would be paid by taxpayers. That would be me then as I pay tax on my UK state and private pensions, plus the tax on the rent from my flat and the various other taxes like VAT. It would also effect all taxpayers as well.  At the time the Tory government had found enough financial leeway to abolish the lifetime and annual allowances on pensions that benefit wealthier people. 

Sometimes people move abroad to be nearer their children, especially if their partner has died and they are on their own and may need state provided care.

On 2/20/2024 at 9:19 AM, sandyf said:

That is not the case. Nett migration is the difference between people coming to the country and people leaving.The reduction in people leaving, less than 100K last year, makes it appear that immigration is on the increase. This has prompted recent anti immigration policy.

I  have seen more media coverage of the frozen pension in the last year than in the last 25 years and may be a contributing factor in the emigration reduction.

Removing the frozen pension could well promote emigration and reduce the immigration figure but the government is too narrow minded to see the bigger picture.

Yes I was aware of that. I was assuming, maybe incorrectly that with easier travel and the ability to find possible foreign partners online, as I did, that people were more likely to want to move abroad and so it has become more of an issue than previously, hence the increase in interest recently. 

It may well be that more might leave if the pension was increased. It's certainly affecting me a lot more now since the increase in inflation.

On 2/20/2024 at 8:41 AM, NE1 said:

Thank you  , I have.

I explained to them how much of a problem i had getting through .

Apology given etc. got everything sorted just about and also received an e mail apologising for the inconvenience etc.

When I first used it they told me to contact the DWP, who then told me to contact the IPC again. I asked where I could find the rules regarding frozen pensions as I couldn't find them on gov.uk and I was told "It will be on there somewhere". Not particularly helpful.

Before phoning them, and because they are obviously busy I tried looking on the website with the results I mention above. I also used their online enquiry form, twice with no reply. I suspect that's their to avoid phone calls in the hope people give up. It certainly isn't a way to get information.

On 2/20/2024 at 3:30 PM, quake said:

 

I dislike all religions and cults.

Sure there are many good teachings from them all.

But up to people what they want to believe.

I choose not to. 

 

 

 

The 5 precepts being a good example. Which is why there's a need for a group of men, as far as I know it's always men, who are there to find an interpretation that suits your needs and you can give them money, food and power. And of course massage their ego.

On 2/6/2024 at 10:41 AM, Mike Lister said:

Following is a letter I received from DWP regarding my UK residency status, it may help some better understand the DWP position on things:

 

 

I am responding to the email dated X April 2019 to which included the Rt. Hon Amber Rudd MP about your UK residency status.

I should explain that due to the Secretary of State’s wide ranging responsibilities, it is not always possible for her to respond to

every letter personally. In this instance I have been asked to reply.

 

I was sorry to read of your concerns and on receipt of your email I arrange for your UK residency status to be investigated.

 

I can confirm the International Group (IG) does not undertake Statutory Residence Tests (SRT). However, they did write to you

on X December 2018 asking some questions about your residential status in the UK and abroad, this was to establish whether

you are a habitually resident in the UK.

 

As you have spent a significant time abroad we needed to establish whether you are now habitually resident in the UK. I understand

that you returned to the UK on X July 2018, then left for an extended stay in Thailand on X November 2018 . As this was approximately

4 months after returning to the UK and because State Pension (SP) rates can be frozen, depending on the country of residence, IG required

information to establish whether your stay in Thailand was temporary and to confirm that your country of residence is the UK.  

 

 

IG has accepted that you are habitually resident in the UK from X June 2018. Your SP is paid up to X March 2019 at £XX per week,

Increasing to £XX per week from XX April 2019.

 

It may help if I explain that your country of habitual residence is not decided on the number of days spent in a particular country. IG considered your

individual circumstances, taking into account a number of factors such as:

 

• whether you retains a residence and continues to have financial commitments in the UK, when he goes abroad
• is your intention to return to the UK
• did purchase a return ticket
• do you own property abroad and have financial commitments in that country

 

There are other factors which IG will consider when making a habitual residence decision and each decision is based on that customer’s circumstances. 

 

I have asked IG to write to you to confirm they consider your country of residence to be the UK.       

 

In the meantime, should you have any further questions about this matter you can write to, Complaints Resolution Manager, The Pension Service 4,

Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton. WV98 1AG or by telephoning 0191 613 8158.

 

Once again thank you for your enquiry, I hope I have clarified the current position.

It's very complicated isn't it.

I was always in the UK for around 6 months and stayed with my mother, and worked for some all all of that time. I was in the UK from September 2020 due to Covid and then, because there were so many things to think about, including helping my elderly mother buy a new flat, which is 1 bedroom so I can no longer stay there, I made the mistake of flying back to Thailand in early March 2022 which meant I missed the increase. I tried finding information about this on the DWP website but I couldn't find anything. 

I used the International Pension Centre online enquiry service, twice with no reply. I phoned IPC and they told me to phone DWP, who told me to phone IPC. I asked them where I could find the appropriate information online and I was told "It'll be on Gov.uk somewhere". The guy did say that being back in the UK for more than 6 months would reset things but that's not the only way they work things out, as you say. I can't find the letter they sent me, but I know it mentioned the points you refer to and some others. Oddly some of the items, such as return flights, they never asked me about. I don't own a residence in the UK as I can't afford it right now, particularly in the south where my family are. I do have a flat that I rent out. I could kick out the tenant and live there but he's been there 8 years and he's no trouble so I just couldn't do that. I have a mother (96 this year) 2 adult children and 2 granddaughters. I've got a car, although that might have to go as it's becoming difficult to get it looked after whilst I'm away. I've got rented storage for things I'll need if and when I can move back. That might be difficult as I'm not sure I could afford to take my wife.

On 7/27/2023 at 2:04 PM, Liverpool Lou said:

No, we cannot. 

It has been tried and debated for donkeys years, has always been rejected and will continue to be so regardless of the handful of expats here in Thailand who join in (assuming that they have not previously added their names to the numerous existing petitions that have no effect, whatsoever, regardless of which government is in power).

It was mentioned in the Labour manifesto for the 2019 election, which they lost of course. I don't know if there will be anything in the next one. The economy is predicable a bit weak at the moment and there are a lot of other things that need fixing. 

As more people move abroad, and they will be able to vote after 15 years it might become more difficult to ignore. 

On 1/5/2024 at 3:14 PM, NE1 said:

Has anybody been able to get through to the Pensions office on the number provided :-Telephone: +44 (0) 191 218 7777

I tried 3 times yesterday and once today , I get as far as welcome to the blah blah , first time I got as far as the press a number then complete silence for  a minute , the other 3 times it is " welcome to the etc " then complete silence for as long as you choose to keep the line open.

I've used that number a few times, but not since the end of July last year. I don't think it took too long to get through, but it's a while ago so I may be wrong. 

I hope you've manged to speak to them by now.

On 2/9/2024 at 2:43 PM, youreavinalaff said:

Thailand does no kill people with RTAs. The people kill themselves.

 

A fully functioning police force would have little effect. You can't police everyone, everywhere, all of the time.

 

Thais need to realise the idea of safety on the roads. Not just law.

Sometimes they kill other innocent people as well as themselves. The thought that the police might do their job and you couldn't just get away with it just by giving a policeman a few hundred baht works in other countries pretty well. If it didn't then why have any traffic police.

Thais should understand the idea of safety but I'm not sure many of them think far enough ahead to grasp that.

1 hour ago, uttradit said:

Most hate Taksin or Trump. Why hate anybody? Hate is a sign your life isn't fun and therefore you are looking to blame somebody else.

If my life weren't fun I'm not sure why I'd blame Thaksin or Trump.

6 hours ago, MarcelV said:

Great news! My wife and her entire village are celebrating. Everywhere are red flags and flags with the image of Mr. Thaksin. Everyone is wearing red today to express their happiness.

Here in Issan people know when it's time for a party. 🙂

My wife is praying for Mr. Thaksin to replace the current PM asap and give back more to the lovely Issan folk.

☺️

My Isaan wife is entirely different.

We were on holiday in Scotland, near Loch Ness I think. I'm not sure of the year but probably 2011 or 2012. I'd never discussed politics with her, but I sat down beside her with my laptop. There was a picture of Thaksin with someone else who I can't remember. My wife is in no way violent but she surprised me by pulling her fingers across her throat and making what I assume was supposed to be a cutting sound. Then we went to the UK this last Christmas and were walking in one of the parks in Southampton where there's a speaker's podium. She stood on it whilst I took a picture. I wasn't until I got closer that I heard what she was saying. "Thaksin go to hell". He certainly brings out a different side to her.

If he does become PM again I wonder if he'll finally get round to delivering justice for those killed by the army during the red shirt protests as he promised? Of course not, I'm being silly aren't I. From what you've said it seems those in your village have forgotten about those victims anyway, probably in favour of the hope of money.

5 hours ago, RobU said:

From the Pattaya news:

"he finds himself in a cruel twist of fate, struggling to secure the necessary modifications for his own home. A GoFundMe page has been established by his family to bridge this gap, "

Bull***t, the local authority will do all necessary adaptations for free. He is also entitled to disability living allowance at the higher rate for mobility and care to the tune of over £300 per week. It's a tragedy but the family is milking the Gofundme community.

It does say it's to cover the gap until things are sorted out. My late wife needed adaptions to our house and I received financial help, carers allowance and supplementary benefit I think. That was around 2003 I think and the local authority was better funded then. Now things aren't so easy from what I can tell.