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Having taught at one of Thailand's top universities and having taught Thai students at universities in Australia, I can say that Thailand is blessed with some very intelligent and creative young people.

I have also had the pleasure of meeting, and seeing in action, some outstanding Thai educators, at all levels of the education system. Unfortunately, these great educators are generally not given the support they need from institutional heads, nor from the Ministries of education.

In order for Thailand to move ahead in the area of education, firstly the systems of corruption, cronyism and patronism need to end or be severely restricted. And, secondly, Thais need to get rid of their 'mai pen rai' attitude.

Too many Thai parents do not care about thier children's education, and some believe that they can use systems of corruption, cronyism and/or patronism to get their children degrees and/or jobs when they are old enough.

While living in Thailand I have come across too many youth in high school and university who never do any study or homework, rarely touch a book, and spend hours a day on social media. This reality was brought home to me again this year with two children of a friend. One finished Year 10 earlier this year; her rank was 23/163 in class and her GPA was 2.1. She failed one subject, and all of her friends had failed at least one subject. They all had to do one or two additional study and exam sessions during the long holidays to pass the subjects they failed; they all did little or no study (many of this group (most of whom were aged 15-16 years old) spent their nights in bars and clubs!!) and all were passed. The other 'child' is commencing second year humanities studies at a low ranking university in Bangkok. How he passed last year, I have no idea. He rarely studies, uses assignments and materials from friends a year ahead of him. As he is studying some subjects which I am familar with, I had a look through some of his textbooks and reading materials, and asked him some basic questions about the subject matter (his father, who is a university-educated professional and reasonably proficient in English, helped translate for me). The lad had no idea about what was in his books or reading material; yet he passed.

How sad - I simply pity the poor kids who're enmeshed in this corrupting, debased system. I really do hope the 'powers that be' can get to grips with it and turn it around, but.......??

Recent news article described how there was no disciplne in the classrooms anymore. No-zero grading policies, no fail rules that promote students to the next grade even with poor or failing marks, consequence-free disciplne policies, no homework rules, and more. Thailand? Nope, Canada.

I think the education system as a whole (ie, around the world) is in dire need of correction. How does one fix it? More money? In some areas of Canada, US, and the UK, education spending is either secon or third behind healthcare or safety in government spending. So no.

The money just needs to be better spent. More schools, smaller classes, related subjects - people talk about learning world history - yet there are distinct native american indian people and languages which will become extinct in the next couple of years because of the lack of understanding local culture. What good does knowing European History when losing your own takes place. Thais need to know Thai history and culture. They need to know and understand their own language. For most Thai students they will need basic English at most. Those students that want to learn it will find a way to learn it.

There are massive problems in education on a global scale but for Thailand I almost feel as though they need to slow down, develop a stronger base, less concern on how they compare to their neighbors and the world (it is developing their own problems), require all students to complete M6, and reduce their reliance on foreigners. But then again i supplement my childrens education with at home studies as well (both in the west & thailand).

Very well stated - as are most of the posts on this topic. What a surprise for me on Thai Visa! Well done everyone for such positive, formulated responses.

Absolutely appalling that his German doctors couldn't let the airline authorities know because of privacy laws.

This needs to be reviewed, and urgently.

My deepest sympathies to all the friends and relatives of the victims of this awful tragedy.

RIP Mr Lee. One of the absolute greats. You scared the hell out of me.

Me too! What a great loss to cinema. RIP.

Still there but apparently moving soon to Promenada. But note that if you want a certificate of residence you have to go to their office opposite Promenada.

I live in Chiang Mai, when i tried to fill in the form, it keeps refering me to contact the Immigration office. Is 90day reporting online not available yet in Chiang Mai?

The first part of the form is easy enough to understand, where it asks the flight number I arrived on in 2007, i obviously couldn't fill that in, besides it didn't have a red asterisk next to it. But as soon as I try to submit the form it refers me to the Imm Dept...am I doing something wrong?

Help would be appreciated

You are doing nothing wrong, just have the same problem as many other people including me. The rpoblem seesm to be with the immigration database.

Yep - I even got my 'Pending' acknowledgement, but it never got confirmed so I still ended up at Immigration.

I agree: it appears to be that their database verification system can't cope with either not entering a flight number or the flight numbers since you re-entered Thailand more recently - as in my case. Just guessing!

Tell me is there any shortage of trolls on here, a guy and his family have had everything stolen on them, they are fellow expats and from what i read, just drivel comes out of some people statements, quick and short troll comments, have you guys no intelligence or emphaty, what if it happened to you or your best mate or your family??

2 children locked in a water well and only for a neighbour found them they could have died!

Properties stolen with the full knowledge fo the family lawyer.

Trolls should be banned and their IP blocked in such circumstances. The whole meaning of an expat community is the word Community, a place of support and protection

I agree wholeheartedly Pikeybkk. The trolls and ignorant mob that tend to write most often on here really ought to be blocked.

They alienate themselves completely from normal humanity and human feelings toward others.

They really deserve to be treated with the utmost contempt.

This is a most disturbing turn of events. Someone, somewhere high up in the Thai food chain is telling the judge what to do.

This appears to have little or nothing to do with conducting a fair trial, or allowing a proper defence for these innocent boys - and yes they are innocent until proved guilty, even in Thailand, but with no proper chance to re-examine the evidence, particularly the DNA evidence, prior to the trial's start, what chance have the defence of properly defending them?

I say 'pooee' to all you cynics.

I'm going to make sure I live as long as it takes, be it 4 years, 6 years, a decade, or longer.

I love trains and their environmental and economic efficiency - with or without freight.

Just check on the many, many INDEPENDENT studies that show this, excluding those undertaken by the road lobby, truck companies and the car industry.

Good luck to the Japanese and Thais involved in this. You will succeed.

PS to the above

Are there visa agents or someone that are somehow tying up all the new openings for online booking right after midnight when they become available. Something smells here. Is there someone out there that has booked a spot between the August 20th or so and September 16th that is not going to use it? I sure could

I've been trying exactly the same - going in every day immediately after midnight since the 1st 100 day slot became available i.e. 26th August. We're now into September and they are all booked up. IMPOSSIBLE! I booked ok last year no problem with a choice of dates and times.

Something very, very fishy going on here. Even an agent couldn't possible book ALL the day's slots in less than a minute or 30 seconds!

I think palms have been greased by an agent or several agents to 'block book' the times and date.

What other explanation can there be?

Why oh why has the Thames estuary option been so firmly rejected?

I was a member of the RSPB and I know they weren't keen because of the destruction of bird and wildlife habitat but I'm sorry - people come 1st. But I'm sure there must be other reasons. As the writer 'old hand' says a high speed rail link would solve the accessibility issues if that was the other main concern and at considerably less cost than expanding either Heathrow or Gatwick.

I got my 'Pending' notification but it was never confirmed so I still ended up at CM immigration office!

It seems others have got this far too and nothing further, whilst others have had their 'Pending' confirmed OK.

The 'lady' at CM immigration was in a foul mood so I didn't bother to ask her why.

They're usually very pleasant there but not this one!

She practically snarled at me when I asked why there wasn't anybody issuing queue numbers!

Obviously she was having a 'bad hair day'!

Yes and no doubt the same is happening in respect to the Koh Tao murders. The British Government has no excuse however. I wonder what the Austrailan Government would do if it were their citizens , apparently they don't pussy foot and khaowtaow to diplomatic courtesies if Oz citizens are affectd by lawlessness and or corruption over here. As said previously, UK Diplomatic corps , NO BALLS

Yes it is exactly the same, as you surmised. I have twice fried to get the Met police's report on their 'observations' made in Koy Tao and been fobbed off similarly. Also tried under the Freedom of Information Act directly to the Met police authority. Their response: I must contact my local police (i.e. the Thai cops) for them to ask for its release! Are they mad?! Or just as corrupt?

The one that's really needed is at Maya and Huay Kaew Rd. But no space now they've developed Think Park and are redeveloping opposite. A nightmare cross roads. Can take 20 minutes + to turn right from super highway onto Huay Kaew Road.

As a great railway enthusiast I only hope I only hope I live long enough to see these projects completed. Long overdue. 2017 and 2019 completion dates will make me 74 and 76 yo! I better get more exercise! Maybe become a cycling enthusiast too!

I'd love to know the political leanings of the posters on here. I mean there home country political leanings.

I bet the anti Thaksin lot are all Republicans or Tories or other right wingers and the pro Thaksin lot Democrats or Lib Dems or left wingers.

In other words everyone has a bias which crosses over to their Thai opinions without any real knowledge of what actually happened - just regurgitated factoids depending which right or keft wing literature they read.

I was a founding menber of the 1st WNBR in London which now attracts over 2000 riders every June and is replicated all over the world but not in the LofS. Against Thai culture. Get over it <removed>

Looking forward to joining the next World Naked Bike Ride due next month in London. But as I live in Chiang Mai maybe we should ask the Governor if we can hold one here? Don't think I'll bother though!!

90 day reporting-Pending doc.pdf

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Will a report from the British police be released?

Please see my post no. 61 - NO

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Once again questions about the role of the police who came from Britain and I really don't know what some posters expected.

They were here where they have no jurisdiction and were reliant on their hosts being forthcoming or otherwise. They could ask to see things but if refused that was it, no authority or right to demand.

I'm sure their report would have reflected views on co-operation or lack of it and that's their role completed. Release of their findings, in whole or in part, is out of their hands and is all down to what the Foreign office thinks should be made public and i would think nothing will be said until after the two lads have been tried.

Diplomacy trumps many things.

I wonder if the report from the British police is included in the evidence made available to the defendants lawyers?

Please see my post no. 61 - I've tried but failed

Once again questions about the role of the police who came from Britain and I really don't know what some posters expected.

They were here where they have no jurisdiction and were reliant on their hosts being forthcoming or otherwise. They could ask to see things but if refused that was it, no authority or right to demand.

I'm sure their report would have reflected views on co-operation or lack of it and that's their role completed. Release of their findings, in whole or in part, is out of their hands and is all down to what the Foreign office thinks should be made public and i would think nothing will be said until after the two lads have been tried.

Diplomacy trumps many things.

I've written to our embassy in Bangkok asking them to release the Metropolitan Police's report to the defence team and all I got back was as follows:

"Dear Mr Cartwright

Thank you for your e-mail of 6 December about the tragic murder of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in Thailand.

The UK police did not undertake an investigation on Koh Tao, or elsewhere in Thailand, into the murders of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller. The investigation was a matter for the Thai authorities. The British police travelled to Thailand as observers to get a better understanding of the investigation conducted by the Royal Thai Police . The UK police officers subsequently visited the families of the murder victims and verbally explained what they had observed as well as the judicial process in Thailand. The UK police are preparing a report based on the observations of the police who visited Thailand. The report will be for the UK police only and will not be publicly released.

Kind regards" etc

I then asked the Metropolitan Police for release of their report to the defence team under the UK's Freedom of Information Act

as follows:

"Freedom of Information Act 2000: Report on observations of Thai police murder investigation on Koh Tao

Your enquiry: I sent you an email using this link on 11th February, 2015 and have had no response. Copy of its contents below. Please can you reply to it now:

Under the Freedom of information Act 2000 I request that the report made by the Metropolitan Police on the observations made of the Thai police's investigation into the murders of Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in Koh Tao, Thailand last year be released in full to the defence lawyers defending the accused Zaw Lin and Wei Phyo.

The head of the defence team is Nakhon Chompuchat (Head Defence Team Lawyer <snip>

Thank you, in anticipation, David Cartwright.

Perhaps you can also confirm if the report has been released to the defence team lawyer, detailed above?

and received this response - after a 2nd attempt (NO response when I originally sent my request in Feb):

"Thankyou for your E-mail You would have to speak to your own Police who then would get in touch with the london Authorities"

Very helpful - NOT! If this was in the UK the police would HAVE to release the report to the defence.

It's outrageous to think our cops went to Thailand, at considerable taxpayers expense, to 'observe' (NOT investigate - as I was corrected by our FCO/Embassy friends) and then only show it to the victim's families.

How can those poor families really believe a fair trial is going to take place with contaminated evidence and 'secret' police reports?

I am seeking further advice in this regard. Does anybody have any ideas how we can ensure that the Met's full report is seen by the boy's defence team? That's what I'm trying to achieve.

I've been trying to get a copy of the Metropolitan Police's report under the Freedom of Information Act and after ignoring my initial request back in February a 2nd request more recently got a response asking me to contact ny local police force fir them to make the request! Sure the RTP are going to do that - not!