marsteele

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/...n-minister.html

Thailand's new foreign minister has described last month's hijacking of Bangkok's main international airport as "a lot of fun.

Kasit Piromya, 64, will be sworn in on Monday as Thailand's new foreign minister. His job of rebuilding Thailand's battered international image will not be helped by the fact that he was a prominent supporter of the protests, and still is.

More than 350, 000 travellers were stranded three weeks ago when a few thousand demonstrators from the ultraroyalist People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) stormed the airport. Investor confidence has been badly shaken and analysts say that lost tourism business could cost 1 million jobs.

But Mr Kasit told an audience of astonished diplomats and foreign journalists on Friday that the protests were "a lot of fun".

"The food was excellent, the music was excellent," he explained.

fun for 6,000 thais but not for 350,000 farangs and I am sure not for the thai economy

Hi Guys

I have one of those cards from the postman telling me to go to the post office and collect a parcel, have NO idea where the office is, postmans directions were lame!

ASAP Guys, the parcel must be Christmas gifts for the kids!

xxx

About 500 metres past the fire station

He looks more like an politician than a women trafficker or a hairdresser ....

Australian politician and this guy don't see the difference still traffick in misery

Should throw the full brunt of thai law at him. If he did it in Australia he would probably just get 40 hours community work or at the most 1 yr in prison in a luxury cell with swimmings pools, cable T.V internet and get paid for being in there. Hang him I say

Why don't you try it then - a quick mule run to Oz

Surely the rewards far outweigh the risk, as you have so knowledgeably outlined above

wouldn't even consider it. Yes I have some knowledge of this having been a drug squad police officer arresting and charging these oxygen thieves only to see australian courts let them off with a slap on the wrist and a cut lunch. If the penalties were just as harsh as in thailand then maybe some may reconsider.

So as a former drug squad officer, you should be easily able to point us to where ANY importer of 3kg (ie a commercial quantity) of heroin has received community service, or even 1 year in prison for that matter.

Or were you busting the guys with 2 mull plants in the backyard?

It is simply a metaphor when I refer to community service to point out vast differences in penalties handed out in countries such as Australia to the approriate penalties given in thailand and other asian countries such as death which is fitting for such a crime. Around 180 people die each year from heroin in Melbourne alone. 30 drug overdoses only last saturday. How many people and families would this man have destroyed with his one single act.

And yes I am well aware of offenders receiving 1 yr or less for trafficking commercial quantities of a drug of dependence. Some actually get suspended sentences because they are 1st time offenders (1st time caught) and promise not to re offend.

As for the 2 mull plants in a back yard I wouldn't waste my time they don't even get community service but issued with a caution if they say sorry and promise not to do it again.

It is my personal feeling is that any person using or dealing in any form of ilegal drug should be severly punished.

Australian jailed for people trafficking two Thai women

A 48-year-old Australian hairdresser, Keith William Dobie, from the Gold Coast, was sentenced to five years in prison in the Brisbane District Court Tuesday for people trafficking.

Police believe he is the first person to be sentenced for the crime in Australia, ABC Radio reported.

Dobie pleaded guilty to luring two Thai women to work as prostitutes in Australia. The court was told the women were aware of the nature of their jobs, but were deceived about the hours they would work and were not paid the full amount they were promised.

Judge Leanne Clare said Dobie's crime and treatment of the women was calculated, protracted and callous. She ordered he serve at least 22 months before parole.

Source: DPA - 23 December 2008

As an Australian with a thai wife I am ashamed of this persons actions. It should be noted tho it is not just Australian men who will lure vulnerable thai women into this industry with promises of a better life in another country. A lot of thai women are desparate to better their lives and all I can say is that they should be very care of farangs who offer false love and promises of a better life abroad. Just for the record my thai wife and son live in chiangmai where we are happy.

Tell me if I understand this correctly... Im an american, 33 yrs old, and have a baby with my girlfriend... I always enter with a double entry tourist visa and usually come back and get another after 6 months, visit with friends and family in the US and go back to thailand... According to this police order they will allow me to stay for 60 days at a time... Do I just bring my Daughters Birth Certificate every 60 days to Immigration and they will give me another 60 days??? Please Correct me if I am misunderstanding something, or add any details or use of this in practice???

THANKS IN ADVANCE...

It always used to be a one time only thing. Ask Immigration.

Why don't you try for the 12 month extension under rule 2.18 (5)

I am Australian and like you I have a thai wife and child in thailand. I also always entered on a double entry visa which effectively gave me 6 months where I would then return to Aus and get another double entry visa. I now obtain a 1 yr visa which gives me unlimited entries into the country dury that period. When this visa expires I go back to Aust pay the $180 AUD get another 1 yr visa and go back no problems at all.

Should throw the full brunt of thai law at him. If he did it in Australia he would probably just get 40 hours community work or at the most 1 yr in prison in a luxury cell with swimmings pools, cable T.V internet and get paid for being in there. Hang him I say

Why don't you try it then - a quick mule run to Oz

Surely the rewards far outweigh the risk, as you have so knowledgeably outlined above

wouldn't even consider it. Yes I have some knowledge of this having been a drug squad police officer arresting and charging these oxygen thieves only to see australian courts let them off with a slap on the wrist and a cut lunch. If the penalties were just as harsh as in thailand then maybe some may reconsider.

Should throw the full brunt of thai law at him. If he did it in Australia he would probably just get 40 hours community work or at the most 1 yr in prison in a luxury cell with swimmings pools, cable T.V internet and get paid for being in there. Hang him I say

I find the Thai immigration officials very friendly when i return to Australia it is the Australian immigration I find rude to their own.

I have no problems with the airport been through there a number of times the only thing I don't understand is that at a modern airport why do I have to catch the bus out to the plane.

I have a Victorian drivers licence prior to it expiring I went into the Vic Roads web site changed my address to that of Thailand approx 3 weeks later I received the change of address sticker here in the mail and when then renewal time arrived I received the renewal notice here in thailand paid the fee via the internet and all is sweet. Just need to pop into an office when I am back in Aust to have the pic done but licence always current..