samgrowth

Sex is not free, but rather cheap in any standard.

For advise, contact Chuwit or the new Commerce Minister.

Pheu Thai Party nominates Chalerm as opposition leader

House Speaker Chai Chidchob on Wednesday revealed that MP Chalerm Yoobamrung has been nominated as the opposition leader by Pheu Thai Party.

Chai said Chalerm's nomination process would have to be put on hold until January 30, the sixty-day deadline to complete all proceedings relating to the disbandment of the People Power Party.

Following the completion of the party dissolution process, Chalerm's nomination will be forwarded for royal endorsement, he said.

Source: The Nation - 28 January 2009

Becareful what you wish for .....

Commodities are like stock market, or oil market. If you know the movement, you will be rich. However, most people think that they know where the low and high are. People may make small gain a couple of time, however, at the end, people loose big. Trust me.

The gold shops in Thailand are 100% run by "Jews of the East". This term is actually from one of the Thai King (in a BBC post). They always win, because they are the middle man, and knows how to square off positions. The gold traders have access to the gold market overseas. When people sell to them, they export to the overseas market. Example, if the overseas market quote 16,000 baht, they will buy up at 15,000 baht, and export it. Like wise on the buying side, they will sell at a profit from what they get from overseas market (e.g. import at 13,000 Baht & sell at 14,000 Baht). These numbers are not precise, it is just used to proof a point.

Remember oil? Many airlines have the bulk of their 2009 needs locked at price above 100 USD/BBL, when the spot market now is only 40 USD/BBL. These airlines not not stupid, and yet get it wrong. You think ordinary people like you and I know where gold price is heading?

I won't be surprise that people will queue up to buy gold at 20,000 Baht, thinking it will hit 30,000 Baht. After the people stock up, gold price drop to 5,000 Baht, loosing 75% of its value over say 6 months. Who have the last laugh?

It makes me wonder - the Rohingyas are Muslim, Bangladesh is Muslim, Malaysia is Muslim - why are the Thais expected to become the receptive home of more indigent Muslims - given that Thailand already has a significant problem with its Muslim population. It seems to me that there is something wrong with this picture. This is not a profile of a political refugee population - it is the profile of economic refugees.

There is noting wrong with having Muslim in Thailand, may it be in the South or anywhere in Thailand. Thailand have religous freedom.

I also find this article interesting. Why do they have to drag HM into this too?

http://my-1.themalaysianinsider.com/index....ach--the-nation

Rohingya refugee issue needs a holistic approach - The Nation

JAN 27 – Thailand’s call for a conference in Bangkok of a focus group on the Rohingya issue is a good initiative.

All the stakeholders could meet and work out practicable and durable solutions on a trans-national issue that increasingly needs a comprehensive and multilateral approach.

In responding to the outcry of the international community on the Rohingya saga in the past weeks, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya acted quickly by consulting all concerned countries, including Burma, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia and India to find solutions.

Last week the Foreign Ministry met and discussed with the ambassadors from these five countries and stressed that this is a regional issue that would need joint common efforts.

The plight of the Rohingya refugees has suddenly become a hot topic after nearly 650 of them were rescued in the territorial waters of India and Indonesia.

The Royal Thai Navy was alleged by international human rights organisations of pushing back these refugees out to the Andaman Sea where they had come from. Several hundreds of people, it has been contended, might have died at sea.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva demanded a thorough investigation and pledged to punish whoever was behind such inhumane actions.

The Rohingya refugees and asylum seekers are a minority in Burma’s northern Arakan state. During 1991-92, around 270,000 refugees fled to Bangladesh to escape persecution by the Burmese military junta.

Over the years, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has successfully repatriated at least 230,000 Rohingyas back to Burma. The rest are staying in the two main camps – Nayapara and Kutupalong in Cox’s Bazar – without any real prospects of going home.

Due to the short distance between these camps and Thailand’s western coastal areas, they began to come by boats in the mid-1990s, before it became headline news.

Gradually the numbers became bigger and the influx more frequent, especially during this time of the year when the sea is usually calmer.

They would arrive in Ranong and other coastal provinces through vast transnational human smuggling rings, either on transit to Malaysia or Indonesia, or in search for a better life in Thailand.

Being Muslims, most of them would like to find jobs or be settled in the same religious environment. But quite often, at the first transit point, they usually ended up being exploited in Thailand.

During the Surayud Chulanont government, Thai authorities were instructed not to push them back out into the sea as it could endanger their lives. Instead, the visitors would be detained and given food and transported to the Thai-Burma border either in Kanchanaburi or Tha Songyang. They were sent across the border safely.

However, the soft Thai response has encouraged human smuggling rings to increase their operations as no risks were involved for them. If they failed, these asylum seekers would eventually end up in the refugee camps along the Burma-Bangladesh border.

Out of desperation, some of these refugees attempted to come to Thailand again.

According to the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), more than 14 million people around the world fled their homes either due to war or persecution in 2007.

Thailand is one of top destinations with over 400,000 refugees and asylum seekers. USCRI pointed out that, Thailand along with Malaysia, China, Bangladesh and India are among the worst violators within Asia of the international principles as outlined by the UN Convention on Refugees 1951.

At the moment, according to unofficial statistics, Thailand is home to more than five million refugees, asylum seekers and illegal migrant workers and visa over-stayers in one form or another from over a dozen countries, including all bordering countries except Malaysia, and countries as far as Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, North Korea, China, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan as well as a few thousands of illegal immigrants from Western countries.

Despite several improved measures to increase coordination among intra-agencies in the past, on the whole the Thai treatment of these unfortunate people still comes under fire due to the lack of consistency, compassion and cooperation with international organisations, including UNHCR and numerous humanitarian organisations.

One hindrance is Thailand’s continuous refusal to sign the 1951 Refugee Convention. Fear and a lack of understanding of the convention have prevented the country from joining 147 other nations that have done so.

Strange as it may seem, when it comes to accession or ratification of international treaties and protocols, the concerned Thai officials are overly cautious in interpreting Thailand’s commitments. They tend to overdo it.

Thailand took a long time to sign on to the UN against Torture Treaty in 2007. The efforts to ratify the International Criminal Court of Justice, which Thailand proudly signed in 2000, have fallen flat in the past eight years as some conservative lawyers thought that doing so would subject the Thai royal family to the ICC court of justice.

Like a lot else in this country, whenever events and issues are related to the monarchy, the responsible authorities tend to play safe and exaggerate the impacts – real or imagined – without scrutinising the ever-changing domestic and international environments.

A more level-headed rationalisation is urgently needed.

Upon closer scrutiny, it is a real blessing in disguise that the Rohingya problem blew up in the face of the Abhisit-led government. First of all, given his professed high moral ground, Abhisit will definitely act on issues related to human rights and freedom of expression sooner than later.

Secondly, the Rohingya refugees also exposed the Thai government’s limit, or for that matter what the countries at the receiving end can do on a human tragedy of this scale that they have not created.

Thirdly, their plight will enable the public and global communities to understand the problem’s root cause and solve it at the source.

Finally, it’s hoped this travesty would prompt all stakeholders to cooperate and provide more assistance, especially the UNHCR and other humanitarian organisations. – The Nation

Instead of pushing this people out to sea and hope they they land in India, Indonesia, or Malaysia is pure stupidity. Just passing Thailand propblem to another country, whom I believe will act the same, pushing the problem back to Thailand. Back to square one.

Just immagine a poor Thai farmers managed to land in LAX without a proper visa & money. Instead of flying the poor Thai farmers back to BKK, the US put him in a small boat WITHOUT sail and motor, provided 5kg of sticky rice and 5 litres of evian, and tow it out to the Pacific; hoping that the tide might send this poor Thai farmer to Mexico or Canada, if not all the way Thailand.

Why can't the Royal Thai Navy put them on the first available TG or FD to Yangon. End of story. It may cost the Thai Govt a plane ticket, but this can be billed to the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok. Or, on a cheap, truck them just a few kilometers to Ranong land border with Myanmar, and let them walk across. Or ferry them across to the Myanmar casino island just a few minutes boat ride from Ranong pier.

We all know that blocking offensive web is just a front. The real and noble intention is to save people (Thai and Farang alike) from going to jail under Thailand's LM law.

Thanks and keep up the good work.

Troll-post, but even at that it states the misconception some might have. As visitors would never go to jail in the first place.

Agree that visitors would never go to jail in the first place. However, as visitors see more and more of such web, there is an urged to do sometime, join in the discussion, create own website, etc, which might land them in jail.

Kitty MacKenzie(sp?) of the UNHCR in Bangkok was this morning speaking to the BBC World Service and stated that the UNHCR is now pressing Thailand for access to any of these refugees who are in custody.

She also stated that the PM has instructed that dealing with the Refugees shall be moved from an Army duty to a Police duty.

The army are well to dump their enermies to a slow death (in the open seas).

The police is known to rob their victims of their valuable (have you been stopped by a traffic police before?).

They team up pretty well.

We all know that blocking offensive web is just a front. The real and noble intention is to save people (Thai and Farang alike) from going to jail under Thailand's LM law.

Thanks and keep up the good work.

Kornthep was accompanied by Democrat MP Sirichok Sopa (Songkhla), who said Kornthep had been cooperative, but was concerned about his safety.

He insisted that he had simply told the truth and had not wanted to slander anybody.

- The Nation / July 10, 2002

Didn't they teach you in school? "Telling the truth will get you killed, Voting for the right party will get you money".

At least the Democrat MP Sirichok Sopa (Songkhla) don't have to worry about Kornthep safety anymore; he is now dead as a log.

It is interesting that the opposition seemed more fixated on who was the foreign minister rather than what was in the bill passed. Clearly they still have some learning to do to fulfill the role of opposition effectively and in the interests of the people......

Anyway it is good was voted on and the treaties can be signed and Thailand start to move on as legislation starts to occur.

The RED is running out of steam beacuse Thaksin is running out of money. Simple as that.

CNN (web site) has reported that another boat load of Rohingya's has arrived in Thailand. I believe it said 78. Wonder how they are going to be treated?

Very differently, we hear. Turned over to Ranong police, not the army.

More Boat People Arrested: Army Not Involved

Reuters, AP and AFP have all just posted stories on this, too...

I hope the Royal Thai Navy are trial in court for men slaughter. How could they tow hundreds to the open seas and let them die a slow death.

The police steal money.

The postman steal credit card.

What's next? TIT.

LHR flights is always full, no matter what airlines you fly. Not only TG. Passengers will take what is available regardless of price or airlines.

On the monastery thing, there was a lot of resentment a long time before Xmas in the red camp about the rather blatant political allegiances of a certain temple in CM.

Religion should stay out of politics. However this temple does not. This must be Krama.

Mark should let the RED close Swampy & DM for 8 days. Then he can say it is even. Stop all nonsense from now on.

I have heard Chinese people refer to Chinese people from a few regions as the jews of China. It isn't mean exactly like you seem to think it is meant, as being good with money is considered a good thing by many...

In anyway, the term is very widespread...

Are you a mind reader? How do you know what am I thinking when refering to Jews of the East.

To me, The Jews of the East are God's choosen people; to liberate and lead the people of SE Asia.

Without them, the people of this region are still slave of the Farang.

A little note I just sent off to THAI:

Dear Thai Airways Executives:

You may or may not be aware that Thai Airways International (THAI) is truly taking a beating in the international press as well as many popular online travel sites regarding substandard service and overpricing. I am not in the travel industry nor am I an economist however it appears to this former frequent flyer that your airline is being poorly mismanaged and customer service is becoming nonexistent. I simply want to make you aware that the perception of THAI service and value is now comparable to Thailand in general. THAI seems to see no value in meeting the needs of its customer base or improving traveler perception of a once great airline.

By way of example I would like you to read the running dialog in the Bangkok Post Opinion Section, Letters to the Editor, for the past week. I think you will be embarrassed about how the Business Class traveler perceives your airline. The overall theme of the opinions is that your service is in steep decline with no end in sight. The running joke around the world for years has been what is called "Thai Economics". This proven theory outlines the fact that if the customer base and revenue decline a Thai business simply needs to increase prices to make up for the shortfall. This theory almost never works but is practiced until executives come to their collective senses of the business fails. The hotels and resorts in Thailand are starting to get it by halving their prices to save their businesses and keep employees on the job. Even THAI's competition have all cut fares to stay in business while THAI cuts routes and services while holding the line on ticket prices.

You should have become aware by now that there is a global economic crisis that is affecting your bottom line. I did see that THAI is requesting a multi-billion Baht stimulus package from the government but without a specific plan to spend the giveaway. THAI recently announced that the direct flight to Los Angeles may have to be scrapped because of declining load factors. My advice would be to cut fares to be at the very least within sight of your competition. It is pure hubris to expect travelers to pay tens of thousands of Baht more to fly THAI especially when cabin service has gotten worse in recent years.

Finally, I just want to you and your staff to take a look at references to THAI online. Social networking and information sharing on the web is having a negative impact on your business in general. You need to Google yourself and see just what is out there. First impressions are the ones that people remember for a long time and what they see online will turn them off forever. One site: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thai-Airways...at-t237126.html is widely read around the world. If it were me I would immediately get the appropriate management teams involved to stem the bleeding of your public relations nightmare. "Crisis Management Intervention" is wildly used in business and someone who went to school in the West will know the precepts or at least the concepts that could begin save your sinking ship.

I realize my criticism sounds harsh but many believe THAI is in crisis and prompt action is required to get passengers flying again. These problems are not going away soon or by themselves. Competent and strong leadership will be required to reverse the decline. I for one hope someday to return to the fold and fly THAI in the near future.

Sincerely, (grantbkk)

Thai Airways Executives thinking:

"Cheap Khao San Farang, always wants something cheap. Fly low cost airlines, take bus to Khao San, eat on the street, live in cramp bunk beds. And now want to fly on a world class award winning THAI Airways International on a cheap. Not a chance."

Fate unknown (from ALZ)The UN refugee agency asked Bangkok on Tuesday to be allowed to visit the 126 refugees, most of whom it said were detained on an Andaman Sea island.

The foreign ministry said that was no longer the case, citing the army's Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), which admits to overseeing the arrest and detention of the group of Rohingya.

"The latest information that we have from ISOC is that there are no longer any Rohingya left in Thailand," said Thani Thongpajkdi, the deputy ministry spokesman.

He also refused to answer repeated questions about the current whereabouts of the 126, or say where, when and how they left the country.

--- -

To be honest, I would not be surprise if one day someone found mass grave of these people somewhere along the coast. I just pray this will not happen. Not in Thailand.

Finally some good news, they shouldn't have left in the first place, it did not make any business sense at all

It was an order from the army after the coup to discredit Thaksin order to move everyone to Swampy. The airforce who own the place needs the rent money. Everyone (apart from the generals) knew it was a stupid order, but no want is brave enough to voice it.

Being ex-Thaksin's, AirAsia is the only airlines dares to say NO to the moves (in the first place), even though most of AirAsia flights are domestic.

'It looks like there might be on-going efforts to discredit Thailand,'

Left to their own devices, the country seems to be better at discrediting itself than anyone else is. This situation is a good example. Any disrepute brought on Thailand has been brought on by it's own actions towards these people.

Sad to see CNN feature this as their headline news in their Asian homepage http://edition.cnn.com/ASIA/

It is sad that the American are trying to discredit the Thai people, especially Mark.

It is unfair, as all the Thai people I knew are kind and smile all the time.

I find it hard to believe that such cold hearted action can be done by the Thai government.

Besides, showing picture of a towing boat, does not mean that the navy were towing them out to the open seas.

In contrast, I sincerely believe that the navy are towing them from the open sea to sheltered habour, and provide them with basic care until UN can deal with them.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pac...7174292748.html

A Thai naval officer has confirmed claims that ethnic Rohingya boat people from Myanmar, detained along Thailand's south-western coast, have been taken back out to sea and set adrift.

The naval officer, who declined to be identified, told Al Jazeera: "We have to take the engines off the boats or they will come back.

"The wind will carry them to India or somewhere."

I suppose somewhere means bottom of the sea. If you do not call this men slaughter, what do you call this act? Or are The Royal Thai Navy so poor as to rob the old engine off the boat people? Does Thailand hate India so much that they want to send their problem there? And finally, the Royal Thai Navy is so stupid, didn't they know that the WIND is of no use WITHOUT a sail.

I also wonder how can Kasit explain to the Indian Embassy here on the action and comment of the Royal Thai Navy. I guess the Royal Thai Navy tow the powerless and sail-less boat to the border of Indian territory and set them free.

To re open DM was a political decision, to please the army. DM was one of their best cash cows. Actually they were even willing to close the new airport to go back to DM, the airlines had to band together and say it’s not going to happen to stop them.

To close DM is an economical decision. T A is bankrupt and can’t afford to run operation from two airports simultaneously.

It is Thaksin pride to open Swampy.

The Army cannot take it. Once they are in power after the coup, they order THAI, Nok & 1-2-Go to go back. AirAsia (being ex-Thaksin's is the only that is smart enough to say no to the order.

See what happens now? After loosing billions on inefficient operation, THAI have finally so no to the Army, and wanted to go back. I hope THAI shareholder sue the CEO for making decision bases on army order rather than share holders benefits. This just show hoe STUPID THAI management are. Would I fly them? No (this is just a personal preference).

The service is very good. If you get a plane with PTVs then the content is very good.

I hope it is not the same PTV I have in mind. The anti PAD one.

It seems to be the season for farmer protests. They beg the govt for loans and then demand "help" 6-8 months later.

It is not their (the farmers) fault for being poor. Thai govt always take advantage of the poor farmers. Take a look at EU or America, where all the farmers I knew (however little) drives brand new Benz, Cherokee, Range Rovers, etc.

The only person who is kind to the poor is HM. Without him and his Royal projects, Royal rain, etc, many of the poor would have died of hunger long time ago.

People in EU & US have to pay extra for the benefits of the farmers. I am sure you don't want that. It is very subjective of it is pro or con.

I think the RED will start planning to capture Dusit Hua Hin, and the road between BKK & HH.

I am sure Mark have a back up plan and already book 2nd & 3rd hotel incase the 1st one is deemed in-operatable.

Apparently you are not aware of who owns the Dusit Thani Hua Hin. I'm sure the Reds are very aware, which is why absolutely nothing will happen during ASEAN.

Who own the Dusit Thani? Mark? Thaksin? I really don't know.

I should have been more clear - while Dusit is a publicly traded company, the land all the Dusit hotels are built on are leased from the Crown Property Bureau. Who that group is affiliated with - I'll leave it to you to discern...

OK. I agree with you. Better not discuss furthur. I don't want to go to jail for LM.

Gold in Bangkok was 7,000 baht mid 2000 when I first met my wife to be and over that time it's gone up 100% + but not even a whimper from the Jews of Asia until now, as soon as the price of gold starts fluctuating they can't shut up shop quick enough.

So is it you have issues with Jews or issues with Chinese?

I was wondering the same thing.

Although it is not very nice, however it is a fact that oversea Chinese are also known as "Jews of the East" for decades. Even by BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1514916.stm

Some 80 years ago, Thailand's King Rama VI called the Chinese the "Jews of the East". Across the region, they have faced much discrimination, often deeply resented for their wealth. In Manila, the community are often targeted by kidnappers.

However, the way the Chinese do business is not always earning much praise.

Sad but true.

Some of the very know Chinese are: Thaksin, Sondhi, Mark, etc.

Some of the half Chinese are: . . . .

Anyone wants to praise the way they do business?

Who do you mean half Chinese? Watch your back if you are refering to him.