aussiebrian

Lock up and throw away the key ..

WHY ?

EASY - He is a drug dealer, and a criminal here in Thailand.

Why? Why? Did I miss something? I thought he was arrested because he was selling a low grade, improperly cured, bricked marijuana. Instead of locking him up and throwing away the key, the punishment should be more fitting the crime. He should be forced to write 20 times "I am a naughty boy, I promise I will never sell any low grade, improperly cured, bricked marijuana anymore." and not allowed a bong till he finished writing. Imagine the harm he could cause the Thai tourist industry if the word ever got out.

The unnamed informant who had contacted the suspect, would never have reported him to police had he sold better quality weed.

The OP had a massage without a happy ending.

The gun was in his hand, he must have done it.

Poor guys, evidence they have been at work at the time of the murders, but they will still be locked up for the next couple of years before their trial starts. They should be able claim compensation if they are found to have been wrongfully arrested and it should be paid by the police who framed them. Sorry I was dreaming.

I just rode my motorcycle in a few weeks ago, came in through O'Smach, I asked at the border what I would need, and what and how many photocopies. They said what have I got? I said my blue book, Passport and Thai licence. He said that will do, I think they photocopied everything, I paid $35 for my visa, had to go to about 4 different windows, and in 30 minutes, I was riding in Cambodia. I was stunned how quick and easy it was.

I rode in at Poipet a few years ago, there I needed many photocopies and it seemed harder and by memory took about 1 1/2 hours.

I had 5 friends from India that did that and more earlier this year on 5 Harleys. They took 4 days to get through Burma, but needed an escort vehicle. HOI stands for Harley Owners India, and you were thinking something else..

If anyone is interested in doing the trip, IM me, I have contacts that can arrange passage through Burma.

I hope the handlers are also being trained. $36000, is that for the puppies or a fully trained dog?

Prak Somathy, leader of mine-detection dog project at the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC), said the new puppies are part of 18 dogs that the Norwegian People's Aid donated to CMAC for 2015.

Maybe mine sniffing bees may be cheaper.

I know if you pay extra, they will get the application for passport completed quicker.

Different banks give different rates. Nothing to do with if you have a visa/mastercard. It is the bank that sets the rate. I have a Citibank visa debit card from Australia and unlike most Australian banks, there are no fees from the Australian side, just the normal 180 Baht from the Thai bank. Try this site, usually is fairly accurate. UOB normally gives the best rate. http://bankexchangerates.daytodaydata.net/default.aspx

You are so incorrect. You get the card network rate unless accepting a DCC transaction which gives you a bank rate 3 to 4% lower. Even the website you gave says use the card network exchange rate links they give to determine ATM rates. I've done hundreds of ATM transactions in Thailand with my no foriegn transaction fee cards...I've always got the Visa/Mastercard exact exchange rate.

I never use DCC. Well why is it then if you make 2 withdrawals using the same Visa debit card at 2 different bank ATM's within a minute of each other, one at UOB and the other at Bangkok bank, you get 2 different exchange rates? I have done that many times, and always get different rates.

On the site I sent it says "This site was created to save you money by allowing you to easily compare the current foreign exchange rates at various banks. " It also says "For approximate ATM rates, select the TT currency type. See also Mastercard rates, Visa USA rates and Visa Europe rates."

The bank's buying rate, like the TT Buying Rate used for incoming wire transfers, is "not" the rate you get when you use your card in an ATM or counter withdrawa unless you selected a DCC transaction. The two rates are always close to each other but that's just by chance/due to competition.

The rate you get is the card-network rate, that is the Visa, Mastercard, Union Pay, etc., rate...the rate is set by the card-network; not by the bank. The only time a bank ATM would offer a different rate is if the ATM happen to offer you a Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) selection/rate that they are probably not going to call DCC but instead some warm & fuzzy name like Bank Rate, Home Rate, etc. DO NOT accept a DCC transaction due to the 3 to 4% lower exchange rate...decline and continue on to get the card network rate (i.e, the Visa/Mastercard/etc rate).

To determine the Visa or Mastercard exchange rate you must go to their exchange rate websites:

Visa: http://usa.visa.com/personal/card-benefits/travel/exchange-rate-calculator.jsp

Mastercard: https://www.mastercard.com/global/currencyconversion/index.html

Now, the TT Buying Rate and Visa/Mastercard exchange rates are usually pretty close say plus or minus a 0.5%....sometime the Visa/Mastercad exchange rate is a little better than the TT Buying Rate...sometimes vice versa. Also, there is always one or two business day lag between Forex rates that are changing by the second compared to the card network rates as card network rates generally only change once a day, where TT Buying Rate can change numerous times during the day depending on how volatile the forex market is. And be sure to take into account any foreign transaction fee your "card-issuing" bank may apply in addition to the Thai bank ATM Bt180 fee.

Summary: card network and TT Buying Rates are usually pretty close...you get the card-network exchange rate and not the TT Buying Rate....use the Visa/Master card exchange rate pages to determine the rate....and don't forget any fees that effectively lower your rate...and DO NOT accept a DCC transaction.

Different banks give different rates. Nothing to do with if you have a visa/mastercard. It is the bank that sets the rate. I have a Citibank visa debit card from Australia and unlike most Australian banks, there are no fees from the Australian side, just the normal 180 Baht from the Thai bank. Try this site, usually is fairly accurate. UOB normally gives the best rate. http://bankexchangerates.daytodaydata.net/default.aspx

He should have been charged with crimes against humanity. Legalization and harm minimisation programs is the only way to curb the drug problem, not government sanctioned murder. Prohibition of alcohol in the USA in the 1920's and 30's was a resounding failure, crime and coruption became rampant and more people died from alcohol, just like with the war on drugs. When will people wake up!!

This page 2 re drug legalisation http://alcoholism.about.com/od/pot/a/bldea050426_3.htm

http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/debate/myths/myths4.htm cites experience of countries worldwide and the results of legalising drugs.

Coincidentally, today's BP has an article re the current proposal to legislate casinos here, citing experiences of countries who have legislated and their deleterious affects on society and comparing it with Holland's failed drugs legislation, to wit, it merely encourages those who already do to do more of it and attracts newcomers, not to mention the increase in drug/gambling cartels and money laundering.

I'm not 'moralising', however this has been my personal experience of giving people enough rope to hang themselves. They invariably do. Especially here.

You are moralising (comment on issues of right and wrong, typically with an unfounded air of superiority.

1. To prevent recreational drug use and to treat and rehabilitate recreational drug users.
2. To reduce harm to users.
3. To diminish public nuisance by drug users (the disturbance of public order and safety in the neighborhood).
4. To combat the production and trafficking of recreational drugs.^[1]

The program can be hailed as a great success. Crime has plunged in neighborhoods where heroin use was endemic. Users have less trouble with the law, and their lives have stabilized and improved. They get a roof over their head, they receive welfare, and according to De Ridder, 80 percent of them have some sort of job.

The only problem they still have, of course, is their addiction.

Lahey said without the program, the “whole city would be full of junkies.”

“Now addicts can live more peacefully and start thinking about other things than just getting high. What remains after everything else has been taken care of, is their addiction,” he said. “If you get the dope for free, your only problem is that you’re addicted to the dope. It seems like a paradox, but it's true. All that's left when everything else is taken care of is the question: do I really want to keep on using this?”

http://www.amsterdam.info/drugs/

The Dutch see the use of drugs as a health matter, similar to the use of tobacco and alcohol, and in fact not very distant from problems of obesity, alcoholism and tobacco smoking. They also point to the fact that prohibition of alcohol in the US in the years 1919-1933 brought more negative effects of increased criminality, than the positive social changes and had to be withdrawn.

Portugal

http://mic.com/articles/110344/14-years-after-portugal-decriminalized-all-drugs-here-s-what-s-happening

In 2001, the Portuguese government did something that the United States would find entirely alien. After many years of waging a fierce war on drugs, it decided to flip its strategy entirely: It decriminalized them all.

If someone is found in the possession of less than a 10-day supply of anything from marijuana to heroin, he or she is sent to a three-person Commission for the Dissuasion of Drug Addiction, typically made up of a lawyer, a doctor and a social worker. The commission recommends treatment or a minor fine; otherwise, the person is sent off without any penalty. A vast majority of the time, there is no penalty.

Fourteen years after decriminalization, Portugal has not been run into the ground by a nation of drug addicts. In fact, by many measures, it's doing far better than it was before.

http://www.popsci.com/science-decriminalize-legalize-drugs-marijuana-weed

I could go on and on without looking too far. I have seen the drug problem getting much worse in Australia since I was young, and around the world, with more and more dangerous drugs being made. Do a few searches, you will not find many sites and studies that say it was a failure. You can always find something negative if you do a lot of looking, but any scientific studies do not agree with your moralising.

Also if it was to be done properly, all drugs should be decriminalised and then legalised, Drugs should be a health issue, not a legal problem.

I do not want your children or my child to use drugs, but with the current laws, that is a lot more likely. People need to be responsible for their own actions.

I do not condone drug use, and in a more human society, the current insanity would not be allowed to continue. In the future, people will look back at the war on drugs as draconian and a huge failure, resulting in the opposite effect of what it's aim is supposed to be.

It is best not to use any drugs, including tobacco and alcohol. But this is the real world I am living in, not like yours.

While I am writing this there is a program on Australia Plus about how overused and abuse of prescription drugs is the biggest drug problem.

What do you want? More of the same failed war on Drugs, murder, corruption, deaths or a change that reduces harm for the users and society. I know what I want.

I would suggest Siriraj Hospital. If it is good enough for the King, it should be good enough to remove moles. Also a friend had a carcinoma removed from his eyelid, which also had the go, they rebuilt a new eyelid from the roof of his mouth. He said the staff, doctors, and care he got was second to none.They even had to put in an artificial tear duct and the 5 hr operation was a total success. Good luck. Being a public hospital, the cost of his operation and stay in hospital was more than reasonable. Good luck.

Why would you want a long haired German Shepherd in Thailand? Many long haired haired German shepherds don't have an undercoat and will get sunburned, plus it is not the right climate for any long haired dog, unless you keep it inside with an A/C. So I suspect it is just more pleasing to your eye, because they are the same dog, just one is a throw back and in most countries can't be used for breeding as it is considered a fault.

As you have had an Irish setter before, as in your picture, make sure you are fully fenced, as you know they have a bad habit of wandering.

Didn't I read somewhere that the "good general" was going to eliminate corruption?

There must be some way we can blame this on Thaksin.

Just out of curiosity: what did Thaksin do about it?

Drug War. Probably one of the most important and effective anti corruption actions taken in Thailand. At the time several provinces and large parts of the border region had all but been taken over by the drug cartel(s), The cartel's influence reached into the police, the judiciary, political leaders, and the military. The influx of cheap drugs was ripping the social fabric of Thailand apart and every month,thousands were becoming addicted. This cleanup has been much discussed in TVF and Thaksin blamed for many of the drug cartel and police related deaths.

Corrupt officials were removed and human trafficking stopped during the cleanup.. The Thaksin initiated war on corruption was a civil government initiated operation undertaken by the military and the police working together.

So your saying the Thaksin initiated and led mass murder campaign disguised as a anti drug campaign was a stunning success and a credit to this madman?

All it achieved was the deaths of 2500 or more people, most not involved in the drug trade and increasing the price of drugs...

"The exact numbers of dead have sometimes been debated, with international organizations, like Amnesty International, estimating as high as 2800, while the Royal Thai Police only admit 72 killings. Subsequent governments actually talked up the numbers of dead and promised future death tolls of 3000-4000."

"Thaksin began a new round in his campaign against drugs in February and ordered police “to produce results at any cost.” The goal was to “eradicate all drugs in Thailand.” This three-month campaign resulted in 2,275 deaths."

"According to the Narcotics Control Board, the policy was effective in reducing drug consumption, especially in schools, by increasing the market price......The war on drugs was widely criticized by the international community. Thaksin requested that the UN Commission on Human Rights send a special envoy to evaluate the situation, but said in an interview, "The United Nations is not my father. I am not worried about any UN visit to Thailand on this issue."

"I still consider the human rights abuses carried out during the War on Drugs to be the worst committed during the tenure of an elected government since Thailand liberalised in the 1980s"

Only a very sick individual would consider this one of the most important and effective anti corruption actions taken in Thailand

He should have been charged with crimes against humanity. Legalization and harm minimisation programs is the only way to curb the drug problem, not government sanctioned murder. Prohibition of alcohol in the USA in the 1920's and 30's was a resounding failure, crime and coruption became rampant and more people died from alcohol, just like with the war on drugs. When will people wake up!!

Just hurry up and kill them, I am fed up of hearing about it all the time, they knew what would happen so don't sissy about it now, shit the human rights crap

Attention people, Cookee68 is sick of listening about this, so for his benefit the 10 or now 8 people should be taken away and murdered, tied to a tree and shot and human beings shouldn't have any rights. I can see the human rights will have no bearing on you as you don't quite fit into this category.

I feel very sad when I see there are many cold hearted people around, totally lacking in any sympathy or compassion, devoid of any empathy, happy to see another human being being pointlessly murdered.

Perhaps the people who deal in drugs are totally lacking in in any sympathy, empathy or compassion and contribute to the deaths of some people and much pain and suffering to others.

Dealing drugs isn't victimless otherwise there wouldn't be so much misery in this world within the addicts, their friends and their families.

The only guy who ever tried to break into my house and steal things was a drug addict who was beyond holding down a job, and he started stealing for a living. Did I mention that he "tried"?

You have it all wrong. It is the laws that cause the problem, not the importers. If it was legal, and the junkies could get it from their doctor, and didn't have to break into your and other peoples houses, and mug you in the street, rob banks, steal and sell their grandmother, for their next hit, or die because some dealer needed to make greater profits by cutting his heroin with ajax, so he could pay the police not to be busted and to also have his next hit and his supplier didn't need to screw him tighter as to pay off the judge, or for protection from the police.

And all these dealers didn't have to turn your children into junkies, so they have new clients to sell their drugs to, only so they can either buy drugs to support their craving or their lavish lifestyle, if there wasn't so much money involved then the dealers would dry up.. WHY is it so expensive? Because it is illegal!!

Then your insurance policy will go down, the junkie wouldn't need to break into your house and instead of trying to get enough money for his next hit, to put the largest amount of money in the hands of a mister big, he or she could be holding down a job.

If you think that is fantasy, look what happened to the Victorian drug squad, or try reading about the NSW Woodward Royal Commission into drugs, Look at what happened during prohibition of alcohol in the USA in the 20's and 30's. Not much difference with what is happening with illegal drugs around the world now. so then you may get a greater understanding of what you are talking about.

With education, a change in the laws and rehabilitation programs for anyone who wanted to use them, we wouldn't have a drug problem.

Alcohol is a legal drug, which you most likely use, that kills far more people than all illegal drugs combined, same with tobacco. Alcohol causes far more violence in the community and family breakdowns. If the laws were changed, and it was a medical problem. rather than a legal one, there would be no more drug importers, fewer junkies as proved in countries like Holland and Portugal. The only reason why there are importers is the price is brought up higher and higher because the laws become more draconian. It is a very vicious circle.

Why? Druggie scum gotta pay the price.

You are sick. What if they were your kids???

Hopefully my kid wouldn't be a drug trafficking scum. Hopefully some drug trafficking scum won't play a part in him being an addict. If my son did it and knew the rules, I'd be sad that I didn't raise him to know right from wrong….but I'd hope he'd realise he <deleted> up at the end of the day

I feel very sad when I see there are many cold hearted people around, totally lacking in any sympathy or compassion, devoid of any empathy, happy to see another human being being pointlessly murdered. I feel sad when my football team doesn't win. I think totally devastated would be a little more appropriate if it was my son being murdered. Would you say to your son as they drag him away, Oh well son, you are scum, I am sad I didn't raise you to know right from wrong, they will take you away now and shoot you, but you knew the rules and deserve your punishment? Maybe it would be fairer to take you away to be shot because it was you that didn't raise him properly.

Though its a bad idea, its no worse than any employer requiring its employees to wear ID tag's around their necks.

What pisses me off though is the holocaust industry hijacking the topic,

I think it is a lot worse, but you initially say it is a bad idea, but then you try and justify your position saying that it is no worse than ID tags around their necks. The difference is this is only for Migrant workers which may have to wear them all the time which will make them stand out, and not needed for Thai workers. If an employer wanted to make all their employees wear an ID around their necks when they were at work, that is a completely different scenario.

The last time I heard a quote about the "holocaust industry" was a neo nazi quoting the self hating jew norman finkelstein. Maybe you need to read a bit wider.

I just went to your profile and one of your quotes is "Zionism is racism, actions and words by numerous Israels make this very clear, the anti Semite card played by Israel and its supporters has worn very thin"

My first impression of your comments show your spots and I can see if anyone mentions the Holocaust or Israel, you can't help yourself to state that Israel is evil, and next will be the Holocaust never happened, which is all part of your agenda.

The War on drugs is a total failure. How long does this farce need to keep going on for until the general population wakes up and says enough is enough?

Any thinking person knows the only people that benefit from illegal drugs are

Corrupt police

Corrupt Politicians

Corrupt judges

Corrupt Magistrates

Criminals

Drug Dealers

Drug Importers

People that run our prisons

Insurance companies

Hospitals

Illegal Drug growers

Illegal Drug producers

Lawyers

Funeral directors

Who are the victims?

Most people, (yes even all of you who don't use them, when you have your house robbed or you are mugged in the street by some junkie needing his next fix or when you pay your insurance policy, or possibly when you find your child has become addicted after some junkie wanted to turn him/her into a customer)

Your Children

Maybe you if you are caught with something in your possession and also to the billions of dollars leaving the country and going into criminal hands, with NO TAX,

Prohibition of alcohol in the USA in the 1920's is a prime example of what happens when drugs are illegal. Do we never learn.

If you can't keep them out of a secure place like prisons how on earth can we keep them out of the general population. Mind altering drugs have been around since the beginning of civilization, the only difference is we can make much more dangerous ones now, and people who want to use them will use them as they are all illegal.

Education, Compassion, Empathy, and sensible drug laws with rehabilitation to anyone who wants it will stop the drug problem in it's tracks.

If someone can give me any other benefits to keeping them illegal, I am all ears.

Excellent comment & also important information from our resident Wizard !

Uruguay has recently legalised marijuana & there are many more watching to see if it works...the answer is it does ...so why don't the United Nations submit a resolution legalizing drugs on a global basis?! Greed & the Drub Barons is the answer sadly...but heh! wouldn't it be something if it ever happened & who knows if the fast growing countries that are interested join up it may just be unstoppable because all the facts proves it works & the prisons are half emptied as a bouns ......

Your comment was meant as a joke ....right?

b

Isn't it normal for older falangs to be packing heat when they go out for dinner here?

From the Thai side of things, it wasn't that long ago that someone senior "accidentally" killed his wife while cleaning his gun at the dinner table.

Having said that, I do believe there's a large number of mentally and emotionally unstable people here that shouldn't be allowed near alcohol, let alone guns.

That applies equally to both Thai's and foreigners.

Have not heard about that story in a while, one of my all time favorites. Made all

the more funny by the fact that his excuse about " accidentally" shooting his wife

actually worked ,and he got away scot free with the murder. Says a lot about the

Thai justice system.

Regarding his botched suicide, that is a classic error. Due to the angle of the hand

in relationship to the head, you more or less end up shooting off part of your forehead.

So whatever troubles you had before, now you have to deal with a bit of brain damage

as well. If you really want to kill yourself, just put the barrel in your mouth.....

That doesn't always work. A friend of mine put a .22 in his mouth and pulled the trigger after a fight with his wife. The bullet lodged into his jawbone. Ouch!

If the Family dont Skin You, C.P. will.They get all their info from your food suppliers they own in the area,know exactly what u got then drop their prices to hurt your margins.If youre big, they approach you to raise for them, same as they do to Fish Farmers.

yea i have heard that , i heard from a guy years ago in udon thani , he lost 3 million because of such a thing.

A friend of mine knew this guy, he ended up having to go into hiding, but at least this guy got some of his things out of the house when she was out. Maybe a different guy, maybe many fall into this trap in Udon Thani

Or may be same woman, different guy

Not having encountered the lights on beach road,

I am unable to say whether there is, or is not, an amber warning light.

Not only there is a amber warning (~3 seconds)

but there is mainly a countdown board for each color.

There is no excuse to say you were surprised by the change to red light.

When in Pattaya and not walking I do stop but not before having checked my rearview to make sure there is not a bloody big bus bearing down on me at 100 Miles an hour.

I have never seen police doing anything on that road to stop the speeding or the running of lights.

Exactly, coming from Australia you would not normally pass your driving test these days without checking your mirrors both approaching an intersection (or lights, crossings etc) and you must always check your mirrors before braking. (To get a motorcycle licence this does not apply as you don't even have to ride on the road ) But if you got your licence a long time ago, this would not have been a requirement. If it is not safe to stop, you are permitted to go through the light. Here it is very rare to be booked for going through a red light, but always do what ever is safe. A large vehicle, travelling at the same speed as a motorcycle, will take much more distance to stop, that is of course if you know how to apply your brakes properly. The road surface will make a difference to the amount of front and rear brakes to apply. The above quoted posters are spot on.

R.I.P Prajak you died a real hero and have my total respect for saving your girlfriend like that not many Thai men would sacrifice themselves like that and once we get a picture of this Evil Russian I am sure he will probable be a huge brute of a guy, with some story like oh sorry I had been drinking its not my fault it was the alcohol that did it.

Another backhanded compliment to Thais. It would have been better if you had just left it at "R.I.P Prajak you died a real hero and have my total respect for saving your girlfriend like that" I also doubt he meant to sacrifice himself, just unfortunately the Russian overpowered him or got a lucky blow in.

I wonder what is worse, Prayut saying he felt like punching a reporter, or Abbott promising to Shirt-front Vladimir Putin? I would say Abbott wins hands down.