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Presence at an illegal rally during SOE was a crime, penalty 1 year jail, later increased to 2. Being a foreigner present at an illegal political rally is a crime, penalty deportation and black-listing. Incitement to commit a felony is a crime, being part of a mob committing arson is a crime, having prior knowledge that a crime is to be committed and not reporting it is a crime - and the penalties can be bloody severe.

Being an idiot with a big mouth, however, is not a crime, mores the pity!

Yup, I'm no lawyer, but I reckon this Jeff Savage has committed a crime and thus should be arrested in accordance with Thai law. He has and was 'actively engaged' in this rally by his own admission and as the poster above said 'incitement to commit a felony is a crime' is surely true under Thai law also ??? Err, I think the youtube video evidence is pretty clear about this point eh

Imho: Thailand does not need foreigners like this in it's country and surely they have the power to remove at least one 'undesirable' namely Jeff Savage. Please do your duty the Royal Thai Police ...you know where he is eh

doest it means than all administrations, like immigration office, will be closed ????

my friend ed visa finish on 18, he is on his eay to bangkok................

some one know somethings ????????? please

Go to Kanchanaburi Immigration... 125 km, 2 hrs on bus, 198 Baht return, southern bus term. get it there. Or Nakhon Pathom, 60km (if there is an Immi? don't know)

Just in reply: Yes there is a new immigration office in Nakhon Pathom Province. It's located in Sampran virtually opposite 'Wat Rai King' (big famous temple by the Chasi river). (Sampran from downtown BKK is around 45 KM's)

How to get there: If coming from BKK ....down Phetkasem and just b4 river bridge there is a turning on the right signposted 'Wat Rai King' and 'Nakhon Pathom immigration'. Go up that road for about 3KM's, Wat Rai King on left and just past the end of the complex on the R/h side is Soi 14. Turn right into that and go around 150 metres and is on left with sign in English.

P.S. Can I have 2 days holiday in NP please Mr. Gov ... guess not.

I am a foreigner living in Thailand now for more than 20 years. I have my opinions about this and many other situations here in Thailand , and I feel free to express them...... WITHIN my circle of friends and accquantainces, but not on a stage in a public rally. That is not my place.

We foreigners are GUESTS in this country. Any foreigner who publically protests at a open rally, such as is going on in BKK now, is trying to upset/overthrow the government and should be escorted to the airport and deported immediately.

People should know better, when to open and when to keep their mouths closed and opinions to themselves. There are places to express your opinions, but on stage or at a public rally is definitely not one of them.

Immigration, pick them up and show them the door.

Apparently the Thai wife [some of whom can become very rabid with their opinions] have them by the short and curlies. The effect is that these foreigners are not thinking , but reacting with the wrong head.

My opinion is foreigners open you mouth in protest, close the door to this country that we all love as guests in a beautiful place.

OMHO

This is spot on and yes, we as foreigners should stay on the sidelines and not become actively engaged with one or another group, be it red, yellow or any other colour. I've been here a mere 10 years and yes I have my opinions which I can air anonomously on TV and verbally with my Thai and farang friends ....that's as far as it goes and should go IMHO.

As for Shanediesel incident: many 'newbies' have arisen in the last month or two and lay an assault to a particular political thread. It could be seen as agitation to promote their given agenda, and where these people actually say where they are from ...take that with a pinch of salt also

As to the moderators, everybody is entitled to their view but when newbies like the above lay a verbal attack on their 1st day of joining (as posted earlier on this page), they should be banned, don't you think? It was a bit OTT eh

(I now see that the verbal attack has been removed from this thread ....for those of you who did see it, well say no more LOL)

Wait till you see the 'year end figures' for tourism ...it will be Millions down

Sure this protest is hitting BKK tourism, but it's having a knock on effect. I was in Kanchanaburi last week and oh so quiet. Good friends of mine who have a restaurant there are on the point of folding as customers are becoming non-existant; he and she have been in business for 6 years ...this, as they say, is because of the prolonged protests in BKK.

The stories are abound from many others around the land, and the damage to the tourism industry IMHO will suffer this year and the next year; many a traveller in their decision making process of where to spend their dollar/euro.pound will steer away from Thailand as they could have lost faith in this country.

God/Buddha/Allah bless Thailand and may these troubles cease soon ..it's soooo sad to see in the land I love

So , thats the answer. Thx. I was wondering about this as brought a 2 sim phone and have True as main and One 2 Call as No.2. I wondered if there was a way to block yourself (i.e automatically) ....but seems not yeah?

Right, I'm on both their cases Monday ....10 of em a day between the two ...enough is enough ...thx

^ Lol, you have just cheated and changed your own bad English in the quote ...lol ..jokes on you you you Dave

Check the original out, B4 dave cheated ...just so funny, here it is again Dave LOL

"heres a tip Nationwide are changing there flexicards july- august so anyone with a card in Thailand will have a stop but on it then and will need to phone and get it activated"

But LOl even after the edit 'there' lol ...AKA Dave the 'Pack-Packer' LOL LMAO.

What sort of fool comes to a country like Thailand with just enough to cover there holiday,or without even a credit card for an emergancy, its not like there are no warming signs, people have a brain! its there for a reason, for those who are too lazy or too stupid to use it, its called tough luck!

heres a tip Nationwide are changing there flexicards july- august so anyone with a card in Thailand will have a stop but on it then and will need to phone and get it activated.

OMG ...the word compassion springs to mind Mmm, many 'backpackers' come to Thailand on a shoestring and yes they return when the cash has run out ...Mmm, yep <deleted> happens and good for you Dave that you are such a 'wise traveller'; some folk just wanna have fun eh.

On your 2nd para. err emmm, oh yeah ...took about 3 reads to understand as yer inguuulish is garbage.

GL all at Suvie and hope it gets sorted for ya ....yup <deleted> happens.

63,601 or whatever it was. No point in aruging over the actual figure ...other than to say 'a lot of people are affected by this'. Mann, there are many a worker without work, many a seller not selling, that's about it. Many of these folk could arguably be classed as 'the red side' .. and yes, they're losing out too.

As a direct example (as is all I can throw into the pot), my wife, a seller where I live, relies on going to Pratunam normally twice a week to buy her stock there to then sell at a local market ...she's managed to go twice this entire month ..and yes, I've banned her from going for the near future as I fear for her safety, surely you lot out there can see this? (well I really hope you do after so many innocent bystanders have been blown up/injured) ...thus, our income has been affected too.

Surely, there are many folk who also have stopped going to places like Pratunam as they are worried the same as I am, and thus it affects the seller and the market re-seller too.

So, if you all wanna argue over figures (meaningless thou) more than this are genuinely affected by this red rally.

Rant over, good luck Thailand, and let's hope there is an end to this soon for all of us who live here and just wanna get on with life

'To create understanding' .... mmm, I think it has already gone beyond 'understanding'. But, I see where the Military is coming from ..after all, their job is essentially 'to save lives'. However, from this stance, it's gonna drag on into next week me thinks and yes the gov. is indecisive, and yes, this is not helping the situation ...how many negotiations does it take to be resolved?

Good luck Thailand ...not the land of smiles anymore

Getting back on topic ....the S.K. PM made his statement and said 'Taksin is behind all this' and I agree.

For any that have forgotton what has recently happened/ buried their head in the sand/ plain just don't know .... in Feb., they, the courts seized some 46 Billion and left him with 30 billion ....this is what DIRECTLY sparked the protests we see now. Yes, there are many protestors that 'Are Paid To Be There' (agreed not all). Yes, they 'openly support' Taksin, Yes, they want him back .... and yes (according to oh soo many) he's personally backing them financially (oh and some of his mates in Thailand too).

So the sum of the protest is correct by the S.K. PM and tentatively the Deputy PM of Thailand is also correct in his recent accusation (to which he is being sued LOL) of Taksin.

So, what is the protest all about? Democaracy and freedom or to prop up one man's greed/wealth/ego, and return this man to Thailand 'unconvicted and PM again' for their due financial gains now and in the future ??

Up to You You You how you see it ....to me, it's crystal

P.S. Oops, sry Taksin, please don't sue me too, I only have 4000 Baht in the Bank right now, ty.

OMG ...a tourist attraction! ....nope 'It's a war Zone'!!! and a good idea to stay well clear.

Some of the remarks from the lead post are amazing like the American and his 'concert feel/vibe' OMG, I'm lost for words. People are dying there and yes, Farangs are being injured too .... check out the You tube video in the closed topic (friday) by Webfact and George on Page one (I think its the Aussie as reported being patched up by the soldiers at the BTS).

No, I'm not a tourist, I live here and care deeply about what happens, this is so sad and we, who live in Thailand, farangs and Thai, are becoming more unesay with this situation day by day; it just looks to me that we are on the brink of out and out civil war ....mmm, but I really hope not.

Where is the way out of this mess? I just don't know other than the Government has to be decisive if this country is to avoid the aforementioned.

For you 'tourists' please stay clear of the area, it could become really unpleasant for you, thanks.

"The South Korean president has been quoted as saying former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra is the real cause of the current political crisis in Thailand."

Me too IMHO ....that's it and nice to see some eh' hem 'world leaders' saying so.

Nite nite

Well, good of the immig. to make a sensible gesture and to those that cant get out B4 30th ..let's hope they sensibly extend for those genuine cases.

Mmm, it seems people hate the Thai immig. ...okay and fair enough, but do you think 'aliens' in the UK like it any more? Ans: Nope and I know as many years ago I was a courier for visa services and had to attend the queue along with many 'aliens' at the Croydon office (this may have moved as was 1995). Turn up at 6-7 am ...max 500 seen, anymore than that in queue (yes including the visa couriers ; me) and yer turned away; if yer not and it's winter, you guessed it, the queue is outside (no fun). Average time to get it done was @9.30 -10. 00 am, and the doors didn't open until 8.00AM. Lots of sad faces and unhappy refusals abound.

When I go to immig. here. I walk in to a nice air con office, smile, wait 10 or so mins, give em all my stuff, p/copy of TL, WP, passport etc. and around 30 mins more its done and 1900 baht is given. Except on one occasion in some 10 years, the staff are nice, helpful and try to process it even if the odd bit of paperwork is missing. Yes, the rules can be overbearing at times (for some) but I know the score and it seems relatively easy from one year to the next.

So, okay keep bashing Thai immig. but from where I stand, they are a far fairer and nicer bunch than UK immig. enuuf said.

I like Thai immigration 9/10.

Oh well, it seems to be our destiny now

Funny how it's now unravelling, it seems more support is growing from da establishment to oust the Gov than say compared to last week. Suppose it's the Thai way. Well, if it brings about peace then so be it, but IMHO it won't

People are rallying for Thaksin but the UDD know it sounds silly to make the poor rally for a billionaire to wrap it up and sell it like democracy .

That's about it in a nutshell and it ain't about freedom or democracy IMHO.

Best not to stay on KSR ...nope it aint safe, check out You tube for KSR last night ...kicking off at the entrance to KSR (burgerking end) and red shirts running down KSR. Mmm, this I don't consider safe.

Reports today backpackers leaving en masse (2 hours ago one of Thai English newspapers) ....I think that sez it all eh.

Go elsewhere in Thailand, leave Bangkok, and as the last poster said 'It ain't a movie' so don't be bravado and think of your safety. This could still get much worse, who knows?

Just an update ....

The Red TV channel has been cut to Nakhon Pathom a few minutes ago .... MMM (about 9.53PM)

Any other cable watchers in other places?

Is it now gonna kick off??

Check this out moderators.#

Just now too Suthep with all the top military brass on all channels asking families of red shirts etc. to please go home ...MMM, I think its gonna kick off soon. Can't be coincidence these two events eh?

As to others ..some have it some dont ...off air since 9.53 and hasn't returned here (local cable TV, all other channels (59 of) are ok)

Just an update ....

The Red TV channel has been cut to Nakhon Pathom a few minutes ago .... MMM (about 9.53PM)

Any other cable watchers in other places?

Is it now gonna kick off??

Check this out moderators.#

Just now too Suthep with all the top military brass on all channels asking families of red shirts etc. to please go home ...MMM, I think its gonna kick off soon. Can't be coincidence these two events eh?

Oh dear and here we go again Let's hope somehow and some way there can be a withdrawal of both sides or otherwise it will get bloody and most folk do not want to see that happen. However, I have watched quite a bit of the RED TV and they are certainly an angry lot ...just can't see them backing down ... and now what options is the government left with?

I pray for a swift end though as this is affecting all, Thai's and farangs, and leaves us all feeling insecure in the land we call home. My wife also has to go to Pratunam once a week to buy stock ...I've banned her from going as I fear for her safety. Now she has little stock and thus our second income has dissappeared ....We are all affected by this in one way or another.

C'mon Thai people, live in harmony and peace as you always keep teling us farangs that's the way you are ... mmmm

In case P Gazette goes into denial, images.google.com has caught the image to the article http://images.google.com/images?um=1&h...966&ndsp=21

Mmm, the plot thickens. Why would the Phuket Gazette remove this article from thier own website? Do they now have the realisation that maybe it's not fair to produce such an article before a trial in a court of law/ or they are completely wrong and botched their story ... Mmmmmmmm

Mmm ...this surely sounds a fishy story about this man's guilt and as pointed out ...he ain't convicted yet. Be nice to see the outcome of this as everytime something like this comes up concerning farang teachers, the heat is turned up by the authorities, which in turn affects all farang teachers here (remember the Silom teacher incident around 2 to 4 years ago in which he was proven to be a nutbag confessing to a murder that he didn't actually commit; not a murderer).

Yup I agree with the many here that if he is guilty then I hope hope he does serious bird, but if he is not guilty (and he could possibly be so) then the guys life has been wrecked here in Thailand and maybe beyond, by having his picture plastered on this site and just the accusations alone will always give others suspicion about him; IMHO ...not fair for him before going to court eh.

Me thinks the MOE and their 'penpushers' will be busy of finding more new ways to make it a pain in the arse to renew yer TL and WP ... and i'm up for it next month

P.S. It'd be nice to hear some more opinon from the likes of 'Thaifry' etc. as to what they personally reckon about this situation. C'mon give us some insight as this just ain't a 'clearcut' story.

A friend called me and mentioned that people around his neighborhood, were offered TB 1200 to join this rally. For many of them, TB 1200 is a big amount and they willingly took the offer and are on their way to Bangkok. None of them have any clue what so ever about the rally. Why it is being organized and all that. They don't even understand what is democracy nor do they know their right and obligation to vote. They follow their leader, more like tribes headman, and thats about it.

Ok Funky, No its not you saying this but your 'friend', but come on, do you really think that yer average up north/Isan person does not know there's a rally and what its about? And ....that they don't know their rights on being able to vote??? I suggest you don't take your 'friend's' comments to heart ....they ain't that stupid and give em a little more credit eh.

Still, this is the way TH works and 'paid protestors' is the norm. The problem though IMHO is if you are being 'paid to protest' then the protest you are engaged in is not in your heart, and just in your pocket; not the best base for genuine change.

Good luck TH this weekend and here we go again, and again, and again

Well, the outcome was fairly predictable and keeps both sides reasonably happy? So the state gets 46 and Mr. T gets some 30. Yes, the courts decision was based on what they could prove; we all may know differently but the rule of law has to apply 'Proof'. Regardless of Mr. T's twitter rantings etc., he must be sat there now thinking to himself it ain't a bad result afterall ....a billion dollars in yer pocket, pretty good .

I do have one question though: Does Mr. T have to come back to Thailand to get his money or can he just use his ATM card in Dubai or wherever? I think the latter will apply

Well, here we have one man that has caused so much trouble for Thailand and indeed still a very very rich man who is also a convicted man who should be in prison and has other cases pending. Its has also been proved that 39 billion (+interest) was 'ill gotten' and yet I hear of no criminal charges being laid forth for this (have I missed something?). So well done Taksin the former policeman ...you're a billionaire dollar 'proved in a court of law' crook who is allowed to be so ...Result !!!

(The above is in no way a negative post of the courts decision as per your TV rules laid out in red; it is a post highlighting the lack of fairness in society and our lack or fear to bring people like Mr. T to fully face his consequences)

I wait for Friday with bated breath, but it could well turn out to be a 'no decision at this time' due to technicalities etc. However, if they seize the lot one side will call it political meddling ...if not, then 5 judges have become rich (as some may argue).

It's all a big smokescreen as usual and hard to find the truth .... so much goes on in the background that only those at those at the highest level really know what is going on.

I think we can mull over this issue all we like at the mo' but never find the truth to this 'bribery allegation' ..... in retrospect we may and we'll all just have to wait for Friday and beyond.

Good luck Thailand, but either way it goes (unless a 'no decision') I think there is more trouble ahead

This has caused a stir concerning WP's. For one, the Thai government is rightly entitled to 'revise' their regulations just like any other country does so from time time ....it's updating to the present situation. As some posters have pointed out (although info is vague at mo', let's wait till March when all is clear) there are pros and cons to the revision, thus some 'farangs' may benefit from changes and others not. I personally don't think its an anti-farang campaign as many have pointed out; I think it is just to revise and bring up to date the needs for the country as a whole.

I know this is off topic but I am just replying to what several posters have pointed out already concernig the ED visa. As Asiawatcher and Backsoon (P2.) pointed out that many people obtain an ED visa as a means to stay in Thailand. Yes, I'm sure some of these schools forward this idea that you can stay upto 3 years on ED for a small 'tuition fee' ...thus it could appear somewhat crooked. However, and contrary to one of these posters, some people do obtain a legitimate ED for legitimate purposes (as Luciano1860, P3 pointed out). I myself obtained an ED visa for one year in 2001 to conduct a thesis at Chiang Mai University on organic systems and consumerism, thus it was granted on the basis of research; the UK, where I am from, is reciprocal in granting research/education visas too for Thai people attached to a University. Moreover, Surely some of these 'Thai language' ED visa people really are doing exactly that and learning the language in the country that the language is spoken; that's makes perfect sense and is the best place to learn a 2nd language eh!

So please don't dish everyone with an ED visa ....some are legitimate, and some are a bit iffy. If the government can separate the two then great, and it is their right to remove a farang who is here illlegitimately ...don't you think?