jesselv

For a land of smiles there are sure a lot of people being gunned down in the streets. Maybe they smile while pulling the trigger.

It's a third world country with no regulation of anything, what would you expect. In a poor country anyone no matter their personal hygiene can hang out a shingle or sell food on the street. Yet another reason to find elsewhere to hang your hat if you're a retiree looking for inexpensive living. Just find an economically distressed area of the U.S., god knows there's plenty of options in that regard these days. At least you'll still have some measure of regulation and monitoring of food sources and handling.

Ah yes, the land of smiles, and an occasional murder to get rid of a political opponent.

PRE-ELECTION VIOLENCE

Vote canvasser shot dead on Khao San Road

By The Nation

Bhum Jai Thai worker from Lop Buri slain by lone gunman; wife also injured

Increasing political violence in the run-up to the July 3 poll has seen another death - with a key canvasser working for the Bhum Jai Thai Party shot dead in Bangkok yesterday in broad daylight. Two women, including his wife, were wounded in the shooting.

Chana Songkhram police are looking for the lone gunman, who sprayed five shots at Suban Jiraphanwanich, his wife Oraphin and aide Chanutphorn Phothisamphan, after approaching them in the busy Khao San Road tourist area.

Three bullets hit Suban, chairman of the Lop Buri Provincial Administrative Organisation, in the head. The remaining two hit the women, wounding them slightly.

The gunman was seen fleeing on a waiting motorcycle. He is about 170 centimetres tall, and was unmasked but wearing a blue shirt with long sleeves and a pair of blue jeans. The getaway rider wore a black jacket, black slacks and full-face helmet.

Footage from security cameras obtained by police show a likely third assailant, acting as a scout who was following Suban immediately after he left his van and walked towards a clinic, before being shot. There are no details about this man's identity or clothing.

Suban was canvassing for Bhum Jai Thai candidates in all three key constituencies in the Central province, where Chart Thai Pattana and Pheu Thai MPs hold half the seats. Suban and his father Kamol had recently changed allegiance from Chart Thai Pattana to Bhum Jai Thai.

Mallika, a sister of Suban, is also running in Constituency 2 under the Bhum Jai Thai banner, against a heavyweight rival - Pheu Thai's Suchart Lai-namngern - but Bhum Jai Thai is not competing for Constituency 3 because it could not find a proper candidate.

Political pundits, reacting to Suban's death, agree that Bhum Jai Thai will face an uphill battle in the remaining days of the run-up, without Suban's help and connections. They refused to comment on who might be behind his killing.

Kamol, an 11-time MP under Chart Thai, an ally of Chart Thai Pattana Party, is expected to help with the Bhum Jai Thai campaign and that of his daughter Mallika.

In Bangkok, police are monitoring the situation in eight of the 33 constituencies where political campaigning by rival parties is intensive. A police-mediation seminar is planned to ask all candidates to employ positive and productive measures during their rallies and visits.

The head of the police centre handling security measures during the run-up, Pol General Phongsaphat Phongjaroen, said officers were discussing with political parties the replacing of vandalised election signboards with new ones, to prevent the public and the media from believing an excessive number of boards had been damaged.

There are now 352 candidates under police protection, usually by two officers at their request.

One in the deep South has a guard of 10 policemen. A force of 11,030 will be stationed at all poll booths in Bangkok.

-- The Nation 2011-06-17

"[These crimes] will destroy our image among tourists and we are trying to stop them by taking records. It seems to be working very well," Col Arayapan added.

Yes, you must uphold the sterling image of Phuket.

Phuket is Las Vegas on steroids, Bangkok ain't no slouch either in this dept. Perhaps that's why the makers of

the "Hangover" series filmed their latest offering in Bangkok.

Third world country with third world mentality. If foreigners quit going there all together their tourist industry will shriivell up and die.

In this case they won't have to worry about imposing their 20k fine. My wife wants me to go there to live but it's really too much of a

hassle with their immigration laws. You can't get a visa yo stay there any real lenght of time even if your married to a thai person and

have children. My wife got her green card in the U.S. easily which gives her ten years. the thais want no permanent foreign residents,

they just want your money and then get the hel_l out. I say just STAY out in the first place.

Real consequences would be blackballing the person for a 3 or 5 year (or maybe longer) period of time from returning to Thailand. Does not make sense to prevent an overstay from leaving but from returning - get rid of the deadwood. Now if you catch them way overstaying as a result of on interaction with law enforcement and this is discovered (not by immigration sweeps to pocket baht) then this is the grey area where LE and immigration have to figure out and standardized (good luck with this in Thailand) a relatively equal and fair consequences.

Bottom line for me is play by the rules = no worries.

Welcome to the land of smiles. I haven't been to Thailand since 2003 and the more I read about the goings on there the less I EVER want to go back. There are no government agencies that regulate publicly risky situations, witness a power line recently falling into a resort pool. For foreigners a lower cost of living is not offset by a host of health and safety issues. Add to that the Thai authorities displeasure in allowing foreigners to stay in Thailand, even if married to a Thai, and the disadvantages soon outweigh the benefits.

Can't help but notice that much of the news coming out of Thailand involves a new government crackdown.

The sheer number of things they need to crack down on is mind numbing. Is there anything going right in Thailand.

My Thai wife wants to retire there but I really don't think that's such a great idea.

The more I hear of the goings on in Thailand the less of a paradise it seems. Life in prison for drug smuggling?

That's a little over the top to say the least. It's testament to a primitive culture with third world mentality.

One can imagine a situation were a farang is set up by a member of Thai law enforcement who took a dislike

to you. Thailand seems more and more like a place to stay away from as a tourist, let alone as a retirement

destination.

I have an idea; All foriegners stop going to Thailand for any reason. Spend your vacation dollars at

home to support your own economies. It's obvious the Thai's do not appreciate their visitors.

Tourism is down everywhere. Maybe not by 83% like Thailand but every tourist destination is feeling the global recession/depression. It's also true that people get tired of the 'give us your money and get the hel_l out mentality'. Another drawback is their residence policies. I'm married to a Thai person who wants to retire in Thailand. Speaking as a foreignor that would be a daunting task. Who wants to be subject to the whims of a third world government constantly in flux. When i'm old I want to relax not run around filing paperwork to stay in the country.

Thai government is responsible for much of the fall off in tourism. But Thai businesses can share some blame. Farangs are aware of the increased pricing for goods and services and are showing disapproval by simply staying home. Price gouging may fly in good times but when times are bad it's not a good idea. I do understand the Thai attitude toward property ownership. They don't need westerners, or any group, coming in and buying up land. That would be a big negative for Thai citizens. For me I don't care. Let my wife have majority interest in my Thai residence, just let me retire in peace until I'm dead. Is that so much to ask?