connda

Immigration is it's own issue and should comments should be directed to Immigration Promenada One Stop Service v2, because yeah, something is different here.

As far as being discriminated against, if you live here long enough you realize that foreigners are treated as foreigners in Thailand. Dual pricing, scams, etc are just part of the territory. I've lived in Bangkok, Korat, and Chiang Mai, and I can't say that I've experience a lot of difference in the different locations. In Korat I was treated more like a local than a 'potential tourist', probably because there are a lot less foreigners living their. As far as bar closing, no difference that I can see. The laws just are not applied uniformly.

Some OPs just aren't happy unless they can complain about 'sexpats', expats, and long-term residents who talk about their experiences with the negative aspects of this country.

I tend to stay away from those types of self-righteous ideologues who like to go on trolling expeditions.

Guilty in the court of public opinion. The mob has spoken, which sucks. His contributions to show business are legend.

Let's go back to the old saying, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

This is your brain on CO₂

_{Nothing like a young mind that is well scrubbed and clean!}

So the double agent is now free. Too bad. Now he can write a book and continue his espionage work during book tours.

Tough. Look at what just happened in Paris. Now close the borders and send these people who are peppered with radical Islamists back to where they came from.

If the UN wants a solution, then it should involve itself in stabilizing the counties that these people come from so that they can be sent back.

Did they apply for refugee status ? Pleading human rights violations at the border ? No, they "bypassed immigration". What happens to the Mexicans who jump the border in the U.S. and get caught? Don't you think some of them face torture from cartel gansters that were spawned by the immoral war on drugs ? Do the Americans give a rats ass as they mass deport them? Does the UNHCR ? Everyone on this forum is very well versed on legal entry to a country, it's not rocket science. Thailand has too many of its own unique problems to solve, the UNHCR should do a better job in guiding these refugees and providing safe passage if that is their mandate.

But do the mexicans claim and are granted asylum and about to be repatriated to a country that wants them?

You do talk some tosh.

If the UN wants to do something, then solve the problems in the countries where the refugees are fleeing from. Then they can all go back.

The one-world government, anti-sovereign nations, UN can go soak it's head.

I have been using ACH transfers from Bank of America to Bangkok Bank for many years. You have to do an initial setup online and B of A sends two small deposits to your BKK Bank account. You must tell B of A the exact amount of the transfer in US currency, although it arrives in your account as Baht. Once you have that established, you can go online to B of A and transfer funds though Bank of Bangkok's New York branch. B of A charges $3 to $5 depending on the speed of the transfer. I think they also charge more of larger amounts of money being transferred . Bank of Bangkok NY changes $5 for up to $2000, then Bank of Bangkok Thailand takes 200 Baht and puts the rest in your account.

http://www.bangkokbank.com/BangkokBank/PersonalBanking/DailyBanking/TransferingFunds/TransferringIntoThailand/ReceivingFundsfromUSA/Pages/ReceivingFundsfromUSA.aspx

Change US banks. There is something wrong with yours. What bank so that everyone knows and can avoid it.

Oh good, then they will be recorded when they are being handed tea money. Excellent.

cultural ignorance. i'm sure many of the the low class uneducated in western countries have the same cultural ignorance and what they perceive as strange behaviour they may well react in a similar way.

Just look at the GOP in the USA.

Strange that it's the Democrats handing out food stamps, Medicaid, section 8 housing, and stipends to anyone who can cross the border illegally and anyone in the inner cities who doesn't want to work.

Oh by the way, I detest the GOP too. Democrat, Republican, no difference. They just play the right/left paradigm theater via MSM for dumbed-down Americans, which unfortunately is pretty much the majority of the sheeple citizens. Baaaaaa.

Sorry to inform you, but you've just broke that law by working without a work permit at a job reserved for Thai citizens. And you've just informed the government authorities. Good job!

I really almost feel sorry for you drunken slobs out that just need another excuse to get drunk.

While I get your drift, it's not so much a case of another excuse to get drunk as it is about someone making it even slightly inconvenient to get drunk for a few hours each year. Like it upsets some kind of equilibrium in the world.

I won't count this one toward the 200+...

For most of us who during our lifes, worked full time jobs that may range from 40 to 50 or 60+ hours per week - when a holiday comes that is exactly the time we wish to relax, have a few drinks, and let go of our day-to-day life. I get it that some people don't drink. At the present time, neither do I. But I don't support a ban on alcohol during secular, non-religious holidays. It's like saying you can't have a BBQ and a keg of beer during the 4th of July in the US. I also understand demarking a few alcohol free zones especially in parks, but a freaking country-wide ban during a holiday akin to the 4th of July or Labor Day in the US??? Ridiculous. In this case it's an unelected government decreeing morality. A law like this would never pass a parliamentary vote. It would be like Obama issuing an executive order banning alcohol during the 4th of July. How many of the junta members and military elite will be alcohol free during the holidays. Want to make a guess? It would be about as likely as Senator John Boehner or any of the rest of the congressional alcoholics remaining alcohol free during the 4th of July if Obama decreed 'no booze on Independence Day because it offends Muslins'. Don't think that can't happen either.

Banning komfai balloons, kratom that are lit, alcohol: once you grab Power, what fun is that Power if you can't wield the Power publicly and with impunity?

It's nothing different than joining the US military for what you think is a 4 year enlistment. After exiting the service, they put you into 'inactive reserve' status which they discount as 'nothing will happen, no big deal'. Then the president declares a 'hot war' and suddenly you're ripped away from your job and family and the next thing you know, you're dodging IED, bullets, and mortars for months on end until the military chooses to release you, or you're injured beyond usefulness, or killed.

So regarding Thailand's decision? So what? The county has the right to raise a standing army if they feel threaten from the population base of 'fighting age' men. That is called being willing to do your duty to you're country. It's the price you pay for being a Thai citizen and a male. Again, so what?

Only a bunch of pansies and mommy-boys will complain and try to dodge their civic duty. My son went into the military voluntarily and did his service. I now consider him a man and he has more discipline than most all men that I meet who have never served.

Syrians and Hispanics get to bypass the normal immigration procedures, vetting, and waiting. No, I'm not for that. The progressive liberal solution is insanity.

If I wanted to take my Thai wife and extended family to America right now, legally, we'd be waiting in line for the next decade if I could get them in at all.

Immigration reform is needed, and immigration reform means kicking out the illegals, and opening up and expediting the processing of immigrants who wish to entry the country legally. As far as allowing refugees into the country, in limited numbers and after thorough vetting, and after waiting in line with all the other immigration applicants who are ahead of them, then sure, why not.

My respect for PM Prayut has just doubled seeing that he's just basically told the US to bugger off and take their fascist TPP trade agreement with them.

Thank you Mr. Prime Minister, for myself and everyone else in the country. I'm amazed.

Develop trade within the BRICS, ASEAN, and surrounding countries. They don't need the EU, UK, or US, all of which will eventually implode financially and socially.

Kudos!

No sh*t?

THAI-US RELATIONS

Thai politics a complicated affair: Obama

THE NATION

US leader offers to help bring back democracy; aims to boost mutual times

MANILA: -- US PRESIDENT Barack Obama said yesterday he realised that Thailand's internal politics were complicated, and that the US was ready to cooperate with the Kingdom in its bid to forge a stable democracy.

Obama conveyed his message in a meeting with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Manila.

Deputy government spokesman Werachon Sukhondhapatipak said Prayut had told Obama he would do his best to bring full democracy back to Thailand.

"US President Obama told Prayut that Thai politics is complicated, but that he is ready to help Thailand return to sustainable democracy," Werachon said.

Obama said relations between the two countries were very significant, especially since Thailand is an old US ally in the region. "He emphasised that the bilateral relations and military cooperation are still strong," Werachon said.

Thai-US ties were strained by the May 2014 coup, with Washington downgrading ties, including military assistance.

The spokesman said Prayut had thanked Obama and the US Congress for appointing a new United States envoy to Thailand, adding that the Thai government was willing to work closely with the new ambassador in order to continue and maintain cooperation in mutually beneficial spheres.

Werachon also told reporters that, in his statement to the Apec summit, Prayut said Thailand was committed to placing importance and giving support to the roles of Apec in promoting sustainable growth among member states.

The annual 21-member Apec summit - hosted this year by the Philippines - aims to forge trade unity, but often finds itself side-tracked by other events. The summit ended yesterday.

Prayut also expressed condolences over the series of attacks in Paris last week, which claimed at least 129 lives and injured many others. He condemned the attacks and offered moral support to families of the victims, saying that Thailand would join hands with the international community in fighting against terrorism.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Thai-politics-a-complicated-affair-Obama-30273356.html

-- The Nation 2015-11-20

Isn't that Dmitry Medvedev between Obama and Prayut? I'm sure that Dmitry doesn't think that Thai politics is complicated at all.

Dmitry: "Mr. Prayut. You come to Russia. We talk. Ok! See you soon!"

I'm afraid Obama is making it wayyy too difficult.

I've never, in eight years in CM, seen a cop car give chase to anything. Or even seen a cop car waiting with a radar gun, anywhere.

that means nothing. I'd wager there are at least two other things you've never seen.

I see the radar gun for taking photos of speeding cars at least twice a week on the super highway near the rual road cut off.

I see them on the road occasionally on HW11 south of the Lamphun cutoff. The freaking highway is marked at 60 kpm for about 15 km past the cutoff. Must be a money maker for them. I'm one of the slowest cars on the road at my normal cruising rate of 80 kph. I've never been ticketed.

Funny, saw one heading up the superhighway into Chiang Mai this afternoon, blues and twos blaring. Assumed it was some numnut kid who had been down to the local car accessory shop. Maybe it actually was police.

Which brings up a question, being stopped by some scam artist pretending to be a cop, would that be better or worse than being stopped by the real gangsters?

I don't think I'd stop, but instead, call the police to report the incident as someone trying to pull me over which I assume is a scam. If told it's real, then I pull over. Cops don't pull anyone over for moving violations. If they plan to start, they better do some public notification in both Thai and English news.

Unlike the US, anybody here can mount flashing lights and sirens on their car. If I'm followed by an unmarked car with flashing lights and siren: 'Scam' and then 'danger' - That's the first thing that would come to my mind.

I have never seen a cop pull anyone over for a moving violation in the entire time I've lived in Thailand. Maybe they were looking for drugs. Moving violation - never. Lights and sirens in 99% of the times means, "VIPs Coming Get Out Of The Way".

Sure

There will be Islamic terrorist attacks globally ad-infinitum. Well, until all humans are coverted to the religion of peace. And then there will be terrorist attacks between different factions of the religion of peace until someone lets the nuclear genie out of the bottle. Then the world will be fine and dandy once more.