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"Prawit said Thailand and China agreed to increase joint military exercises, but did not give further details."

Sounds like the Junta is chomping at the bit to invade The Duchy of Grand Fenwick.

"The recent visit to Thailand by a top US diplomat to strengthen the over 180 years old relations between the two countries was a failure and even strained the relation."

I'm sure it didn't strain the relations as much as Thailand declaring war against the U.S. during WW II. Or was that just convenient amnesia?

There's a story behind that, very well known & in the public domain.

You should look it up.

Then you might have a different perspective of what was really strained.

Which part? The part where:“Thailand began moving in the opposite direction, creating a 'friendship' with Japan and adding to its school textbooks a futuristic map of Thailand with a 'Greater Thailand' encroaching on Chinese territory…." OR the part where: "The Japanese had assistance: Thailand's prime minister, Lang Pipul, collaborated with the Japanese, embracing the Axis power's war goal of usurping territory in China and ruling over the South Pacific. Pipul wanted to partake in the spoils; toward that end, he declared war on the United States and England. In October, he took dictatorial control of Thailand and became a loyal puppet of the Japanese." ? I do have a different perspective now. Very brave when standing behind the bully in order to possibly receive whatever he discards without partaking in the battle itself. No matter what the general population might have wanted, the government, then as now, did whatever it wanted to do. The major difference is that there doesn't appear to be much of an impassioned resistance movement today as there was then.

"...delaying the process to activate a new, stricter law aimed at controlling the consumption of tobacco and cigarettes in Thailand."

How about just enforcing the existing laws? DUH!!! Hand out summonses and collect fines on the spot for the 2000 THB stated on the "No Smoking" signs, That would be more of a deterrent than offering them ashtrays or creating more unenforced statutes. More of the same BS. They only know how to promise, posture and make excuses instead of following through on supposed commitments.

"Some Bt50 billion is spent every year on the treatment of cancer and other diseases stemming from smoking, she said."

If you had enough money to buy the product that gave you the disease, then you need to pay for your treatment out of pocket, or have the tobacco companies set up hospitals to treat the diseases they were directly responsible in causing. Why burden the responsible citizens, using their tax money for something they did not cause?

Here's the kind of ankle bracelet they need.

Well we do know they will do just about anything to get larger balls.

How about Immigrations?

"The benefits of moving to a cloud based system would allow the government agencies to lower operational costs and reduce the chances of human error."

Immigration isn't interested in lowering costs or reducing human error. They only want to bust our ____s

"The Samut Prakarn Provincial Court has enforced a supervised probation on the first group of six unruly students with ankle bracelets in its attempt to reduce student gang wars."

"isn't this quite a danger Then problems will increase not decrease as many in the relevant age group will just ' have to ' get one."

Perhaps they should find some way to implant a stun gun into the bracelets, and every time when they are not in school and come within 20 meters with someone else wearing one, it gives them a shock. Perhaps a belt near the groin area would be more effective. That should end the fashion statement rather quickly. .

. "A truck of Shining Gold company which reportedly carried 14 kilogramms of gold ornaments to be sent to gold shops in China Town stopped at the temple’s wall after it rammed into the wall."

Too bad they were ornaments and not amulets. After all, as we all know, no harm comes to those in possession of amulets.

" A prominent activist from the ultraconservative movement that campaigned against the former government in Thailand has accused the United States of planning a terror attack in the Kingdom to provide a pretense for invasion."

Well, the consumer price index has fallen and the price of hookers in San Diego and Hawaii has increased. Maybe he just got his information confused with TAT's, and the U.S. Military is just recommending Thailand for R+R. Anyway, the U.S. doesn't want to out do one of its allies and have a 6 minute war.

"THE DRAFTING of the digital economy bills has caused public mistrust because it has not been an open process, a forum has heard."

The public mistrust comes from projection. Every Thai thinks that the rest of the population are just like them.

"Thai Health Promotion Foundation has signed an agreement with eight universities in the lower northeast region of Thailand to jointly discourage binge drinking among university students."

When drinking is part of a society, both in the general and university cultures, it takes a lot more to change the particular pattern than a declaration by a foundation. I would say this is more of wishful thinking.

I hope it is more successful than the D.A.R.E. program in the states. Lots of posturing, misinformation, false reports concerning success...Wait...The U.S.A. does have a grip on Thainess...or at least the American police do.

"The core values have been integrated with the current curriculums of religion, citizenship and history modules. There will be seminars on this issue in 2,431 districts and they are expected to draw 312,154 participants. All schools will also organise the '12 Core Values Youth Camp' ".

And then they return home and observe the adults ignoring all the core values and they eventually realize the difference between rhetoric and the way they are supposed to behave. Me, Me, Me, and if you are caught doing anything that contradicts the core values, then you lie, lie, lie. Number one core value in Thailand...Save face, and never take responsibility for your actions if they might bring shame to you and your family. However, if someone else accomplishes something positive, then you must convince everyone that you were part of it.

So, in the real world of the average Thai, perhaps there should only be one core value: "Hypocrisy".

"When there is affordable, nutritious food on the table, when Thai students can compete with the world's best, the air is clean, medical services are available to all, crime is contained - and when the bureaucracy is efficient and honest ..."

That will happen as one western leader responded to the questions as to when will there be world peace? "Not on God's lifetime".

"The movement came one day after a small group of political activists gathered in front of the US embassy to protest internal interference by Mr Russell when he called on the military junta to lift martial law."

Doesn't that farang know Thai democracy is whomever has the guns and that elections are only democratic if the winner kowtows to the military? The next thing you know he will suggest a recall referendum and the holding of another pseudo democratic election. After all, what do people know about democracy when in their countries citizens contribute to politicians instead of politician buying off...err...helping pay voters transportation expenses to the polling stations?

In a real democracy it costs nearly 800 billion dollars to buy off politicians, but that gets you consistency and somewhat believable lies. In Thailand you get the cheap knock off version with no one knowing who will be in charge next year and transparent lies.

"The last 5 years more Swedes and Norwegians have died in Thailand, while the death of Danes seems to be somewhat constant. A rising number of deaths do not seem to correspond with a stagnant number of Scandinavian visitors to Thailand, so the explanation is to be found elsewhere."

I knew TAT needed to develop a new tourist campaign. However, I don't think this one will work and bring in more tourists

"Gathering public opinion on police force reform should be done in 30 days, deputy national police chief Pol General Chalermkiat Srivorakan said yesterday."

Brilliant move to identify and round up all the dissidents.

"However inquiries with the police department responsible for that area insisted no such incident occurred..."

When was the last time, or any time since the beginning of time, has a Thai admitted guilt, apologized and made amends? That is when they weren't guilty of a heinous crime and could either apologize vs. go to prison for a long stretch or pay a hefty fine (If they came from a 'respectable" family)?

"Visitors to Thailand seeking to experience the Best Tourism Destinations and Services as rated by the readers of Lonely Planet Traveller Thailand now have a list of 13 award-winning places to start."

They forgot #14:"Best place to extend your vacation PERMANENTLY" ... Koh Tao