simple1

I read 300 Yazidis killed from another source, this is in effect a genocide in progress.

Edit, make that 600, but some deaths don't matter, so who's counting?

http://aranews.net/2015/05/isis-militants-execute-600-yezidis-northern-iraq/

So far the international community refuse to commit ground troops to engage in combat with ISIS. In the meantime a genocide in progress. Massacres of hundreds at a time are also reported of Sunni tribes who refuse to swear allegiance to ISIS in the knowledge of certain death.

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Ok. However, that's what I was informed by my Thai lawyer. I do recognise Thai language Will takes precedence, perhaps this is the case when lodging a Thai Will in conjunction with English language version for both to be notarised?

A Thai Will does not 'take precedence', and English Will is perfectly valid in Thailand.

By lodging the Will I presume you mean at the amphur - in that case it must be in Thai (I hope you can fully understand what is being lodged),

Does the proposed Will just relate to assets in Thailand?

OK. Affirmative to all your questions. I wrote my requirements in English and the lawyer did some work to ensure it met Thai legal requirement and wrote up in both Thai & English. Reviewed by my stepson, lawyer and stepson both fluent in English. Will was straight forward as all Thai physical & liquid assets bequeathed to my Thai wife and if she dies before me to stepson.

In case someone desires to make the usual distrusting commentary wife, stepson and I have lived together for many years.

I did it through a law firm 3 years ago. But the problem is the lawyer does not use a letterhead of the law firm but simply typing the testament in two sheets of A4 sized paper. Does it matter or does my will still "effective" after I passed away?

Did your lawyer notarise in conjunction with an official stamp?

There is no necessity for a lawyer to notarise a Will in Thailand.

Ok. However, that's what I was informed by my Thai lawyer. I do recognise Thai language Will takes precedence, perhaps this is the case when lodging a Thai Will in conjunction with English language version for both to be notarised?

Amazing how every report has these poor refugees being held before going over the border to Malaysia.

OK I realise this was probably the case due to the grave's proximity, but not one mention of the fair chance of them ending up on fishing boats

..all we hear is Malaysia, Malaysia..almost like the more times you see the country's name in a report, the more chance you'll forget the site was in Thailand.

The fact is in recent years Malaysia is the primary destination for Rohingya. Sadly they are mistaken if they think they will be fairly treated in a neighbouring Muslim majority country. A detailed report of what Rohingya can face in Malaysia is below. Reports have now emerged that the camp was acting as holding place where detainees were being ransomed for addition money as a condition for them to be trafficked into Malaysia. This is a fairly common activity in other parts of the world e.g. Sinai where refugees are subjected to horrific treatment whilst their families are being extorted.

http://www.equalrightstrust.org/ertdocumentbank/Equal%20Only%20in%20Name%20-%20Malaysia%20-%20Full%20Report.pdf

I did it through a law firm 3 years ago. But the problem is the lawyer does not use a letterhead of the law firm but simply typing the testament in two sheets of A4 sized paper. Does it matter or does my will still "effective" after I passed away?

Did your lawyer notarise in conjunction with an official stamp?

Have the findings of the HRW people, who did collect phosphorus shell casings from the affected civilian areas, been found to be false?

According to this article, HRW's "evidence" was based entirely on innuendo and unverifiable "eyewitness" reports. I am always suspicious of HRW when the issue concerns Israel.

HRW does not name its researchers; it does not provide a detailed location of its observation, nor does it identify the photos it "analyzed" making independent verification of this "evidence" impossible. INDEED, TWO days later, the International Committee of the Red Cross, which certainly cannot be accused of a pro-Israeli bias, issued a statement that backed the IDF statements.

http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-Ed-Contributors/Human-Rights-Watch-White-phosphorous-lies

Personally I have no doubt that the IDF has rules of engagement that are aimed at reducing civilian casualties and the majority of the IDF personnel comply. On the other side of the coin errors are made, sometimes maliciously, by military personnel, as proven over the years.

It seems some of your source material being posted is not being particularly open as the HRW report states:

Human Rights Watch researchers in Gaza immediately after hostilities ended found spent shells, canister liners, and dozens of burnt felt wedges containing white phosphorus on city streets, apartment roofs, residential courtyards, and at a United Nations school.

I suggest it would be very high risk to name the HRW contributors who are on the ground. The HRW report does provide names and roles of researchers in the acknowledgement section of the report.

http://www.hrw.org/node/81726/section/8

BTW Peter Herby, head of the Arms Unit at the International Committee of the Red Cross had claimed the IDF misrepresented their views.

Israel's Use Of White Phosphorus Not Illegal: Red Cross

BRADLEY S. KLAPPER 01/13/09

GENEVA — The international Red Cross said Tuesday that Israel has

fired white phosphorus shells in its offensive in the Gaza Strip, but

has no evidence to suggest the incendiary agent is being used improperly

or illegally.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/IDF-white-phosphorus-use-not-illegal

In other words the research / analyst have come to differing conclusions, perhaps due to differing access to affected areas. Have the findings of the HRW people, who did collect phosphorus shell casings from the affected civilian areas, been found to be false?

"In Gaza, the Israeli military didn't just use white phosphorus in open areas as a screen for its troops," said Fred Abrahams, senior emergencies researcher at Human Rights Watch and co-author of the report. "It fired white phosphorus repeatedly over densely populated areas, even when its troops weren't in the area and safer smoke shells were available. As a result, civilians needlessly suffered and died."

During the testimony of Prof. Michael A. Newton at the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict he said "the law is clear that there are some authorized, perfectly valid uses of white phosphorus munitions". It is used by numerous armies, including the USA, not just Israel and it is not illegal.

Correct for specific circumstances, but not when firing into civilian areas when there was not any lawful military reason to do so.

http://www.hrw.org/fr/node/81821

Tired and heavy sweating classic symptoms for onset of diabetes type 2, do you also urinate more than usual? However, best to see a doctor for a checkup

Here is what I find a little baffling.. There must be hundreds if not thousands of NGO's when you combine Thailand, Myanmar, Lao, and Cambodia.. And I believe that a majority are sent to help the impoverished, especially those who are most at risk of being trafficked so how did this happen without any NGO's knowing? I am sure there must be Intel on where these camps are or usually are.. So why not get a jeep and some body guards and look around? There would be obvious risk but if you are in Thailand or Lao or anywhere in the region the locals or whoever is doing the trafficking would not want to start killing NGO's.. right??? You would think with all the Intel and satellites with super cameras they could target the trafficking camps and then simple send some NGO's in to check it out.. you would not have to go paramilitary or send in a killer drone. .. Just saying..

Why do you believe NGO's would be immune from being targeted for elimination in Thailand? In the past ten years or so 17 activists have been murdered by those whose interests they threaten.

It's a sad commentary on things when you can get a Nobel prize quicker than you can get justice for an attack.

Has it occurred that the two go together? The award of the Nobel prize may have shamed the Pakistani government into taking action they otherwise wouldn't.

Isn't the additional focus on terrorism an outcome of the Pakistani Taliban attack on an army school that killed 150, mostly children? An interesting article on terrorism within Pakistan below.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/donaldkirk/2015/03/11/pakistans-escalating-war-on-terror-means-executing-criminals/

In 2014 one report estimates deaths from terrorism in Pakistan were:

Civilian - 1781

Security forces - 533

Extremists - 3182

http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/database/casualties.htm

Europe is in big trouble, by 2050, Arab population will be 30%+. They will have formed their no-go zones all over the place. Then they will have a Sharia Party stronger than the governments.

So even cutting down on immigration will not even help.

I assume from the Pew Research report. you have confused the projected Muslim population worldwide at 30% by 2050 with the European forecast. Most accept Pew Research as somewhat authoritative and their latest report indicates a Muslim population for Europe at approx 70+ million by 2050, that would equate to 10% of the total projected European population. "Sharia Party stronger than the governments" - utter nonsense.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/02/muslim-population-growth-christians-religion-pew

Good outcome for the German security services.

From what i have followed on the case over the years. It was a parent of one of the Bali 9 who informed the police in Australia that the kids were going to import the drugs. Then it was the Australian police who informed the Indonesian police that the kids would board the flight carrying drugs. Indonesia, as we know has the death for trafficking drugs. The Australian police could have waited till the kids arrived in Australia & busted them at the airport on arrival & spared their lives. Sounds like Australia's police have a bit to answer to.

The two were connected to one of the then world's largest heroin syndicates, Crescent Moon. From media reports they never gave up their connections to law enforcement. The publicly announced intent by the AFP was:

"For us, it's about disrupting the organised crime network so these things don't occur again. The only way to do that is to try to get the source of the narcotics, and that's obviously why we've supplied information to Indonesia," said Mike Phelan, then the AFP's international network manager".

http://www.smh.com.au/world/portrayal-of-chan-and-sukumaran-as-key-figures-may-have-damaged-chances-of-reprieve-20150209-139pr3.html

There was a judicial review of the AFP in 2006 & it was confirmed they acted lawfully regards informing Indonesian law enforcement. However, with the executions now firmly in the political sphere a parliamentary review of the AFP's actions will be held in the coming weeks.

As for the ten years in prison prior to the executions, there was a four year moratorium for executions as well as numerous appeals / reviews demanded by their lawyers.

EDIT: In today's media the Australian Catholic University has announced two scholarships in the names of the executed for Indonesian students.

Mr. Simple 1. If you are going to use statistics to make a point please make them relevant. Yes GDP (gross) of Indonesia is greater than Australia but so is their population 250 million vs 23 million, their GDP/capita US$3475 vs Australia US$67,459 (2013). Oh and another point you may have missed, the Sydney Morning Herald recently reported that Apples revenue bite could soon be bigger than Australia's. Do we need to be wary of Apple?

Sufficient to say I was responding to NickJ's, post below that was false and by inference his racist comment that I will not repeat.

"Oz takes the 600 mill away.....there screwd...."

Indo.....a muslim hell hole. Oz takes the 600 mill away.....there screwd.....its like living next door to a bunch of apes that know how to steal hubcaps

Aid for Indonesia, for a number of reasons, is in Australia's national interest and is not a charity donation. Should you wish to transform your lack of knowledge & bring yourself up-to-date have a read of the DFAT site & the link below; a sample quote:

"Indonesia is steadily moving up the economic league table. About three years ago its GDP overtook Australia’s. Indonesia will have the tenth largest economy in the world in 2030, when its GDP will be twice the size of Australia’s, according to a recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers. By 2050 it will be ranked seventh, with a GDP perhaps three times Australia’s"

https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2013/june/1370181600/hugh-white/what-indonesia-s-rise-means-australia

I think Indonesia was making a stand on principle in terms of not bowing to pressure from Australia, however, it's unlikely that clemency would have ever been granted whatever the circumstances, although in my opinion it should have been.

In their early twenties when arrested they were guilty of stupidity and greed and were, in fact, only low level dealers. Sure, they deserved to be punished, and they were, spending 9 years on death row in the hell hole of an Indonesian prison. As Andrew Chan's brother rightly pointed out, he was the victim of a flawed legal system. Both were victims of not only a flawed legal system but a totally inhumane one as well.

Not sure of your definition of low level drug dealers, but they arranged for a number of heroin importations into Australia and were connected with allegedly one of the world's biggest heroin cartel; Crescent Moon.

Chooka/WW: I posted the content below in the other OP, thoughts?

In today's only Australian national newspaper, The Australian, is a front page report that the current government of Australia last year advised the Australian Federal Police not to take into consideration the death penalty when sharing info on Australians with foreign government agencies. If the report is accurate it stinks of Australian government policy deceit in its dealing with Indonesia over the executions and a blow to the reputation of the PM and Foreign Minister of Australia.

Its called diplomacy, and if you go back through the history its clear that Canberra has spent a lot of time trying to mend fences with Jakarta after East Timor, Australia's participation in the Coalition of the Willing and other blips on the radar. The billion dollars in tsunami aid was definitely part of that 'fence mending' effort. Threatening that relationship over the fate of drug traffickers in SEA makes about as much sense as losing Japan as a major export market simply because the majority of Australians are appalled by their ongoing attempts to restart commercial whaling. If Indonesians already see Australians as a soft touch after the live export fiasco, images of people burning candles for two convicted drug traffickers in Martin Place are unlikely to improve that perception.

For one man's view of why this relationship is so important to Australia - and why Indonesia could even be a valuable ally in the 'Asian Century' - read on. Economic growth may have slowed since this was written but he makes some interesting points re the size and power of the RI relative to Australia over the next 80 or so years,

https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2013/june/1370181600/hugh-white/what-indonesia-s-rise-means-australia

I agree with the sentiments expressed in your first paragraph. What I was trying to get to is the duplicity by the current government with its messaging concerning the executions.

I have previously posted a similar link in another topic concerning Indo / Australia relations with which I agree. IMO it is very unfortunate that most Australians are unaware of these matters.

Why would the US give oxygen to this group? Have a read of the following...

https://www.thenation.com/blog/205521/cult-leader-will-tell-congress-fight-isis-regime-change-iran

Whatever her background and motives I think her comments on concessions to Iran on the nuclear deal are valid. Furthermore regime change in Iran, the world's largest sponsor of terrorism would be a good thing. Just take a look at their latest moved hijacking merchant ships to imagine what an Iran with nuclear weapons would behave like.

Sure regime change from a theological dictatorship would be beneficial, but by whom and would they dismantle the nuclear infrastructure. You know the old adage, that seems to be de rigueur in Islamic countries, 'the oppressed become the oppressor'.

Chooka/WW: I posted the content below in the other OP, thoughts?

In today's only Australian national newspaper, The Australian, is a front page report that the current government of Australia last year advised the Australian Federal Police not to take into consideration the death penalty when sharing info on Australians with foreign government agencies. If the report is accurate it stinks of Australian government policy deceit in its dealing with Indonesia over the executions and a blow to the reputation of the PM and Foreign Minister of Australia.

In today's only Australian national newspaper, The Australian, is a front page report that the current government of Australia last year advised the Australian Federal Police not to take into consideration the death penalty when sharing info on Australians with foreign government agencies. If the report is accurate it stinks of Australian government policy deceit in its dealing with Indonesia over the executions and a blow to the reputation of the PM and Foreign Minister of Australia.

Out of interest I wonder if the Indonesian (Zainal Abidin) who was executed was a Muslim.

His conviction appears to be something to do with marijuana according to the news reports.

Zainal is a Muslim name

I find it a little disturbing that nearly all of those who were murdered today are foreigners. Only one was from Indonesia.

This sounds political or worse still religiously motivated to me.

Indonesia has executed 33 people since 2001, including the ones executed last night. Of those 33, 20 were Indonesians. (In the same period, Thailand has apparently executed 14 people.)

The USA executed 35 people just last year, including 3 foreigners and 2 females.

"Top executioners

China again carried out more executions than the rest of the world put together. Amnesty International believes thousands are executed and sentenced to death there every year, but with numbers kept a state secret the true figure is impossible to determine.

The other countries making up the world’s top five executioners in 2014 were Iran (289 officially announced and at least 454 more that were not acknowledged by the authorities), Saudi Arabia (at least 90), Iraq (at least 61) and the USA (35)."

"REPORTED EXECUTIONS IN 2014

Afghanistan (6), Belarus (3+), China (+), Egypt (15+), Equatorial Guinea (9), Iran (289+), Iraq (61+), Japan (3), Jordan (11), Malaysia (2+), North Korea (+), Pakistan (7), Palestine (State of) (2+, Hamas authorities, Gaza), Saudi Arabia (90+), Singapore (2), Somalia (14+), Sudan (23+), Taiwan (5), UAE (1), USA (35), Viet Nam (3+) and Yemen (22+)."

I somehow get the impression that the international "outrage" has more to do with the number that were executed at one time, rather than the fact they are doing executions at all. I suspect that if these executions had of been spaced out over the course of the year we'd have heard as little about them as we have about all of the ones carried out in those other countries, especially the ones where they still like to do it publicly by beheading or stoning.

This is very interesting kerryd, only 30% of those executed in Indonesia in the last 14 years were foreigners

That's a long time and I'm sure the leader of the country has changed perhaps multiple times over that period although I have no specific knowledge of the country itself.

All I know is what I read in the news and now I know they have a massively disproportional historic execution rate of foreigners and I wonder how that's changed since this latest round of slaughter.

I'd love to see some figures for the last year. I wonder what the ratio of foreigners to Indonesians executed is for the last year going back to the beginning of May 2014 is.

Info at link below. Note Indo had a moratorium on Court sanctioned executions from 2009 - 2012.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Indonesia#Execution_Statistics

Australia has withdrawn thier ambassador and suspended political ties with indonesia.

What about the $600,000,000 ($600mill) Australia will GIVE to Indonesia this year alone. Put ya money where your mouth is Tony.

He won't. Even if he cared he doesn't have the balls to do that. I'd say most Australians, while not supporting the death penalty, have quite a lot opinion of drug smugglers, especially those bringing in heroin to their country. What he has done is a very minor show of being dissatisfied with the use the the death penalty. These guys knew the consequences of their actions. They should have known what could happen if caught.

DavisH, I do actually agree with what you are saying, but with the Gov huffing and puffing and making threats and cutting diplomatic ties, why not have the balls and cut the money. Somthing hard.

Foreign aid is often provided by the donor country in its national interest. e.g. in the case of Indonesia, Australia investing in education, a contribution for reducing the potential for radicalisation. There are aid projects from which Australian companies gain. You can bet any unemployment created or reduction in profits by reducing aid will create a lot of noise.

http://theconversation.com/what-do-indonesia-and-australia-expect-and-get-from-aid-37925

The Oz media reporting on the executions is getting rather hysterical, with at least one major newspaper actually publishing obituaries for the two executed.