simple1

I've had doubts about the Syrian version of the "Arab Spring" since it began. Assad is no angel, but he also isn't the oppressive demon that the western press has made him out to be. After the revolt began the US (CIA) set up "secret" training camps in Jordan to train supposedly democratic Syrian freedom fighters. As usual, the CIA has ended up with egg on its face as many of those US trained and equipped fighters went on to join ISIS and create a state that is far more violent and oppressive than Assad's dictatorship.

I suspect that the Syrian people will look back on Assad's regime with nostalgia when Syria degenerates into a middle-eastern version of Somalia.

It may well be that Syrians will look back in nostalgia, but it appears you have overlooked the violence and oppression used by Assad to counter the initial peaceful Arab Spring demonstrations that led to armed revolt and the consequences we see today. In addition, very early in the conflict, Assad's brother used his militia forces for ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity in many towns and villages.

Prior to the outbreak of civil war, it had been documented that the Assad regeme used torture and killing of opponents in his detention centers; victims included children.

OP: The Thai Passport office would have zero interest in your GF's financial affairs or the status of her son if she departs Thailand without him. Could be she has an issue with Thai police / Court who have requested Immigration to put a stop on her passport until she clears her debts. However, if you are that concerned go with her to the Passport Office in BKK; costs 1000 baht for a passport to be issued. Document requirements:

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/1415/21479-Requirements-for-the-Ordinary-e-Passports-Applicat.html

Location:

Passport Bangna-Srinakarin office
Thanya Park, Zone E, second floor.
8am-3:30pm
Airport Link Huamark

In essence all that has happened here is that the U.S have thrown the Saudis a bone in the hope they don't notice the abject capitulation to Iran on the question of their nuclear weapons program. It should be remembered that Iran has meddled and destabilized the entire region as best it can, had the U.S take a zero tolerance approach to Iranian expansion then no military intervention in Yemen would have been necessary in the first place.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but are you not a member of the group on TV that calls for US/NATO withdrawal from M.E. balance of power politics and military interventions. I assume this also means no support for proxy wars.

These immigrants that came to Britain failed to intergrate into mainstream society, admittedly there seems to be no mechanism in place to ensure all foreigners adopt the values of the hosting country. Instead, they are still living a life disclocated from 'British life', and their parents are to blame, and the system which panders to the rights of minorities.

Personally, I believe a constitution should be drafted, where every immigrant would have to subscribe to an oath of allegence to their country, regardless of religion, colour or creed. If they don't, then they have no place in that country, and they should be deported back to their origin. You might have a British passport, but that does not make you British.

Perhaps they could take a leaf out of Thailand's book, since getting a citizenship here is a very hard task. Being born here, does not entitle you to a Thai nationality.

I don't disagree with your sentiments.

However. Getting British citizenship isn't easy. Being born in Britain does not mean you are automatically entitled to British citizenship. You must be a British citizen to obtain a British passport. To become a British citizen the final part involves a ceremony where you do give an oath, and have previously met all requirements including passing language and British citizen knowledge tests.

There is a problem for sure with young Moslems, born in Britain to British parents and British grandparents who now see themselves more aligned to Islam and the nations where their ancestors came from. That is usually Pakistan and Bangladesh. A lot of the issues in the younger, say 12 - 16 year old, IME, was a total lack of parental control, discipline or encouragement to be British in their home life. Not all British Moslems are like this, but a growing number of young people in working class areas are.

if you have not already done so, have a read of 'The Islamist' by Ed Husain a UK born Muslim

Despite the seemingly success of the Thai military with this counter-attack, it represents a massive failure of Prayut to get the insurgents to the peace table anytime soon. Looking at the location, ages, and numbers of the accused shows the insurgency is still active and successfully recruiting (assuming the accused are insurgents) young Muslims. Prayut's pacification of the South (following the same failed techniques used by the US in the Vietnam conflict) is failing.

Prayut pledged to have peace in the South first by the end of 2014, then revised by the end of 2015. Yet, the only change in the military's historical approach to the insurgency was that Prayut insisted that Malaysia is responsible ("You are the One") to get the insurgents to the peace table. But Prayut still insisted on the age-old precondition to peace talks that insurgents must fully identify themselves and must be completely disarmed. Even then he said that the exact timing of the peace talks will occur at a time of chosing by the military.

Malaysia is noticeable silent and failing in any success to communicate with insurgents to meet Prayut's demands. It will take a civilian Thai government of the nature of the Yingluck administration to re-energize peace talks with the insurgency. Unfortunately, Prayut seems to be entrenching himself as Thailand's permanent PM for the foreseeable future.

Unsure how the PM can get the various insurgency group leaders to the negotiation table as he has made it clear he will not consider any form of autonomy / self governance for the deep South provinces. In anycase it is often claimed the insurgency older generation of political leaders are zero control of the armed youth groups; Juwae

In the past the Malaysians handed over a insurgent leader to the Thais who was then "disappeared", my understanding this event has not been forgotten or forgiven.

"As I've posted in other topics, Oz govt should not permit these people to travel to M.E. If deemed necessary imprison for life, do not permit them to travel overseas where they will commit crimes against humanity."

Well then the human rights watch crowd and their teams of attorneys will be behind them, all the way.

How about secretly embed with GPS trackers (if there's any way to do that) then let them go. Gives the drone operators better intel.

Current Oz govt has made it very clear they have no patience with NGO's / human rights organisations' lobbying.

<snip>

My daughter is an Australian citizen with passport. She lived with me in NZ and had a baby. She emigrated to Oz last year with her 3 year old NZ-born baby. When he had an accident, Mum could not get treatment for her son without being billed. The child did not qualify for state assistance, even though his mother was a full blown (not naturalised) citizen.

Then there's the Kiwi couple who had a baby in Oz. Lived there for years, and even though the child was born in Oz, because they registered the child as a NZ citizen, he did not qualify for state assistance when he got sick. The parents had been paying taxes for years.

It does stink.

That is odd as NZ citizens living in Oz can apply for Medicare cover. In addition NZ citizens are covered by a reciprocal agreement for essential medical services at a public hospital in Oz.

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/medicare/medicare-card/medicare-enrolment-for-new-zealand-citizens

The URL below confirms the Social Services benefits that NZ nationals can obtain if living in Oz.

https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-department/international/international-social-security-agreements/current-international-social-security-agreements/australia-and-new-zealand-frequently-asked-questions

Personally I entered Oz after moving to NZ from London with my then NZ partner; lived there for two years back in the 1980s. Have to say upon arrival in NZ was a major cultural adjustment for the first year.

Let them leave, they wont last long out there now, take their passports off them at the airport and tell them not to bother coming back to the country that has provided for them and their family

As I've posted in other topics, Oz govt should not permit these people to travel to M.E. If deemed necessary imprison for life, do not permit them to travel overseas where they will commit crimes against humanity.

Would not surprise me, and others, that the majority of Indos support ISIS and the world wide call for sharia law. After all, infidels are 'evil'. So not doubt the Indo police will have an easy time letting these folks return home and continue to plan their join ISIS, and probably counsel like-minded neighbors.

Religion: the bane of all mankind.

If the majority of Indonesians support the implementation of Sharia law (by this I assume you mean Sharia Criminal Law) why has Sharia Law not been incorporated into the Penal Code / Constitution? How come Indonesia has had successful democratic elections that are not supported by Islamic radical ideology?

With a population of approx 210 million Muslims there are less Indos signing up with IS than those from the roughly 3 million UK Muslims.

Islamic extremism was previously fairly sucessfully repressed by the Indo security regeime. However seems they now need to refocus their efforts to take on the new challenge of IS ideology.

There are many hotels located outside Pattaya city center so the Chinese and other "group tourists" uses big buses to get down to the speed boats and other places.

Not much to be done about it but it would be nice if they could start using some buses that don't pollute so much.

What you mean nothing can be done about?

25 years ago in the big tourist cities in Spain a tour bus would not be allowed in the city. They all needed to park outside the ring road and transport from there with local transport.

Why wouldn't the same be possible in Pattaya, where they could say that buses need to stay East of the railway road.

By the way the biggest problem is at night, when there are no jetski's, but a group of 10 Chinese get transported to Alcazar with a 50 seater bus, while 12 Chinese from another group get there with another similar 50 seater.

Well I agree with you, they should have a huge holding area for all buses just outside town and then transport the tourists down town in baht buses/trucks.

I wonder what city hall will think about that? Getting all big buses out of Pattaya would help a lot regarding traffic pile up.

East of the railway lines & other outer areas are more than likely outside of the Pattaya City / Bunglamung juristiction e.g. Nong Prue. Nong Prue area already has serious traffic flow issues into town at certain times of the day. Not a traffic engineer, but does a multiplicty of smaller vehicles from large parking lots actually address the problems? Perhaps it's going to take major investment in something like overhead mono rail infrastucture; that would be a huge challenge overcoming all the corrupt vested interests!

I don't know the veracity of the charges of torture or not, but the military opened up the door to the charges when they allowed to detain people incommunicado for a week without any legal representation. If they were allowed legal reputation -- or even their representative in an observation room -- then you would make false claims more difficult to make.

No offence, but you probably mean fake claims 'more difficult to believe' or maybe even 'more difficult to fabricate'.

When another poster posted a photo of one of the suspects with before/after a black and blue eye having appeared I was only joking of course asking if the legal representative had an argument with his client. Still legal representatives allowed might help, although the legal representative isn't around 24/7 of course. Time enough to do or fake.

When you detain an individual in a military run interrogation center without access to legal representation incommunicado... then it is ripe for abuse..... If the person is not transferred to civilian facilities then how can we have any independent verification that it was fake? If he was in civilian detention at least he would have access to independent representation or medical specialists that would verify it. By not having that it leaves it up to what you want to believe. Remember the CIA detention facilities? Rumours and reports of torture came out, the CIA said we do not torture... but then the evidence finally leaked from Abu Grab that yes -- they did torture the prisoners.

In the deep South there have been more than 500 allegations of torture by the military, with not one conviction. There has been a form of admission of guilt when a military spokesman claimed torture is now prohibited.

An article on torture whilst in military detention after the coup at:

http://www.voanews.com/content/amnesty-alleges-torture-in-thailand-since-coup/2445558.html

I take your point, but there are several in this thread that I know have no interest in living in Thailand and take every opportunity to bash the country (never____ for one). I agree that I havent assimilated - not in the slightest - but I dont spend my nights plotting to undermine Thailand, nor do I sit around with a bunch of other Australians talking about how I hate this country and everything it represents. Push comes to shove, I wasnt born here - if I did father kids here the last thing I would be looking to do would be fill their heads with hate and prejudice against the Thai people - I cant say the same of many Lebanese males in Australia.

Finally, as a retiree I'm a guest here and I see that as an invitation that can be revoked at any time - no need for a 'temporary visa'.

I believe you're talking about me which is OK but off topic as this thread has largely gone. I don't apologize for being able to afford, and preferring to live in my first world country with its many amenities. We are talking about people who immigrate to Australia however who by and large can't afford it, don't appreciate it, and are causing disruption in the economy and the culture. Neither you nor I would do that.

I don't know how so many people can stand to see their countries overrun by immigrants who hate the culture, and are determined to change the culture and entire essence of the country. I debate and vote against it in the US at every opportunity.

Australia hasn't vetted Muslim immigrants enough and has let too many in, and if it's trying to lock the barn door the horse has already bolted. Australia isn't the only one by far.

You're right about the wrong of people immigrating and then being hateful to the people and culture they find surrounding them. The immigrants I respect work hard within their new system to provide a better life for themselves and their children and most do. For them a first world environment is a privilege and they know it. We were all privileged to be born in a first world country.

What we don't know is what we are going to do about it because most of our leaders are off target on the issue.

Regretably you are totally misinformed. Immigrants from any country / religion are extensively vetted for required skills that are in short supply within Australia, language capability on a points based system as well as security checks. Also a number are admitted on work visas (457) who unfortunately are sometimes exploited by Australian citizens that requires government intervenion.

The debate on so called illegal migrants arriving by sea is now redundant as any who enter Australian waters are forever denied entry and shipped offshore to PNG and Nauru for processing, local resettlement and where possible returned to their home countries. Current 'illegals" enter Australia by air and then declare themselves as asylum seekers / refugees; the very large majority are Chinese. For reasons unknown to me Muslims and others arriving by air on false documentation or via deceitful visa applications are not vilified.

Australia is not 'overun' by Muslims migrants or indeed any other migrant community. Prior to futher commentry on the politics of migrant entry to Australia kindly do some fact checking

Wow. There's a writer who has not one clue about the Australian, American, OR Muslim psyche.

"Possible explanations include that some Australian Muslims are poorly integrated with the rest of the country..."

No, Muslims are the reason they are poorly integrated. Stop blaming their behavior on the West. End of.

In my work with refugees, I would have to question your assumption. Muslim refugees that were settled in the US managed to integrate quite well. It might be worth looking at the differences between the two countries and what are the differences. The US is experiencing fewer problems to large numbers heading toward ISIS -- at least at this point in time.

The difference could be because of how the country accepts and helps the arrivals assimilate and what programs are in place to facilitate adjustments to the new culture.

It can also be that the type of people arriving are different than other groups. They may be less well educated or there may be other mitigating factors.

Australia has had a lot of arrivals by boat and they may be different from those that are screened in a 3rd country and then prepared for resettlement in a new country. It also could be that large numbers of people can easily overwhelm the good will of a community or a country and this can have an adverse affect on integration.

But be assured, many, many Muslims who have been resettled in a Western Country have assimilated and are very loyal and appreciative to their new found land.

The first wave of Lebanese refugees into Australia were Christian, some became members of criminal gangs. At the height of the Lebanese Civil War around 4,000 Lebanese were admitted into Australia in one year alone; 90% were Muslim. As a generalisation the Lebanese Muslims were unskilled with low levels of education. Minimal time and money was invested with efforts to integrate / educate these people with the predictable outcome of ghettoisation; more info at...

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/cabinet-papers/fraser-was-warned-on-lebanese-migrants/story-e6frgda6-1111112763458

Previously it was claimed by the Australian government that only very small numbers of boat people (less than 10 p.a.) were identified as security risks and denied entry. As you know current policy is to refuse entry to Australia for any boat people, no matter the assessment.

In Australia those joining IS are usually people with a criminal record who were radicalised in prison or second generation educated young Australian Muslims garnered by IS online recruitment efforts and in some cases by local self-proclaimed Imams. There have been some who were originally refugees from Afghanistan, Somalia and I believe Iraq.

IMO it is extremely difficult to pinpoint the true reason for the success of IS recruitment, but recruits do appear to truly believe in the creation of a new Caliphate (IS) even though the claim is rejected as unlawful by mainstream Islamic jurisprudence. Western recruits who reverse their allegiance upon facing the realities in IS controlled territory in Syria & Iraq are regularly murdered, as have some Australian recruits.

Some may be interested to read the book written by a UK born Muslim who gradually converted to radical Islam & then reversed his position. "The Islamist' by Ed Husain

But he also said that he does not support terrorists, and the Ap definition also says

I don't support terrorists but I support Islamists against people that are too simple to know the difference.

Associated Press definition of Islamist:

"An advocate or supporter of a political movement that favors reordering government and society in accordance with laws prescribed by Islam."

So you support that and I believe you.

LINK

You seem to have missed a crucial sentence

" "An advocate or supporter of a political movement that favors reordering government and society in accordance with laws prescribed by Islam. Do not use as a synonym for Islamic fighters, militants, extremists or radicals, who may or may not be Islamists."

I didn't miss it at all nor did I use it in that sense. I correctly quoted and called it:

"An advocate or supporter of a political movement that favors reordering government and society in accordance with laws prescribed by Islam."

Someone said he supported Islamists and I pointed out the definition according to the AP.

" Do not use as a synonym for Islamic fighters, militants, extremists or radicals, who may or may not be Islamists." a terrorist would fit that definition,

can some one engaging in un-Islamic behavior be an Islamist?

Post removed to enable response.

You may like to have a read of the content at the URL below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/qasim-rashid/calling-isis-unislamic-is_b_6730702.html

Also an analysis of the current Yemeni Civil War.

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/03/21/Yemen-s-Civil-War-Forges-Unholy-Alliance-Between-al-Qaeda-and-ISIS

From the OP...

"In Thailand, even outspoken non-Muslim intellectuals were telling Muslims that Islam was the only force to counter Western hegemony"

Can anyone point to the non Muslim Thais who promulgate this POV?

In the interest of balance???

What a load of malarkey.

Iran currently occupies a part of the UAE after its illegal invasion.

Iran has its Republican guard actively involved in Iraq, and Syria and has sent its trainers and missile specialists to install, and operate missile launch sites in Hizbollah controlled parts of Lebanon. Iran tacitly supported the Taliban and has actively targeted dissidents in foreign countries such as Australia, Canada and the UK.

Iran is a threat to world peace and its nationals must be treated accordingly.

As you well know Iran is not the sole player in regional balance of power upmanship that causes death and destruction. However, whilst it may be off topic an interesting prior analysis of the Iranian / Taliban relationship.

Tehran's sponsorship of the Taliban is thus consistent with Iran's strategy of countering U.S./NATO influence through asymmetric proxy warfare. While Iran's measured support for the Taliban provided Tehran with greater leverage over the Karzai government, it was primarily motivated by its hostile relationship with the U.S.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-wagner/the-paradoxical-afghanira_b_4277936.html

There were also 2 Iranians of military ages who used stolen passports on the I'll fated Malaysian airlines Rhat has still never been located.

Why is this pertinent? Because there's an insurgency down in the South and Iran has been a state sponsor of terrorism for decades, always keep an open mind with Iranians and stolen passports!!!

Thai Muslim population of Thailand is 99% Sunni, when has Iran has ever been a state sponsor of Sunni insurgency movements or any linkage been proposed between Iran and the conflict in the deep South?

And I wonder if this cleric has knowledge about who are the bad guys in this area very local to him, but is keeping it to himself. A muslim will never betray another muslim to a non-muslim.

My opinion now is that the majority inwardly support the terrorists, but not strongly enough to take action themselves.

And catholic priests never betrayed anyone for their confessions either , but you're wrong about Muslims never betraying other Muslims to non Muslims, it happens all over the world where their is both over and covert action against Islamic terrorists killing other Muslims, it's happening daily in Iraq, it happened all the time the American military were there too.

To tie your comment back to the deep South, many local Thai Muslims have been reported as murdered for informing on the 'insurgents'.

As you say it's a myth that Muslims will not 'betray' their fellow believers by working with non Muslims. Some quick examples:

The deep South

Sunni Awakening movement in Iraq

Today's military operations by Western airforces within Syria and Iraq with targeting info provided by....Muslims.

Informing on Islamic extremists to Western security agencies e.g. Australia

There were forecasts by the US military that it will take 2 / 3 years to destroy IS. With Iran now engaged with both support and actual military engagement it appears the timeline will be shorter, so long as the Shiite militia and Iraqi army do not indulge in massacring the Sunni civilian population in revenge.

Scott, it would be interesting to read your opinion on who will govern areas occupied by the Kurds in Iraq and Syria, will this lead to yet another round of conflict?

Simple 1

In the UK armed forces there are around around 650 Muslims in the 200,000-strong military making up less than 1 per cent of its ratio strength. In society as a whole, they comprise 4.8 per cent of the general population. Got to say if I were a UK Muslim I would hesitate on joining up with the apparent level of descrimination within UK society.

Discrimination is a 2 way street. To take your analogy of Muslims joining the ranks of the UK Military, currently around 650. More than 900 have left the UK to join the ranks of ISIS in less than a year. As a comparison, does that mean that more UK Muslims think more about ISIS than they do about the Country that they reside in ?

Why were so many UK whites victims of opportunity. It seems to me that many of the victims in Rotherham lived in very dysfunctional environments. From the Rotherham report it tells us 55% of such children had used heroin at least once per week. 40% had been raped, but 73% had sexual health problems. It seems clear that in the overall context of the child sex abuse scandals in the UK there is a side of UK life that is under reported / not debated.

Let me reiterate for you. The abuse that took place in Rotherham ( as well as other locations ) was not a crime of opportunity. It was a well established peado ring that operated for almost 2 decades.

The victims lived in very dysfunctional environments ? Is that an excuse for them being targeted ? Lets blame it on the victims and not the perpetrators ?

The Rotherham report highlighted that the victims were plied with alcohol and drugs by the perpetrators. It is hardly surprising that 73% had sexual health problems, that is what happens when children are abused repeatedly. I am only surprised that it was only 70%.

It seems clear to me that in the context of these sexual abuse scandals, there was a side to UK life that was severely under reported. It was called Grooming gangs. It was under reported due to agencies covering it up for fear of being branded racist.

Just for the sake of the topic.

Men arrested over Sheffield and Rotherham child abuse

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-31875592

Another 5 have been arrested. There is currently another 300 men creatures being investigated.

Yep, it is bizarre that apparently more UK citizens have joined IS than those from Indonesia with a population of 240 million.

From my reading, yes the victims families have a degree of ownership, not blaming the victims, but for sure a large number of victims came from dysfunctional families. This is the issue I'm referring to as deliberately under reported, I would go as far to say yet another example of PC behaviour. Yes the grooming IMO was based upon opportunity. Contacts were made in the streets, outside schools, government institutions and so on. e.g.

5.15 The process of grooming has been well documented in national reports and

research. Many of the cases we examined showed classic evidence of grooming.

Many of the children were already vulnerable when grooming began. The

perpetrators targeted children’s residential units and residential services for care

leavers. It was not unusual for children in residential services and schools to

introduce other children to the perpetrators.

Not only do you have to be resident in Australia when you apply for the pension, you have to have lived there Full Time for the two years previous to applying. So the only way you will qualify and be able to get the pension paid whilst living in Thailand is to go back and live there for two years first. You will get the pension paid to you during that two years, but leave the country before the two years is up and Centrelink will stop the pension immediately.

Pretty sure you don't have to live in Oz for two years before applying, provided you meet the other work and/or residency requirements. Just have to lodge when you are in Australia. I understand that you will though have to have stay in Australia for two years before returning to Thailand to qualify for mobility - not even a short holiday, otherwise the clock resets.

Check the Human Services website.

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/age-pension

I thought that's what I said. The two years prior to applying only concerns the mobility, which is what the OP was interested in. I already stated that the pension would be paid during that two years in Australia to qualify for mobility. I think they have also increased the length of your working life in Australia to 35 years to be eligible for a pension.

It can get confusing - you said "you have to have lived there Full Time for the two years previous to applying"

Re Working Life In Australia to 35 years - yes that is my understanding too. Hence my comment to the OP re qualification of work requirements. If the OP has been out of OZ for 11 years and, say left at age 53, and started work after leaving Uni at 20 it could be a problem. Again, need to check the Website.

Yep it is 35 year working life from age 16 to obtain full Aged Pension whilst living overseas; otherwise it is pro rata. Upon return to Oz you must demonstrate that you meet residency criteria and as said currently will have to wait two years for portability. Last year I returned to Oz & took about 13 weeks to process my application, also you are interviewed by phone. NB you must obtain your movement record in/out Australia from Immigration to support your application. A bit more info at:

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/age-pension

Who is more qualified for asylum in the US? A Pakistani Christian or YL?

You really need to get out more.

No, the envoys of the US Embassy here need to get out more and do something for these people being deported.

Why focus on the US Embassy? Where are the Embassies of Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Korea, India, France, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Russia, Germany, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, France, Spain, Italy, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Uruagay, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolicia, Paraguay, Mexico, Canada et al? I leave out the Middle East and North Africa, since that would be stepping out of the frying pan into the fire.

Think you will find the crux of the issue is Thailand has not ratified and signed the UN Convention for Refugees. The various country Embassies would normally work though UNHCR to assess and allocate spaces in their refugess / ayslum seekers programs. However, remember there are approx 14 million refugees / asylum seekers around the world, yet currently only 80k per annum are being accepted for re-settlement.

I think the thing is that a Muslim can not change faith. If he/she does then it is considered acceptable if a Muslim kills them. Crazy I know but that is what I read a while back, not on TV incidentially

This is the case in a few Islamic majority countries dominated by conversative Imams, but not in Thailand. I known Thai Muslims who have 'converted' to Buddhism and vice versa without any threats to their lives.

60 Muslims want a Mosque.

800 Thai's demonstrate saying no.

Why is there even a debate about this. It is perfectly acceptable for Muslims to pray at the sides of roads, creating traffic mayhem, in shopping centres creating pedestrian mayhem. A mosque is not required for prayer, they are perfectly capable of praying anywhere.

Are these 60 Muslims going to pay for the construction of this Mosque, or is the funding coming from elsewhere for reasons that are really nothing to do with these 60 Muslims.

Actually it's 60 Thais wish to build a mosque.

On land they paid for.

In their country.

It matters not a jot if they are Thai or not.

They may well be Thai Nationals, they may well have paid for the land and it may well be their Country as you put it.

That does not give them the right to build a Mosque against the wishes of a substantial part of the Thai population that opposes it.

Have a look at parts of the UK for a precedence on where this leads to.

The protest is being organised & led by Thai Buddhist nationalist monks, not by the 'common people'. Freedom of religion is protected by law in Thailand and by the highest instituion in Thailand. The building and maintenace of mosques are part funded by the Thai government as are a number of other funded supportive actions for the Thai Muslim community; refer URL below for some facts.

http://www.thaiembassy.org/riyadh/en/organize/29025-Muslim-in-Thailand.html

Bury a pigs head or a whole pig on the land. Mosque wont be built on desecrated land.

That's a myth, Muslim owned desecrated land can be sanctified.

They did this in Spain and it worked. The plans were shelved.

Again a myth, the mosque was not built in Seville due to insufficient funding, not because of desecrated land.