THE WEEK THAT WAS Dear Mr Policeman: Your job is to arrest the bad guys - not engage in PR

[rooster59]

 

It was another week in which the Royal Thai Police tried to look like media rock stars defending the people of the nation against those who might damage her security.

 

But ended up, despite the odd arresting success, looking unfit for any sort of purpose except perhaps directing traffic or helping Khun Yai cross to the Som Tam shop. 

 

Two cases in point this week on ASEAN NOW added to the familiar litany of occasions when PR stunts involving a large expenditure of tax payers’ baht backfired to make the RTP further lose face and public confidence.

 

Sadder still, this columnist reckons they often believe their own hype failing to appreciate how dim is the view of Somchai and Somrudee in the street who can barely conceal their contempt after Plod passes.

 

The first case was that of a grieving Hungarian widow on Koh Samui who had been in Thailand a decade and more without extending her tourist visa. Yes, a stupid thing to do but did she deserved to be humiliated alongside three burly Surat Thai immigration officers proudly puffing out their chests?

 

A story from Naew Na - a media outlet who shamelessly act as the de facto PR arm of the IB - reprinted  their standard rhetoric about keeping Thailand safe from criminal foreign elements bent on destroying the nation.

 

Quite probably this hapless European, caught wandering the beach in despair after her husband passed away a few days prior, brought money into the kingdom and spent it here. 

 

Would it not be better to have an amnesty for long overstayers? 

 

Such suggestions on ASEAN NOW often bring out posters who burble on about playing by the rules shrieking “som nam na” (serves you right) against those arrested. Show some humanity please. 

 

Yes, immigration are obliged to follow the law - despite so many stories recently to the contrary. But this arrest is just the tip of an iceberg of wasted money, time and resources when officers appear in front of the cameras when they should be out arresting the bad guys. 

 

Who has not marvelled in recent years at the vinyl boards proclaiming the arrest of some devilish criminal from the “Land of Sushi” or “Land of Tulips” who didn’t renew their visa and threatened the safety of other villagers in the proverbial Nakhon Nowhere in Isaan.

 

Every week - sometimes twice a week - IB chief Lt-Gen Sompong Chingduang somehow finds time to attend press conferences at Suan Phlu HQ along with other top brass decked out in their finery. When a Korean on a theft warrant from Seoul is triumphantly nabbed. 

 

It’s a waste of money and time. A short press conference with one minor Pol Col with a nice face giving the salient details would more than suffice. 

 

The press don’t need vinyl boards or top brass - they have recording devices, notebooks - some even say we have a brain and the ability to present a story in a readable form. 

 

The second shocker this week were the appalling scenes in Rayong when a murderer was taken on a reenactment to the site where he killed and stole a motorbike from a 23 year old factory lady earlier this month.

 

Yes, the force did a good job to get their man expediently. But he admitted the crime so was there any necessity to use 200 police officers and security personnel for the reenactment.

 

They completely bungled the event, not appreciating the raw anger of the locals who attempted to lynch the suspect, injuring many police officers in the unseemly melee. 

 

The video of the mess was soon on YouTube for the whole world to see the incompetence of the constabulary. Job done, some might say.

 

Several years ago under the leadership of Gen Chakthip Chaijinda attempts were made to do away with reenactments that the police say are important for making court cases tight but which critics see as unnecessary and self-serving shows.

 

Very few provincial police chiefs listened, reinforcing the view they are, literally, a law unto themselves. 

 

Now is the time for the new chief Gen Suwat Chaengyodsuk to end reenactments by showing that his short arms have a longer reach than his predecessor. 

 

Personally I’d miss the spectacle of the reenactments as they make great news fodder. But they are akin to public hangings that the Victorians favored. Haven’t the Thais moved on?

 

And while the chief is at it, why not stop the nonsense in all those time wasting spectaculars when a ton of ganja and 10 million meth pills are put on display afore beaming major-generals or when war weapons are handled like toys by regional Chiefs and their myriad mob of Indians.

 

Want to gain the confidence of the public, Khun Plod? Earn it, and stop all this showboating PR for the cameras. 

 

Thankfully for the RTP it was the alleged corruption of politicians - past and present - that featured at the top of the ASEAN NOW news this week.

 

Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra is being investigated over the sale of a fleet of Airbus aircraft he approved almost two decades ago. This can be seen in the light of today’s leaders wanting to rattle the bars of his cage - albeit an open one and abroad - after his appearances as “Tony Woodsome” banging on about Prayut’s Pathetic Pandemic Performance (I lurve taking the P but sometimes I use them!)

 

That’s a sideshow to the main feast. The real interest is that the National Anti-Corruption Commission will be looking into the role of the current Industry Minister Suriya who was transport minister under Thaksin and former THAI board chairman Thanong and former president Kanok. 

 

The bloated airline famous for its freebies and turning a blind eye to blatant malfeasance, lost tens of billions of baht over the unnecessary aircraft purchases, planes that flew around the world half empty so that senior executives could take their mia nois for crumpets at Harrods then shopping in New York before getting back to their wives to bank their astronomical salaries. 

 

More of the current crop of politicians masquerading as leaders delighted the forum with their antics.

 

Prayut himself gritted his teeth and denied there was a rift with his right hand wrist-watchman Prawit. 

 

The DPM is head of the PPRP that I believe stands for Porky Pies Really Plump. He’s being investigated over his chronic chronometers again after a court order delivered to the NACC. Prayut could barely conceal his Schadenfreudian smile and couldn't hide what he was thinking: Your time’s up, old boy!

 

Hopefully it is for both these dinosaurs soon.

 

Hapless tourism minister and billionaire Pipat blundered on meeting with Bangkok governor Aswin then announcing Bangkok’s opening was delayed to October 15th, something that the general then denied.

 

Anutin Charnvirakul then denied all knowledge of everything. I think if the Thai press had asked him what his name was, he’d have said “speak to my lawyer”.

 

Fair play, though, to the health minister over the booster jab for those who have had 2 Sinovac. He managed to keep a straight face.

 

Pipat then got in his limo to Pattaya before announcing his version of the 1970’s Hippy Trail - The Ganja Trail. Soon, he hopes, foreigners will be beating a path to Thailand to get CBD oil (that they can get cheaper in their own countries). 

 

Nothing short of the complete relaxation of ALL laws related to marijuana should be considered. At the moment only the elites who have spas will benefit. Steal a march on other countries in the region, make recreational use legal, save money on law enforcement and let real cash filter down to the people. 

 

And then Rooster woke up…..to see Big Joke stealing Pipat’s limelight in Pattaya then flying back to Phuket again. He’s certainly getting about like in the good old days before he had his knuckles rapped. 

 

Many stories midweek highlighted the ten year visas, tax breaks and benefits being touted for well-heeled foreigners and digital nomads.

 

Tired of the monotony, Rooster went into bat for the retirees and expats who have lived in Thailand for many years using quotes on the forum for a story about their fury as they “shouted from the rooftops throughout the kingdom”.  

 

Hundreds of comments followed in one of the most read stories of the week. 

 

Why shouldn’t people who have Thai wives, helped raise Thai children and who have contributed to the economy, no matter how modestly, appear at the head of the residence queue and be allowed to own a small plot of Siam?

 

The answer is obviously money. Anyone who has been in Thailand for five minutes will tell you that the root of all evil is poverty….

 

Apropos, Mrs Rooster was walking round with a smile on her face all week. No, Rooster had not suddenly come over all amorous, she had won 8,000 baht on the underground lottery. Mum also won.

 

Apparently if she’d got the three numbers in the right order it would have been 100,000! I didn’t rain on her parade by pointing out that she’d probably lost 20,000 since her last win, instead we enjoyed a prawn feast with chips and delicious dipping sauces prepared by a singing Mrs R (reminiscent of Basil Fawlty when he won on the horse called Dragonfly). 

 

Other whoops of delight from the Ratchayothin Roost were my own as the education authorities announced plans to jab secondary school children with Pfizer in October ahead of schools possibly reopening in November. 

 

My primary kids have been out of the house only for a few months in the last 18. If I remember anything about the pandemic - that I’m sure we’ll try and forget - it’ll be the nightmare of online learning. I thought I’d retired from teaching….  

 

In other RTP news more investigations are underway over bootleg booze flights by senior officers on official aircraft from Hat Yai to Krung Thep, Ferrari Joe’s next hearing is scheduled for October 4th/5th in Nakhon Sawan and the force denied that a collision in Din Daeng that sent a 14 year old tumbling was a hit and run. 

 

For the last of these they referred to the chapter in the handbook entitled “Casuistry”.

 

At least they managed to nab a 17 year old female M6 student who robbed a gold shop of 860,000 in jewellery in Nonthaburi. And followed this up with the reason why she needed the money. She’d lost her father’s “moradok” (bequest) in a Ponzi scheme run by a middle aged woman who was soon arrested. 

 

Earlier the director of the teen’s school had posted 15,000 baht bail and sheepishly admitted his failings as an educator. 

 

Fair play. Many Thais in authority, particularly education, would only admit to something if they had their heads kindly wrapped in several layers of heavy duty RTP plastic. 

 

My thanks to all those who clicked “like” last week. It was a record though my boss is still considering the raise or rise. After I finished the column last Saturday I settled down to enjoy Palace vs Spurs on True when the internet went down.

 

Cue a mad motorcycle dash to Soi 4 at Nana where I was surprised to see so many people out and less surprised to see small quantities of liquid in shooter glasses being handed out. On paying the bill for my club sandwich the waitress proudly announced it was 20% off the menu price. 

 

I dashed off home for the second half after Mrs R said the bods at True had restored what they laughably refer to as their “service”. 

 

In other sports news Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat narrowly missed winning the PGA at Wentworth though many will remember the 9/11 anniversary weekend for the stunning triumph at the US tennis open for Brit Emma Raducanu. She went to the same school as two of my nieces and practiced at a tennis club I passed almost every day in my youth. 

 

Down in Pattaya an Indian nightclub called Nashaa on the Bali Hai end of Walking Street went up in spectacular flames while posts online suggested that Bangkok’s popular Gulliver’s was up for sale. 

 

Top “farang behaving badly” was reserved for a long term resident in Phrakhanong who got belted by a taxi driver for not paying an extra ten baht on the meter. 

 

Clearly he hadn’t learned much. The same could be said of two senior teachers at my international school years ago who did similarly. One had to tell the students on the Monday that he had walked into a door, the other spent four or five days in Bumrungrad. They learned their lessons.

 

Finally two stories that made me LOL.

 

The first was the sight of abandoned taxis being used to grow vegetables. Eggplant, chili and cucumber were sprouting from roofs and boots while I checked the calendar to make sure it wasn’t April 1st.

 

Finally, Thailand's English print media came up with the best headline of the week.

 

“Thailand Aim To Put Down Moroccans”.

 

It referred to Futsal.

 

And there was me thinking it was another Immigration Police policy decision. 

 

Rooster

 

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[Gottfrid]

Dear Mr Policeman: Your job is to arrest the bad guys - not engage in PR

 

Ok, this is quite elementary. A policeman´s job is so much more than just arrest the bad guys. The most important thing is to prevent crime of all sorts. Something that everybody knows is included in protect. After that we have serve, which includes giving assistance and helping people. Moreover, it can not be so bad to do some PR, so that the people can get information about what is happening.

I know, there are much that is wrong in the force, which also includes a lot of corruption. I am not saying I am a fan of the RTP. However, if a person tries to give a description of them and what their work assignment is supposed to be, that should be right. Something that is not the case here, Rooster.

 

38 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Would it not be better to have an amnesty for long overstayers?

There are so many wrongs and difficulties with this weekly column again, so it would be a too time consuming work to engage in everything. Out of that reason I only chose one more ,which we can see above. Why in the world would there be an amnesty for long time overstayers? Here there has been so much information about how the visa system works, they have been giving a lot of leeway in form of numerous possibilities to Covid-extensions. If there are people that still are hiding out somewhere and refuses to adhere to the rules of law, then it´s not time to blame Thailand and immigration. They have themselves to blame for 100 % of their situation.

[wmlc]

An amnesty for long time overstayers? What a great idea. The guy that is on one day overstay on his way to the airport goes through a check point where they ask for his passport. He gets arrested, deported and blacklisted for 1 year. The other guy on overstay for 10 years living like a recluse gets amnesty. I don’t know what kind of gonga the OP was smoking when he wrote this but I want some LOL.

[Old Croc]

Amnesty's are a stupid idea.

Australia used to have the occasional amnesty many decades ago, but ceased them completely when it was discovered people were staying on illegally waiting for the next one.

How would it work in Thailand? Reward the illegal overstayers with citizenship, PR, perhaps gift a long stay extension (sans a valid visa) without the fees and reporting ordeals legal entrants have adhered to? 

Should they be allowed to stay on in the country, and if so with what status? Presumably many overstay because of a lack of funds to meet visa conditions. How would they meet them now? Be given a free privileged class of visa not available to legal stayers?

 

There needs to be a pathway to secure residency for legal long term stayers before giving anything to the detritus who ignore the rule of law.

[Andycoops]

As there is not even any basic policing in Thailand, when was the last time you saw officers on patrol, the continual PR exercises just show the limits of their cranium capacity.

As in other forms of Thai life, it's a case of we've always done it this way, why change.

[klauskunkel]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Anutin Charnvirakul then denied all knowledge of everything. I think if the Thai press had asked him what his name was, he’d have said “speak to my lawyer”.

or better yet, he'd have said "we are forming a committee to select a name".

[itsari]

I wish to say I agree 100 percent what you say about the unfortunate female overstayer . 

The Thai Immigration police do not portray as being law upholders as more publicity hunters . 

First world police forces are guilty of that too in combination with the inland revenue normally.

[ikke1959]

Immigration should make a visa for long stayers, instead of renewing every year with a lot of paperwork, and abolish the 90 days report... If you stay for 3 years or longer in Thailand you can apply for the long term visa valid for 5 or 10 years and only go to immigration if there is a change in address, passport, or something. It would be be welcomed by a lot of expats and pensioners and surely be attractive for new people. Ans please stop harrassing the foreigners, with the sometimes stupid laws, as forbidden to play darts, or bridge, or some other games that are normal games in the western world, but everything here is like connected to gambling..There is much more work for the police to do in catching drugsdealers, burglars, thieves, and traffic laws... So please treat people with respect, and understanding, instead of being the christmastree after you caught another one

[malt25]

29 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Immigration should make a visa for long stayers, instead of renewing every year with a lot of paperwork, and abolish the 90 days report... If you stay for 3 years or longer in Thailand you can apply for the long term visa valid for 5 or 10 years and only go to immigration if there is a change in address, passport, or something. It would be be welcomed by a lot of expats and pensioners and surely be attractive for new people. Ans please stop harrassing the foreigners, with the sometimes stupid laws, as forbidden to play darts, or bridge, or some other games that are normal games in the western world, but everything here is like connected to gambling..There is much more work for the police to do in catching drugsdealers, burglars, thieves, and traffic laws... So please treat people with respect, and understanding, instead of being the christmastree after you caught another one

How dare you bring common sense into this debate !

[kingstonkid]

Amnesty is a very dangerous road with drop offs on both sides.

 

Who gets it why and how will people abuse it are the big ones.  Look at the U.S.  They give amnesty to anyone that can walk swim or crawl across the southern border.  BUT anyone that tries to do it the legal way at an airport is turned down.

 

I think the idea of the police holding these carnival sideshows has to end.  

 

The problem with it all is that you are requiring someone to have a brain and think outside the Thai box.

 

That is the problem here, be it teachers, police, military or most business people.

 

Theyonly know what they have been taught or seen others do.

 

How can you expect Thai teachers to be any better than they are considering that they learned everything they know in the Thai school system.

 

How can you expect a policeman to be any different if that is what he is taught all through his life growing up?

 

How many times have others asked why something is done a certain way to be told that is how it has always been done.

Or the old we charge extra for Farang because that is the way it is done.

Even the protesters that are in the street seeking a change.  They forget that the only time change has come from the protests is when it got to hot for the elected politicians and the military stepped in.

 

 

 

 

[yankyoakum]

Thought this was a pretty fair read...and Toto we ain't in Kansas anymore... How things worked back home don't count.

[MaiDong]

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Fair play. Many Thais in authority, particularly education, would only admit to something if they had their heads kindly wrapped in several layers of heavy duty RTP plastic. 

 

Savage, right on the edge, but amusing nonetheless. 

[Molly Malone]

My once a year all time favorite is at the end of year, PICTURE of a few dozen Police Chiefs and constables under the Pattaya Walking Street sign, declaring that "there are no prostitutes in Walking Street", we have checked and it's 100% free of any naughty girls.

 

God forbid that ever becomes TRUE! 

 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Would it not be better to have an amnesty for long overstayers?

Amnesty and immunity is reserved for the privileged few.

[off road pat]

50 minutes ago, Molly Malone said:

My once a year all time favorite is at the end of year, PICTURE of a few dozen Police Chiefs and constables under the Pattaya Walking Street sign, declaring that "there are no prostitutes in Walking Street", we have checked and it's 100% free of any naughty girls.

 

God forbid that ever becomes TRUE! 

 

Oh yes, we remember that one,...

[bkkcanuck8]

Quote

Would it not be better to have an amnesty for long overstayers?

There was, I was in overstay at that point and everyone was warned to fix their overstay before the new regulations came into force... (and the it was extremely widely publicized to where I cannot find anyone that did not hear about it)...  another amnesty would defeat the purpose of tightening the enforcement and only make people think that this will become a regular affair.  If they have been here 10 years, they must have not got their visas in order last time.... that is no fault of the Thai immigration police. 

[bkkcanuck8]

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Immigration should make a visa for long stayers, instead of renewing every year with a lot of paperwork, and abolish the 90 days report... If you stay for 3 years or longer in Thailand you can apply for the long term visa valid for 5 or 10 years and only go to immigration if there is a change in address, passport, or something. It would be be welcomed by a lot of expats and pensioners and surely be attractive for new people. Ans please stop harrassing the foreigners, with the sometimes stupid laws, as forbidden to play darts, or bridge, or some other games that are normal games in the western world, but everything here is like connected to gambling..There is much more work for the police to do in catching drugsdealers, burglars, thieves, and traffic laws... So please treat people with respect, and understanding, instead of being the christmastree after you caught another one

The requirements for longer stays would have to rise... they request 800,000 baht in the bank to prove you don't need to work.... that requirement would have to rise for longer visas...  what I think they could easily implement is an annual extension that is simply - show me the money in the account (and show me the balance did not suddenly disappear after the last renewal; maybe half that at the midway point??).... but to be quite honest the process has always been fast and easy for me anyway.

 

[tandor]

Dear Policemen: Your job is to protect life and property.

[aussienam]

In respect to the scene re-enactments, this is common practice worldwide and does have great benefit for the prosecution case.  In Australia (as a comparison) we do these in certain cases that are serious indictable crimes.  It helps to firm up corroborating evidence, it can also help lead police to identify further evidence at crime scenes.  

To remove this valuable investigative tool on the back of bad crowd control is short-sighted and only appeases those who don't fully understand the ways all sorts of evidence can be accepted and rejected in trials.  

 

The RTP need to do a much better job in crowd control preparation and execution rather than ditching the re-enactments.  

 

The grandstanding of the Hungarian woman as well as many other cases that are relatively minor in nature is something I would personally have been embarrassed to present to the media. 

Significant arrests involving serious crimes, high profile incidents and anything considered to be media worthy and in the public interest are generally what we used to release in Oz. 

They also instill public confidence that police are actually making significant arrests.  

Definitely doesn't come across well boasting on camera about arresting some poor down-and-out impoverished Eastern European illegal over-stayer. It infers an underlying xenophobia.  Sure she needs to be processed like anyone, but perhaps discreetly, or at most just a brief article release for media.  

 

 

Edited September 19, 2021 by aussienam

[androokery]

This Hungarian overstaying widow is brought up again. I know nothing about her apart from what I've stated in the first sentence here. The response to her problems on this forum and in the OP has been extremely prejudiced. Is there any special reason why everyone on here rush to her defence? She could be the most despicable morally corrupt POS person you ever could meet. Or the opposite. We don't know. I'm leaning towards "she needs a solid excuse for that long of an overstay". What were she and her husband up to all those years?

[transam]

3 minutes ago, androokery said:

This Hungarian overstaying widow is brought up again. I know nothing about her apart from what I've stated in the first sentence here. The response to her problems on this forum and in the OP has been extremely prejudiced. Is there any special reason why everyone on here rush to her defence? She could be the most despicable morally corrupt POS person you ever could meet. Or the opposite. We don't know. I'm leaning towards "she needs a solid excuse for that long of an overstay". What were she and her husband up to all those years?

Perhaps none of our business....????

[rudi49jr]

I think the writer makes a wrong assumption here: most guys do not join the RTP with any noble ideals to fight crime or whatever. I think it’s pretty self explanatory why they actually do become a cop.

[Curmudgeonly59]

Credit for the Roostafarian effort this week: "Nothing short of the complete relaxation of ALL laws related to marijuana should be considered." The rest of the article was topical and relevant too.

Another unreserved A+

[Paul Henry]

Look at the basics. The police are there to up hold the law and enforce those laws. the problem  is that from the top to the bottom the Thai police have no idea what the laws are. They view their job as a means of making an income to look after themselves and family. Until values of law enforcement are instilled into the whole of the police departments it is just another job. Education and intelligence are not a prerequisite and are not a requirement to be a police officer. Buy yourself a job and continue with a system of complete ignorance.

[peterpaintpot]

I try and read your column every week as normally it's informative and enjoyable, this week was one of your best. 

 

Big Joke was the first that I remember with the sheets of plastic boasting about all the illegals they had rounded up.

i have to agree with you regarding most of your comments including the RTP and what has always amazed me is they like the politicians are keen to let all and sundry know what clever people they are! If they hadn't had such a deplorable standard of education they would realise that they were shooting themselves in the foot The question that neither the press nor the Immigration Police had asked themselves was:  Who let the illegals enter the country in the first place. The answer is the same people who are claiming credit for catching them! TIT.

[zzaa09]

2 hours ago, Paul Henry said:

Look at the basics. The police are there to up hold the law and enforce those laws. the problem  is that from the top to the bottom the Thai police have no idea what the laws are. They view their job as a means of making an income to look after themselves and family. Until values of law enforcement are instilled into the whole of the police departments it is just another job. Education and intelligence are not a prerequisite and are not a requirement to be a police officer. Buy yourself a job and continue with a system of complete ignorance.

The real basics. 

Policing systems [everywhere] were created and designed to protect/serve the ruling classes and businesses. 

Still appears to be of this nature [everywhere].

[Scouse123]

11 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

 

 

 

 

There are so many wrongs and difficulties with this weekly column again, so it would be a too time consuming work to engage in everything. Out of that reason I only chose one more ,which we can see above. Why in the world would there be an amnesty for long time overstayers? Here there has been so much information about how the visa system works, they have been giving a lot of leeway in form of numerous possibilities to Covid-extensions. If there are people that still are hiding out somewhere and refuses to adhere to the rules of law, then it´s not time to blame Thailand and immigration. They have themselves to blame for 100 % of their situation.

Just like in many other countries that resurrect campaigns to encourage reductions in crime such as knife and gun crime, they repeat amnesties. So, why can't they do it again?

 

With overstays falling into the most ' least serious crimes ' category and no doubt this lady contributing to the economy over many years, even if its only her weekly shopping, a lady who has just lost her husband, why can't they look at the amnesty situation again as a sign of goodwill to foreigners?

 

She isn't tapping in to free social care or healthcare or the welfare system like Thais are able to do in the UK after their marriages fail and they have their shiny new UK passports.

 

You mention :- . If there are people that still are hiding out somewhere and refuses to adhere to the rules of law, then it´s not time to blame Thailand and immigration.

 

Rule of law?  The same rule of law used by immigration that nearly crucifies foreigners for bringing in SLIGHTLY over their amount of cigarettes or alcohol at Suvarnabhumi airport but the cops themselves are flying in their tax evading booze and ciggies in police airplanes emblazoned with RTP insignia!!!

 

The government speaks to us in its announcements almost as though it's our ' duty ' to come and spend money in Thailand despite the flip flopping, ASQ hotels and quarantine, rule changes and xenophobia despite the fact that there is <deleted> all open when you get here, when it suits them, and they do it without shame.

[Marpa47]

The image I have is of a lady, long accustomed to her spouse, now deceased, looking after all the financial affairs.  Now, she is not only helpless, but also victimized by circumstance.  Not a scheming, evil person but an innocent victim.  What if RTP or IB took a different approach and, instead of posting their pseudo-heroic capture of someone flouting the rules?  Wouldn’t a sentimental story of the persons in authority, pooling their resources and helping the poor bewildered lady to find the wherewithal to navigate the complexities of the system and stay evoke an image of the authorities, not only in a good light but even, dare I say it, a more heroic one, one even more worthy of admiration?  Not only opportunity for a really great photo op lost but a chance to burnish the “protect and serve” motto.

Edited September 19, 2021 by Marpa47

[Marpa47]

Thank you dear Rooster for another Thailand update, in depth and outside the box.  And, by the way, as in the USA TV series “Barney Miller” of many years past, “keeping a good thought” for your raise, (or rise).

[joecoolfrog]

Come clean Rooster , were you a Bromley or Beckenham boy ?