German claims he was warned off by police from pursuing his political protests against acting PM

[ftpjtm]

56 minutes ago, stoner said:

ahhhh but germany would not possibly deport you for protesting as this man has. 

True. And I commend Germany for allowing freedom of anyone to critique their governance. 

 

And I commend Thais using Germany as an example of good governance. 

 

Regardless, I don't think it's a foreign citizen's place to publicly protest against the government of a foreign nation on their soil. And while a Thai wouldn't be deported for protesting against the German government in Germany, I can't believe he would be well received by the majority. 

[Thai Visa Member 999999]

2 minutes ago, TooMuchTime said:

They should give him 25 years minimum and death maximum

It's frequently difficult to discern sarcasm from the lunatic ranting on the internet but, on this site, it's damn near impossible. 

[swm59nj]

When a citizen of another country either visits, or resides in another country.  You have to accept the rules, laws, etc.  If you don’t agree,  or don’t like certain things, you don’t go or leave.  You can of course express disagreement on such things as a forum.  But he is going overboard for a non- citizen.  
He was visited by the police allegedly given an ultimatum.  What did he expect. 

[Owiee]

He is seeking attention for whatever reason, imo he is a bit of a d&@K head. and or suffering from a very low IQ. 

[Thai Visa Member 999999]

 

40 minutes ago, Reigntax said:

Because there is no use him being on Prawit’s watch list.

Different story if he was Swiss!!! 

Thank you!! Spat my coffee out laughing.

[Sparktrader]

3 hours ago, sumongkhwai said:

Still say he's trying to get a free ticket to Germany.

Rather clever and lateral thinking

[mikeymike100]

2 hours ago, ftpjtm said:

The majority of us probably agree with his political opinions. 

 

BUT! Thailand is not his (or my) country. We're just guests who can't vote. Our opinion is meaningless to Thais, in the same way that a non citizen Thai's opinion of German politics is meaningless to Germans.

 

No sympathy for him if his visa isn't extended. 

Whilst you are correct and I agree with your sentiment, if  Thai person did a similar thing in Germany, or France or the USA or really anywhere in the west, I cant imagine the local law enforcement turning up to warn him or her off.

[kennw]

1 hour ago, herfiehandbag said:

Silly.

 

Holding opinions on the current political situation in the country, even sharing them amongst other expatriates is one thing; going public is another!

He has his opinion others like me dont share it, (better the devil you know) BUT he should keep his opinion to himself. His visa or additional documentation he will have signed will contain enough clauses to cancel his visa. Smarten up man!

[ftpjtm]

36 minutes ago, Thai Visa Member 999999 said:

If his opinion is meaningless to Thais, why are the authorities bothering him? Their actions appear to contradict your assertion. 

It is "meaningless" to the Thai political system because as a non citizen he can't vote and is not empowered to alter it. 

 

But while meaningless to the Thai political system, having a foreigner publicly criticize their country is offensive. A situation not unique to Thailand. 

[ftpjtm]

6 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Whilst you are correct and I agree with your sentiment, if  Thai person did a similar thing in Germany, or France or the USA or really anywhere in the west, I cant imagine the local law enforcement turning up to warn him or her off.

See my reply to stoner

 

41 minutes ago, ftpjtm said:

True. And I commend Germany for allowing freedom of anyone to critique their governance. 

 

And I commend Thais using Germany as an example of good governance. 

 

Regardless, I don't think it's a foreign citizen's place to publicly protest against the government of a foreign nation on their soil. And while a Thai wouldn't be deported for protesting against the German government in Germany, I can't believe he would be well received by the majority. 

 

[Bangkok Barry]

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

Me think this might be his last stay in this country, Thailand has it's own idiots, not looking for an outside ones, Yes, Thailand is not perfect by far, but let's leave it to the Thais to manage their own affairs...

Yes. When it's time to renew his visa he might get a surprise. If he lasts long enough in the country to apply for renewal. I wonder how long he's lived in Thailand to not know that free speech is frowned upon.

[jak2002003]

What a tool. 

[Thai Visa Member 999999]

39 minutes ago, swm59nj said:

When a citizen of another country either visits, or resides in another country.  You have to accept the rules, laws, etc.  If you don’t agree,  or don’t like certain things, you don’t go or leave.  You can of course express disagreement on such things as a forum.  But he is going overboard for a non- citizen.  
He was visited by the police allegedly given an ultimatum.  What did he expect. 

Is it unlawful for him to do such a thing? It doesn't seem to be or he would've surely been arrested. 

[Thai Visa Member 999999]

13 minutes ago, ftpjtm said:

It is "meaningless" to the Thai political system because as a non citizen he can't vote and is not empowered to alter it. 

 

But while meaningless to the Thai political system, having a foreigner publicly criticize their country is offensive. A situation not unique to Thailand. 

He didn't criticize the country. He criticized a politician. They're not the same thing. 

[kcpattaya]

Human genius has its limits, but stupidity does not...

[BangkokReady]

2 hours ago, NemoH said:

Imagine you stay as a guest in a house hosted by a father and you go around telling all the children of your host that they should arise and get rid of the  host - all because you pity the way the host treats his children in his own household…????????????…

Nobody is a "guest" in Thailand like someone invited to stay in someone's house for free, with all your needs taken care of.  Most people (probably all) pay or work to stay in Thailand, so it's more like paying to stay in a hotel.

 

Imagine you're staying in a hotel and you believe that the hotel manager is abusing their staff.  You then decide to tell the staff that you think they're being abused and that you support them.  It might be completely pointless, and the hotel manager might decide to kick you out of the hotel, but you aren't being some sort of "ungrateful guest" turning on some "generous host" who is paying for your stay.

[ftpjtm]

5 minutes ago, Thai Visa Member 999999 said:

He didn't criticize the country. He criticized a politician. They're not the same thing. 

That's a matter of opinion. 

 

I personally agree with you. My feeling is that a very large number of Thais would disagree with you. 

 

And their opinion is much more consequential than your's or mine in Thailand. I do my best to respect that while a guest in this country. 

[BangkokReady]

3 hours ago, ftpjtm said:

Our opinion is meaningless to Thais, in the same way that a non citizen Thai's opinion of German politics is meaningless to Germans.

This is simply not true.

 

It depends on the person and it depends what they say.  Some Thais could easily think "If even a foreigner thinks that, then maybe it is true", or whatever.

 

Equally, a Thai person living in Germany could make a comment on German politics that makes people change the way they think.

 

The anti-government narrative seen in the last few years, clearly involves young people being influenced by the politics of other countries.

[Shocked farang]

1 hour ago, klauskunkel said:

 

I side with him

Yes you do, but with a big difference: You don't protest openly! You keep your opinions to yourself or circle of friends. If you want to protest, please leave Thailand first! 

[BangkokReady]

8 minutes ago, ftpjtm said:

That's a matter of opinion.

Not really.  It's a matter of fact that he criticised a political figure and not a country.

 

It's a matter of perception as to whether by criticising a political figure he was indirectly criticising a country.

[bendejo]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

it is understood that the German and his Thai wife are planning to participate in this weekend’s protests against the government’s leadership being organised by Redshirt leader Jatuporn Prompan in Bangkok. 

So, it's not just that this farang is protesting the current state of things, but is a supporter of the opposition party.  That's a different perspective.  I hope that he has scoured all his internet accounts.  My advice, if he would like to keep living in LOS: keep a low profile and shut the [bleep] up, same as the police advised. 

If I were fluent in Thai I would like to hear Jatuporn speak, that's entertainment!

 

 

[huangnon]

If anything, his protest is a bit too meek for my liking. He should be holding up an AK-47 and wearing a bandana with that picture of Watchman.

[Orinoco]

Thailand the land of the free. 

[proton]

what law did he actually break by sitting next to a photo with a cross on it?

[spidermike007]

This pathetic administration is totally intolerant of criticism. Reminds one of Putin and Russia. Fascism? A dictatorship? Anything but a democracy. 

 

And they call themselves men? With such thin skin? Rather shameful behavior. 

[ftpjtm]

32 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

This is simply not true.

 

It depends on the person and it depends what they say.  Some Thais could easily think "If even a foreigner thinks that, then maybe it is true", or whatever.

 

Equally, a Thai person living in Germany could make a comment on German politics that makes people change the way they think.

Yes, there's always the exception to the rule.

 

However, in my experience having a foreigner lecture a citizen on what's wrong with their country very often results in a citizen who disagrees with that sentiment being more offended than if they had received a similar lecture from a fellow citizen. Regardless of whether they are Thai, European or American. 

 

But if you feel otherwise and think it's constructive for you to publicly lecture Thais on Thai politics, have at it. Maybe you'll inspire someone. Maybe your visa won't be extended. 

 

[VinnieK]

No sympathy for farangs who break the #1 taboo in Thailand..

Correction...#2

[shackleton]

The police has his card marked now 

He won't be in Thailand to long especially if he is attending a protest in Bangkok ????

 

[bobandyson]

Note to self:

If I ever make a silent sit-down political protest. . . .DO NOT sit in the sun without appropriate head gear or good thick clump of hair. 

[SymS]

2 hours ago, mikebell said:

How is he managing this?  What sort of visa does he have?  Will it be renewed?

The first article says "it is understood that the German and his Thai wife", so he might be staying here on a marriage visa.
The wife is however downgraded to "girlfriend" (provided it's the same person) in the second article. He could as well just work here.