29 minutes ago, Webfoot said:

I have high blood pressure also.

Well, you are lucky I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol level, irregular heartbeat, and take blood thinner and nobody takes me to hospital in a helicopter 

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

A team of six doctors, specialising in heart and lung diseases and COVID-19, has been assigned to treat former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra,

Is this thief and traitor of Thailand, paying for this "treatment" himself, or is the thai taxpayers paying for it??? Is Thaksin USING Thailand all the way into the "end"???

Six doctors looking after him and someone to dye his hair 

8 hours ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

Even if true, that still wouldn't make it the official language.

 

However I don't think it's true, given that Singapore's Ministry of Education official website says that it's compulsory for all students to learn a "mother tongue" language as part of their school studies.  

 

That would be a little tricky to manage, if they're not allowed to speak any of those languages on school property. 

 

Learning a Mother Tongue Language in school

 

And as the article goes on to say:

 

 

Many years ago, Singapore recognised that to succeed in international business, you need to speak the international language - English in order to be able to communicate. That has been one of the reasons for its success.

 

There are of course, many languages spoken on the island as the population is made up of people with diverse national heritage.

 

However, a couple of years ago the Singapore government was concerned that there were a significant number of childern who were not proficient in English. That was also creating problems over which language lessons should be taught in.  The report I read stated that it had become compulsory to speak English whilst at school but recognised that kids might well speak a different language at home.

 

They do of course, learn other languages as part of their education and I believe many schools require them to learn the 'mother tongue'.

 

Nevertheless, just about all the modern signage in Singapore is English first with some signs in Mandarin as a secondary - which begs the question, why would Thaksin complain about the language on airport signage being in English?

16 hours ago, scorecard said:

16 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

He wasn't in Bang Kwang.

Who said he was?

16 hours ago, webfact said:

Upon reaching the hospital after leaving the prison at 12.30 a.m.Thaksin was moved to the Royal Suite on the 14th floor of Maha Bhumibol Rachanusorn 88th Birthday Anniversary building where there are only two such suites on separate wings.

Suite or sweet.. hard to tell.

Another fiasco begins.

19 hours ago, LukKrueng said:

Wow. That was quick. Less than 24 hours on prison... I though he'll stay there at least until the new government is on place.

he couldn't stand the boiled rice and stale bread

1 hour ago, jippytum said:

Six doctors looking after him and someone to dye his hair 

It can be sent away for that!

Amazing  Thaksin TIT

18 hours ago, billd766 said:

And how many Thais did that affect?

The ordinary decent Thai people have serious health ailments and for a long time and guess what they in a long queue to be seen!!!

12 hours ago, steven100 said:

geeezz......  I hope he doesn't cark it .......  that Patek Philippe watch will be gone in a heartbeat      !

 

 

And Toadie of Toad Hall will be salivating at the thought of getting his grubby little hands on it - - - another watch from a dead friend. 

10 minutes ago, jwest10 said:

The ordinary decent Thai people have serious health ailments and for a long time and guess what they in a long queue to be seen!!!

Maybe they should learn to be more corrupt, get thrown in jail, then enjoy top medical care at a police hospital, maybe even a helicopter ride.

22 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

No other prisoner has a net worth of US$2bn

 

And a former police officer to boot...    see there's hope for everyone, a true rags to riches story, pulled himself up by his own bootstraps he did.

 

40 minutes ago, fondue zoo said:

 

And a former police officer to boot...    see there's hope for everyone, a true rags to riches story, pulled himself up by his own bootstraps he did.

 

I genuinely nearly p!ssed myself at that post.....

3 hours ago, MangoKorat said:

However, a couple of years ago the Singapore government was concerned that there were a significant number of childern who were not proficient in English. That was also creating problems over which language lessons should be taught in.  The report I read stated that it had become compulsory to speak English whilst at school but recognised that kids might well speak a different language at home.

 

They do of course, learn other languages as part of their education and I believe many schools require them to learn the 'mother tongue'.

I think you've actually got the situation reversed - while what you say may have been true back in the 60's, when the government started to encourage the teaching of English, the concern more recently was that English was becoming too dominant and that many Singaporeans were not achieving a good grasp of their mother tongue. Hence why the Ministry of Education has made it mandatory for all pupils to learn a mother tongue language (MTL) at school (unless they're of foreign heritage when they can choose a different second language).

 

The MoE points out that it is important for students to learn an MTL so they can:

 

Quote

Communicate more effectively in MTL.

Appreciate their cultural heritage.

Connect with wider communities across Asia and the world.

There's a difference between the language of instruction for classes being English and pupils being banned from speaking any language other than English while at school.

 

If you think they are banned from speaking other languages while at school, perhaps you can explain how they can learn an MTL in school without speaking it. Or even better, perhaps you could provide a link to that report saying other languages are banned at school.

Edited August 24, 20232 yr by GroveHillWanderer

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Suite or sweet.. hard to tell.

Another fiasco begins.

Another step in the pre-arranged game unfolds.

 

Coming soon 'detention at home' because he's so sick.

13 hours ago, khaowong1 said:

Exactly.  This was planned well in advance,  and I heard somewhere, that he owns this hospital.  Anyone?  

He's in the Police General Hospital.

1 hour ago, fondue zoo said:

 

And a former police officer to boot...    see there's hope for everyone, a true rags to riches story, pulled himself up by his own bootstraps he did.

 

We will soon see Thaksin getting his police rank back again. He retired as a captain but promoted himself to Lt. Col. when he was PM. He will probably emerge as a major general soon.

1 hour ago, Artisi said:

And Toadie of Toad Hall will be salivating at the thought of getting his grubby little hands on it - - - another watch from a dead friend. 

I am sure the Patek Philippe Watch was brought for Pravit as a conciliatory gesture but obviously wasn't enough, or maybe Pravit already had that model, as he didn't even show up to vote for Srettha and most of the senators that voted for him were Prayut's appointees not Pravit's.

 

BTW the way I didn't see anything about Thaksin being brought to Thai customs to pay tax on the watch or other expensive items.

Edited August 24, 20232 yr by Dogmatix

I suspect he will be moved to his own hospital in Bangkok (Bumrungrad International Hospital) soon, as was probably the original plan ?

1 minute ago, cracker1 said:

I suspect he will be moved to his own hospital in Bangkok (Bumrungrad International Hospital) soon, as was probably the original plan ?

Rumours on Thai sites are that he was already moved to a private Hospital because the AC in his room was not working.

 

Next: he'll need 24/7 care that can only be provided at home... 

On 8/23/2023 at 8:54 AM, webfact said:

Former Thai Prime Minister, from 2001 to 2006, Thaksin Shinawatra, was seen at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok on Tuesday morning after his arrest on the tarmac when his private jet touched down. He was greeted by well-wishers who came out to cheer him on. Later in the morning, after being whisked off to appear before the Supreme Court in the Sanam Luang area of the capital, he was taken to Bangkok Remand Prison, where he was admitted to a medical ward before lunchtime as he began an eight-year prison sentence for abuse of power, fraud and corruption.

Tuesday marked the end of an era in Thailand as the former premier ended his extended period in exile since 2008 and even before that, from 2006 on the same day as his political party saw its nominee elected as Thailand’s 30th Prime Minister.

 

The kingdom’s most famous inmate, now housed at Bangkok Remand Prison, ended the day in a private room at a medical ward under 24-hour medical care as he began an eight-year prison sentence which many expect will be a lot shorter than that but, as the last 100 days since the May 14th General Election show, nothing is ever as predictable in Thailand as it is in other countries.

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was airlifted from prison early on Wednesday morning to Police General Hospital in Bangkok after becoming ill just 12 hours after being admitted to the medical wing of Bangkok’s Remand Prison on Tuesday.

 

Mr Thaksin was sent to prison on Tuesday morning by order of the Supreme Court to serve 8 years in respect of three finalised convictions and was later admitted to Bangkok Remand Prison where on Tuesday night he was reported to be staying in a monitored room at the medical wing of the establishment without air conditioning but with limited online connectivity to keep in touch with family and friends.

 

by James Morris and Son Nguyen

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/08/23/thaksin-flies-in-is-whisked-away-to-prison/

 

-- Thai Examiner 2023-08-23

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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Ten days in hospital and then sent home for recovery. All going according to plan ????????

53 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

He's in the Police General Hospital.

Well there was a time when he 'owned' the RTP.

He controlled the RTP and they were frightned of him.

On 8/23/2023 at 11:21 AM, steven100 said:

all going according to plan I suppose.  next is home detention,   then pardon,   and it's back to square one again 

could well be some sort deal coming up !!!

doesn't look too god damn sick to me   !    but then again'  i'm not a doctor

10 hours ago, MangoKorat said:

I'm sure they speak a variety of languages - that doesn't take away from the fact that Singapore has decided that its de facto official language is English. What's your point?

My point is the same as it has been since the first time I posted on this topic - that children in Singapore are not banned from speaking other languages in school, as you claimed.

28 minutes ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

My point is the same as it has been since the first time I posted on this topic - that children in Singapore are not banned from speaking other languages in school, as you claimed.

It is not what I claimed, it was what I read in a news article a couple of years back. I don't make things up.

 

Obviously I can't find that article now but I seem to remember the Singaporean Government made the move as part of their longer term efforts to eradicate Singlish - a hybrid local language based on English with elements of the other 3 main 'mother tongues' mixed in and lacking in grammar. 

 

Its not an unheard of concept - back in around 2006 - 2007, my then girlfriend was studying for a degree in Hospitality and Tourism in Bangkok.  The entire course was taught in English and students were fined or sent home if they were heard speaking Thai.

 

Consequently she spoke the best English I've heard from a Thai - so did all of her Uni friends that I met.

Edited August 24, 20232 yr by MangoKorat

4 minutes ago, MangoKorat said:

It is not what I claimed, it was what I read in a news article a couple of years back. I don't make things up.

 

Obviously I can't find that article now but I seem to remember the Singaporean Government made the move as part of their longer term efforts to eradicate Singlish - a hybrid local language based on English with elements of the other 3 main 'mother tongues' mixed in and lacking in grammar. 

Of course this is vital news regarding Thaksin's return and the associated nonsense going on regarding it. 

Suckered in again. 

Per usual.

20 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

Interesting, Are you aware the global average IQ is 82 ?

2023 average is 100. https://govisafree.com  With a spread of 90-109 for 50% of population. 

Average IQ for Thailand according to https://worldpopulationreview.co  is about 89, nation ranks 64 compare to Myanmar ranks 52 with 91 IQ. Highest average IQ score in the world is Japan, followed by Taiwan and Singapore vs US ranks 29 with average IQ of about 97.