Thai Hostages Still Missing a Year After Hamas Attack

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: Naewna

 

In a notable diplomatic gesture, German Ambassador to Thailand, Dr. Ernst Reichel, shared a photograph on social media platform X, capturing a meeting with Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

 

The post was accompanied by a message stating, "I felt honoured today to meet former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for a friendly and sincere conversation."

 

The meeting between Dr. Reichel and Thaksin comes in the backdrop of growing diplomatic ties between Germany and Thailand. Earlier this year, during a visit to Germany on March 13-14 by Thailand's then Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, fruitful discussions were held with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

 

The talks led to an agreement to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, anticipated to extend cooperation both regionally with ASEAN and within the Indo-Pacific sphere.

Key areas of collaboration discussed included enhancing cooperation in clean energy and green transition, bolstering the electric vehicle and battery industries, promoting sustainable agriculture, and advancing infrastructure development. The scope of partnership also involves technology and knowledge transfer, likely to improve exchanges of high-level visits between the two nations.

 

Additional conversations during the meeting focused on Thailand's ambitious "Landbridge" project, ongoing negotiations for a Thai-EU free trade agreement, and the possibility of Schengen visa exemptions for Thai passport holders.

 

Furthermore, both sides pledged to tackle regional and global challenges, such as climate change and global security, highlighting their commitment to mutual development and cooperation efforts, reported Thai Newsroom.

 

As part of these dialogues, Thailand affirmed its dedication to supporting German investment in the automotive sector, particularly in manufacturing internal combustion engine and hybrid vehicles, underscoring a shared vision for robust economic collaboration.

 

-- 2024-10-09

 

[freedomnow]

Tony looks like he has turned the corner = frail.

[Hunz Kittisak]

15 minutes ago, freedomnow said:

Tony looks like he has turned the corner = frail.

Making Thailand great is a demanding task. 
Thank you Khun Thaksin for your selfless sacrifices and contributions to the country 

[jippytum]

Is that a money box they are holding?? 

[Homburg]

2 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Tony looks like he has turned the corner = frail.

I expect that it's due to all that prison food. 🤣🤣🤣

[jippytum]

The Thaksin self publicity program is in full flow. 

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, Hunz Kittisak said:

Making Thailand great is a demanding task. 
Thank you Khun Thaksin for your selfless sacrifices and contributions to the country 

 That needs some amendment / correction... thank you for ensuring the harsh time spent in a luxury hospital suite (as opposed to a Thai jail) when there's ongoing doubt that you were even sick.

 

Then suddenly you were able to walk unaided and appear in dozens of photo ops alongside your PM daughter who should be shown to be actively singly performing the pm duties. 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The talks led to an agreement to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, anticipated to extend cooperation both regionally with ASEAN and within the Indo-Pacific sphere.

So Thaksin can openly talk about strategic relations between Thailand and Germany without a word from the government.

If Somchai from down the road wanted to pop-in for a chat he'd be shown the door or arrested for trespassing.

[soalbundy]

11 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

So Thaksin can openly talk about strategic relations between Thailand and Germany without a word from the government.

If Somchai from down the road wanted to pop-in for a chat he'd be shown the door or arrested for trespassing.

The German ambassador knows from which direction the wind is blowing, just like anybody else who lives here, talk to the organ grinder not the monkey.

[motdaeng]

what a disgrace ... the ambassador visits a convicted criminal who is also responsible for many deaths and faked an illness to escape prison time, and so on. absolutely disgusting ... i hope the germans in thailand do protest against the own german ambassador ... 

[Artisi]

5 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Tony looks like he has turned the corner = frail.

Very frail, photo taken by family member last week at his home. 

[fondue zoo]

 

I bet he enjoys doing stuff like this, knowing it sends certain opponents into apoplectic fits.

[fondue zoo]

Just another old dude with vantablack hair in Thailand..those slippers look comfy

 

Also, billions of dollars man, choose a motif, that room is a casserole of nonsense.

[Purdey]

I always found it amusing that he was found guilty by a bunch of coup makers who, naturally, had to invent a reason for their coup. Other governments realize this and treat him with some respect.

[LudwigK]

fruitful discussions were held with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

 

. ..WITH THE GERMAN BALD SMURF

🤪😝😝😛😝

 

 

[CallumWK]

5 hours ago, jippytum said:

Is that a money box they are holding?? 

 

Sssst, we call it lunchbox in Thailand

[jippytum]

2 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

Sssst, we call it lunchbox in Thailand

 Perhaps the same lunchbox Thaksin's lawyer tried to give to a judge with two million in readies hidden  among the 'sarnies. 

[Will B Good]

5 hours ago, jippytum said:

Is that a money box they are holding?? 

 

 

The ashes of democracy I think.

[PETERTHEEATER]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

The post was accompanied by a message stating, "I felt honoured today to meet former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for a friendly and sincere conversation."

 

(.....sounds of retching.....)

[BritScot]

I personally did not like Mr T when he was PM. But, I'm man enough to admit he was one of the best PM's Thailand has ever had for the country and the people. I fell in love with the Thailand under his Premier ship. Life was good for Thai's and expats. All stats were better, I think GDP was as high as 14%, school English proficiency was far higher than now. Never forget he was also ousted by an illegal military coup then charged in kangaroo courts. Corruption costs for businesses almost doubled and the start of persecution of expats started. We were left well alone and Mr T. new the need for Native English Teachers was needed. I just do not understand the venom expats on here show but self harm is a thing , i suppose. I do however understand the crowd of Thai's who suddenly appeared on here after the last coup singing the praise of the criminals who stole the counry and then procedded to drive into the ground arresting anyone who dared to speak out.

[john donson]

a gift to be given to his friend in germany via diplomatic immunity, do not pass customs ...

[Sigmund]

Hope with Mr T's family in rule, life will be made easier for foreigners subject to all the visa and immigration or tax hassles that are chasing away the foreign home owners from Thailand.

 

It would also be helpful to make national campaigns aiming to train people to stop cheating foreigners from anything to everything.

[CallumWK]

6 minutes ago, Sigmund said:

Hope with Mr T's family in rule, life will be made easier for foreigners subject to all the visa and immigration or tax hassles that are chasing away the foreign home owners from Thailand.

 

Sure, Thaksin is anti-foreigner, and responsible for some of the changes in immigration laws that made it more difficult for foreigners to stay permanently in Thailand