Do Thais Hate Americans?

[badman]

Several thousand protesters marched thru Pattaya to day.

Any local Americans attacked in Pattaya today????

[Ajarn]

Well, if I chose 'badman' for my nickname, I might be looking at the possibility that the hostility I feel might be a self-fulfilling prophecy...

[edh]

Where was this and why was there a march?

[Explorer]

DetailsOpen

Open letter re Thailand and US FTA

Letter from Civil Society on the Free Trade Agreement Negotiations

between Thailand and the United States of America

On 4-8 April, negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between

Thai and the US will take place in Pattaya. This is the 3rd round of

negotiations after 2 rounds in Hawaii. The US has submitted written

demands from Thailand on many issues such as copyright protection,

trademark protection and investment liberalization etc. In the third

round of negotiations, the US side is expected to submit demands on the

remaining issues. The most important is the issue of patents, in

extending the period of patent protection beyond 20 years, in

recognizing patents on all life forms, and in restricting the use of

compulsory licensing. This is purely a demand to protect the business

interests of US companies.

Civil society organizations, academics and individuals

whose names are listed in the attachment to this letter have closely

studied FTAs between the US and other countries, and call on the Thai

government to halt the third round of negotiations in order to conduct a

through review of the outstanding points and the negotiating position

towards the FTA.

1. The issue of extending or strengthening intellectual

property rights should be taken out of the FTA negotiations on the

grounds that this agreement is more restrictive than the TRIPs agreement

of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Also, granting monopoly rights on

life forms under patent systems is a barrier to free trade. This will

have a serious and widespread impact on the Thai people in terms of

access to medicine, will make plant and animal species more expensive,

will create the problem of a monopoly on the factors of agricultural

production through reliance on patents on life forms, and so on.

Moreover, Thailand already operates in accordance with the WTO agreement

on intellectual property. There is no just reason for further

intellectual property requirements under the FTA, especially with regard

to extending patent protection and data exclusivity.

2. A referendum should be held on whether Thailand

should sign the FTA with the US, since signing the FTA is an extremely

important matter for Thailand and the lives and livelihoods of Thai

people in all professions, both now and in the future. This referendum

would be in line with the speech of the Prime Minister on the occasion

of receiving the royal approval for his second administration.

3. A process should be established to ensure the broad

participation of the people. This should involve the gathering of

information, the expression of opinions, and decision-making. This will

be of great benefit to the Thai negotiating team, who will have

comprehensive information and recommendations for use in the

negotiations. This will increase their negotiating power. The Thai

preparations for earlier negotiations were the work of individuals from

a restricted circle.

It is our sincere hope that the suggestions in this

letter, which are made on a basis of protecting the common good, will be

taken for consideration and put into concrete action.

Yours sincerely,

--

Manon Anne Ress

Just thought some of us here might want to know whats going on

Explorer

[Boon Mee]

Do Thais hate Americans?

Ask 'em if they hate that 7th Fleet when they pull in to Sattahip and Pattaya disgourging thousands of horny, rich sailors and marines!

[badman]

Well, if I chose 'badman' for my nickname, I might be looking at the possibility that the hostility I feel might be a self-fulfilling prophecy... 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

my apologies ajarn, but when i signed up i missed the "L" in my user name.

[devildog683]

Do Thais hate Americans?

Ask 'em if they hate that 7th Fleet when they pull in to Sattahip and Pattaya disgourging thousands of horny, rich sailors and marines!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

they may hate us, but they sure love our dollars when we show up in pattaya!

[Darknight]

On 4-8 April, negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between

Thai and the US will take place in Pattaya.

Well there is sure gonna be some trade negotiated during the evening sessions

[badman]

Do Thais hate Americans?

Ask 'em if they hate that 7th Fleet when they pull in to Sattahip and Pattaya disgourging thousands of horny, rich sailors and marines!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yes thats quite obvious in this picture, the penis is attached to a rope and the young lady behind it was raising it up and down, its quite obvious that it signifies sex

[Darknight]

Several thousand protesters marched thru Pattaya to day.

??? looks more like a dozen

[badman]

im sorry darknight, but i feel sure that the adminstrators of this forum would not appreciate it if i posted all the protesters pics on this forum

so i just posted the ones that may have some interest to the farang posters here..

[aughie]

The Thais I know don't hate me. But then we have never discussed the Free Trade Agreement at it's third round of negotiations. Do these sort of things determine where one sits around the mat when playing cards?

[devildog683]

Do Thais hate Americans?

Ask 'em if they hate that 7th Fleet when they pull in to Sattahip and Pattaya disgourging thousands of horny, rich sailors and marines!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yes thats quite obvious in this picture, the penis is attached to a rope and the young lady behind it was raising it up and down, its quite obvious that it signifies sex

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

we americans are pretty "endowed", eh?

[johnh101]

The FTA, if enforced, would shut down half the shops and most of the stalls in Pattaya.

[britmaveric]

Thai(s) do not hate yanks or any other westerners. Perhaps envious, but thats far from hate.

[aughie]

knockoffs will exist no matter what is agreed upon. purveyors may endure more shakedowns by authorities and the expense is reflected in a price hike.

[PvtDick]

"Several thousand" people protested, but about 66 million of them didn't. Yawn.

[devildog683]

"Several thousand" people protested, but about 66 million of them didn't.  Yawn.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hear hear

[ray23]

DetailsOpen

Open letter re Thailand and US FTA

Letter from Civil Society on the Free Trade Agreement Negotiations

between Thailand and the United States of America

  On 4-8 April, negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between

Thai and the US will take place in Pattaya. This is the 3rd round of

negotiations after 2 rounds in Hawaii. The US has submitted written

demands from Thailand on many issues such as copyright protection,

trademark protection and investment liberalization etc. In the third

round of negotiations, the US side is expected to submit demands on the

remaining issues. The most important is the issue of patents, in

extending the period of patent protection beyond 20 years, in

recognizing patents on all life forms, and in restricting the use of

compulsory licensing. This is purely a demand to protect the business

interests of US companies.

                Civil society organizations, academics and individuals

whose names are listed in the attachment to this letter have closely

studied FTAs between the US and other countries, and call on the Thai

government to halt the third round of negotiations in order to conduct a

through review of the outstanding points and the negotiating position

towards the FTA.

                1. The issue of extending or strengthening intellectual

property rights should be taken out of the FTA negotiations on the

grounds that this agreement is more restrictive than the TRIPs agreement

of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Also, granting monopoly rights on

life forms under patent systems is a barrier to free trade. This will

have a serious and widespread impact on the Thai people in terms of

access to medicine, will make plant and animal species more expensive,

will create the problem of a monopoly on the factors of agricultural

production through reliance on patents on life forms, and so on.

Moreover, Thailand already operates in accordance with the WTO agreement

on intellectual property. There is no just reason for further

intellectual property requirements under the FTA, especially with regard

to extending patent protection and data exclusivity.

                2. A referendum should be held on whether Thailand

should sign the FTA with the US, since signing the FTA is an extremely

important matter for Thailand and the lives and livelihoods of Thai

people in all professions, both now and in the future. This referendum

would be in line with the speech of the Prime Minister on the occasion

of receiving the royal approval for his second administration.

                3. A process should be established to ensure the broad

participation of the people. This should involve the gathering of

information, the expression of opinions, and decision-making. This will

be of great benefit to the Thai negotiating team, who will have

comprehensive information and recommendations for use in the

negotiations. This will increase their negotiating power. The Thai

preparations for earlier negotiations were the work of individuals from

a restricted circle.

                It is our sincere hope that the suggestions in this

letter, which are made on a basis of protecting the common good, will be

taken for consideration and put into concrete action.

Yours sincerely,

--

Manon Anne Ress

Just thought some of us here might want to know whats going on

Explorer 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is this the same thing that was done with India recently?

I would suggest to you that if you want to know what Thias think of Americans, leave the adult Disneyland and go to Thailand, Pattaya is hardly typical of Thailand.

I'm not trying to be rude but that is like asking people in Las Vegas a question, to get a feel of America

[badman]

"Several thousand" people protested, but about 66 million of them didn't.  Yawn.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

thats quite true, but i feel sure the logistics on getting the whole thai population into pattaya would be quite difficult, also i assume that this is just the first demonstration, they handed out leaflets and stickers for everyone. Hitler started in the beer halls to audiences of several hundred, he then tried for european domination, from acorns great oak trees can grow

[chuchok]

"Several thousand" people protested, but about 66 million of them didn't.  Yawn.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

thats quite true, but i feel sure the logistics on getting the whole thai population into pattaya would be quite difficult, also i assume that this is just the first demonstration, they handed out leaflets and stickers for everyone. Hitler started in the beer halls to audiences of several hundred, he then tried for european domination, from acorns great oak trees can grow

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This type of thing goes on in every country that has a Free Trade Agreement etc...or has a WTO meeting etc etc.They are just a bunch of narrow minded pricks that don't realise that The Global Economy is here to stay.

[britmaveric]

Anti-American protest in Jomtien against the proposed Free Trade Agreement with Thailand.

Between 4th and 8th of this month a conference is taking place at the Royal Cliff Resort Hotel in Jomtien. The 5 day conference is discussing plans for an FTA (Free Trade Agreement) between America and Thailand and the benefits that will come from such an agreement. We understand that American Citizens who wish to conduct business in Thailand will receive special work permits and business visas and they will be allowed to own the majority share of a company. Previously, foreigners were only allowed to own a maximum of 49% of a company. Tourist visas, business visas and retirement visas will all be more easily obtained by Americans should the Free Trade Agreement come into operation. As you can see by these pictures, the conference has prompted many Thai’s to protest at the FTA as they feel that Thailand is selling out to the Americans and eventually Thailand will loose its sovereignty to them. This protest of over 1,000 people begun on Jomtien Beach and concluded at the Royal Cliff with the intention of entering the conference in order for the protesters to voice their concerns. At the front of the parade were cardboard cutouts of President Bush dressed in a Superman Outfit and a cutout of Thaksin Shinawatra, the Prime Minister of Thailand depicted as Adolph Hitler. Such a protest has never been seen here in Pattaya and although it remained peaceful and no arrests were made there was a tense standoff between protesters and Officials including Pattaya’s Police Chief as the protesters demanded access to the conference. They were denied and complied with the Police request to turn back. Before the protest was over, the cutout of President Bush was set on fire signifying their anger towards the proposed FDA.

-Pattaya City News

[PvtDick]

Americans have ALWAYS been able to own 100% of their companies under the Treaty of Amity.

The protesters should also realize that Thai products will gain unprecedented access to the US market as a result of the FTA. All in all, I think Thailand has more to gain from it than the US.

[Oleg_Rus]

wonder, who paid for this protests? usually thais don't care much.

surely "greenbacks" are the sweetest candy in Pattaya, so this protests means only one thing - "you made us, do not abandon us now"

[thaiaan]

Do Thais hate Americans?

Ask 'em if they hate that 7th Fleet when they pull in to Sattahip and Pattaya disgourging thousands of horny, rich sailors and marines!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Disgorged is the right term all right.

Great advertisement for America to have its paid corporate mercenaries for the military-industrial complex paying for sex after the shame of the Iraq invasion and Abu Gharaib.

Thais hate Ugly Americans just like the whole world of 6.5 billion humans does.

[britmaveric]

Do Thais hate Americans?

Ask 'em if they hate that 7th Fleet when they pull in to Sattahip and Pattaya disgourging thousands of horny, rich sailors and marines!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Disgorged is the right term all right.

Great advertisement for America to have its paid corporate mercenaries for the military-industrial complex paying for sex after the shame of the Iraq invasion and Abu Gharaib.

Thais hate Ugly Americans just like the whole world of 6.5 billion humans does.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

:D

[TizMe]

My wife hates the FTA and her own PM. She believes that it is bad for Thailand's little people and will only benefit those that are already rich.

She certainly doesn't hate the yanks though.

[badman]

Tiz Me, well the easy answer is for you to give her loads of money so she is rich and then loves toxin and the fta and hates yanks

[sendbaht]

wow, my daughter goes to a yank school in CM, i better check on her.....

just texted her......., she is fine and she loves me.

[slimdog]

Quote:

"Americans have ALWAYS been able to own 100% of their companies under the Treaty of Amity"

The treaty will expire this year