Dsi To Crack Down On Illegal Foreign-Run Businesses

[Lite Beer]

DSI to crack down on illegal foreign-run businesses

The Nation on Sunday

Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tharit Pengdit said yesterday his office would crack down on foreigners using Thais as nominees to buy land and run businesses from which they are legally excluded, while his deputy Narat Sawettanan said 536 websites had been shut down since December 13 for allegedly having lese majeste content.

Tharit said many foreigners were using Thai nationals as nominees to run businesses prohibited for non-Thais under the Foreign Business Act 1999. The businesses include logging, newspapers and property development. He said the DSI was cracking down on foreign gangsters encroaching on forestland and running property projects as well as extorting others in Koh Samui, Pattaya City and other tourists cities, while human traffickers had brought Chinese prostitutes into Thailand. Claiming foreign gangsters aimed to launder money in Thailand-based businesses before transferring it offshore, Tharit said the DSI would be more proactive in going after them before Thailand entered the Asean Economic Community in 2015. He urged members of the public to alert the DSI to any suspicious activities.

-- The Nation 2012-01-01

[kartman]

Suspicious activities does he mean well run.

[AngelofDeath]

Bad foreigners! Illegal activities and extorting people? They should be sent to Bangkok Hilton for taking away the potential ability of Thai making money from these activities and providing unfair competition to Thai people. Meanwhile, some people working in Jatujak market continue to sell animals; selling of drugs at Sukhumwit and running the jetski tour for tourists. Hmmm....

[PattayaPhom]

Every year for the past 7 years at least, the same staement is made.

[sparebox2]

DSI to crack down on ALL illegal businesses. Why should there be an exception for foreign-run. Just before they are rich Farangs?

[Nisa]

Strange. I've noticed a number of news articles lately that seem to mix in completely off topic comments.

This article is about foreigners running business' that foreigners are not allowed to run (DSI to crack down on illegal foreign-run businesses) but then there is this comments

536 websites had been shut down since December 13 for allegedly having lese majeste content.

I can't comprehend being part of the story.

And the last paragraph starts out speaking about the law which bans foreigners from owning certain businesses but then goes into extorting and human trafficking as if these are considered foreign businesses let alone a business at all ... most people would consider these things criminal enterprises.

[cgphuket]

We don't need foreign gangsters in Thailand. We already have enough Thai gangsters; there voted in frequently.

[Heng]

An easy start would be all the folks selling on eBay. Easy to catch (read: tax 500 Baht a pop) too, just set up checkpoints outside of all the major post offices.

[Boss]

Another wish would be cracking down on Thai owned businesses not paying tax, vat or social security...... There is a huge market out there.

[BookMan]

I can't see much happening about it.

[TheGhostWithin]

I think, that in our home countries Thais should be given the same treatment as we receive in their country.

That means, for example, here in New Zealand, Thais cannot own land, only the house that it is built upon. You cannot own, operate or take part in farming or agricultural activities whatsoever.

Nor can it own more than 49% of a business, or work in non-skills shortage work classes, no matter what visa they have unless employed as a foreign specialist. When employed, they should be given salary which in many cases is enough for only self-sustenance.

It must be made more difficult for Thai nationals to open bank accounts, and when they do given non-interest bearing accounts so that maximum profit is made from them.

Most of all, our governments should be openly skeptical about Thai people, discriminating between themselves and "foreign criminals".

I really hate to rant like this, but openly discriminating against people trying to improve the country and gain a bit of a profit for a nice lifestyle in Thailand is not the answer. We don't send our money home to our countries in most cases, but Thais working in our countries do, 80% guaranteed! Consider this..

[terryp]

so we shall be seeing around 99% of all beer bars and Foreign food restaurants closed shall we..a load of borrocks as usual form these buffoons, the real criminals are in the Depts who are going to clamp down.....

[TheGhostWithin]

Every year for the past 7 years at least, the same staement is made.

I wonder if there is a reminder set on someones outlook at the DSI? ha ha. That, and the "reshuffling" of high ranking officers between the southern provinces, Phuket and Bangkok. Musical chairs, Thailand could really benefit from "cloud computing", if you understand the concept.

[stevehaigh]

'human traffickers had brought Chinese prostitutes into Thailand', wow, we don't have enough already!

[pointoffew]

Summarised: encroaching on forestland and extorting others is strictly reserved for Thai nationals.

Tharit "urged members of the public to alert the DSI to any suspicious activities." May I suggest that you open a hotline where anyone can anonymously report fraud and extortion, and I will be reporting until I drop.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

while human traffickers had brought Chinese prostitutes into Thailand.

So they're saying that this business above is reserved for Thais under the Foreign Business Act, and they don't want any non-Thais illegally competing??? Makes sense to me....

[jaapfries]

I think, that in our home countries Thais should be given the same treatment as we receive in their country.

That means, for example, here in New Zealand, Thais cannot own land, only the house that it is built upon. You cannot own, operate or take part in farming or agricultural activities whatsoever.

Nor can it own more than 49% of a business, or work in non-skills shortage work classes, no matter what visa they have unless employed as a foreign specialist. When employed, they should be given salary which in many cases is enough for only self-sustenance.

It must be made more difficult for Thai nationals to open bank accounts, and when they do given non-interest bearing accounts so that maximum profit is made from them.

Most of all, our governments should be openly skeptical about Thai people, discriminating between themselves and "foreign criminals".

I really hate to rant like this, but openly discriminating against people trying to improve the country and gain a bit of a profit for a nice lifestyle in Thailand is not the answer. We don't send our money home to our countries in most cases, but Thais working in our countries do, 80% guaranteed! Consider this..

TGW: Totally agree verbatim with what you wrote !

I have lived in in your beautiful NZ for 10 years (Hawkes-Bay & Wellington) and here in LOS for nearly 20: the difference in treatment is like 'day-and-night; that'show I know that what you wrote is totally true & correct.

Cheers, mate !

JaapFries

[ThaiKiwi]

I think, that in our home countries Thais should be given the same treatment as we receive in their country.

That means, for example, here in New Zealand, Thais cannot own land, only the house that it is built upon. You cannot own, operate or take part in farming or agricultural activities whatsoever.

Nor can it own more than 49% of a business, or work in non-skills shortage work classes, no matter what visa they have unless employed as a foreign specialist. When employed, they should be given salary which in many cases is enough for only self-sustenance.

It must be made more difficult for Thai nationals to open bank accounts, and when they do given non-interest bearing accounts so that maximum profit is made from them.

Most of all, our governments should be openly skeptical about Thai people, discriminating between themselves and "foreign criminals".

I really hate to rant like this, but openly discriminating against people trying to improve the country and gain a bit of a profit for a nice lifestyle in Thailand is not the answer. We don't send our money home to our countries in most cases, but Thais working in our countries do, 80% guaranteed! Consider this..

lex talionis "an eye for an eye"

In the civilized world we live in today, maybe we could find something a little more fitting than just vengeful retribution.

I wonder if we might think more in the lines of maintaining our own high standards despite the lower standards of any other nation.

[ableguy]

'human traffickers had brought Chinese prostitutes into Thailand', wow, we don't have enough already!

Sir we have no prostitutes in LOS as the sport is illegal, we need a crack down on posts like this

[Nisa]

I think, that in our home countries Thais should be given the same treatment as we receive in their country.

That means, for example, here in New Zealand, Thais cannot own land, only the house that it is built upon. You cannot own, operate or take part in farming or agricultural activities whatsoever.

Nor can it own more than 49% of a business, or work in non-skills shortage work classes, no matter what visa they have unless employed as a foreign specialist. When employed, they should be given salary which in many cases is enough for only self-sustenance.

It must be made more difficult for Thai nationals to open bank accounts, and when they do given non-interest bearing accounts so that maximum profit is made from them.

Most of all, our governments should be openly skeptical about Thai people, discriminating between themselves and "foreign criminals".

I really hate to rant like this, but openly discriminating against people trying to improve the country and gain a bit of a profit for a nice lifestyle in Thailand is not the answer. We don't send our money home to our countries in most cases, but Thais working in our countries do, 80% guaranteed! Consider this..

I wish the laws were different here too but truth is that most Thais cannot travel as easy, if at all, to most of our home countries as we can come to Thailand.

Thailand is far from alone in not allowing foreigners to buy land. This is common in many poorer countries as well as some rich ones such as Switzerland.

The basic principle of working in Thailand is that we cannot take jobs away from Thais. I wish this was different but it is fair and a law I'm sure many would love to have in the west. I'm sure the industries we are not allowed to own business has some sort of rational but beats me as to what they are.

If you want to work in the fields/farms all day for very cheap wages, as many Thais do when they get a work permit to go to many of our home countries, then I am guessing that may be available here too as Thailand has about 1/2 million foreign workers from even poorer countries that do sh@t work too.

I have no problem with a country that doesn't allow non-citizen individuals to come to that country and own land or start local businesses but do have a problem with a country that doesn't let somebody become a citizen if they would be an asset to the country.

[Suradit69]

It's sort of sad how many expats apparently sit glued to their computers waiting for the next news item to be posted on ThaiVisa so that they can generate all the pointless bitter comments to be applauded & cheered on by others stewing in their own bitterness.

Edited January 1, 2012 by Suradit69

[whybother]

It's sort of sad how many expats apparently sit glued to their computers waiting for the next news item to be posted on ThaiVisa so that they can generate all the pointless bitter comments to be applauded & cheered on by others stewing in their own bitterness.

You included?

[moe666]

When these stories about Thai authorities cracking down come out the responses are hysterical. What you have to remember is the sun doesn't revolve around westerners in Thailand. There are probably a lot more illigal business run by non-thai asians than westerners.

[rogerman]

Please tell me what the country will be like without Foreigners and their money?....We are but a minority of the thousands of illegal businesses that are being run

[pisico]

quote

"Thailand is far from alone in not allowing foreigners to buy land. This is common in many poorer countries as well as some rich ones such as Switzerland."

A false analogy. Reasons are totally different. Do your research before finding "feelings" to apologize for which there is only one word: xenophobia.

This has been declared publicly by high officials of yore. Farangs are not to be trusted.

The country's blind wisdom drilled into this country's citizens is always the same: "Thai good, Farang bad". Farang being subliminally understood as anybody non-Thai. IE: Cambodians, Hmong, Burmese, etc.

Why then the distinction of cracking down on illegal activities by foreigners? Does it presupposes that illegal activities by Thais are OK?

I remember not long ago the experience of a poster whose wife wanted to stop her mother from trying to sell their land and home so that it would benefit the family. The poster wrote that they decided to use a legal instrument: a property Usufruct. That way the Thai wife would give the Farang husband land and home, thus silencing her mother. With the draft of the document he and his wife went to the Amphur official to get it signed by both, stamped and legalized. After reading it the chief of the Amphur refused to stamp it. This official's answer was that "it was not good for the country". The wife argued: "but we bought the property with his money!" "Not good for the country", he insisted.

Xenophobia is like a funnel: the wide side for Thailand, the narrow end for the Farangs.

[bytebuster]

I really hate to rant like this, but openly discriminating against people trying to improve the country and gain a bit of a profit for a nice lifestyle in Thailand is not the answer. We don't send our money home to our countries in most cases, but Thais working in our countries do, 80% guaranteed! Consider this..

Although what you said is true, it's just a law. People have entered the country under condition of not opening business. If they changed their mind and started gaining a bit of profit, that's a criminal offense.

What they should do is applying legal business and then going on.

Another assumption that I consider wrong is symmetrical equality of laws. That's not the case in most countries. Say there are countries where certain offenses (robbery or insulting live trees) is punished with cutting an arm. If one does not agree with that - don't go to that country. As simple as that.

[kanderson]

Thais do have to becareful, look what's happened in Hawaii. Hawaiian people have lost their land in just a few generations.

[visions]

I think, that in our home countries Thais should be given the same treatment as we receive in their country.

That means, for example, here in New Zealand, Thais cannot own land, only the house that it is built upon. You cannot own, operate or take part in farming or agricultural activities whatsoever.

Nor can it own more than 49% of a business, or work in non-skills shortage work classes, no matter what visa they have unless employed as a foreign specialist. When employed, they should be given salary which in many cases is enough for only self-sustenance.

It must be made more difficult for Thai nationals to open bank accounts, and when they do given non-interest bearing accounts so that maximum profit is made from them.

Most of all, our governments should be openly skeptical about Thai people, discriminating between themselves and "foreign criminals".

I really hate to rant like this, but openly discriminating against people trying to improve the country and gain a bit of a profit for a nice lifestyle in Thailand is not the answer. We don't send our money home to our countries in most cases, but Thais working in our countries do, 80% guaranteed! Consider this..

I knew a Thai lady that arrived in NZ on a 30 day tourist visa, promptly got pregnant, and as was a Kiwi father was allowed to stay on, on an extended visa.

She needed support because of language etc so got her sister over to help...who also promptly got pregnant to a kiwi guy. Then because both girls needed support the Mother was brought over to look after the girls, and once babies born could babysit while the mothers went to work......which (working) never happened of course.....officially, so both girls and mother were on social benefits, working for under-counter cash, earning without paying tax. Then the mother was lonely without her husband, so he was brought over to make the family complete again....living all together in a govt provided house in blissful harmony...... paid for by the NZ tax payers. Good business minds??? beats the hell out of farming in Isaan which is where they came from.

Now compare that to the treatment a Farang gets in Thailand when his GF gets pregnant........ Not Thai bashing, just pointing out the inequality treatment dished out....... I admire the girls for initiative...... which lack of, is often derided in these columns.

[letitbe]

I 100% agree with law forbidding foreigners owning land and would welcome a huge crackdown and force selling although I cant see it happening. Its not right to compare with NZ UK or elsewhere where foreigners buying property and land are 99% super rich buying mansions or huge estates which are totally out of reach of local normal citizens. I believe their is a law that allows foreigners to own property provided its over 40 million baht and I believe 1 Rai or less and if they imposed such a restriction of Thais for example in UK or NZ I doubt weather it would affect any thais at all since ones buying will be spending millions of GBP or NZ $. At this time one of very good things in Thailand is that even poor locals can afford a home and most in country actually own a bit of land. If you are a Thai and earn 10-15,000 baht a month you can buy a perfectly reasonable house (outside of BKK centre or other city centres) for around 50,000 baht down and 3-4000 baht a month. Government housing while not perfect is available but limited for very poor people at around 1,200-1,500 baht a month for 2 rooms kitchen and bathroom and that to buy not rent. The last thing Thailand needs is hordes of forangs buying land and houses all over place depriving locals of their own homes as has happened in many tourist spots in the world. If you are married to a thai or have a thai child it is perfectly acceptable for your thai family to own a property provided its clear it is theirs and under no circumstances can you make any claim on it. In this respect the Thai law needs to be tightened considerably to totally forbid any land or property in a Thai wifes name ever ever being considered at all part of husbands in case of divorce or separation. I am disgusted so many forang sign the paper at land office clearly stating it is his wifes money and he has no claim on it only for him to claim it in court when a divorce happens. I would 100% support a new watertight law totally stopping any court awarding any part of property to a forang in a divorce settlement. If after 16+ years now of marriage to a Thai wife we ever split I would never ever consider trying to claim part of her property or that of our Thai children's and yes she and our children do own property abroad our children have dual nationality but if USA or Uk decided to change law and prohibit thais owning property less than 40 million baht my wife would I assure you happily transfer ownership to me or one of our children. My wife and children have most of our Thai property in their names even condos which I can legally own as a forang and only condos in my name are those where forang quota is close to being used up or has been used up since then property in forang quota part is often more valuable and easier to sell.

[Steely Dan]

An easy start would be all the folks selling on eBay. Easy to catch (read: tax 500 Baht a pop) too, just set up checkpoints outside of all the major post offices.

I'm not saying they couldn't do this, however it would be overall counter productive for the Thai economy until of course the English skills of locals improved sufficiently for them to cut out the middle man. Ebay sellers may be operating outside the law, but I'll bet the people they buy from are perfectly happy with the arrangement.