Another example of discriminatory practice against farangs

[oldlakey]

Cutting edge technology

Intellectual property needs protecting

Oh hang on a tad

[Naroge]

There are military areas in Europe with the same rules. Open to nationals of the country but closed to foreigners.

[Agent Sumo]

For a certain type of expat, everything - absolutely everything - is an affront to the farang's sense of entitlement

Boo hoo can't buy land, boo hoo, have to satisfy immigration rules, boo hoo motorbike taxi overcharged me by 10 baht

They demand equal treatment in a country they know doesn't provide it and come on here huffing an puffing like idiots the very second they discover another example of that fact

"Oh imagine if the outcry in Britain/America/Europe blah-blah if blah-blah", they cry as if mortally wounded

This isn't Britain, America or Europe. It's Thailand. Their country, their rules.

If these silly little things infuriate you so and make your continued presence in the country untenable, you know what to do.

Go where you have all the freedoms and equality you could possibly desire

[jgarbo]

Which constitution would that be?

The next one?

[Liquorice]

About 5 years back I was with a Navy Captain to go aboard a ship for a tour, l was told to bugger off....

So it is not a new thing...

You should have shown them your TV post count, then you could have dined with the Admiral!!

Wouldn't have made any difference.

It was Captain Birdseye.........he's a bit of a Haddock.

[weegee]

About 5 years back I was with a Navy Captain to go aboard a ship for a tour, l was told to bugger off....

So it is not a new thing...

SEE..I told you not to sing in public....

[billd766]

Xenophobic and ignorant.

Not less, not more.

All foreigners potential spys/saboteurs.

All Thai people good heart.

Guess what would happen when there is such a public show in your country and foreigners rejected.

A military ship to visit in Germany, no Brits, no Yanks, no Aussies allowed for security reasons.

An international outcry would be the result.

I suppose that you could always try going on a tour of a Russian/Chinese/N Korean ship moored alongside and see how far you get.

There would be no international outcry as each country has its own policies for allowing visitors.

[HampiK]

In a similar vein I spoke to a farang who had driven his family from up country to attend his brother in laws ashes scattering ceremony, from a boat setting out from the Navy Sattahip base.He was not allowed in. If the navy was that worried about a farang being a spy why not have a guard accompany him on and off the base? Show a bit of compassion and common sense.

I am confused I was at the base in Sattahip to attend the ash ceremony.. It was about 2-3 years ago...

We also were scared, that I am maybe was not allowed because of Navi base... but there were no problems at all.... Also on the ship there seems never to be a problem at all...

So maybe I was lucky.... But If I could not go inside.. yes would be angry on the one side.. but also would understand that this can happen....

Edited June 6, 2016 by HampiK

[Gandtee]

In a similar vein I spoke to a farang who had driven his family from up country to attend his brother in laws ashes scattering ceremony, from a boat setting out from the Navy Sattahip base.He was not allowed in. If the navy was that worried about a farang being a spy why not have a guard accompany him on and off the base? Show a bit of compassion and common sense.

I am confused I was at the base in Sattahip to attend the ash ceremony.. It was about 2-3 years ago...

We also were scared, that I am maybe was not allowed because of Navi base... but there were no problems at all.... Also on the ship there seems never to be a problem at all...

So maybe I was lucky.... But If I could not go inside.. yes would be angry on the one side.. but also would understand that this can happen....

I have also been on the Carrier, and an ashes scattering ceremony but escorted by a family member of high navy rank. But was refused entry to the Carrier on Children's Day and waited on the quay with a beer. My Thai wife applied for permission for me for entry onto the navy base to watch my Grandson sailing there. It was granted at that time.

[gamini]

I was invited to a ship in Pearl Harbour but was refused entry because I was a foreigner. So it is no big deal being refused in Thailand, probably same in many countries.

As for Thailand losing foreign residents, you are not correct. More and more are coming to live here,

immigration offices in Chiangmai and Hua Hin are jam packed with foreigners wanting to retire here

[gandalf12]

It is the same everywhere. When I worked on military projects no one from another country was allowed near the work just as we were not allowed near the work of the Americans. This is not unique to Thailand

[Saan]

Your reaction is a bit over the top, though I hesitate to say you are incorrect.

In all likelihood, though, they probably just don't want non-Thais observing and photographing the derelict state of the carrier. They also might not want Thai-speaking foreigners mingling with Thais as they go through their spiel about the glories of the ship and the Thai Navy in general.

You could possibly be right.

An Australian navy officer told me that when his ship made a courtesy visit to Indonesia many years ago the Indonesian navy had two warships given to them by the Russians. The Indonesians had long ago blown the boilers up yet to show their preparedness for sea they would burn oily rags so smoke appeared out of the funnels.

They eventually gave up the pretence and towed both ships out to sea and scuttled them.

[Kabula]

Yesterday 5th June I was invited by a thai friend to visit HTMS Chakri Naruebet. An aircraft carrier vessel which is moored at the dock within The Thai navy museum in Sattahip. A drive of about 1 hour or so from Pattaya.

The vessel so i believed was open to all the public.

Necessary to provide proof of ID before getting onto the vessel. So as a foreigner i brought along my passport.

On arriving at the museum we went to where the vessel was docked. An official was at the boarding point screening people and I could see that there many people, including Thai families already on the vessel.

However when the official saw me it was made clear to my Thai friend that as I was non Thai I was not allowed onto the vessel as it was still in active service and we were turned away.

What a waste of my time!

This is just another example of the continuing and growing discrimination against foreigners in Thailand; be it for new unfair immigration requirements, land ownership, price discrimination and so on, etc etc.

There will surely come a time if not here already that most of us who contribute a lot financially to the Thai economy and to the well being of the people here will say enough is enough and look elsewhere to live.

Am I correct or not?

Most governments that protect their sovereignty will bar foreignors from boarding their active duty war ship.

You could be a spy.

Your post is negative and creates polorization which leads to discrimination and possible violence.

[Saan]

I'm retired U.S. Navy as my screen name suggests. As a junior officer, I would stand watch as Officer of the Deck in port. When we opened the ship to the public, there were many times when the rules were U.S. only. The theory being that there was some sort of loyalty among Americans that they were less likely to conduct sabotage or espionage about the ship. It was all a matter of security, for which each state has the right. So Thailand is acting as they see fit to protect state interests. Try not to lose any sleep over it. It is not discriminatory in that many other nations act in exactly the same way.

I went aboard the Mighty Mo in Sydney and was shown above and below decks and I was an Australian journalist ready to reveal all her secrets.

She is a magnificent ship.

I furthered my espionage efforts by pumping a couple of her officers when I took them out on the harbour in a real boat with a stick and rags. I will also confess I plied them with alcohol to loosen their tongues.

[zombie nights]

OP: Your experience is not isolated. Many Thais especially officialdom will use any excuse to try to show "power" over foreign people. The secret is not to get into situations where Thais can do that.

[brewsterbudgen]

There are military areas in Europe with the same rules. Open to nationals of the country but closed to foreigners.

Come on now, don't spoil people's Thai-bashing fun!

[Rob13]

There are areas in the US closed to Americans.

[sanukjim]

Which constitution would that be?

The one that they change at every ghange of government to reflect the whims of the incoming PM and to excuse his stealing of the governments money while in office. That one.

[peterb17]

This thread is really quite refreshing.

The OP probably expected hundreds of posts saying how us poor foreigners are so badly treated - instead has been shot down in flames.

It's a naval base- not Disney Land

Well done TV

[sanukjim]

May be they were afraid that you might find out that the only pilots taking off or landing on this usless ship were two English and one American .They were flying dual s so that a Thai Admiral and General could count that as being qualified as a carrier landing pilot.

[nongsangcity]

The rules are no secret; foreigners are not allowed on Thai military facilities.

Welcome to Thailand.

you can play golf on wings course in Udon Thani....which is a base for Thai Airforce and its attached to the Udon Thani Airport....You just need to hand your driving license in to the Guards in the front office.....then back into your car and drive through the base...within meters of the Thai Force Planes then pass the end of the Udon Airport Run way..........then after going through the whole of the base you go and play golf.........if you were a bad boy you could do a lot of damage to the Airforce or Civilian aircraft..........only in Thailand.......only restriction is YOU CANNOT TAKE PHOTOS.,........amazing

[ggt]

Way ahead of you R123...left Thailand a couple of years back...best decision I could have made...life is good again...

[connda]

If it is a commissioned vessel, they have every right in the world to turn you away as a foreigner. Western navies would probably do the same, speaking as ex-military. In this case, it's legitimate 'national security' as opposed to 'you farang, you pay more'. In your case, they were invoking 'national security'. Don't be offended. Come to Northern Thailand and visit Doi Inthanon or Wat Chedi Luang, then feel offended.
.

[Sooo Upto Me]

The simplest of Google searches would have given you all the information you needed to visit the ship.

"HTMS Chakri Naruebet (เรือรบหลวงจักรีนฤเบศร) is an offshore Patrol Helicopter Carrier anchored at the Chuk Samet Deep Seaport. The king named the ship Chakri Naruebet meaning "Sovereign of the Chakri Dynasty". It was constructed in Spain in 1994. It is an 11-storey ship measuring 182 m in length and 30.5 m in width. It is equipped with modern weapons, as well as long-range surveillance radar. The important missions during wartime are the flagship of the fleet, controlling and commanding the fleet in the sea, as well as the aircraft carrier and air defence mission. It is open daily from 08:00-16:00. It is closed only on Wednesdays from 08:00-12:00. Admission free. International visitors seeking admission must write a letter to the Commander of the Royal Thai Fleet, Sattahip, Chonburi, 20180. For more information, Tel. +66 38 438 547-62 ext. HTMS Chakri Naruebet."

I think it really is a case of inadequate prior planning and preparation.

How the hell would he know that he would have to write a poxy letter to the commander of the Royal Thai Fleet to gain admission?

[jippytum]

Your reaction is a bit over the top, though I hesitate to say you are incorrect.

In all likelihood, though, they probably just don't want non-Thais observing and photographing the derelict state of the carrier. They also might not want Thai-speaking foreigners mingling with Thais as they go through their spiel about the glories of the ship and the Thai Navy in general.

Very true .However the ban has always been in place since the purchase of the carrier.

[SoiBiker]

The simplest of Google searches would have given you all the information you needed to visit the ship.

"HTMS Chakri Naruebet (เรือรบหลวงจักรีนฤเบศร) is an offshore Patrol Helicopter Carrier anchored at the Chuk Samet Deep Seaport. The king named the ship Chakri Naruebet meaning "Sovereign of the Chakri Dynasty". It was constructed in Spain in 1994. It is an 11-storey ship measuring 182 m in length and 30.5 m in width. It is equipped with modern weapons, as well as long-range surveillance radar. The important missions during wartime are the flagship of the fleet, controlling and commanding the fleet in the sea, as well as the aircraft carrier and air defence mission. It is open daily from 08:00-16:00. It is closed only on Wednesdays from 08:00-12:00. Admission free. International visitors seeking admission must write a letter to the Commander of the Royal Thai Fleet, Sattahip, Chonburi, 20180. For more information, Tel. +66 38 438 547-62 ext. HTMS Chakri Naruebet."

I think it really is a case of inadequate prior planning and preparation.

How the hell would he know that he would have to write a poxy letter to the commander of the Royal Thai Fleet to gain admission?

By using Google, as the post you quote suggests.

[Khon Kaen Dave]

I once tried to turn my car around on the drive of an Army base in Sattahip. I was still outside.I didnt need to enter the base as the drive outside was wide enough to spin around in.The girl i was with explained that all we wanted to do was turn.All of a sudden there was 6 soldiers outside with rifles.The one who was in charge said that no foreigner was allowed anywhere near a military base.probably worried in case i saw how weak they were.

[billd766]

The simplest of Google searches would have given you all the information you needed to visit the ship.

"HTMS Chakri Naruebet (เรือรบหลวงจักรีนฤเบศร) is an offshore Patrol Helicopter Carrier anchored at the Chuk Samet Deep Seaport. The king named the ship Chakri Naruebet meaning "Sovereign of the Chakri Dynasty". It was constructed in Spain in 1994. It is an 11-storey ship measuring 182 m in length and 30.5 m in width. It is equipped with modern weapons, as well as long-range surveillance radar. The important missions during wartime are the flagship of the fleet, controlling and commanding the fleet in the sea, as well as the aircraft carrier and air defence mission. It is open daily from 08:00-16:00. It is closed only on Wednesdays from 08:00-12:00. Admission free. International visitors seeking admission must write a letter to the Commander of the Royal Thai Fleet, Sattahip, Chonburi, 20180. For more information, Tel. +66 38 438 547-62 ext. HTMS Chakri Naruebet."

I think it really is a case of inadequate prior planning and preparation.

How the hell would he know that he would have to write a poxy letter to the commander of the Royal Thai Fleet to gain admission?

How about by contacting the Naval base several weeks before and finding out.

From 1969 to 1971 I was stationed at RAF Tengah in Singapore.

It is now the SAF base and I know that if I want to visit it I can do so. However I have to ask permission from the SAF and I can get a tour and possibly to the places I used to live and work and I have to do so 2 or 3 weeks in advance and I will not be permitted unrestricted access with a camera.

In English that is called forward planning and common sense.

[thailand49]

A few years ago when he was still able to speak on his annual Birthday HM, he spoke to his people regarding this type of discrimination. The current PM, just last year spoke of this same thing and another MP, said " The more patriot the more stupid they are ".

Don't worry in the end they are only hurting themselves!

Edited June 6, 2016 by thailand49

[Roomuck]

I went to the beach down there for a queens birthday a few years back.

In a pick up with three Thais. The soldier at the entrance saw me, and said that I couldn't enter. I told the Thais no problem, I would just get a taxi back, I didn't want to ruin their day.

But one of the Thais knew a back way to the beach over the hills on a dirt track. So we got there and it was full of Thais on the beach, drinking , eating and swimming. Plus there were soldiers running around doing drills.

I was the only farang there. I spend the whole day expecting the soldiers would arrest me. But nothing happened and all the Thais were friendly.

This is Thailand, the Thais make the rules. If you don't like it, then leave.