Anyone done a Retirement Visa (O or OA) Online recently?

[webfact]

PM asks all entertainment venue entrepreneurs to comply with regulations

 

BANGKOK, 10 May 2017 (NNT) - The Prime Minister has instructed all agencies to ensure that that entertainment venues close on time and asked entertainment venue entrepreneurs to comply with the government's regulations. 

Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha reiterated that the opening and closing hours of entertainment venues must comply with the time frame as stated by law. He has instructed the relevant authorities to ensure entertainment venues comply with the law. 

He has also asked entertainment venue operators not to open their entertainment venue beyond the restricted time, or their license will be confiscated and their entertainment venue will be closed down. 

The Prime Minister added that it is necessary to create social values, with regards to subsequent social problems such as prostitution.

 

-- nnt 2017-05-10

[wgdanson]

Closing 'on time' will not 'solve' the prostitution matter, they will leave with the customer a bit earlier, more fun for the customer !

[darksidedog]

Given that prostitution is actually illegal, the time of day brothels open and close their doors seems largely irrelevant.

If the authorities are to ensure all entertainment venues comply with the law can we expect the sex industry to be closed down?

[AGareth2]

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

social problems such as prostitution.

the oldest profession

[mikebell]

'The Prime Minister has instructed all agencies ' - does that include the police/army who are paid good money to allow late opening?

[ezzra]

By closing early, what he's doing is curtailing the salaries, tips and other benefits

Thai workers are getting for working late, and thus sending many to supplement

their salaries in second jobs, and that of course, the government will start

a handout programs for the new poor.....

[williamgeorgeallen]

think he should be talking to the cops to enforce the law. this does not work of course as the cops are involved with many bars and give them protection to open outside legal operating hours.

[jerojero]

Necessary to create social values? B's. Yes, forced closing times on entertainment venues will indeed affect prostitution. Huh?

[Bastos60]

What's next, banning online sites and apps that help these girls find customers without any entertainment venues? Social values went out the door when everything became available 
through the internet. 
Thailand should work through their education if it is to improve the social values of their people. If they don't learn about it at a young age they will not value it growing up.
 

[ChrisY1]

Staying open later, is all about payment.....

[Mickmouse1]

He has instructed the relevant authorities to ensure entertainment venues comply with the law. 

What if they start 5am till mid night??

[Bastos60]

3 minutes ago, Mickmouse1 said:

He has instructed the relevant authorities to ensure entertainment venues comply with the law. 

What if they start 5am till mid night??

 

They actually don't have to stop, they just have to close the doors and call it a private party. No regulations against that.

[Snig27]

As my cab driver in Singapore said, "You have an idiot for a prime minister". Hard to argue with that.

[natway09]

I just cannot understand the mentality of a man who has never frequented the night spots for making silly comments that force legal businesses that pay tax, buy licences, provide proper toilets, allowing police to know exactly where everybody is in a controlled environment etc to close at 2am when out on the streets after this time pushcarts & portable bars sell bottles of booze, beer allowing patrons to squat on the streets & drink until the sun comes up shitting & pissing every where with no chance of control.

Get your house in order before attacking the legal controlled outlets My Prayut

[Catkiwi]

Whats all this talk of brothels and prostitution? That is all illegal so Mr. P must be talking about cinemas and ten pin bowling venus, surely....

[yellowboat]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

The Prime Minister added that it is necessary to create social values, with regards to subsequent social problems such as prostitution.

Prostitution builds a nation or at worst is a victim less crime.  There are many other things he could be thinking about rather than making Bangkok dull

[brewsterbudgen]

How can it be legal to sell sex in one location and not in another?
 
So sex is OK if regulated- how does that work if prostitution is illegal?

Prostitution is not illegal, it is regulated. Aspects are illegal, but if carried out as defined in the legislation it's legal. The Act even refers to the requirement for massage girls and dancers to wear numbers!

[Lovethailandelite]

12 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Prostitution is not illegal, it is regulated. Aspects are illegal, but if carried out as defined in the legislation it's legal. The Act even refers to the requirement for massage girls and dancers to wear numbers!

Prostitution is illegal! Not only illegal but written in immigration police orders that you can be denied entry under suspicion of entering the country to be involved in Prostitution.

(1) Having no genuine valid passport or document used in lieu of passport; or having a genuine valid passport or document used in lieu of passport without valid visa issuance by the Royal Thai Embassies, the Royal Thai Consulates-General or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with exception of those who meet visa exemption requirements. The terms and conditions of visa issuance and visa exemption are prescribed by the Ministerial Regulations. 
(2) Having no appropriate means of living following entry into the Kingdom. 
(3) Having entered the Kingdom to be employed as an unskilled or untrained labourer, or to work in violation of the Alien Work Permit Law. 
(4) Being mentally unstable or having any of the diseases stated in the Ministerial Regulations. 
(5) Having not yet been vaccinated against smallpox; or inoculated, or undergone any other medical treatment for protection against disease; and having refused to have such vaccinations administered by the Immigration Doctor. 
(6) Having been imprisoned by judgment of the Thai Court; or by lawful injunction or judgment of the Court of a foreign country, except for when the penalty is for a petty offence, or negligence, or is provided for as an exception by the Ministerial Regulations. 
(7) Having behaviour which could cause possible danger to the public; or having the likelihood of being a nuisance or constituting any violence to the peace, safety and security of the public or to the security of the nation; or being under warrant of arrest by competent officials of foreign governments. 
(8) Reason to believe that entry into Kingdom is for the purpose of being involved in prostitution, the trafficking of women or children, drug smuggling, or other types of smuggling which are against public morality. 
(9) Having no money or bond as prescribed by the Minister under Section 14 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979). 
(10) Being a person prohibited by the Minister under Section 16 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979). 
(11) Being deported by either the Government of Thailand or that of other foreign countries; or having been revoked the right of stay in the Kingdom or in foreign countries; or having been expelled from the Kingdom by competent officials at the expense of the Government of Thailand unless exemption is provided by the Minister on an individual basis.

[sirmud63]

[rkidlad]

This whole sanctimonious and 'holier than thou' attitude is so tiresome. It's 2017! social media and camera phones, etc. You can't BS anymore. 

 

Prostitution exists in every country and culture. It's the oldest profession and it isn't going anywhere. Look at Western Australia for example. Making prostitution legal was a completely win-win situation. It's safer for worker and customer. Far fewer cases of AIDS and STD's. Confined to certain areas for people who think it's unsightly. Taxed so the money can be used for better education leading to better opportunities. 

 

I live in what I think is a nicer area of Bangkok. The people feel more normal. There are many 'karaoke bars' and hand shandy shops. All allowed to run because the police allow it. And this is really what it's all about. Can't have the very people who are supposed to uphold the law losing money from breaking the law. 

[manarak]

15 minutes ago, Lovethailandelite said:

Prostitution is illegal! Not only illegal but written in immigration police orders that you can be denied entry under suspicion of entering the country to be involved in Prostitution.

(1) Having no genuine valid passport or document used in lieu of passport; or having a genuine valid passport or document used in lieu of passport without valid visa issuance by the Royal Thai Embassies, the Royal Thai Consulates-General or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with exception of those who meet visa exemption requirements. The terms and conditions of visa issuance and visa exemption are prescribed by the Ministerial Regulations. 
(2) Having no appropriate means of living following entry into the Kingdom. 
(3) Having entered the Kingdom to be employed as an unskilled or untrained labourer, or to work in violation of the Alien Work Permit Law. 
(4) Being mentally unstable or having any of the diseases stated in the Ministerial Regulations. 
(5) Having not yet been vaccinated against smallpox; or inoculated, or undergone any other medical treatment for protection against disease; and having refused to have such vaccinations administered by the Immigration Doctor. 
(6) Having been imprisoned by judgment of the Thai Court; or by lawful injunction or judgment of the Court of a foreign country, except for when the penalty is for a petty offence, or negligence, or is provided for as an exception by the Ministerial Regulations. 
(7) Having behaviour which could cause possible danger to the public; or having the likelihood of being a nuisance or constituting any violence to the peace, safety and security of the public or to the security of the nation; or being under warrant of arrest by competent officials of foreign governments. 
(8) Reason to believe that entry into Kingdom is for the purpose of being involved in prostitution, the trafficking of women or children, drug smuggling, or other types of smuggling which are against public morality. 
(9) Having no money or bond as prescribed by the Minister under Section 14 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979). 
(10) Being a person prohibited by the Minister under Section 16 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979). 
(11) Being deported by either the Government of Thailand or that of other foreign countries; or having been revoked the right of stay in the Kingdom or in foreign countries; or having been expelled from the Kingdom by competent officials at the expense of the Government of Thailand unless exemption is provided by the Minister on an individual basis.

prostitution is regulated.

and Thailand doesn't want foreign prostitutes.

there is no law in Thailand that prohibits selling one's body for money.

[brewsterbudgen]

Prostitution is illegal! Not only illegal but written in immigration police orders that you can be denied entry under suspicion of entering the country to be involved in Prostitution.

 

(1) Having no genuine valid passport or document used in lieu of passport; or having a genuine valid passport or document used in lieu of passport without valid visa issuance by the Royal Thai Embassies, the Royal Thai Consulates-General or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with exception of those who meet visa exemption requirements. The terms and conditions of visa issuance and visa exemption are prescribed by the Ministerial Regulations. 
(2) Having no appropriate means of living following entry into the Kingdom. 
(3) Having entered the Kingdom to be employed as an unskilled or untrained labourer, or to work in violation of the Alien Work Permit Law. 
(4) Being mentally unstable or having any of the diseases stated in the Ministerial Regulations. 
(5) Having not yet been vaccinated against smallpox; or inoculated, or undergone any other medical treatment for protection against disease; and having refused to have such vaccinations administered by the Immigration Doctor. 
(6) Having been imprisoned by judgment of the Thai Court; or by lawful injunction or judgment of the Court of a foreign country, except for when the penalty is for a petty offence, or negligence, or is provided for as an exception by the Ministerial Regulations. 
(7) Having behaviour which could cause possible danger to the public; or having the likelihood of being a nuisance or constituting any violence to the peace, safety and security of the public or to the security of the nation; or being under warrant of arrest by competent officials of foreign governments. 
(8) Reason to believe that entry into Kingdom is for the purpose of being involved in prostitution, the trafficking of women or children, drug smuggling, or other types of smuggling which are against public morality. 
(9) Having no money or bond as prescribed by the Minister under Section 14 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979). 
(10) Being a person prohibited by the Minister under Section 16 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979). 
(11) Being deported by either the Government of Thailand or that of other foreign countries; or having been revoked the right of stay in the Kingdom or in foreign countries; or having been expelled from the Kingdom by competent officials at the expense of the Government of Thailand unless exemption is provided by the Minister on an individual basis.

You need to read a little wider. There are specific laws regulating prostitution. Many aspects of it are illegal, but the act of meeting a girl or a boy in a bar, taking her to your room and paying her is not illegal, as long as she is 18+. If it were, a very high percentage of Thai men would be criminalised.

 

[Lovethailandelite]

Just now, manarak said:

prostitution is regulated.

and Thailand doesn't want foreign prostitutes.

there is no law in Thailand that prohibits selling one's body for money.

It's illegal. What part of illegal is difficult to understand? Its regulated because people are paying back hander's for it to be allowed to carry on. That doesn't make it Legal. Why do you think they continue to raid and close down short time rooms in Licenced venues? 

[Lovethailandelite]

Just now, brewsterbudgen said:

You need to read a little wider. There are specific laws regulating prostitution. Many aspects of it are legal, but the act of meeting a girl or a boy in a bar, taking her to your room and paying her is not illegal, as long as she is 18+. If it were, a very high percentage of Thai men would be criminalised.

I don't need to read anything. Prostitution is illegal but is allowed to carry with people paying off. That doesn't make it legal and you can spin around all you want.

[brewsterbudgen]

It's illegal. What part of illegal is difficult to understand? Its regulated because people are paying back hander's for it to be allowed to carry on. That doesn't make it Legal. Why do you think they continue to raid and close down short time rooms in Licenced venues? 

Because brothels are illegal. Take the girl to your room and you'll be fine.

[manarak]

1 hour ago, Lovethailandelite said:

It's illegal. What part of illegal is difficult to understand? Its regulated because people are paying back hander's for it to be allowed to carry on. That doesn't make it Legal. Why do you think they continue to raid and close down short time rooms in Licenced venues? 

I fully understand "illegal", yet at the risk of disappointing you, things don't become illegal just because you say so, an article of Law is required.

 

there is a law against venues selling sex on premises, but selling one's own body for money is not illegal in Thailand.

 

as you claim it is illegal - please give the legal reference, act of Law, article and paragraph.

you will have a difficult time with that.

[clockman]

It they made it legal. There would be no brown envelopes, for the Bib!

[Lovethailandelite]

19 minutes ago, manarak said:

I fully understand "illegal", yet at the risk of disappointing you, things don't become illegal just because you say so, an article of Law is required.

 

there is a law against venues selling sex on premises, but selling one's own body for money is not illegal in Thailand.

 

as you claim it is illegal - please give the legal reference, act of Law, article and paragraph.

you will have a difficult time with that.

1. Penal Code Amendment Act

“Any person, being over sixteen years of age, [sic] subsists on the earning of a prostitute, even if it is some part of her incomes [sic], shall be punished with imprisonment of seven to twenty years and fined of fourteen thousand to forty thousand Baht, or imprisonment for life.”7

 

2. Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act

 

Solicitation by a prostitute is prohibited under Section 5 of the Prostitution Act:

“Any person who, for the purpose of prostitution, solicits, induces, introduces herself or himself to, follows or importunes a person in a street, public place or in any other place in an open and shameless manner or causes nuisance to the public, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand Baht.”12
 

3. Entertainment Places Act

The Entertainment Places Act makes those who control the operations of certain kinds of entertainment establishments criminally liable if prostitution occurs on their premises.  The Entertainment Places Act also requires that any prostitute, upon completion of punishment for practicing prostitution, undergo rehabilitation for one year at a reform house.  However, this rehabilitation program has been criticized by Thai government officials for having “weak enforcement” and because “the occupational training consists merely of lessons on how to be a domestic servant.”15  

 

 

Edited May 10, 2017 by Lovethailandelite

[brewsterbudgen]

1. Penal Code Amendment Act

“Any person, being over sixteen years of age, [sic] subsists on the earning of a prostitute, even if it is some part of her incomes [sic], shall be punished with imprisonment of seven to twenty years and fined of fourteen thousand to forty thousand Baht, or imprisonment for life.”7

 

2. Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act

 

Solicitation by a prostitute is prohibited under Section 5 of the Prostitution Act:

“Any person who, for the purpose of prostitution, solicits, induces, introduces herself or himself to, follows or importunes a person in a street, public place or in any other place in an open and shameless manner or causes nuisance to the public, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand Baht.”12
 

3. Entertainment Places Act

The Entertainment Places Act makes those who control the operations of certain kinds of entertainment establishments criminally liable if prostitution occurs on their premises.  The Entertainment Places Act also requires that any prostitute, upon completion of punishment for practicing prostitution, undergo rehabilitation for one year at a reform house.  However, this rehabilitation program has been criticized by Thai government officials for having “weak enforcement” and because “the occupational training consists merely of lessons on how to be a domestic servant.”15  

 

 

Nowhere in what you've selectively quoted does it say that prostitution itself is illegal. As has already been pointed out to you, aspects of it are illegal, but paying for sex is not. Why do you think the system of "barfines" exists?

[Lupatria]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

social problems such as prostitution

Since when is prostitution a social problem here as long as every family in Isaan has a pick-up Truck, seriously sick buffaloes get surgery, money for school uniforms, bribes for the teachers and a rainproof ceiling on the shack?

Edited May 10, 2017 by Lupatria