cactus john

Well, so much for a royal pardon...

My BIL has not been released as of yet, was supposed to be released on the 12th of December, then it was moved to 25 December.

Now it seems as though not enough baht has changed hands as of yet.

Thanks cactus john. I know Pui's friend got her documents translated, just not sure if they paid a high price or went someplace else. Pui is afraid to ask how much they ended up paying.

Sorry I could not be more help.

Good gawd..that's expensive!

Give me a day or two and I can ask my friend. ( Dutchy w/ a Thai spouse )

Is she in Bangkok?

His response was...

"Ask if the fee in BKK is including legalization. If so it's OK (still expensive). We have some one here in Belgium who charges approx 1,400 baht per page. "

I know, not much help.

OK. I got a random question. Does anybody know any translation services from thai to dutch? Pui's friend is being charged 6000 baht a page. That is a little to high.

Good gawd..that's expensive!

Give me a day or two and I can ask my friend. ( Dutchy w/ a Thai spouse )

Is she in Bangkok?

Some dumbass getting hi #### kicked. Probably british.

" Probably british "

No doubt.

Another Lager Lout and his SAS training forgot to kick in.

26 years for stealing IDEAS? OMG. Normally, you would have to have a non-compete clause in an employment contract for this to be actionable at all, and EVEN THEN, it would be a civil case, not criminal.

How long did he actually serve?

He served 4 years.

I would like to go into a rant but knowing what happened this last week to the Thai-American who is now sitting in a Thai prison for 2 years, I will bite my tongue.

26 years for THEFT? That's insane! Did he steal the crown jewels?

He stole nothing.

It's a long story, but a perfect example of how Thai justice works.

Nutshell: He quit a job in which he was quite good at to start his own company. The owner of the company he quit was afraid of him getting her customers away because he was doing it better than her. She told him she would not let it happen and filed charges for theft that he stole her ideas.

The court filed 30 theft charges against him.

The former boss paid off the prosecutor & judge.

She, the former boss who started all this ####, is now dead.

Interesting... what were the charges?

Theft.

The consulate here in Chiang Mai is great. We went in last Thursday to file our son's CRBA, everyone was very nice, and helpful. I am even more amazed that on Tuesday I got an email saying his Passport & CRBA was ready to pick up.

Fantastic folks to deal with. The only downside is having to park across the street at the city offices.

Happy Birthday to HRH the King.

My brother in law who is serving a 26 year sentence in a Thai prison, was notified that he is receiving a royal pardon and should be released by December 12th.

What a wonderful Christmas and New Years present for my family.

( and it took 2 years of chatting up the right folk, & money passing through several different hands..)

I'm not exactly sure what she filled out. Maybe she signed up for a one way fishing trip to the Seychelles. I assumed it was a W-4. Thinking about it, it was probably an I-9. Seems like bum wages to you and me, but she has been making $0 since she got here.

I don't know. She seems happy doing it. I don't care either way really. I just think she'd like to have her own money. I respect that. Seems to stop her from talking to me when I'm watching SportsCenter, although I have to get my own beer. Trade off I guess.

She has a few really jealous Thai friends here. (I know Thai women never get jealous about anything) The one "friend" of hers here held this "job" over her head as some kind of weird game. I called the Dallas Puu Yai pissed off (her boss also.) It was all settled after that.

It's the same Thai sh$t, just a different country. You know the deal. Thais will always be Thais. You can put them on the moon, and it'll be the same thing.

Wish mine would get a job.. maybe it would keep her off Facebook & Ebay all day.

But then again, she probably wishes I'd quit watching NHL Network all day too..

I lived in CM for 2 years ( Sanpeesua ) and loved it. We moved down to the village after my wife's grandfather died and the fam needed someone to stay in and care for the house. I was somewhat reluctant at first because of how small this village is ( approx 300 population )

The first 6 months I was bored. Had a terrible time with the language ( CM is mostly Lanna Thai and where I'm at now it is Thai-Lao..) but managed to learn quite a bit..Lao that is..

After around 7 months I was beginning to discover that the village offers just as much as either CM or BKK, just on a smaller scale.

Lots of good places to eat, lots of small bars to guzzel in ( and found that most of the owners are related in some way ) Football ( soccer ) games on the weekend. ( Go Prachin Hornbills! )

The only tourists are those passing through to get to Khao Yai Natl Park.

After a year I found life very comfortable..

I have even taken up golf!

"With climate change and flooding, as well as the obvious politial condition, it's less of an enchanting place to retire to."

Living in a small village 2 hours from the big Mango I don't see any problems..granted once the King passes away there could be problems with having the Prince take the throne ( wondering if he will wear the notorious missing Saudi blue diamond once he's in.. ) which I think could lead to some pretty nasty going ons...

it actually IS a great place to retire.

The trick is...stay the heck outta Bangers.

I hope y'all had a nice Thanksgiving. Full 'o turkey and pumpkin pie. Packers are now 11-0, my Boston Bruins are once again on top..

Life so far has been sweet.

Happy Holidays everyone. Wishing all the best from my baan to yours.

There could be hope... but this IS Thailand.

From the Washington Post

BANGKOK — The country’s new prime minister apparently failed in her first attempt to win a pardon for her fugitive brother, after his political opponents threatened legal action and demonstrations if his name appeared on a list of criminals eligible for a royal amnesty.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra reportedly sought a pardon for her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted as prime minister in a military coup in 2006 and convicted on corruption charges in 2008. Thaksin fled the country to avoid a two-year prison sentence.

Mrs. Yingluck's government included Thaksin’s name on a secret list of 26,000 criminals eligible for pardons from King Bhumibol Adulyadej, according to news reports. The king is expected to consider clemency for the convicts to mark his 84th birthday on Dec. 5.

The royal pardon is an annual tradition, but the Justice Ministry usually does not include fugitives on a list of criminals it presents to the king because those eligible for amnesty must have served some of their prison terms.

After reports appeared of Thaksin’s possible pardon, the Justice Ministry denied that it included him on the list.

“Thaksin will not receive any benefit from the [royal] decree, and his name will not be included on the list of convicts eligible for a royal pardon,” Justice Minister Pracha Promnok said on Sunday. “Convicts on the run will not be eligible.”

I got suspended from TVF again.

"TVF" ?

Thaivisa forum ?

Shame on you.

Dubai, U.A.E.

20 November 2011

Dear Fellow Thai People,

As our country has been going through a crisis from the big flood, I am concerned and want our country and all Thai people to pass through this crisis quickly and that requires harmony and reconciliation in our country in order to overcome this natural disaster. I support all measures that will lead to national reconciliation and do not want to see any attempt that will sour the atmosphere and I am prepared to sacrifice my personal happiness even though I have not received justice during the last five years. I will be patient for the sake of the people.

As the Royal Decree which will provide for annual royal pardon is being proposed and as H.M. the King will become 84 years' old this year, and as there has been rumor that my name will be included in the list of individuals to be proposed for royal pardon, I trust in the principle that the government will not do anything that will benefit me or any individual specifically. Moreover, any action to be taken during this period of time must be merely taken so as to bring national reconciliation to our country and to overcome the crisis due to national disaster from big flood.

As H.M. the King has been ill, we must certainly not make H.M. the King worried and I am confident that our Prime Minister shares my belief and intention.

With respect to Thai people who have supported and cared for me, please don't be disappointed as when the light of justice emerges, all will be settled as the country will not be under the state of conflict forever.

Finally, I call upon all parties who truly love Thailand to know the words "forgive and forget" by forgiving each other and forget the past in order to face new dimensions of tomorrow for the sake of our country and younger generations.

With Best Regards

Police Lt. Col. Thaksin Shinawatra

-

- The Nation

Me, me me and more ME

I guess he doesn't read the news or has some pretty sad advisors.

http://news.malaysia.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5555577

"At a meeting on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit on the Indonesian island of Bali, Obama said he wanted to "extend congratulations to the prime minister" for an "inspirational election"."

Yeah, I really hope the pardon does not happen. I remember when the PTP campaigned back in May and June of this year and one of their big things they promised is they would fight against drugs. Now some of the news that I have read in english about the pardon they want is to release people with less then a 3 year prison sentence, over the age of 60, sentenced because of corruption or DRUGS. If the pardon comes to pass what are they going to do, have a war on drugs against the people they just set free?

No.

The "pardon" is specifically written for Sponge Bob Square Head.

I would fall on my knees and kiss the closest soi dog on the lips if any other's beside SBSH were released or "pardoned" as well.

It is a total sham and a good "up in ya" to the Thai people.

May you all have an enjoyable Loi Krathong!

Wishing all a more trouble free year.

May Buddha bless each and every one of you.

( since it is cancelled in Bangkok, my nephews took part in the swimming pool this year )

Some pics from Lad Prao/Ratchasa Intersection as of 11/11/11 ( BKK )

I think you should just forget all this engagement and marriage visa talk and just go and visit her and see if it is going to work out. She dosen't know you either...

Choc dii

Flood has become bad in Lat Krabang. My fiance can't get out of his apartment now cause the water is up flooding the first floor. He can't even escape now. What should we do? I don't know how to help him.

RELAX

There will people who will circulate looking for folks. Tell him to sit tight. I'm sure he's not in the apartments alone.

Tell him to make sure the electricty is off ( The govt has turned off all electricity in the flooded areas.

RELAX

Vietnam and Thailand are different. I think Vietnam is considered a high fraud country due to all the immigrants that came here after the war. I think there are cases of arranged marriages in Vietnam to get family members visas strictly for immigration. Thailand doesn't have that issue.

Did you actually file a petition for the girl in Vietnam?

and already plannng to marry without even meeting her?

You haven't sent her any money yet, right?

The US Embassy should have these forms on hand. Cost 50 bucks for the FSO to rubber stamp it.

We had a copy of my wife's Thai BC and I informed her we would need the original. Contacted her father and told him we needed it ASAP ( this was like a week before our interview and she had told me it was no where to be found) Luckly, the old man found it, FedEx'd it over here with 1 day left before the interview.

At the interview the IO asked what I had to show him..I told him I had her birth certificate.."Not going to need that, all ready have a copy" was his response.

I informed him of all the trouble and stress ( not really THAT much trouble.. a phone call and 30 bucks to FedEx it..) I went through to get the original over here and now I insisted he look at it.. he did, we both smiled and I put it back into the folder.....