A Singaporean's guide to living in Thailand

[yinyang]

Persecution?

Yingluck's bid to travel abroad rejected
•Bangkok Post Published: 8/02/2015 at 12:44 PM

The National Council for Peace and Order has rejected a request from former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to travel overseas on grounds she is undergoing the process of being indicted over negligence of duty in the rice-pledging scheme, several news agencies have reported.

The reports, citing an army source, said Ms Yingluck submitted a request to the NCPO to travel to Hong Kong on Sunday.

But the NCPO rejected the request as she was about to be indicted by the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) in the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions over the rice-pledging scheme.

Ms Yingluck has also been impeached by the National Legislative Assembly after the National Anti-Corruption Commission filed a motion against her.

Reports speculated Ms Yingluck wanted to meet her elder brother and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Hong Kong.

NCPO spokesman Winthai Suwaree confirmed on Sunday that Ms Yingluck's request was rejected because the case against her was already under legal process.

He said it was necessary for the NCPO to be careful in considering the request. In this case, the NCPO had to take into consideration many factors including the reasons for wanting to travel abroad and the legal implications.

"Since the case is now in the commencement stage, it is necessary [for the NCPO] to coordinate with the several agencies concerned to seek legal advice on the right way to handling the matter," Col Winthai said.

He said the NCPO needed to carefully consider whether there would be any effect on the legal case.

Col Winthai said there are many people who need permission from the NCPO to travel abroad. In submitting a request to the NCPO, most of them do not want the matter to become public. Therefore, some of the requests were approved without fanfare for the sake of privacy, he added.

Norrawit Lalaeng, Ms Yingluck's personal lawyer, said he was responsible only for the case concerning the rice-pledging scheme and could not comment on her request to travel abroad.

He said that in his opinion, the OAG was still drafting the indictment and had not yet filed it with the Supreme Court. It is also not known whether the indictment will be accepted.

Therefore, there should be no legal obstruction to Ms Yingluck travelling abroad since her rights and liberties are protected under Section 4 of the interim constitution of 2014, Mr Norrawit said.

 

[yinyang]

A slice of thai gay mango :p C'mon, like this also can? Kpkb (tearful too) by transgender on being barred from a club!

Human Rights
Pub row sparks equality call
Bangkok Post Published: 10/02/2015 at 06:00 AM

A transgender woman who says she was refused access to a pub has filed a petition with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) demanding better treatment.

Transgender model Nijshanaaj Sudlarphaar or 'Sarina Thai', cries as she submits a petition with the National Human Rights Commission yesterday to demand gender equality after being turned away from a bar at RCA last month. Apichit Jinakul

Model Nijshanaaj Sudlarphaar or "Sarina Thai", said she was refused entry to Onyx, an RCA nightclub in Bang Kapi district, early last month.

She said she and four foreign friends went to the pub on New Year's Day and were asked for identification by a pub bouncer. ''After discovering I am a kathoey, he said I could could not go inside because I was a 'transwoman'," Ms Nijshanaaj said.

She said she felt stripped of her dignity, and was deeply upset and embarrassed. Her petition seeks equal rights for transgenders.

Ms Nijshanaaj was backed by Ronnapoom Samakkeekarom, head of the Thai Transgender Alliance, who said her case showed discrimination against transgenders was still a problem which Thais must confront.

Barring her access because of her gender also was contrary to the interim charter, Mr Ronnapoom said.

Nightclubs often bar transgenders, citing problems such as theft or prostitution as excuses, he said.

"You should not tarnish all transgender people with the same brush," he said.

He hoped attitudes will change once the gender equality bill, recently passed by the National Legislative Assembly, takes effect.

Amara Pongsapich, the NHRC chief, said the petition will be considered while the proprietor of the nightclub will be invited to present his version of events.

The manager of Onyx, who asked not to be named, denied the accusations.

The bar does not discriminate against transgenders, he told the Bangkok Post yesterday, adding he was unaware Ms Nijshanaaj was turned away.

 

[Froggy]

Tiong Bahru's 粥 dabest!

 

[Froggy]

Very nice whisky

 

[AhMeng]

Very nice whisky

yep yep...ii love hakushu ... smoother than yamazaki

 

[Pillow]

Hi froggy

You have a good life. Everyday eats good food!

 

[Froggy]

Time to go home

 

[Jah_rastafar_I]

Indochine HV

thai egg dish

Thai pork balls and strips

 

[yinyang]

Baht too strong for business (exports)? Relative appreciation vs USD (as opposed to regional currencies) has to partly with capital inflows

CURRENCIES

BoT: No need to curb inflows
Bangkok Post Published: 12/02/2015 at 06:00 AM

Despite concerns about adverse effects on exports from the strong baht, the Bank of Thailand insists no special measure will be taken to manage foreign exchange in light of the baht's relative stability and regular fund flows.

Pongpen Ruengvirayudh, the deputy governor overseeing monetary stability, said there had been no speculative fund flows into Thailand, so implementing any extra measure on foreign exchange management was not yet necessary.

"[Capital] flows remain normal, but [the value of] foreign exchange for certain [major] currencies compared with the US dollar has changed dramatically, thus affecting a drastic move [in the value of] those currencies compared with the baht," she said.

"When we talk about measures to curb [capital inflows], irregularity has to occur, and those measures would be aimed at reducing or eliminating that anomaly, but were not seeing those kind of flows at the moment, so implementing those measures is not the answer."




In fact, the baht has been more stable than other currencies, with its volatility decreasing to 3% from 5-6%, Mrs Pongpen said.

She said the central bank on Wednesday held discussions with representatives from the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC), where a mutual understanding was reached.

Mrs Pongpen said the central bank was ready to use available tools to manage the baht for the benefit of the private sector, but limitations in its instruments to manage foreign exchange effectively in the medium term needed to be considered.

"The private sector also has to adapt to mitigate changes in exports and foreign exchange amid weakening global demand," she said.

TCC vice-chairman Vichai Assarasakorn said Wednesday's discussions focused on seeking tools to support the business sector, especially border trade, as well as on some rules that obstruct the flow of trade and should be relaxed.

TCC chairman Isara Vongkusolkit said representatives had given information to the central bank on how manufacturers had been affected by currency volatility since last year so that the bank could analyse the foreign exchange rate or find ways to eliminate barriers to long-term trade.

He said the baht had fluctuated recently mainly due to monetary stimulus measures in the euro zone and Japan, tumbling oil prices and falling farm product prices.

The central bank should support the establishment of commercial bank branches in emerging economies, Mr Isara said.

 

[Froggy]

My simple breakfast now khai-jeow-moo-saab



See how fluffy and crispy the Thai do it

 

[yinyang]

Media commentary on Ying Luck's woes

COMMENTARY

Yingluck leaving would be a win-win for both camps
Bangkok Post Published: 12/02/2015 at 06:00 AM

There is only one reason why the junta is putting the brakes on former premier Yingluck Shinawatra's request for permission to go to Hong Kong to see her fugitive brother — to prevent her exile.

The official reason given is that only the court can decide on her travel request now the Office of the Attorney-General plans to indict her in the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders over the rice scheme.

This new political move has put Ms Yingluck on the defensive; she can no longer travel abroad as easily as before. It is clear the military does not want her do what her brother did.

In 2008, then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had gained court permission to attend the Olympic Games in China. He fled to Britain on the day the court found him guilty of corruption in the Ratchadaphisek land deal and handed him a two-year jail term.

If the military allows Ms Yingluck to leave the country before her court case begins, and if she does not return, the political implications would be immense.

The case could not start, the court might have to be closed, and the government would face tremendous criticism from the anti-Thaksin movement for "wasting" an opportunity to punish the Shinawatra clan.

Ms Yingluck now has no choice but to face trial — not only one for lawsuit, but two. The first one concerns her alleged dereliction of duty to stop the problem-plagued, loss-ridden rice-pledging scheme. If ruled guilty, she could go to jail for one to 10 years.

The second lawsuit is about government-to-government rice deals with China, which the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) found actually did not exist.

The commission has also criticised the use of fake documents and the setting up of proxy companies to buy rice from the scheme.

Although there is no proof that Ms Yingluck was involved with these rice deals, the NACC argues that, as head of the government, she cannot evade responsibility.

If she is found guilty in this lawsuit, the punishment would be grave and she may face a much harsher jail term than her brother. During her two years and nine months in office, the rice-pledging scheme was plagued by corruption at every level, the NACC said. It also cost the country more than 600 billion baht. Given the massive corruption involved, it is unlikely the lawsuit will stop just because the defendant is absent.

That's not all. She might also face another lawsuit from irregularities in the anti-flood scheme. The Office of the Auditor-General has found irregularities in waterway dredging projects in the Ping-Wang-Yom-Nan river basin.

The NACC is investigating the case. Given several legal battles ahead, it is understandable that Ms Yingluck might want to leave the country. After her impeachment, she even issued a statement saying "Without justice, no one can exist."

It took a long time before the Office of the Attorney-General decided to indict her in the rice-pledging scheme. During that time, Ms Yingluck and her supporters still hoped to survive the lawsuits. After all, the patronage system works for both rival camps.

But after the overwhelming 190-8 vote in the National Legislative Assembly to impeach her, with the result that she is now banned from politics for five years, it is clear that her support has weakened tremendously.

It is understandable why the embattled former prime minister would not want to stay in the country and risk facing jail. It is also likely she would get her way with secretive support from certain quarters.

Many political analysts believe Ms Yingluck will soon join her brother. They believe the military, after weighing the pros and cons, will conclude it is all for the better if she leaves. For as long as she remains in Thailand, the government will continue to face criticism from the international community which does not understand Thailand's judicial system and views the lawsuit as political persecution.

Keeping Ms Yingluck in prison, meanwhile, would entail endless headaches for future governments, whoever they are. Should Ms Yingluck seek political exile status to live overseas, her wealth would enable her to live in comfort anywhere in the world. Her being away would allow future governments to work unhindered. It is a win-win situation for both camps.

Nattaya Chetchotiros is Assistant News Editor, Bangkok Post.

 

[rusty]

My simple breakfast now khai-jeow-moo-saab



See how fluffy and crispy the Thai do it

It's deep fried and too much oil sucked into the egg and trapped within.
I prefer pan fried like below.

 

[Froggy]

It's deep fried and too much oil sucked into the egg and trapped within.
I prefer pan fried like below.

Yes undeniable fact. So at home its the normal less oil type but outside I whack the delicious type once in a while.

 

[Froggy]

Had a nice lunch at 东海 restaurant in Ngee Ann before leaving, pretty good,

Started with pomfret kiam-chye soup


Very well balanced, not too salty and sour


Little cubes of siew-yuk


Best roast duck I've eaten still juicy on the inside


Bamboo clam - my Thai friends told me this is much better than in Thailand and bigger too, they love it


Yin-choy with 上汤


Ok this is really solid, sliced pork from black pig with mushroom, chew on the meat slowly and feel the sweetness of this meat, best


First time - best

 

[AhMeng]

Tong Hai...my fav restaurant...did u try their Teochew Lou Hei...?

 

[Jah_rastafar_I]

Go ah meng go ah meng!!

When you visiting your relatives?

Miss you Daddy!!!​

 

[Froggy]

Lunch at ZEN in CDC

 

[yinyang]

Lunch at ZEN in CDC

Zen beats awful Fuji (but popular with locals) anytime.

Did Kasa last time, at this middle class cluster mall Circle at Ratchapruk. Good, daresay better than Zen without paying top dollar. But not in same league as atas Jap places :p

http://kasa.co.th/main.php

http://www.thecircle.co.th/shopdetail.php?id=4



Pleasantly surprised they had branch in Seacon Bangkae too. Loved the seared tuna and spicy snow crab avocado sushi

 

[yinyang]

Warm welcome to moneyed ah tiongs, despite concerns

Govt: Welcome 'rude' Chinese visitors
•Bangkok Post Published: 12/02/2015 at 03:35 PM

People should welcome Chinese visitors even if their manners are deemed to be rude, because tourism is good for the economy, deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said on Thursday.

"Tourists may do things that do not impress local people, but everyone should understand that the arrival of foreign tourists in our country is better than their not coming here, because their presence stimulates the economy," Maj Gen Sansern said.

Tourist arrivals were rising in the lead-up to the Chinese New Year on Feb 19, with 800-900 charter flights of Chinese tourists landing in Thailand to celebrate the festival.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Tourism and Sports officials and tourist police were trying to explain to foreign tourists, especially Asians, through their travel agents, that Thai culture is different from theirs and both sides should adjust to this.

Complaints about the bad manners of Chinese tourists have risen in recent years, especially in Chiang Mai province, which was the major backdrop of the Chinese comedy blockbuster "Lost in Thailand". The film generated a storm of Chinese travelers to the northern province - with significant cultural shocks.

Complaints ranged from Chinese tourists inconsiderately stopping the rented motorcycles in the middle of roads to take photos, blocking roads when riding bicycles in groups, making overly loud noises in restaurants, and lately hanging underwear out to dry on seating in the passenger terminatel at Chiang Mai airport.

 

[Froggy]

Zen beats awful Fuji (but popular with locals) anytime.

Did Kasa last time, at this middle class cluster mall Circle at Ratchapruk. Good, daresay better than Zen without paying top dollar. But not in same league as atas Jap places :p

http://kasa.co.th/main.php

http://www.thecircle.co.th/shopdetail.php?id=4

Pleasantly surprised they had branch in Seacon Bangkae too. Loved the seared tuna and spicy snow crab avocado sushi

Agree with you on Kasa.