PAD and foreigners

[Just-1-Voice3]

For better or worse. I’M BACK!

In reading over many of the posts since my last time here, there are quite a few good ones, and some that merely reflect the one sided political views of various groups. However, the latest topic seems to have diverted to Thaksin, and while I should probably start a different post on this topic, I’ll go ahead and give my thoughts here.

IMHO the government does not REALLY want to bring Thaksin back. In fact, Thaksin back on Thai soil is one of their worst nightmares, and here’s why I say that.

1) A few million Thai would rejoice that their “hero” and “savior” has finally come home, and would take to the streets in joy. Perhaps even more so than those who were in BKK for two months, and this is something the government is NOT prepared to deal with in a civilized manner. More than likely they would call out the military again, once again citing “national security”, whether there were any incidents of violence or not. And while the current political/military leadership may not be the sharpest knives in the drawer, they are smart enough to realize the international implications of calling out the army to once again deal with protesters.

2) Let’s say, however, that he did return and was taken into custody. If ANYTHING happened to him, even if he died from a heart attack or other “natural causes”, there is no way they would be able to convince the millions of Thai I spoke of earlier that the government did not kill him. And even the international press would come down hard on the government as well. Absolute total chaos and anarchy would take place overnight and this country would be torn to pieces.

3) If he came back and were able to work out a “deal” which would allow some form of amnesty, Sondhi and PAD would go on the warpath and the Yellows would take to the streets (again), and this time in an even more violent fashion than they did before.

4) IF that were to happen, Abhist would have no option but to call out the military once again to quell them. Failure to do so would be slammed, both inside and outside of Thailand, as “double standards”, and the International Press would have a field day with this.

5) However, there is no guarantee that even if Abhist did order the military to “take control of the situation” that they would even do so. They flatly refused the last time PAD hit the streets, and there is nothing to indicate they would do any differently again in regards to PAD.

6) If Abhist did order it, and the General’s refused, you now have a situation that clearly shows that Abhist has no power, no authority, and that it’s the Generals who really control things. Major loss of face for Oxford Boy, and major condemnation by International Press.

7) But let’s go the other way for a minute. Thaksin comes back and is sent to prison. Anyone who believes a “deal” hasn’t been cut ahead of time is living in a fantasy world. So he does 6 months, or less, and is back in the general population. Even if he’s banned from holding any political office, he’s going to be a “force” to be reckoned with. Hey, just look at Newin for a good example.

8) Right or wrong, there are millions of Thai who not only believe whatever he tells them, but believe IN him as the only man who can better their lives and do good for Thailand.

9) But a living Thaksin in Thailand also becomes a major target for assignation by his enemies, and those are numerous, from PAD to other “Elites” to Generals. And while the Generals, and some “Elites” might realize that killing him would plunge the country into a civil war, there are elements within PAD who wouldn’t care. All they can see is the “Devil Incarnate” in Thaksin, and believe it is their “duty” to rid not only Thailand, but the world, of this man by any means necessary.

Bottom line: The government, for all their rhetoric and posturing, does not want Thaksin back in Thailand. It’s much better for them to issue warrants for “terrorism” against him, and do what they can to restrict him in the rest of the world, while pretending they want him back to do his jail time and face other charges. A “Fugitive Thaksin” is much more preferable to a “Live Thaksin” in Thailand, or even a dead Thaksin. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are many in the government who pray every night: “Lord Buddha, we don’t really want him back, even though we act like it, but please make sure he doesn’t die, or we’ll be blamed for it, no matter what.”

[Voice]

Hi Just-1-voice, just to say welcomes back my old friend. Good writing as usual I hope you will keep this place lively as it has gone quite lately.

[drake]

Chinese cannot own Thai property, even if they are married to Thais. The only people allowed to own land in Thailand are Thais. The so called Chinese that do own land are second generation or greater.
The reason the Chinese Thai control most middle class businesses is through hard work, pooling money, sending their and other children overseas to study and supplying what people need/want. Most of these are second, third, forth and fifth generation. Chinese Thais normally work solely for their children, future generations of children and money, of course.

Excellent summary on why the Chinese tends to be successful in Thailand (and elsewhere).

On the land ownership bit though,
after living in LOS for 5 years on a residence visa one can apply for a Thai citizenship and, once approved, become a citizen.
As a citizen, one can buy all the land one can afford.
Make sure though that the purchase is the actual deed to the land and not just a farming permit....

[overhaul38]

Chinese cannot own Thai property, even if they are married to Thais. The only people allowed to own land in Thailand are Thais. The so called Chinese that do own land are second generation or greater.
The reason the Chinese Thai control most middle class businesses is through hard work, pooling money, sending their and other children overseas to study and supplying what people need/want. Most of these are second, third, forth and fifth generation. Chinese Thais normally work solely for their children, future generations of children and money, of course.

Excellent summary on why the Chinese tends to be successful in Thailand (and elsewhere).

On the land ownership bit though,
after living in LOS for 5 years on a residence visa one can apply for a Thai citizenship and, once approved, become a citizen.
As a citizen, one can buy all the land one can afford.
Make sure though that the purchase is the actual deed to the land and not just a farming permit....

Your post is confusing. You say Chinese cannot own property but then you say the so called Chinese that do own land are second generation or greater. So...which is it . Do you mean that after 2 generations the Chinese are "so called" and therefore are permitted to own land?

[overhaul38]

Chinese cannot own Thai property, even if they are married to Thais. The only people allowed to own land in Thailand are Thais. The so called Chinese that do own land are second generation or greater.
The reason the Chinese Thai control most middle class businesses is through hard work, pooling money, sending their and other children overseas to study and supplying what people need/want. Most of these are second, third, forth and fifth generation. Chinese Thais normally work solely for their children, future generations of children and money, of course.

Excellent summary on why the Chinese tends to be successful in Thailand (and elsewhere).

On the land ownership bit though,
after living in LOS for 5 years on a residence visa one can apply for a Thai citizenship and, once approved, become a citizen.
As a citizen, one can buy all the land one can afford.
Make sure though that the purchase is the actual deed to the land and not just a farming permit....

I believe that the operative words here are "once approved". Has any one been approved?

[bandot]

Demonstrations by both political parties have killed tourism dead. With each demonstration more and more visitors decied there are better and more stable places to visit. They have done an excellent job of keeping tourist out. If they want foreign companies out as well all they need to do is to look to the country left of Thailand to see there future.

[naiharn]

Chinese cannot own Thai property, even if they are married to Thais. The only people allowed to own land in Thailand are Thais. The so called Chinese that do own land are second generation or greater.
The reason the Chinese Thai control most middle class businesses is through hard work, pooling money, sending their and other children overseas to study and supplying what people need/want. Most of these are second, third, forth and fifth generation. Chinese Thais normally work solely for their children, future generations of children and money, of course.

Excellent summary on why the Chinese tends to be successful in Thailand (and elsewhere).

On the land ownership bit though,
after living in LOS for 5 years on a residence visa one can apply for a Thai citizenship and, once approved, become a citizen.
As a citizen, one can buy all the land one can afford.
Make sure though that the purchase is the actual deed to the land and not just a farming permit....

It's not as simple as you make out. You need to live in Thailand, working and paying taxes (preferably on a high salary) for 3 years before you can apply for residence. The process takes about a year, and costs around 200,000 Baht. You then need residence for 5 years to apply for citizenship. That process then takes about 3 years.

The numbers who apply for citizenship are tiny: about 40 in one recent year when the government released figures.

The number who were successful? 10.

The figures did not show how many of the 10 were females (for which the process is much easier than for males).

So the minimum period one would have to live in Thailand to get citizenship is about 13 years, and then you'd still only have 25% chance of success.

As a final humiliation the 'sucessful' foreigner has to renounce his original citizenship at the time he receives Thai citizenship.

You may as well say it is 'all but impossible' for a foreign male to get Thai citizenship.

[ChalongBoy]

Sure and the place would colapse.. no business acumin.. none.... All educated overseas.. OOOOOPs. K PM is a Brit.

Farangs come in and make things good and the locals want us out..

Indians sell Manhattan for 26USD

Hawaiians say U.S. out of Hawaii


Mexico says all farang out...


christ, who would father and properly support the childred of Thailand, Thai Dads...OK

[paullane]

overhaul38

The answer is quite simple. If a Chinese man came to Thailand now and married a Thai woman he could not own property but his children could in the future.

"so called" Chinese Thais refers to those Thais of Chinese descent not Chinese origin.

[matteo1]

Maybe by foreigners they meaned Cambodians only?! They always have a selective approach depending on their interests and agenda.... Cambodians out today, Mon/Laotians tomorrow (or already yesterday), Burmeses tomorrow (boatloads already push back to die at sea sometime ago), and farangs later if they keep interfering in all this non-sense...