Spot checks worth it

Postbag

Published: 13 Aug 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Last Monday evening I was stopped for a street check by an officer in the front of Ekamai at nine in the evening.

The officer searched my backpack, asked a few basic questions and took a look at the copy of my passport with the current stamp and I was on my way. There was no reason to feel paranoid - I obey the law to the letter here as I do in my birthplace.

I must say the officer concerned was professional, efficient and extremely courteous and conversed with me in my basic level taxi-Thai. Upon departing, we exchanged chap-meu and that was it - no different to a similar street check one would experience in Brisbane (yes, it happens all the time there too, but more likely with younger people).

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Forum

Your comments

domdunnn
Post : 1,131
Send message

Discussion 17 : 14 Aug 2012 at 01.0817
Post this to my Facebook
crescent D16

At the trial in 2008 Pojaman was found not guilty and allowed to keep the land she bought from the FIDF. The Bank of Thailand confirmed that the bidding process had been above board.

Two years later in January 2010 the FIDF applied to the court for an injunction to stop Pojaman from developing the land pending the outcome of a case in which it was trying to have the original verdict overturned. The court subsequently ruled that the land should be returned to the FIDF and Pojaman took action for the return of her payment.
Like dislike 3 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
crescent
Post : 130
Send message

Discussion 16 : 13 Aug 2012 at 21.3016
Post this to my Facebook
domdunnn in disc. # 13 stated that:
"...the court ruled that his wife had paid a fair price, it allowed the transaction to stand and she retained ownership of the land".

He is incorrect. The court ruled that Thaksin inappropriately used his political position to reap personal benefits and therefore subject to imprisonment. As a result, the purchase by his then wife was held as invalid. She had to sue the Bank of Thailand for the refund of her previous payment. It was returned and no ownership has ever been transferred to the wife or Thaksin.

robingrant in disc. # 14 please also note.
Like dislike 6 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
jibber
Post : 4
Send message

Discussion 15 : 13 Aug 2012 at 20.5115
Post this to my Facebook
Khun Dom, I have followed your posts for many years now and I think it's fair comment to suggest
that the former police man is indeed a hero of yours ! You claim that it is the "truth" that motivates your many offerings concerning this most controversial of figures, but often you have exhibited a tendency to present your "opinion as fact/truth. In this instance there is some substance in your assertion but to absolve Thaksin of all blame in the matter would be a step to far.
Like dislike 8 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
robingrant
Post : 202
Send message

Discussion 14 : 13 Aug 2012 at 19.3714
Post this to my Facebook
domdunn is right, there was no evidence of any wrongdoing in the bidding process, as confirmed at the time by the then Governor of the Bank of Thailand. I for one would not question the integrity of such a respected official. egon and Horst Bullinger may take a different view, but on what basis?
Like dislike 2 people liked / 6 people disliked this comment
domdunnn
Post : 1,131
Send message

Discussion 13 : 13 Aug 2012 at 15.0513
Post this to my Facebook
Horst Bullinger is wrong to think that Thaksin is my hero, my hero is the truth.

He is right to say that there would be an outcry if any politician arranged for his wife to buy government property at a knock down price and immediately sell it at a huge profit. However the truth is that this didn't happen in Thaksin's case, the court ruled that his wife had paid a fair price, it allowed the transaction to stand and she retained ownership of the land.
Like dislike 4 people liked / 10 people disliked this comment
rontorr
Post : 670
Send message

Discussion 12 : 13 Aug 2012 at 14.5612
Post this to my Facebook
Agent Orange is a group of specific blends and concentrations of herbicides, some of us who unknowingly loaded it on aircraft, and had it sprayed on us in Vietnam have researched it. James, give Dao a break on this one, makes a lot of ignorant comments, but not on this. At the time, we thought it was pesticide too. FYI, the US Government has recently admitted they also sprayed it around the Airbases in Thailand in the late 60s and early 70s. If any of you know any American Vets that were stationed in Thailand, tell them to check the va.gov website for the things they admit are caused by agent orange, like diabetes and cancer, and some heart diseases
Like dislike 3 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
James Kurt

Discussion 11 : 13 Aug 2012 at 13.5411
Just to set the record straight, Agent Orange is a 'Herbacide', NOT a 'Pestacide'.
from iPhone application.
Like dislike 7 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
dao
Post : 4,644
Send message

Discussion 10 : 13 Aug 2012 at 13.2610
Post this to my Facebook
If you dont like the kind of foreigners that are attracted to the sex industry maybe do something about the sex industry then .
Like dislike 8 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
crescent
Post : 130
Send message

Discussion 9 : 13 Aug 2012 at 11.509
Post this to my Facebook
MIKE,

Thanks for writing.I wish to more people like you writing to Postbag. It is refreshing to read in giving credit where it is due rather than being cynical and destructive.
Like dislike 6 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
OldThaiHand
Post : 650
Send message

Discussion 8 : 13 Aug 2012 at 11.288
Post this to my Facebook
No Mike. The undesirables have just hoofed it to Pattaya so they can pull ATMs out of the wall to support their slothful, profligate lives.
Like dislike 12 people liked / 2 people disliked this comment

1 2 Next Last

Spot checks worth it | Bangkok Post: opinion