Gaybutton

Baht Expected to Remain Strong this Week BANGKOK, Aug 20 (TNA) The Thai baht is anticipated to move within the range of Bt37.10 to Bt37.60 against the US dollar this week compared with Bt37.34 per dollar during late trade on Friday, according to a report issued by the Kasikorn Research Centre. The report said the baht could strengthen this week due to the lack of positive factors to support the US dollar, and that traders are less worried now regarding a further hike in the interest rate by the US Federal Reserve Bank. Traders are also awaiting new factors to stimulate trade apart from key US economic data--including housing sales and purchase orders for durable goods, it said, adding that the strengthening of the baht could be limited due to an intervention by the Bank of Thailand (BoT). Several negative factors had hit the strong baht last week, the report said. They included a market intervention by the BoT to keep the baht from being too strong and strong dollar profit-taking by exporters. The central bank said on Tuesday that it had intervened in the market after finding that the local currency was too strong. The baht edged down late last week, unlike the Japanese yen and other regional currencies which strengthened on the back of US inflation. However, the baht rose later following an interest rate hike by the Chinese central bank which helped pushed up the yen and the local currency. (TNA)-E111

Personally, I would be looking askance at an E-mail received out of the blue from, of all places, Ghana. The official language in Ghana is English. It immediately strikes me as strange that this person's English is so poor. I'm suspicious of that. Also, it has been my experience that the more someone finds it necessary to talk about honesty, the less honest he really is. Just out of curiosity, did he send a photo? I could be totally wrong of course, but this smacks of 'phishing' to me. Considering the number of boys available right here in Thailand, if it were me I would just delete this guy's E-mail and forget it, even if he really picked up your E-mail address on a profile somewhere. I'd let him find someone else's profile and let him tell that guy all about how honest he is.

I've got it! It will be a 'letmetellu' posting in which all of the spelling, grammar, and punctuation will be correct and the posting will be coherent.

Among the things that I have difficulty understanding about how things work in Thailand is what law enforcement agencies have jurisdiction and where. The following story, appearing in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS, illustrates what I mean: ____________ Bangkok Police Launch Sweep of Pattaya Bars On Thursday evening a squad of 70 Bangkok-based police decided it was time they had a little sojourn into the fleshpots of Pattaya and spent some hours wandering about the various beer bar complexes and go-go bars as well as a couple of the more infamous soapy massage joints. Accompanied by a frothing gaggle of media hacks, all armed with television cameras as well as the latest in still digital cameras, the upstanding men and women of the Bangkok police force visited the Sabailand Massage Parlour on Second Road, at the corner of Soi 3 if any of you are not quite sure where to find it. Here they interviewed a number of the more attractive and younger looking girls, asking them to produce their Identification cards in order to prove that they were all over the legal age to engage in activities involving water, soap and excitable men. Satisfied with this, the police troop then moved onto a number of beer bars in the Soi 2 area and once again were compelled to chat with the more attractive and younger looking girls, checking identification cards and asking about the health and well-being of sundry family members and farmyard stock. Then it was into a couple of the go-go bars where many members of the media were excited to find a large number of ladies who were wearing g-string bikinis. The flashbulbs of the cameras in the media scrum helped to really light up the dressing rooms and general area of the chrome pole palaces while the very professional police persons asked the girls to produce their ID cards. Most of the girls were forced to go into their lockers in order to show the plastic cards, explaining it was difficult to keep the card on their person when dressed in not much more than a pair of boots and a smile. A senior policemen told one bar owner that the 2:00AM closing time should be enforced and that staying open later than this is against the law. The bar owner allegedly told the policeman that he paid a little extra money each month in order to stay open later, but the Bangkok officer said whoever he paid the money to it couldn

I know of no better rates from hospitals or anywhere else, but there are advantages. You're right about the main advantage of the one-year visa . . . it saves the hassle and of having to make the 90-day visa run. With the one-year visa the only requirement is to report your address every 90 days. The 90-day visa is a tourist visa. The retirement visa is a non-immigrant visa. You can get a Thai driver's license and motorcycle license with the retirement visa, but not with the 90-day visa. Also, from what I understand, some banks will not let you open an account and/or will not let you get online banking with the 90-day visa. Other than that, I can't think of any other particular advantages, although I have heard that Thailand is frowning on allowing people to live in Thailand permanently by constantly making visa runs. I have heard they are going to set some sort of limitation on the number of visa runs permitted over certain periods of time. I don't know if there is actually any truth to that, but every so often I hear rumblings about it. I have also heard that various consulates and Thai embassies outside of Thailand are tightening up the rules about making it so easy to get the 90-day visa. It seems to me that someone who wishes to be a resident of Thailand is a lot better off with the one-year visa rather than the 90-day visa. However, for whatever reasons, there are plenty of people who prefer to stick to the visa run method, rather than the one-year visa method, despite the fact that they are eligible for the one-year visa. If you are under age 50, then at the moment you don't have much choice. It is my understanding that to be eligible for the one-year visa, you must be at least 50 years old and also have a proveable income from sources outside of Thailand. Neither of those is a requirement for the 90-day visa.

From the Thai National News Bureau - Public Relations Department http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/prev...id=254908130010 The National Telecommunications Commission has reaffirmed that starting September 1st it will change the digit system of mobile phone numbers from 9 digits to 10 digits, to accomodate consumer demand and to promote fair competition in the telecom business. Mr. Manas Songsaeng (มนัส ทรงแสง), the deputy secretary-general of the NTC, said the switch is in result of a shortage in mobile phone numbers at present, due to the very high popularity of the cell phones. The original plan was to accomodate 50 million numbers but 76 million has already been used up until now. Thus new numbers must be provided in order to encourage free and fair competition in the business. The increase of numbers will be achieved by the addition of one more digit to each mobile phone number. For the exisiting numbers, dialers will have to punch in 08 instead of the 0 they previously had to put in. Numbers in the following 8 digits would remain the same. For example the number 01-1234567 would then be dialed 08-1123-4567. The service providers will automatically take care of implementing the new format. ____________________ Note from GB: What the article does not say is whether this will affect the dialing sequence if you are calling a Thai number from abroad. I am guessing that it will. At the moment, if the number you are trying to call, from the USA, is 01-123-4567 the present dialing sequence would be 011-66-1-123-4567. I am guessing that as of September 1 the dialing sequence will change to 011-66-81-123-4567.

It seems like this is a restaurant people are either going to love or hate, with no in between. I suppose the thing to do is try it and judge for yourself.

I rest my case.

New Bird Flu Strain Won't Effect Vaccine Production: Health Official BANGKOK, Aug 18 (TNA) A senior health official on Friday said Thailand has been hit by the second H5N1 strain of bird flu virus which has spread from China but reaffirmed that the finding would not hinder the country's ongoing research to produce a local vaccine. Dr. Paijit Warachit, director-general of the Department of Medical Science, said laboratory tests found the second strain of bird flu in the recent outbreak in chicken farms in Nakhon Phanom province in the northeast. Although the newly-introduced strain from China has not yet infected any humans in Thailand, according to the medical science chief, he stressed that lab tests for the new strain in human beings could be still done as before for the first H5N1strain which appeared in Thailand during the past three years. He said Thailand's laboratories to test for bird flu and human influenza have complied with standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). During the country's current (fourth) outbreak of bird flu virus, lab officials have tested over 4,000 samples taken from sick humans. Dr. Paijit said officials have found it more difficult to diagnose the disease as symptoms from bird flu virus have become more complicated. ''Unlike before, the bird flu virus has now attacked lower parts of our respiratory organs and makes it more difficult to diagnose. Samples need to be retested many times over before a conclusion is made,'' said the doctor. However, he said the presence of the second strain of bird flu virus in Thailand would not affect an ongoing experiment to make a vaccine against bird flu in humans. ''We just need to produce the vaccines for both strains, just like we did for human influenza,'' he said. Dr. Paijit said his department has earmarked a budget of Bt36 million to purchase 100,000 doses of bird flu vaccines from overseas for health officials who may be at risk of contracting the virus via their work. No decision has been made yet as the department is negotiating with several countries, Dr. Phaijit said, indicating that the department must consult with epidemiologists and other specialists and make a proposal to the cabinet. (TNA)-E110

Interestingly enough, the following news items were published today: _______________ BANGKOK, Aug 18 (TNA) Authorities concerned are believed to soon set a common standard for all local schools in recruiting teachers, including those of foreign origins, following a recent case in which an American teacher was arrested for an alleged murder of a six-year-old girl in the United States 10 years ago. Deputy Secretary General to the Prime Minister Jakrapob Penkair said here Friday that he would meet secretary of the education minister next week to discuss standardized qualifications of all teachers in Thailand and criteria on teacher recruitments. "All teachers in Thailand must have the same career standard, no matter what nationalities they are. We must now be serious about that," noted Mr. Jakrapob, who is also secretary of Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai. Mr. Surakiart, among other tasks, supervises the Ministry of Education. "I'll discuss with the education minister's secretary on qualifications of teachers and tutors in Thailand, particularly those work for international schools, as well as criteria for screening their backgrounds and issuing work permits for them," he told journalists. Mr. Jakrapob's remarks followed Wednesday's arrest of John Mark Karr, 41, who had worked as a teacher of some international schools in Thailand. The middle-aged American was arrested by the Thai Immigration Police Bureau in a downtown Bangkok apartment Wednesday afternoon following a request by US security officials on August 11. According to Thai Immigration Police Bureau Commissioner Lt. Gen. Suwat Tumrongsriskul, the American authorities had informed Thailand that Mr. Karr had fled the US to hide, first in Malaysia, and then in Thailand. As the latest development, a court in Boulder, Colorado issued arrest warrants for the suspect on August 16 on charges of abduction and murder. The arrested suspect confessed to strangling to death the then six-year-old 'beauty queen', Jon Benet Ramsey, in her home in the US state of Colorado on December 26, 1996. The suspect said that he initially wanted to kidnap the young girl for ransom, but his demand was not met; so he strangled the kidnapped girl. Mr. Karr left Penang, Malaysia, and entered Thailand on June 6 this year. The immigration bureau chief said that he had ordered Mr. Karr's visa to be revoked, and that the man, found not to have committed any wrongdoing in Thailand, would be then extradited for trial in the US. There have been thousands of foreigners working for local schools in Thailand, particularly international and language schools, a number of whom entered the kingdom as tourists with no work permits as professional teachers, according to Mr. Jakrapob. (TNA)--E002 _________________________ from THE NATION: Suspect Was Employed by Prestigious Schools Published on August 19, 2006 Education Officials Concede that Process of Checking Qualifications has Sometimes Taken too Long Various authorities yesterday expressed concern that John Mark Karr - a suspect in the 1996 murder of an American child beauty queen - had managed to find teaching jobs in Bangkok. At the time of his arrest on Wednesday, he had just been given employment by an international school in the Sathorn district. Before that he was allowed a trial period at two of the country's most prestigious schools - the boys-only Bangkok Christian College and the girls-only St Joseph Convent School. The Education Ministry's permanent secretary Khunying Kasama Varawarn na Ayutthaya yesterday said she would have a meeting with the International Schools Association of Thailand next week to tighten recruitment of foreign teachers. She admitted that the ministry had allowed international schools to recruit teachers before an entire check of their qualifications had been completed. "We relaxed the rules after many international schools complained that the whole process took too long," Kasama said. She said the Office of Private Education Promotion Commission did general checks on whether applicants have the educational credentials that match the requirements. "The office has contacted foreign universities to verify overseas degrees submitted by applicants." The office has also cooperated with special-branch police and the National Intelligence Agency to check the history of applicants. "Normally we receive a response from the special-branch police within three weeks but the overseas institutions have taken longer to respond. When international schools started complaining, we relaxed the rule. Recruitment can be completed first, and if there is any problem we can take action later," Kasama said. So far, she said, there had never been any problems. "Generally, persons with criminal records won't be able to pass through immigration checkpoints," she said, but in the wake of Karr's arrest, Kasama planned to ask international schools not to hire any foreign teachers before their qualifications check had been completed. Anusorn Thaidecha, who heads the Office of Private Education Promotion Commission, added that he would ask immigration police and the Foreign Affairs Ministry to be stricter about granting entries or visas to foreigners. PM's deputy secretary general Jakrapob Penkair, who is assigned to oversee education matters, said there had in the past been many sexual-abuse accusations against teachers at some international schools. "They have sex with minors - girls and boys - and they have been arrested," Jakrapob said. He said all parties must join in preventing undesirable foreigners from getting close to students in Thailand. He added that he was going to raise the issue with the Education Ministry, teacher organisations, parents and international schools. In a related development, caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said there were relatively few cases of crimes committed by foreigners in Thailand, given the fact that up to 12 million foreign visitors flocked to the country each year. He added that Thai authorities had worked closely with other countries in watching out for people who had been blacklisted. ____________________ from the BANGKOK POST: Screening of Alien Teachers to be Tougher JonBenet Ramsey Case Arrest Prompts Rethink POST REPORTERS The Education Ministry next week will discuss with the International Schools Association how to toughen the screening of foreigners who apply for teaching jobs following the detention of a suspect in a high-profile murder, says education permanent secretary Kasama Varavarn. The move follows the arrest of John Karr, an American school teacher alleged to have murdered child beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey in 1996. Karr had worked as an English teacher at a school in Sathon district before leaving the job about two weeks ago. Currently, schools need to check only the qualifications of foreign applicants and are required to refer them to the Office of the Private Education Commission which then does the cross-checking with overseas universities where the foreign applicants graduated. The agency will also ask Special Branch police and the National Intelligence Agency to investigate the backgrounds and history of the applicants. Once they have been cleared, the Office of Private Education will give their employment the go-ahead. However, after the arrest of Karr, schools will be instructed to deal directly with Special Branch police in examining the foreign applicants' backgrounds, Khunying Kasama said. Anusorn Thaidecha, director of the Office of the Private Education Commission, said he will ask the Immigration Office and the Foreign Ministry to tighten the process of issuing visas to foreign nationals and will request blacklists of dangerous people to check. Jakkrapob Penkair, deputy secretary to the prime minister in charge of education, said a lot of foreigners holding tourist visas prefer to apply to become school teachers in Thailand. They make money out of teaching English as a sideline to pay for expenses during their stay in Thailand, he said. Immigration chief Suwat Thamrongsrisakul said international schools can check the backgrounds of foreigners applying for teaching jobs themselves by searching the Internet for the names of suspects in child sexual abuse cases provided by the US. Pol Lt-Gen Suwat also ordered two policemen to stay with Karr in prison to prevent him committing suicide. Education Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng said the international school in Sathon district should not be faulted for accepting Karr as a teacher as it had had no in-depth information of the man. Panicha Tulwattana, a personnel officer at Bangkok Christian College, said Karr had taught lower primary students for a month before he was asked to resign. He looked suspicious and was always too strict with his students. A teacher said Karr behaved abnormally in class. He punished students unable to finish in-class assignments by forbidding them to go to the toilet.

After you place the call, Kotter, please inform us of the results.

BANGKOK, Aug 18 (FAO/TNA) United Nations officials in Bangkok Thursday confirmed that the recent outbreak of avian influenza along the Thailand-Laos Mekong River border area was due to a strain of virus not previously present in either country, and that it probably came from southern China. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also said that the outbreak in Phichit province was a re-emergence of the H5N1 virus previously active in Thailand, and that governments needed to be more attentive to cross-border trade in poultry. FAO regional director He Changchui said that Asia's poorer governments are less equipped to deal with any outbreak and should be assisted with long-term programmes. Laboratory confirmation points to both old and new isolates of the bird flu virus as sources of recent HPAI outbreaks in Phichit, where the 'old' virus reemerged, and Nakhon Pathom and across ther Mekong River, where the 'new' virus appeared, according to the FAO. Calling for improved and sustained HPAI control efforts in Asia, FAO warned in an official news release that "vigorous implementation of recommended control measures is needed to prevent a further spread of the disease and sustain past successes in the region." "Continuing outbreaks in China, recurrence in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, and the steady march of the disease in Indonesia underline the need for heightened vigilance in other Asian countries to prevent and detect any resurgence or introduction of the deadly bird flu virus. Timely reporting and sharing information continue to be crucial," He Changchui, FAO's Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific warned. "Concerned about the recurrence of bird flu in Asia, close monitoring of diagnostic results by FAO has revealed that bird flu is endemic in some areas while new strains have emerged in other places," the release said. "Last month's HPAI outbreak in Thailand's Phichit province was caused by the same virus strain circulating in the area since 2003/4. The H5N1 virus thus remained alive in central Thailand in a reservoir of birds and poultry, most probably a mix of backyard chicken, ducks and fighting cocks," according to Laurence Gleeson, regional manager of FAO's bird flu center in Bangkok on Thursday. This indicates that the H5N1 virus is endemic in the area. While the number and size of outbreaks has been reduced, past control efforts were only partly successful. On the other hand, the outbreaks in Nakhon Phanom and Vientiane were caused by a H5N1 virus strain previously not detected in Thailand and Laos. Instead, the virus is similar to recent isolates from southern China, suggesting that the virus spread from China to Thailand and Laos. The UN organisation said it recognizes that poultry trade across borders is continuing in Southeast and East Asia despite well-known risks to the governments and people in the region. Countries are once more called upon to strengthen in-country as well as cross-border HPAI control measures, FAO added. In addition, regional HPAI networks need to be made stronger and sustainable with national and international support. Recent sharing of information, epidemiological analysis and joint field missions to assess and control outbreaks in poultry have resulted in a better understanding of the month-old resurgence of bird flu in Asian countries such as Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. The endemic presence of bird flu over the last three years coupled with the proven inroads of new virus isolates into already affected countries makes a redoubling of efforts at both national and regional level essential, FAO noted. "We are at another critical juncture of fighting against the bird flu situation in the region," emphasized Mr He. "Some countries can beat back occasional bird flu reoccurrence, but poorer countries still need long-term work

Where are you getting the idea that this is some sort of "battle of the cut and pasters?" I paste in news items that I think are of interest to readers of this forum and I specify the source of the news item. I see no reason to re-write, in my own words, news items that are already written. While I realize that the news items I post are just as readily available to others as they are to me, not everybody wants to take the time to wade through the Internet to find these items. So, I do that as a convenience to those who are interested. Is there a problem with that?

BANGKOK, Aug 17 (TNA) Thai Airways International (THAI), the country's national flag carrier, has reduced its tight security measures imposed on passengers of both domestic and international flights, effective from August 16. Newly-appointed THAI President Flying Officer Apinan Sumanaseni told TNA on Wednesday that passengers of all domestic flights and those of internatinal flights are now allowed to bring their bags and carry-on luggage onto planes--based on the airline's normal rules. However, the airline's ban on liquid items of all types, lighters and matches onto planes remains intact, except sealed-liquid items bought from airports' authorized duty-free shops with formal receipts and medicines in liquid form essential for any passenger on the flights, with a passenger permitting to bring with them unlimited amount of liquid medicines prescribed by doctors but a limited amount of no more than 4 oz a bottle for unprescribed ones. Baby milk and liquid baby food are also now permitted on board the planes, but must be tasted by the accompanying passenger in the presence of security officers. Passengers are allowed as well to carry their electronic and electrical equipment--in good order--and switched-off mobile phones on board the planes. The relaxed rules also apply to passengers on the Bangkok-the United Kingdom, Bangkok-the United States, Bangkok-Australia, Bangkok-the Philippines, Bangkok-Indonesia and Bangkok-Sri Lanka routes, where security surveilance was raised to the highest level over the past week. The THAI's move followed announcements by the UK and US governments earlier this week to downgrad their terror threat level from critical to severe, or from the red to orange colour, saying intelligence suggested that there is no renewed imminent attack. Police in London last Thursday (August 10) thwarted a major terrorist plot to blow up aircraft flying from the UK to the United States in mid-flight. Twenty-four people have been arrested so far in connection with the foiled plot--reportedly targeted aircraft from London, Glasgow and Manchester to the US. The THAI president said, however, that passengers on the Bangkok-UK route are permitted to carry only a single bag onto planes. "The size of their bags should not be larger than 45 x 35 x 16 centimetres if the passengers only make a stop-over at a UK airport before flying to other destinations," he noted. "Passengers who want to fly from the UK to the US are still barred from carrying any bag or luggage onto the planes, except their purses or wallets with necessary documents," he added. Those flying from Bangkok to the US are also required to report their belongings in luggage to the airline's ground staff who are authorized to request a thorough inspection in suspected cases or ban specific items as part of its precautious measures, according to Flg. Off. Apinan. (TNA)--E002

That would be fine, except for one thing. The original poster is not trying to work in a school. He wants to tutor and work as a DJ.

Regarding a spell checker, I don't know if this message board software can support one, but there is a very simple solution. Write your post on a word processor that does have a spell checker. After you have checked and corrected your spelling, simply COPY what you wrote and then PASTE it in to the post. That may be somewhat inconvenient, but it is a viable solution.

Well, you got me on that one . . . both of you. Hedda, what stop sign? Those are as rare as "farang" who want to over-tip. And Stef, you know what I look like. My moral of the story differs from yours. Mine would be . . . avoid the gym at all costs.

BANGKOK, Aug 17 (TNA) Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal on Thursday affirmed the Suvarnabhumi Airport is ready to open for commercial services on September 28, but might have some problems on equipment transfer in an initial period. His affirmation came after former prime minister Banharn Silpa-arch, who is Chat Thai Party leader, suggested the opening of the new international airport be postponed. Mr. Pongsak said the airport had already been in place for services while the Don Muang International Airport is so crowded now. He conceded there might be some difficulties in the equipment transfer or the opening in an initial period. But it is considered usual for the transfer of offices to a new location. He viewed unless the new airport was opened now, various systems and equipment already put in place would be dilapidated.

It has become a clich

If you have a Thai boyfriend, chances are that you are driven crazy by his mobile phone. If he's not losing it or selling it, then he's using it . . . constantly. Have you ever been jolted awake at 3:30 AM when your boyfriend receives a call? When you made it clear that you don't want calls coming in at hours like that, did he seem surprised that you would object to that? Have you ever been with a boy and at the height of, shall we say, the most intimate moments a call comes through and he actually stops to have a conversation? Does he place and accept calls right in the middle of dinner? Does he somehow 'forget' to turn off the phone in a movie theater? Have you ever seen him driving a motorcycle and using the mobile phone at the same time? Does he whine and pout if his prepaid phone card runs out or the battery runs out? Does he try to get you to buy him the latest model, with every bell and whistle imagineable? Sometimes it seems like the world will end if the boyfriend doesn't have his mobile phone with him. If his use of the mobile is driving you nuts, you're not alone. The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Mobile Phones 'Warping Cultural Values' Thai cultural values have been warped, with half the population "dependent" on cell phones, the National Culture Commission said yesterday. Teenagers and others who have become addicted to instant tele-communications showed six symptoms, said Amornrat Thepgum-panat, NCC spokesman, who studied use of mobile phones - particularly by youngsters - for an article on the subject. Firstly, people were victims to constantly changing mobile fads, she said. Mobile phones had become status symbols, with many users, especially youths, always seeking the latest models. The second symptom was poverty, as users go into debt to buy new and expensive handsets. The third "disease" was impatience and hot tempers caused by getting used to a instant connections and a response to orders. People become irritated over other things, even trivial events, in life. Some callers ignore social etiquette and buzz others at any time, even during office meetings, late at night, meal times or vacations. In business, some call strangers to sell insurance or other products or invite them to apply for credit cards, which annoys many recipients. Social contact is sacrificed as most people use cell-phones to call those close to them instead of engaging with others. Youngsters seclude themselves to call friends instead of talking to parents, and worsen family relations. They can leave youths feeling lonely and hooked to their phone. The last "dysfunction" was insincerity resulting from the nature of phone conversations, which are not face-to-face dealings. Users are prone to use overly sweet words or lies to convince the other party that they care about something, when they do not. Amornrat said overuse of cell phones was also causing other problems. Ear disease, severe headaches and nerve disorders have become more common due to long exposure to the cell-phone's electromagnetic field. Also, more and more peeping toms or exhibitionists are using phone cameras to shoot nude pics to be published on the Internet. Driving while on the phone caused many car accidents, while expensive cell phones attracted criminals and thieves, she added. Ladda Tangsupachai, director of the Culture Watch Centre, said the use of mobile phones among youngsters was out of control with many operators launching promotions targeted at them.

BOT Continuing to Intervene in Baht Movement BANGKOK, Aug 17 (TNA) Bank of Thailand (BOT)

BANGKOK, Aug 16 (TNA) - Thai government agencies led by the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) Wednesday agreed with the country's leading department stores, to ban all sales of pirated products within department stores and concessionary areas, according to DIP deputy director-general, Banyong Limprayoonwong. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covers concessionary areas rented or permitted in areas adjoining department stores, including mall corridors and sidewalks, as well as smaller agents within department store areas. Deputy Commerce Minister Preecha Laohapongchana presided over the signing ceremony at the ministry among the Department of Intellectual Property, the National Police Bureau, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Ministry of Interior and the executives of department stores to join together to crack down on the sale of illegal products. Under the agreement, the department stores will help supervise the shops and vendors inside and in front of the department stores to ensure that they would not sell products in violation of intellectual property agreements in effect, including CDs, DVDs and any other kinds of pirated products. "If (the independent shops and vendors) are found selling the pirated products, the department stores will terminate their contracts and inform the authorities to prosecute the violators," the deputy director general said. The Ministry of Commerce would ask for close cooperation from customs offices at border crossings to strictly prevent the influx of pirated movie VCDs and DVDs from neighbouring countries, he said. He noted that international film producers gave a 'thumbs up' to Thailand as the authorities were successfully crack down the pirated products. (TNA)-E003 __________ How many times over the years have we heard that one? It seems like every few weeks there is always going to be a major crackdown on pirated products. Good luck. That would be one way to weaken the baht, though. So many businesses would fold up that three quarters of Thailand would be unemployed. The only places I have ever even seen in Thailand that carry legitimate DVDs is CD Warehouse in the Royal Garden shopping center and a few small outlets here and there such as the one in the Big-C on South Road (Pattaya Tai) . I have yet to see any software shops that carry only legitimate software. It's hard enough to find software shops that carry any legitimate software. As for other pirated products, such as clothing, luggage, colognes, etc, I wish them luck with that too.

Maybe it can be done if the venue itself specifies that what they need is a foreign drag queen or foreign musician, or whatever. I don't know if it can be done that way or not. From what I understand, obtaining the work permit is not really all that difficult, but without one, you can't work, especially if you are in Thailand on a tourist visa, retirement visa, or something similar. It would require a change in the type of visa you might be holding and I have no idea how you would go about making any changes. I can only repeat . . . that and all the other complicating factors is why I keep saying that you should check all this out with a Thai attorney. The last thing on earth I would do, if it were me, would be to rely solely upon guesses made on message boards. The bottom line is so simple - if you don't have a work permit, then don't work.

Some of you might not be aware that it is a crime, under Thai law, to take certain religious items out of Thailand without permission from the Fine Arts Department. If you are caught doing so, then fines and imprisonment can be the result. Many are not certain what is illegal and what is acceptable. For clarification on this matter, click the following link: http://www.expatsingapore.com/buddha.htm You might be interested in the following article from THE NATION: _____ 'Priceless' Buddha Images Seized En Route to the US A container carrying more than 100 Buddha images and artefacts that were about to be smuggled to the United States was impounded yesterday. Makkasan railway police officers and Bangkok customs officers broke open a container carrying the artefacts belonging to 45-year old Jack David Porter, said Customs Department director-general Sathit Limpongpan. Inside the container, officers found 58 Buddha images, two Buddha head images, 63 images of Buddha's great disciples, 14 images of Thai traditional guardian angels, three sacred bookcases and a bag of holy beads, which were hidden among furniture and home decoration items, Sathit said. The investigation found that the items - allegedly bought from the North and Bangkok by Porter - were falsely declared as jewellery boxes, lamps and dolls that were to be transported by ship to the US. Sathit said an initial examination by the Fine Arts Department showed the items were authentic, adding that ancient Buddha images - be they authentic or copies - were prohibited from being exported without permission from the Fine Arts Department. Since the items were wrongfully declared, authorities had seized all the property, said Sathit, adding that the items were priceless. Smuggling prohibited items out of Thailand is punishable with a fine worth four times the item's value, or up to 10 years in jail.

Baht Slightly too Strong, says BOT BANGKOK, Aug 15 (TNA) Bank of Thailand