the_numbers Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 I agree. Hundreds of people on a night out got harassed under the presumption they had drugs in their systems or were illegally in Thailand because: THEY WERE IN A BAR The details are this no matter how you colour it. The passport detail is further harassment IMHO and nothing more. The one glaring omission of this whole thread is details: POST BUS TRIP: was anyone actually detained in a cell? what was the paperwork that was presented to the 'farang' on arrival? AT THE POLICE STATION: did everyone have to have their passports delivered - I know some did. I am sure some people don't know anyone who could deliver it and were not staying in a five-star hotel that would help them out. I don't imagine that the police would personally escort hundreds of farangs back to their hotels? LAST DETAIL: what was the fine? was it uniform according to those who had to dole it out? did the BiB nab anyone overstaying a VISA? The Thai police have done this before at Q Bar - last year. The news is just the passport debacle, and the buses. Before it was just urine in cups, a bottlenecked cue at the door and people struggling to get out. The officers just stood leisurely over a table. Ministry of Interior means one thing being that its above the BiB brass. Purachai. He has/is/was/will be the scourge of revelers. He is not just after blokes picking up girls. The guy has something flat out against debauched, drunken, excess - period Frankly I think twice about going out lately... the_numbers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 If everyone who has been 'Harrassed' by the police either at a reputable nightclub, or on the street, protests strongly to their local embassy, or even the media, then perhaps enough pressure will be brought to bare to make the authorities think twice about their policies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 Nobody has mentioned the falang who was caught recently selling other falang passports. This has got to be part of the equation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Toad Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 Exactly and the easist place to steal apssports is in a busy bar if peopel are dumb enough, or forced through circumstance, to carry their passports in such a place! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCgringo Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 ummm OK after reading this thread a couple questions.... Do the hotel have a master key for lock boxes ? I thought you needed both keys , at least at the Dynasty they say you do. When the police brought their "prisoners" back to their hotels to get their passports , how was that done ? again my lock box key is hidden in my room in my suitcase. I would need to go to my room to get it, I guess the police would come back with me to my room ? Once shown the valid passport/visa was that it ? or did they fine you for not having it originally? And did they charge you as "taxi" fee for bringing you back to the hotel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 19, 2004 Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 The law states that a Passport is the only valid form of ID, it must be carried by all foreign visitors to Thailand and can be asked for by any law enforcement agent at any time. What law? I hear this all of the time, and perhaps it is true (and perhaps it is not), but I'd like to know what law states this. Actually if you are permanent resident you may need to carry two additional books, both of them larger than your average passport: (1) a certificate of residence and (2) a larger red book issued by the police station for the district where you officially reside. Oh yes, that reminds me, if you are a permanent resident, you will also have a household registration book. I am not kidding about the need for these documents. At least 80% of the time when I check into a hotel here, they are troubled by the fact that I don?t have the white TM card that is stapled to your passport when you visit Thailand as a visitor. Even though my passport bears an immigrant visa stamp, it still confuses hotel clerks and the police on at least two occasions because they were unfamiliar with it. I guess I will have to tote a small library of documents around with me the next time I step foot out of my condo. The real point here, however, is that carrying a passport (or, in my case, a small library of official documents) is impractical, will create more problems than it solves, and this "law" - if it exists - is just being used as an excuse to harrass and extort money from Farangs. Someone here made the point that this must have been authorized from above. I think that is right. And if that is Thailand's official policy, I think we have an obligation to Thailand to let the rest of travelling world know about this policy and how exactly if being enforced here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jitagawn Posted August 19, 2004 Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 What law? I hear this all of the time, and perhaps it is true (and perhaps it is not), but I'd like to know what law states this. I would like to know as well because as I understand it...Again for the umpteenth time... There is no such law. It all BS-casue they want what they want Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mongatu Posted August 19, 2004 Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 It would be nice to know what the law actually is, however, since the authorities in Thailand act in an arbitrary and capricious manner, it doesn't really matter, does it? Regardless of what the law is, if some officious cop says you need to carry a passport, you need to carry a passport, imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardy641 Posted August 19, 2004 Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 I would also like to know where this infamous law is written. I asked a Farang lawyer who practice here for years and he confirmed that such a law does NOT exist. It is only stated that Thais have to carry their ID card, but nothing about Farangs. Also I am still waiting someone telling if these 104 guys have been fined for not carrying their passports and if how much. Why nobody can provide this information? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shygye Posted August 19, 2004 Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 It may drive me to GTGs. :: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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