HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: kamol@ipied.tu.ac.TH (Kamol Hengkietisak)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Bangkok Post Dec 30: Praman's wife sued for illegal gains.
Date: 5 Jan 1993 19:26:34 +1100
Organization: Mail/News gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: munnari.oz.au

 
THE Finance Ministry has filed a suit against Thanpuying Charoen 
Adireksarn demanding she hand over 10 million baht which her 
husband, Chart Thai Party leader Pramarn Adireksarn, is suspected 
of acquiring while serving as interior minister in the Chatichai 
Choonhavan Cabinet.
 
The lawsuit was filed with the Civil Court by Permanent Secretary 
for Finance Pandit Boonyapana yesterday.
 
The ministry stated in its lawsuit that under National 
Peace-keeping Council Order No 26 a committee was set up to 
examine the assets of politicians and Cabinet ministers in the 
Chatichai administration suspected of acquiring extra wealth while 
in office.
 
The assets examination committee ruled that Pol Gen Pramarn had 
acquired extra wealth worth about 139.7 million baht.
 
This included 9.9 million baht in Thanpuying Charoen's bank 
account at Bangkok Bank's Soi Aree branch.
 
The money was deposited by Pol Gen Pramarn's wife in a series of 
eight deposits. Thanpuying Charoen told the Finance Ministry the 
money was part of a 10 million baht debt owed her by a man 
identified as Vichit Chavananand.
 
Thanpuying Charoen could not produce evidence to support her claim 
however and the Finance Ministry thought this strange because of 
the huge amount involved.
 
The ministry also stated in its lawsuit that Thanpuying Charoen 
did not pay any personal income tax and Pol Gen Pramarn had 
testified to the assets examination committee that his wife had no 
income.
 
It is therefore thought the money in the bank was deposited by 
Thanpuying Charoen on behalf of Pol Gen Pramarn.
 
The Finance Ministry is demanding that Thanpuying Charoen hand 
over the money plus 7.5 per cent interest amounting to a further 
10.3 million baht.
 
The court accepted the suit for consideration.
From: douglas@rush.emc.trw.com (Douglas McHugh)
Subject: Establishing a link to the NET
Organization: TRW Space & Defense, Redondo Beach, CA
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 18:21:12 GMT

I have been reading this news group and I have noticed that
through some process, this net has gained access directly into Thailand.

I will be going to Kuwait and would like to know what steps would be   
required to set up NET access directly into Kuwait.  Any help would
be appreciated.


douglas


-- 
Douglas McHugh   
douglas@tesla.emc.trw.com
TRW Inc. S-2470                (213) 812-4679
One Space Park, S-2470, Redondo Beach, California 90278   USA
From: kamol@ipied.tu.ac.TH (Kamol Hengkietisak)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Bangkok Post Dec 30: PULO bombing dismissed
Date: 5 Jan 1993 19:26:22 +1100
Organization: Mail/News gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: munnari.oz.au

 
ARMY Commander-in-Chief Vimol Wongwanich and Police 
Director-General Sawasdi Amornvivat both discounted the idea 
yesterday that last week's bomb blast at a bus terminal was the 
work of PULO terrorists.
 
Gen Vimol said the blast which left five dead was more likely to 
be the result of a conflict of interests than politically related.
 
He said no soldiers were involved in the bombing as none of his 
subordinates would ever do such a thing.
 
Pol Gen Sawasdi said he did not think the Pattani United 
Liberation Organisation (PULO) was behind the attack but this was 
a possibility which had still not been ruled out.
 
A letter written in the Yawi language used by PULO was found on 
the bus, but that might have only been a "ruse" to distract 
police, he said.
 
Police have found that there was a certain conflict of interest 
which led to the blast, he said without giving any details.
 
Also under investigation is a watch vendor who may have sought 
revenge after officials at the Talad Plu bus terminal failed to 
take action when he reported he had lost a bag containing watches 
worth several hundred thousand baht on one of the buses a week 
earlier.
 
Deputy Interior Minister Suthas Ngernmuen said the blast was not 
"an ordinary event" and "a psycho may have done it merely to cause 
a sensation".
 
He said the Police Department must come up with answers for 
Interior Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and the people on who was 
responsible for the blast, why they have not been found and 
arrested, and how such terrorist acts can take place so often.
 
Police sources said police were also looking into whether a group 
of seven people, including some women, were responsible for the 
blast.
 
The group is suspected of planning the bombing at a hotel at Siyak 
Bankaek not far from Talad Plu.
 
Meanwhile, Gen Chavalit said the police would uncover who bombed 
the bus terminal "in a day or two" as they already had enough 
information.
 
The Interior Minister said a certain group might possibly be 
responsible for all three bombings in Bangkok in recent months.
 
He said it only took two people to carry out the terrorist acts 
and did not reflect a worsening of the political situation.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
From: ssg9328@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Samart Srijumnong)
Subject: Re: Thai Views on Gift Giving
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Distribution: soc
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 20:07:46 GMT

tstil@Auspex.COM (Tim Stilwell) writes:


> Sawasdee Khrup Tuk Kon

>............stuffs deleted

> So, should I wrap the presents or not?

It's me again, Tim. I am often fasinated with your never ending 
curiosity. In a way, your questions help me too. They serve as 
a measure to check my Thai cultural knowledge. I will try to answer
them though you may want to hear somebody else doing them.

I believe wrapping the present is good strategy, particularly in the
Thai context where expression is not a norm. If you give someone a gift
totally unwrapped, the taker might find a hard time expressing feeling
to please you. In fact, gift-giving is quite new to the Thais but it
is becoming routined now. Even so, culture has found it way into the
relationship between the giver and the taker.

> Also, last time I visited, I gave my girlfriend about 7-8 gifts.  I gave
> her all of the gifts on the first day and nothing (but fun dates) for the
> remaining 6 weeks.  This time I have about 5 gifts.  Should I give her
> all of the gifts on the first day or every other day?

I would say giving her all at once is a good move. You may also save some
for some particular occasions to come (e.g. her birthday, valentine days).
I assume she cares about your feeling toward her than the things you give
her. To some extent, thgifts act as token of your caring attitude. So 
long as you have such profound feeling for her, stop worry about the
quantity and the price the gift(s) you are going to give her. 

> Opinions please... (Thai ladies?  which method is more romantic?)

Sorry, I not a lady. So other ladies out there, please help.

> Also, I have 1-2 gifts for each of her family members.  Should I distribute
> the gifts all at once or every other day? 

I would say you give to them after you give to your girlfriend. Normally,
you may have to give some gifts to her parents. If she has sibblings, you
may need to give them too. It helps buying their liking. Again, the price
is not so important than the exoticness of it. Poor Tim, you must have
spent a lot of money for all these gifts. Anyway, if you are willing to
give them, you yourself will feel good about yourself, as a giver. You seem
to be a nice guy. Shall I say your girlfriend is a lucky girl? In any case,
bon voyage and have a happy marriage.



Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
From: mrynders@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (Maurice Rynders)
Subject: Re: American Boy marries Thai Girl
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 17:26:40 GMT

In article <16198@auspex-gw.auspex.com> tstil@Auspex.COM (Tim Stilwell) writes:
>
> Next week, I will be traveling to Thailand to marry my sweetheart of two
> years.  If you can find the time, I would appreciate any offerings of
> good luck!  :-)   I am very superstitious.  I have my good luck string
> already.  And I received the New Year's blessing.  And I asked her to
> think it over twice before agreeing not to wait any longer.  BUT, I am
> still very nervous.  Excited too, but also nervous.  What if she changes
> her mind...
>
(stuff deleted....)
>
> tim
>
Oh boy, Tim, it surely sounds like she captured your heart! I truly wish
you 2 lots of happyness! May you become as happy as my wife and I are with
each other! 
Question: Are you going to live in Thailand? If so, does this mean that
this was one of your last messages on s.c.t.?
Some advise (uncalled for, I know): treat her with respect and always
consider her opinions. The best way to make it work (especially when 2
different cultures are involved) is to make sure that both of you
understand the other's feelings/ideas. Don't keep differences of opinion
to yourselves, that will eventually get back at you.   

Best wishes / Congrats!

MCR 1/4/'93

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Maurice C. Rynders, Department of Visual sciences, School of Optometry, 
Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405  
(812)855-9709 (office)  (812)857-6799 (home)  (812)855-6616 (fax)  
		e-mail: mrynders@gold.ucs.indiana.edu
		         "20/20, 4U2!"   
-----------------------------------------------------------------------



Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
From: godfrey@vxdesy.desy.de
Subject: Re: "The Good Woman of Bangkok"
Organization: (DESY, Hamburg, Germany)
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1993 02:06:24 GMT

In article <1993Jan12.134449.22915@netcom.com>, messina@netcom.com (Tony Porczyk) writes:
> serious economic force.  Other countries will fill in the void.
> In fact, if you look at who works at many of the clubs in Bangkok,


I take it issue with you there - Thailand is nowhere near becoming a
serious world economic force, not least because of the high level of
corruption in government, the instability of its so-called democracy,
the near-impossibility of doing business in an environment where almost
every official and police officer is dishonest, and the very severe
restrictions on flow of money into and out of the country

Laurence
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
From: boem@cix.compulink.co.uk (Martin Venzky-stalling)
Subject: American boy marries Thai girl
Reply-To: boem@cix.compulink.co.uk
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 23:57:00 +0000


I just wanted to say that I very much agree with Abi's comments on
Tim's declaration of love. I do not understand people who say that he 
(Tim) explained his reasons for loving and marrying the Thai girl in
"a very beautiful way". I should think that Tim's intention are good, 
but his attitude, conceptions, etc. fall short of being what I would
describe as being very beautiful. But after all these comments I am
sure that they were though provoking.

Martin - (Boem)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
From: ssg9328@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Samart Srijumnong)
Subject: Re: Hello? Anyone? What is real MEAN value of $US in Thailand?
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 23:07:57 GMT

Adam Lawrence Salter <adam@zooid.guild.org> writes:


> 
> Hello! I would like to get some idea of the real or "mean" or whatever value 
>of US dollars in Thailand. For example, how much land, food etc. costs. How 
>much an average yearly salary is, how much money one needs to survive, per 
>year or any other related information. 
> 
> 
>                                                Any Help Greatly Appreciated, 
>                                                         Adam Salter 
> 
>adam@zooid.guild.org 

I left Thailand in 1988 and have never returned so the following information
could be obsolete. If anyone has better accurate information, please advise.

First of all, we have to be specific where in Thailand we talk about. I assume
Khu Adam is interested in the cost of living in Bangkok in term of US dollars.

As far as annual salary, there are three sectors in Thailand: private, state
enterprise, and government. Those who work with private sector normally 
get 2 to 20 times higher than those who are government employees depending
on positons in the organization. The state enterprise, e.g. Telephone Auority
of Thailand, Railway Authority, Electricity Generation Authority, Port 
Authority, and the likes, give their workers higher salary and fringe benefits
than those employed by the government agencies. The ration is probably from
2 to 10 times. 

Thailand GNP per capita is about US$1,650. Probably 60-70% of the population
have income below this level. 

A town house (2 bedroom) with 25 square waa (unit of land measuring which
is equal to 4 square meters) may costs from 200,000 to 500,000 baht in the
neighborhood which is about 5-10 kilometers far from main streets. Keep
in mind that 26 baht is 1 US$. 

A simple lunch costs 15-25 baht. It one chooses to eat in a restaurant, it
will be at least 5 times higher. In most schools and universities, food prices
are controlled, 7-10 baht per meals.

A new Japanese car costs from 500,000 to 1,000,000 baht. A 6 cubic feet 
refrigerator costs approximately 5,000-7,000 baht. A stamp costs 2.50 baht.
To get on a Bangkok bus, one has to pay 2.50 baht on the regular buses, and
5-20 baht on airconditioned buses depending on the distance. 

A Ph.D holder, if works with the government, will get about 7,000 baht a month,
MA 5,000 and BA 3,000. 

Khun Adam, if you really want to know the real relative prices of living in
Thailand, please consult current issues of Asiaweek which reports how much
a unit of particular goods cost in most Asian and some Western cities. They
also report GNP per capita from which you can calculate such relative costs
of living. 

I hope it helps and for those who have better valid information, please 
make any necessary corrections.
From: kxc@ariel.ucs.unimelb.EDU.AU (Khuanchai Chooboonraj)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Re: American Boy marries Thai Girl
Date: 4 Jan 1993 23:02:08 +1100
Organization: University of Melbourne
NNTP-Posting-Host: ariel.ucs.unimelb.edu.au

Congratulations!

Have a happy marriage!!!

Have a lot of kids!!!

kc

Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
From: ssg9328@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Samart Srijumnong)
Subject: What're up in other newsgroups...(as of 01/09/93)
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 03:21:06 GMT
Keywords: Thailand


From:       clarinews@clarinet.com (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.news.law.investigation
Subject:    Thai police officer charged with murder of Saudi businessman
Date:       Thu, 7 Jan 93 3:16:05 PST


From:       clarinews@clarinet.com (SUE DOWNIE)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.news.politics,clari.news.fighting
Subject:    U.N. says Thais cooperating in enforcement of sanctions
Date:       Fri, 8 Jan 93 4:14:46 PST
From: salkovic@vax.sonoma.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Dowry/Monkhood
Date: 9 Jan 93 01:12:07 GMT
Organization: Sonoma State University


    I am interested in two items;

1. I have a Thai fiancee (still living in Thailand) and I wanted to
know what a proper dowry amount would be. Is this standardized ?
My girlfriend is a newsgirl and her family is of modest means. She
lives/works in Chiangmai while her widowed mother and the rest of her 
family lives in Phe (hard to translate Thai names).
   I plan on formalizing the engagement in August. What can I
expect to pay for the wedding ceremony/engagement rings etc ?
I want to know so that I have the money before I return.

2. I was planning on becoming a monk before I finalize our
marriage. Although I am not a strict Therevada Buddhist (Zen 
Buddhism as a pathway to enlightenment appeals to my nature
better) I feel becoming a monk for a short time would be
good for several reasons;

- I am not a believer or disbeliever in the Buddhist system of merit
but I do believe becoming a monk will bring happiness, of some
form, to my girlfriend's family

- Becoming a monk will help me to assimilate Thai culture further

- The experience should enrich my life

  I speak/read/write Thai approxiametely equivalent to a five year old
Thai child but I do not know Pali. What should I do in preparation
for becoming a monk and what advice can I have as to the 
preacticality/desirablility etc. of my becoming a monk ?

   Khrob Koon Maak samhrub kaamphriksa

   Steve "Grataay"
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
From: mptj@vax5.cit.cornell.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Re: American boy & Thai girl
Date: 11 Jan 93 20:50:26 EST
Distribution: soc
Organization: Cornell University

I am not trying to start an everlasting argument, so this will be my last 
posting on this subject, but it seems like the following message comes from a
user who cannot post, and obviously wanted to say something, so here it is.
As this is my last posting on the subject, I would like to wish Tim and his
bride-to-be a very long, happy and fulfilling marriage life together.

	Abi



From:	IN%"cesloane@staff.tc.umn.edu"  9-JAN-1993 23:34:55.38
To:	IN%"mptj@VAX5.CIT.CORNELL.EDU"
CC:	
Subj:	Praise for your response to Tim

Dear Abi: 

I have a non-interactive account, so I can't contribute to the sct network
directly; I can only read the postings through Gopher. However, I did
manage to read your rather detailed reply to young Tim's immodest
declaration of love. Congratulations! I have found it a bit of a dilemma
in reading his horrendously racist and sexist statements, but all imbued
with a puppy-dog eagerness and curiosity. He says these deeply oppressive
things, but without the malice one often associates with such attitudes.
Your reply, I felt, was balanced and kept a good perspective.  Let's see
if she just wants the green card. 

Cliff Sloane, Ethnomusicology
Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis
From: tstil@Auspex.COM (Tim Stilwell)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: How to Wai' Phra
Date: 6 Jan 93 00:19:46 GMT
Distribution: soc
Organization: Auspex Systems, Santa Clara


 Sawasdee Khrup Tuk Kon

 Can somebody clarify these behavior questions for me please?

 I know that we Buddhists are supposed to wai' all phra (monks) because we
 are showing respect for the robe.

 I also know that we have to keep our heads lower than theirs as another
 sign of respect.  For example:

 	1. Don't reach over their heads for any reason.
	
	2. Sit on the floor if they are seated in chairs.

	3. Sit with our feet pointed to the side and behind if they
           are sitting cross-legged.

 I also know that we have to grap^ (prostrate) 3 times to them if they
 teach us something.

 What I don't understand is this: 

	When do we have to hold our hands together while speaking to them?

	I have seen a few ladies (never men) do this when speaking to any
	monk, but I thought they were extra religious or something.  I
	have seen some ladies do this whenever they see a wat (temple).

	Khun Brian told me that if the monk is very important, you have
	to do this when speaking, but only if he is very important.

	Last week, everyone (even men) at the New Year's Eve meditation 
	and blessing ceremony would do this to all of the monks.  I know
	these monks and none of them are very important (if you know what 
	I mean).

 How do we tell if the monk is important?

	I know that any boy below age 20 becomes a nain (novice) if he 
	wears the yellow robe.

	I also know that any man age 20 or more becomes a phra (monk)
	if he wears the yellow robe.  He may also be called lungphi+ 
	(brother) or tahn (sir).  He is also called ajarn (instructor)
	if he teaches something.

	I also know that any phra who completes study at the Buddhist
	University becomes a phra maha (great monk).
	
	I also know that the abbot is called bratahn.

	But none of these monks are very important.  What are the
	important titles?

 Also, what is the noun descriptor for monks?  If I want to say, "The
 temple has 4 monks," I must say "Wat mi phra si' kon" only kon (person)
 is the wrong word.

 Khawp Khun Khrup

 tim


	
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
From: g9utxu@fnma.COM (Tanin Uthayanaka)
Subject: Forward soc.culture.vietnamese
Reply-To: g9utxu@fnma.COM
Organization: Fannie Mae
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 22:30:31 GMT

vqt00@DUTS.ccc.amdahl.com (Married With Children)
Subject: $US4000 to get screened in as a political refugee ?
Date: 6 Jan 93 21:04:12 GMT


I have just received a letter from my cousin from Panat Nikhom, Thailand.
In his letter, he asks me for a loan of $US 4,000.  He says he just finds
a contact in Thailand who could get him screened in as a political refugee.
His contact from Thailand tells him that he does not have to pay until he
gets screened in.  I really don't know what to do.

- Has any netter got any success by bribing the Thai official to get
  screened in ?

- Does this sound like a plot to get money from Vietnamese refugee ?

Any info., suggestion, advice is appreciated.  Thanks
From: kamol@ipied.tu.ac.TH (Kamol Hengkietisak)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Bangkok Post Dec 31: Sivavong: I will always be faithful
Date: 5 Jan 1993 19:25:12 +1100
Organization: Mail/News gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: munnari.oz.au

 
INDUSTRY Permanent Secretary Sivavong Changkhasiri yesterday 
compared himself to a "wife" who sometimes could not fulfil the 
wishes of her husband "but never betrayed him".
 
Interior Minister Sanan Khachornprasart had earlier threatened to 
have Mr Sivavong removed if he did not transfer the Mineral 
Resources Department director-general, Charoen Piencharoen.
 
Mr Sivavong's comments as to his faithfulness were made at a 
yearend get-together for ministry officials and the three 
ministers, Maj-Gen Sanan and deputies Pornthep Techapaibul and 
Kiatchai Chaichaovarat.
 
Maj-Gen Sanan yesterday pleaded for cooperation from the 
officials.
 
He said he was glad to meet with them and admitted that there had 
been some misunderstandings in the past because he had not been 
properly informed.
 
Maj-Gen Sanan said he and Mr Kiatchai were upcountry boys who 
might speak more bluntly than natives of Bangkok, but he gave an 
assurance that none of the three ministers would do anything which 
would hurt the officials.
 
The minister told the officials he was surprised to be given the 
industry portfolio, but vowed to cooperate fully with officials.
 
The get-together proceeded smoothly until Mr Kiatchai took the 
opportunity to rebuke officials when they presented Mr Charoen 
with a bouquet of flowers. He said the presentation was improper.
 
Mr Sivavong said later he was unaware the presentation was to take 
place.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
From: Adam Lawrence Salter <adam@zooid.guild.org>
Subject: Hello? Anyone? What is real MEAN value of $US in Thailand?
Organization: The Zoo of Ids
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 18:07:09 GMT


 
 Hello! I would like to get some idea of the real or "mean" or whatever value 
of US dollars in Thailand. For example, how much land, food etc. costs. How 
much an average yearly salary is, how much money one needs to survive, per 
year or any other related information. 
 
 
                                                Any Help Greatly Appreciated, 
                                                         Adam Salter 
 
adam@zooid.guild.org 
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai