Politics in Thailand is definitely interesting.  Last week, at the first gathering of MPs in parliament, MP Chuvit showed a video of an alleged casino right in the heart of Bangkok.

The National Police Chief of Thailand, Pol General Wichean Potephosree, immediately came out and announced that there were no casinos in Bangkok.  This made perfect sense since gambling is illegal (except for the Thailand national lottery).

PM Yingluck glares at Police Chief Wichean Potephosree

Courtesy Bangkok Post

Chuvit persisted and after 3 of 4 days, a raid was conducted.  Lo and behold, the building was empty.  Chuvit then showed a video of the relocation of the casino equipment as slot machines and crap tables were loaded onto trucks.

Well, this pissed off Thailand Deputy Prime Minister, Chalerm, who ordered Police Chief Wichean to eradicate all casinos from Bangkok and gave him three days to do it.  An impossible task.

This set off a flurry of speculation that the Thailand Police Chief had been set up to fail so that the former Thailand Prime Minister, fugitive and puppet master, Thaksin, could maneuver his brother-in-law, Pol General Priewpan Damapong, into the position.  Chuvit, of course, denied that his showing of the video was at all related to the Thailand Police Chief Shuffle.

Now, I read that the real reason behind all this activity, is to get the now former (resigned last night) Police Chief, Wichean, a new job – Minister of Tourism and Sports for Thailand.

What a brilliant plan!

Make Chuvit look good and get everyone thinking that the government of Thailand is actually concerned about fighting corruption, deflect everyone’s view to Thaksin and his ex-wife’s brother, when the real plot was to get a former Police Chief to head up the Tourism Ministry.

I mean, who is better qualified to replace the current, aging Minister of  the Thailand Tourism Ministry than an ousted Police Chief.  This has to be part of the master plan of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her “Vision 2020″ focus to get 30 million tourists to Thailand by 2016.

The Thailand Government has also been busy with other policy changes paving the way to the doubling or tripling of future tourist arrivals.  Here is what has happened in the past month or so since Pheu Thai Party has taken over.

Bangkok to have alcohol free zones

… enforce an alcohol free zone on every public park, government building and police station.

Selling, drinking and advertising alcohol will be prohibited in these places. Alcoholic drinks can only be sold in a shop or a club. The legal age to drink alcohol is 20 years and over. Sales of alcohol will be limited to two periods. From 11.00 hrs – 14.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs – 24.00 hrs.

Technically, this has been going on for a while but is rarely enforced.  I have only seen one 7-11 in Thailand that wouldn’t sell beer to me during the “off” hours.  Not sure if this means that there will be a midnight curfew on bars or not.  And, we are all really disappointed that we can no longer drink alcohol in Thailand police stations.

From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Two new additions when you apply for a tourist visa (for most this is for staying in Thailand more than 30 days).

• Hotel reservation in Thailand with name and dates of checking in/out
• Airline ticket or confirmation slip with flight number and date of entry/exit

Let’s make it a little more difficult for anyone planning a trip to Thailand for more than 30 days. And, lets disregard those that will be visiting a friend and staying at their house in Thailand, an expat coming for 1/2 year to see his wife and his house, tourists who don’t want to make plans in advance and want to just go with the flow and make reservations AFTER they physically see a room.  Thanks MFA.

Then, we have the Mayor of Pattaya, Thailand wanting to rid his city of the sleaze and make it family friendly and a world destination.

Ambitious plans for Pattaya

I got that a little wrong – the Mayor wants it to be world class “greenovative tourism city”.  Will never happen.  This plan requires that the entire infrastructure be rebuilt, new shuttle services put in place, a rail link to Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, and a road to the highway.  He also wants new ports built.  Then, he plans on teaching the folks in Pattaya about green and sustainable lifestyles – like organic farming.  I’m not sure if he realizes it or not, but there has to be about 1 million tourists that go to Pattaya for two things and two things only – booze and pussy.  Well, some only go for the latter.

I guess this is part of the master plan to get more tourists to Thailand – maybe replacing old drunks with families so that the jet ski scammers have new targets, the taxi mafia can now go after larger groups, and maybe the Mayor will have the new beach installed by then.

Thailand needs to sign ASEAN MRA

More of the brilliant strategy – don’t sign the Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals that the other 9 ASEAN countries signed back in January 2009.  This would allow free flow of certified and qualified tourism personnel among the 10 members of the ASEAN Community leading up to AEC 2015. Way to go Thailand!

Yes, I can now see how this Master Plan is taking shape and how Thailand will lead Southeast Asia, ASEAN, and the world in attracting tourists.  In the near future I can see the shadow of Puachai and his raids in Patpong when Thaksin was boss.  The Thailand Social Order Police are the norm and will definitely attract tons of tourists.

Perhaps there will be another drug war in Thailand once the new Police Chief of Bangkok, Thailand gets sworn in – after all – he will take his orders from Thaksin.

Tags: chalerm chuvit Ministry of Tourism and Sports police chief thaksin wichean yingluck