THE National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has made several moves to get the foreign community’s ideas and suggestions on the way Thailand should be run. While recognizing that the vast majority of foreigners living here do so by choice, the BigChilli would like to submit the following list of suggestions that would make life in Thailand even more agreeable
• End the double pricing system used in national parks and by a number of entertainment venues. Instead, ask ‘wealthy’ foreigners to voluntarily pay more than locals.
• Synchronize visas and work permits so they commence from the same date and remain valid for at least a year, or until the holder leaves his or her employment. Also, end the 90-day reporting requirement.
• Make it easier for foreigners with a continuous status here to obtain a residence visa and Thai nationality.
• Give all non-Thai companies the same privileges accorded to American companies under the US-Thai Treaty of Amity, including the right to hold majority of the shares or the whole company, branch office or representative office located in Thailand, and to engage in business on the same basis as Thai companies.
• Synchronize visas and work permits so they commence from the same date and remain valid for at least a year, or until the holder leaves his or her employment. Also, end the 90-day reporting requirement.
• Make it easier for foreigners with a continuous status here to obtain a residence visa and Thai nationality.
• Give all non-Thai companies the same privileges accorded to American companies under the US-Thai Treaty of Amity, including the right to hold majority of the shares or the whole company, branch office or representative office located in Thailand, and to engage in business on the same basis as Thai companies.
• Ask Thais not to use the word “farang’ in a pejorative way.
• Issue a single card for use on both the BTS Skytrain and the MRT underground system.
• Allow foreigners to own land, not more than one rai, for their own use, to be sold to a Thai when they leave Thailand, or to hand it on to a spouse with Thai nationality.
• Reduce or standardise the tax on wine (whisky, which is stronger in terms of alcohol, is actually taxed at a lower rate than wine).
• Issue a single card for use on both the BTS Skytrain and the MRT underground system.
• Allow foreigners to own land, not more than one rai, for their own use, to be sold to a Thai when they leave Thailand, or to hand it on to a spouse with Thai nationality.
• Reduce or standardise the tax on wine (whisky, which is stronger in terms of alcohol, is actually taxed at a lower rate than wine).
