Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing arrests in Thailand. We are specifically discussing this in connection with some of the lockdown mandates. Probably those who are watching this video this might be something of a moot point. Some might say this a little bit too little too late. Bear in mind we are still dealing with certain aspects of these lockdowns, whatever you want to call them, restrictions so I think it is still relevant. The other thing is me personally, just as a taxpayer, as a Thai, I have to ask the question: "Is this really the best use of public time and resources?" I will explain what I am talking about here.

A recent article from ASEAN NOW, aseannow.com, that is formerly thaivisa.com, the article is titled: 24 Foreigners, Thais Arrested After Raid at Luxury Villa in Koh Samui. Quoting directly: "Twenty four people were arrested during a raid on a luxury villa in Koh Samui during the early hours of Saturday morning August 21. Officers from Bophut Police and Surat Thani Immigration carried out the raid after receiving a tip-off a party was taking place. When Officers went to investigate they found several motorcycles and cars parked outside and loud music coming from the property. Police said a party was being held in the basement of the villa." They go into detail in this. I urge you again check this out, aseannow.com, 24 Foreigners, Thais Arrested After Raid at Luxury Villa in Koh Samui.

Then another one and this is from the Nation, that is nationthailand.com, the article is titled: 19 People get Jail Sentence for Partying in Defiance of Emergency. I find the use of the term emergency somewhat odd under these circumstances; this is just an aside. We have been at this over 18 months okay. Emergency has a notion of urgency attached to it and I am having a harder and harder time calling the situation an emergency, but okay, that is my opinion. Quoting directly: "The Bangkok North Municipal Court on Thursday sentenced 19 adult party goers to 3 years imprisonment and BT15,000 fine per person for breaching Emergency Decree ban on gathering more than five people." Then further, this is again from ASEAN NOW, that is aseannow.com, again legacy thaivisa.com, the article is titled: Police caught dining-in Bangkok Restaurant. Quoting directly: "Thai social media went ballistic that it was “one rule for us and another rule for them” when 2 police officers attached the Rom Klao police force in Bangkok were caught having dinner at a “Laap Yaso” restaurant."

The point I am trying to make is with respect to, I have seen some other articles on this. Folks get arrested for having drinks at their house or whatever based on anonymous tips. I find these folks that are tipsters a little bit concerning; that is neither here nor there but my point in this video is "how much good does this do?" I kind of understand, presuming the premise is valid that you want to have people not gathering together and things although as I l have noted in other videos, I think reasonable people can disagree on that, and I am very uncertain based on what I have seen in red that the data bears out any of that, any of those conclusions. Leaving that aside, presuming it is a valid reason to go ahead and deal with this, for police to respond, my question is do these folks have to be arrested? They are given jail sentences? They have to be processed through the system. I mean those are public resources being expended. Again if the premise is valid, in my opinion, why not just show up and break it up. Just get folks out of there and move on. I mean why is arrest necessary? If it is for a deterrent, a deterrent of what? A deterrent presumes a long-term thinking. This is supposedly at least a temporary situation; an emergency which is not presumed to be permanent. So again, a police response that goes in and deals with folks but then says "hey get out of here" maybe that is the better way to deal with it. I don't know but I do seriously have questions about whether or not this is the best use of police resources especially when you consider just because we are in the current circumstances we are in, it doesn't mean there is not what I would call genuine criminals out there doing their thing. Maybe it would be a better idea to be investigating that rather than worrying a great deal about folks who are doing stuff that months ago was not considered to be any kind of a big deal. Meanwhile okay if you do presume again that it is valid, arresting people? Jail terms? I think it is a little over the top and at the same time a waste of resources and it is not even really in line with the intentions behind the emergency rules because putting someone in jail presumably you are putting them in a confined place with other people. Aren't they more likely to possibly get and spread something? I don't know but I think those are valid questions to ask.