Job Discussion Forums

[longrob]

I just accepted a job in Hatyai. I would appreciate hearing opinions about security/safety in that area in light of recent events. I assume the Malaysian border towns are not very safe now, but what about Hatyai? Anyone know about Prince of Songkla University medical school as an employer?
Also I have a question about bringing a new laptop into Thailand - will it be taxed?
Thanks.

[JosephP]

Songkhla and Hat Yai are fine. Prince of Songkhla Unniversity is pretty good.
Choke dee.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Greetings longrob:

I have no reason to doubt JosephP's advice whatsoever.

As a typical EFL teacher working at a Thai University, I'm sure you'll be fine.

So far, foreigners don't seem to be targets. Let's hope it stays that way.

Just to play it safe, it might be a good idea to at least be aware of what the various governments are saying, especially in light of the most recent & tragic 'event' in which 78 Muslim protestors died in police custody while being transported to a detention center.

When reading the advisories below, keep in mind that government foreign offices need to err on the side of caution.

With regard to your new laptop; I'm not really sure, but don't leave it in the original box. If it doesn't 'look' brand new they probably won't ask any questions. When I went through Customs back in January, they didn't open any of my bags.


TRAVEL & HEALTH ADVISORIES: (reposted from The Master Index)


www.fco.gov.uk/ (United Kingdom / Foreign & Commonwealth Office)

http://foreignaffairs.gov.ie/services/traveladvice/ (Ireland / Dept. of Foreign Affairs)

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Thailand (Australia / Dept. of Foreign Affairs)

http://www.mfat.govt.nz/travel/countries/thailand.html (New Zealand / Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/asia/country/thailand-en.asp (Canada / Dept. of Foreign Affairs)

http://www.dfa.gov.za/foreign/bilateral/thailand.html (South Africa / Dept. of Foreign Affairs)

http://travel.state.gov/travel/thailand.html (U.S. State Department / Travel Advisories)

http://www.cdc.gov/travel/seasia.htm (CDC Travelers' Health / SE Asia homepage)

http://eng.moph.go.th/ (Thailand Ministry of Public Health)

___________________________________________

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/ (The Nation / a good source of general news from Thailand)

~

[Gringo Greg]

Hat Yai is safe, no worries there....

Prince of Songkhla in Pattani is another story indeed. Pattani is a place to avoid.

Greg

[JosephP]

Well, I have just read that three bommbs have gone off -- one at Hat Yai's airport killing one, injuring a dozen or so thers, one outside the Carrefour, and one outside the Green World Palace Hotel in Songkhla. So, would I still sya Hat Yai and Songklha are safe? I dunno now. Probably they are still okay places to work. Hell, I used to commute six days a week from Songkhla to Hat Yai on motorbike. Now that was dangerous!

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Hi JosephP:

Thanks for the update.

Unfortunately these religious conflicts tend to get worse before they get better. I've lived in 2 countries now where I've seen it happen first-hand: in Russia (in Chechnya with the bombings & hostage drama that spread to Moscow), in The Philippines (on the southern island of Mindanao with the kidnappings & bombings that spread north all the way to Manila) . . .

& now Thailand; hopefully the exception to the rule.

All we can really do is watch the news & travel advisories, talk to people who actually live & work in the region, and try to make informed decisions based on the information we manage to gather from all of those sources.

Let's hope that cool heads on both sides of the conflict will prevail and that The King's influence will make a difference.

--> from BBC News 04/04/05: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4407721.stm