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Archive-name: thai/general
Soc-culture-thai-archive-name: general
Version: $Id: general,v 2.2 1996/10/31 07:49:42 trin Exp trin $
The "soc.culture.thai Frequently Asked Questions" periodic postings are
divided into 6 parts plus an index. Requests for inclusion, correction
or update can be made by posting a public message or follow-up to this
FAQ.
The current release of these FAQs can be fetched by anonymous FTP from
rtfm.mit.edu (or its mirror sites) under directories:
/pub/usenet/news.answers/thai
/pub/usenet/soc.answers/thai
/pub/usenet/soc.culture.thai
The current copy of the FAQs can be viewed by appropriate tools at the URLs
http://www.nectec.or.th/soc.culture.thai/index.html
ftp://ftp.nectec.or.th/soc.culture.thai
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAL FAQ
General and legal information
* General Information
G.1) What is soc.culture.thai?
G.2) Readership statistics
G.3) Where do I find old articles of soc.culture.thai?
G.4) Where can I get the latest news from Thailand?
G.5) Thai shortwave radio programs
G.6) Units of measurement
G.7) Holidays (revised)
G.8) Resource list
* Legal
X.1) Occupations prohibited to aliens
X.2) Personal income tax
----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL INFORMATION
This part outlines information pertaining to the soc.culture.thai
newsgroup.
Subject: G.1) What is soc.culture.thai?
The soc.culture.thai newsgroup was inaugurated on April 28, 1991 on
the idea of Ayut Nissapa (ayut@ratree.psu.ac.th) proposed in the
soc.culture.asean newsgroup. It was intended to be a forum to discuss
information relevant to Thailand, Thai people and their culture.
Nittida Nuansri (noi@munnari.oz.au) was the coordinator for CFD and
CFV.
Soc.culture.thai charter appears in USENET control message to create
the newsgroup as:
> From tale@rpi.edu Sun Apr 28 17:50:24 1991
> Control: newgroup soc.culture.thai
> Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai.ctl
> Path: rpi!tale
> From: tale@rpi.edu (David C Lawrence)
> Subject: newgroup soc.culture.thai
> Message-ID: <jgygknh@rpi.edu>
> Sender: tale@cs.rpi.edu
> Nntp-Posting-Host: cs.rpi.edu
> Date: 28 Apr 91 21:50:11 GMT
> Approved: tale@rpi.edu
> Lines: 17
>
> soc.culture.thai is an unmoderated newsgroup which passed its vote for
> creation by 300:27 as reported in news.announce.newgroups on 24 April 1991.
>
> For your newsgroups file:
> soc.culture.thai Thai people and their culture.
>
> The charter, culled from the call for votes:
>
> Purposes: - for Thais & any others who are interested in Thai culture
> and other aspects such as :
> - travel information
> - news from Thailand
> - political circumstances
> - Thai food & recipes
> etc.
>
> Language of discussion is English.
Subject: G.2) Readership statistics
According to the USENET readership poll results of January 1995,
soc.culture.thai has an estimated readers of 39,000 worldwide; 66% of
all USENET sites carry this newsgroup; and total monthly traffic is
2035 messages or 4.4 MB.
Also in another readership poll conducted for two weeks by Joy Asawalap
in February 1994, readership distribution is tabulated as following:
Cumulative Cumulative
GENDER Frequency Percent Frequency Percent
----------------------------------------------------
F 22 19.0 22 19.0
M 94 81.0 116 100.0
Cumulative Cumulative
NATION Frequency Percent Frequency Percent
------------------------------------------------------
Australi 4 3.4 4 3.4
Finnish 1 0.9 5 4.3
German 5 4.3 10 8.6
Netherla 1 0.9 11 9.5
Non-Thai 1 0.9 12 10.3
Norway 1 0.9 13 11.2
Sri Lank 1 0.9 14 12.1
Swedish 2 1.7 16 13.8
Swiss 1 0.9 17 14.7
Thai 75 64.7 92 79.3
Thai-US 6 5.2 98 84.5
UK 4 3.4 102 87.9
UK-Aus 1 0.9 103 88.8
US 13 11.2 116 100.0
Cumulative Cumulative
DOMAIN Frequency Percent Frequency Percent
----------------------------------------------------
AU 6 5.2 6 5.2
BE 1 0.9 7 6.0
CA 3 2.6 10 8.6
CH 1 0.9 11 9.5
COM 12 10.3 23 19.8
DE 4 3.4 27 23.3
EDU 61 52.6 88 75.9
FI 1 0.9 89 76.7
GOV 1 0.9 90 77.6
MIL 1 0.9 91 78.4
NL 1 0.9 92 79.3
NZ 3 2.6 95 81.9
ORG 2 1.7 97 83.6
SE 3 2.6 100 86.2
TH 9 7.8 109 94.0
UK 6 5.2 115 99.1
US 1 0.9 116 100.0
Subject: G.3) Where do I find old articles of soc.culture.thai?
There is an effort at the National Electronics and Computer Technology
Center (NECTEC) in Bangkok to build an archive for soc.culture.thai.
A large part of the collection came from Linitda Sooksomstarn,
linitda@tlaeng.enet.dec.com, of Digital Equipment Corporation (Thailand)
for all articles which arrived at their news server between late March 1992
thru mid October 1993. The archive is located at URL:
ftp://news.nectec.or.th/pub/archives/soc.culture.thai/
Send old articles by e-mail to news@nectec.or.th for inclusion.
Duplicates will be automatically sorted out.
Subject: G.4) Where can I get the latest news from Thailand?
Some of the latest news in Thai language from Thai News Agency are available
for anonymous FTP from ftp.cs.washington.edu (a.k.a. june) in the directory
/pub/thaisys/thainews. To read these news, follow the instructions provided
in a README file in that directory.
A raw news archive is available at:
ftp://ftp.nectec.or.th/pub/news
Use InfoZIP's unzip5.0p1 (or later) with a command line switch -a to unpack
on non-MSDOS platforms or use PKWARE Inc's PKUNZIP 2.04g (or later) to
unpack on MSDOS.
News from the Thai News Agency, Mass Communications Organization of
Thailand, is provided as a courtesy service from SysOp of the Datanet BBS
in Bangkok, Khun Samart Sririangkana (samart@nwg.nectec.or.th).
Besides, news in English is also occasionally posted to soc.culture.thai
by volunteer netters in Thailand.
Alternatively, news related to Thailand can be found in the newsgroups
clari.news.international.gov and bit.listserv.seasia-l (or the SEASIA-L
mailing list)
Subject: G.5) Thai shortwave radio programs
1. BBC Thai language - Short wave Radio Broadcasting from London, UK.
Time is in Bangkok timezone: 7 hours ahead of GMT, no daylight saving.
6.30-7.00 (morning)
6.08 7.16 11.865 MHz
49 41 25 m
19.30-20.00 (night)
7.16 9.605 11.92 21.59 MHz
41 31 25 13 m
23.15-23.30 (midnight)
6.065 7.105 9.605 MHz
49 41 31 m
Subject: G.6) Units of measurement
THAI UNITS OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
-----++++O++++-----
_____________________________________________________________________________
| Approximately equal to:
MEASURE OF LENGTH: |
| British | Metric
|--------------------|---------------------
1 kabiet | 3/16 inch | 5 millimeters
4 kabiet = 1 nieu | 3/4 inch | 2 centimeters
12 nieu = 1 keub | 10 inches | 25 centimeters
2 keub = 1 sawk | 1 ft. 7 1/2 ins. | 50 centimeters
4 sawk = 1 wah | 6 ft. 6 1/4 ins. | 2 meters
20 wah = 1 sen | 44 yards | 40 meters
400 sen = 1 yote | 10 miles | 16 kilometers
__________________________________|____________________|_____________________
| |
MEASURE OF SURFACE: | British | Metric
|--------------------|---------------------
1 sq. wah | 4.78 sq.yards | 4 sq. meters
100 sq. wah = 1 ngan | 478 sq. yards | 400 sq. meters
4 ngan = 1 rai(1 sq.sen) | 2/5 acre | 1,600 sq. meters
__________________________________|____________________|_____________________
| |
MEASURE OF CAPACITY: | British | Metric
|--------------------|---------------------
1 standard tanan | | 1 litre
20 standard tanan=1 standard sat | | 20 litres
50 standard sat = 1 standard ban | | 1,000 litres
2 standard ban=1 standard kwien | | 2,000 litres
__________________________________|____________________|_____________________
| |
PADDY AND RICE MEASURE: | British | Metric
|--------------------|---------------------
1 coyan = 16 pikuls paddy | 2,133 1/3 lbs. | 968 kilograms
1 coyan = 22 pikuls cargo rice | 1.31 tons | 1,330 kilograms
1 kwien = 23 pikuls white rice | 1.37 tons | 1,391 kilograms
The rice miller's kwien is:- | |
82 baskets of 40 lbs. each | |
= 24 pikuls | 1.46 tons | 1,488 kilograms
__________________________________|____________________|_____________________
| |
WEIGHT: | British | Metric
|--------------------|---------------------
1 baht (tical) | 1/2 oz.(AVDP) | 15 grams
4 baht = 1 tamlung | 2 1/10 oz. (AVDP) | 60 grams
20 tamlung = 1 chang (kati) | 2 5/8 lbs. (AVDP) | 1.2 kilograms
50 chang = 1 hap (pikul) | 133 1/3 lbs.(AVDP) | 60 kilograms
__________________________________|____________________|_____________________
Subject: G.7) Holidays
Date: Mon, 1 Jan 1996 22:44:15 +0700 (GMT+0700)
From: Hugh Thaweesak Koanantakool <htk@nucleus.nectec.or.th>
Subject: 1996 holiday
For Thailand FAQ update
-----------------------------------------------------
1996 Thailand Official Holidays
G=Government
B=Bank
(..) = not official holiday
GB Jan 1 Monday New Year's Day
GB Jan 2 Tuesday Substitution for 1995 New Year's Eve
( Feb 19 Monday Chinese New Year)
-B Mar 4 Monday Subtitution for Makha Bucha Day (Mar 3)
-B Apr 8 Monday Substitution for Chakree Day (Apr 6)
GB Apr 12 Friday Songkran Day
-B May 1 Wednesday National Labour Day
-B May 6 Monday Substitution for Coronation Day (May 5)
G- May 16 Thursday Royal Ploughing Ceremony
GB May 31 Friday Wisakha Bucha day
-B Jul 1 Monday Midyear Bank's Holiday
G- Jul 29 Monday Asarnha Bucha Day
GB Jul 30 Tuesday Buddhist Lent Day
GB Aug 12 Monday H.M.The Queen's Birthday
GB Oct 23 Wednesday Chulalongkorn Day
( Nov 24 Sunday Loy Krathong Day)
GB Dec 5 Thursday H.M.The King's Birthday
GB Dec 10 Tuesday Constitution Day
( Dec 25 Wednesday Christmas Day)
GB Dec 31 Tuesday New Year's Eve
=============================================================================
G=For Government Only
B=For Bank Only
Subject: G.8) Resource (reading) list
A compilation of reading lists on various subjects pertaining to Thais,
Thai culture and Thailand is accessible from world-wide web at URL:
http://www.nectec.or.th/resource-list.html
Original articles are available for anonymous FTP from ftp.nectec.or.th
in directory /soc.culture.thai/SCTinfo/resources.
ftp://ftp.nectec.or.th/soc.culture.thai/SCTinfo/resources/
Subject: X.1) Occupations prohibited to aliens
From: uthke@iabg.de (Ekkehard Uthke)
Date: 14 Feb 1994 07:28:18 GMT
The following is an excerpt from a brochure of the Department of Labour:
Occupations and Provisions Prohibited to Aliens under the Royal Decree
B.E. 2522 (1979)
1. Labouring
2. Work in agriculture, animal breeding, forestry, fishing and farm
supervision (excluding specialized work)
3. Masonry, carpentry and other construction work
4. Wood carving
5. Driving of motor vehicles and non-motorised carriers (except piloting
international aircraft)
6. Shop attendant
7. Auctioneering
8. Supervising, auditing and giving services in accountancy (except
occasional internal auditing)
9. Gem cutting or polishing
10. Hair cutting, hairdressing, and beautician work
11. Hand weaving
12. Mat weaving or fabrication of wares from reed, kenaf, straw or bamboo
pulp
13. Manual fibrous paper fabrication
14. Lacquerware fabrication
15. Thai musical instrument fabrication
16. Nielloware fabrication
17. Goldsmith, silversmith, or other precious metalwork
18. Bronzeware fabrication
19. Making Thai dolls
20. Mattress or padded blanket fabrication
21. Alms bowls fabrication
22. Manual silk product fabrication
23. Buddha image fabrication
24. Knife fabrication
25. Paper or cloth umbrella fabrication
26. Shoemaking
27. Hat making
28. Brokerage or agency work (except in international business)
29. Civil engineering work involving designing, calculation, organization,
research, planning, testing construction, supervision or advisory
work (except work requiring specialized skills)
30. Architectural work involving designing, drawing or estimating, and
construction supervision or advisory work
31. Dressmaking
32. Pottery or ceramics
33. Manual cigarette rolling
34. Tourist guide or tour organizing agency
35. Hawking business
36. Thai character type-setting
37. Manual silk reeling and weaving
38. Clerical or secretarial work
39. Legal or litigation services
Subject: X.2) Personal income tax
From: mbarnes@bismark.east.Sun.COM (Mike Barnes)
Date: 20 May 1994 22:19:49 GMT
Personal Income Tax
Every person, resident or non-resident, who derives assessable
income from employment or business in Thailand or has assets
located in Thailand, is subject to personal income tax, whether
such income is paid in or outside of Thailand. Exemptions are
granted to certain persons, including U.N officers, diplomats and
certain visiting experts, under the terms of international and
bilateral agreements.
Personal income tax is applied on a graduated scale as follows:
Net Annual Income (Baht) Tax Rate
60,000 - 100,000 5%
101,000 - 500,000 10%
501,000 - 1,000,000 20%
1,000,000 - 4,000,000 30%
4,000,001 or above 37%
Individuals residing for 180 days or more in Thailand for any cal-
endar year are also subject to income tax on income from foreign
sources if that income is brought into Thailand during the same
taxable year that they are a resident.
Exchange control laws stipulate that all foreign exchange earned
by a resident, whether or not derived from employment or business
in Thailand, be brought into Thailand within seven days of acqui-
sition, unless permission for an extension is granted.
Personal income taxes and tax returns are due prior to the end of
March of the year following the year in which the income was
earned.
A standard deduction of 40 percent, but not in excess of Baht
60,000, is permitted against income from employment or services
rendered or copyrights. Standard deductions ranging from 10 to 85
percent are allowed fro other categories of income. In general,
however, taxpayers may elect to itemize expenses in lieu of taking
standard deductions or income from sources specified by law.
The following annual personal exemptions are permitted:
Taxpayer Baht 30,000
Taxpayer's Spouse Baht 30,000
Each Child Baht 15,000
Each Child's Education Baht 2,000
For Taxpayer and Spouse for
contributions to a Provident Fund Baht 10,000
For Taxpayer and Spouse for interest payment
on loans for purchasing, hire-purchasing or
construction of residential buildings Baht 10,000
Only three children per taxpayer family qualify for the child
allowance, but this limitation applies only to children born on or
after 1 January 1979. Therefore, in counting the number of chil-
dren, a child born prior to 1979 can also be counted. For example,
a taxpayer with four children born before 1979 continue to qualify
for an aggregate allowance of Baht 60,000. A fifth child, born in
1979, would not qualify.
Additional taxes can be assessed within a period of ten years from
the date of filing a return, but authority to issue a summons for
examination is limited to 5 years after the filing date. If an
individual fails to file a return, an assessment may be issued
within a period of then years from the filing due date.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Acknowledgements
The original soc.culture.thai FAQ was proposed, put together and initially
maintained by Thanachart Numnonda (thanon@ccu1.auckland.ac.nz).
This part of the soc.culture.thai FAQ cannot be completed without
information from the following contributors:
Alan Dawson (alan.dawson@wov.com) for G.6;
C Tantipaibulvut (C.tantipaibulvut@lut.ac.uk) for G.5;
Ekkehard Uthke (euthke@siam.muc.de) for X.1;
John Brubaker (staff@emailhost.ait.ac.th) for Gopher search update to G.3;
Joy Aswalap (joy@cc1.unt.edu) for G.2 and passing on G.6;
Linitda Sooksomstarn (linitda@tlaeng.enet.dec.com) for soc.culture.thai
archive in G.3;
Mike Barnes (mbarnes@bismark.east.Sun.COM) for X.2;
Hugh Thaweesak Koanantakool (htk@nectec.or.th) for G.7; and,
Trin Tantsetthi (trin@nwg.nectec.or.th) for G.1, G.2, G.3, G.4 and G.8.
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