Topic: [2019-04-22]American bitcoin trader may face death penalty over 'sea home' - page 4. (Read 842 times)
April 23, 2019, 04:10:40 PM
Sad to see their current situation and hope Elwar do manage to settle it up. Thai government might need some splash from Early Bitcoin adopter. lol
April 23, 2019, 02:26:02 PM
geez, that didn't last very long. 
i thought he was in legit international waters......it didn't even occur to me this might happen. my prayers go out to them, sounds like a really fucked up situation. hits close to home, elwar is a good dude, been seeing him for years on the spec forum.
i thought he was in legit international waters......it didn't even occur to me this might happen. my prayers go out to them, sounds like a really fucked up situation. hits close to home, elwar is a good dude, been seeing him for years on the spec forum.
April 23, 2019, 12:30:27 PM
They are not going to let that one go.
This is usually same with these poor countries which rely on only tourism as a source of income. They are friendly and welcoming to the foreigners just because you spend your money there. Do not ever think you can mess with the Authorities just because you are rich and the locals like you. Elwar thought that the Thais are friendly to the foreigners and they won't mess with him but guess what, somebody carried out the word to the up highs.
"Some American guy is building a country here! He is a threat to our sovereignty!"
Bam! They can even accuse Elwar for being a spy now. These stuff ain't a joke.
Hopefully he already escaped from that place.
This is usually same with these poor countries which rely on only tourism as a source of income. They are friendly and welcoming to the foreigners just because you spend your money there. Do not ever think you can mess with the Authorities just because you are rich and the locals like you. Elwar thought that the Thais are friendly to the foreigners and they won't mess with him but guess what, somebody carried out the word to the up highs.
"Some American guy is building a country here! He is a threat to our sovereignty!"
Bam! They can even accuse Elwar for being a spy now. These stuff ain't a joke.
Hopefully he already escaped from that place.
April 23, 2019, 12:18:42 PM
That's genuinely saddening. It seems the governments of this world aren't willing to let people prove that not everyone needs them. It doesn't serve their interests to allow people to live independently from the state, otherwise more might follow, which is why they'll fight it at every opportunity.
April 23, 2019, 11:06:24 AM
Doesn't look good
https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/security/1665816/hunted-seastead-couple-traced-to-tarutao-island
I've said it once that you shouldn't trust authorities in those countries, they want to picture theirs like welcoming home for everyone but once you do something they don't like the punishments are at least exaggerated if not crazy.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/security/1665816/hunted-seastead-couple-traced-to-tarutao-island
Quote
The US-Thai couple who built and anchored a seastead floating home off Phuket were last traced to Tarutao island, and the full weight of the law awaits them, authorities said on Tuesday.
Pol Maj Gen Wisarn Phanmanee, the provincial police chief, said American Chad Elwartowski, 46, and Supranee Thepdet's last known location was the southern border island of Tarutao. They were believed to be still within Thai territory, although they had shut down their mobile phones.
Pol Maj Gen Wisarn Phanmanee, the provincial police chief, said American Chad Elwartowski, 46, and Supranee Thepdet's last known location was the southern border island of Tarutao. They were believed to be still within Thai territory, although they had shut down their mobile phones.
I've said it once that you shouldn't trust authorities in those countries, they want to picture theirs like welcoming home for everyone but once you do something they don't like the punishments are at least exaggerated if not crazy.
April 23, 2019, 10:24:44 AM
Not that I am dismissing threats to their safety but we have a lot of death penalties for a lot of things, rarely carried out. Always take a stance not to provoke when in hot water. The govt has also said it will drop the charge (for which carries death penalty) and pursue far less severe charges.
This is news that's a week old, although yesterday it was confirmed in Thai reports that the Navy has, in fact, destroyed Elwar's seastead. He was last online here a day before his last FB post, which suggests he really is trying to stay away.
I'm sure this will become much bigger news if/when some law firm picks up on it. A bit of a shame though. The way it sounded, it was like he'd done all his due diligence before going ahead. And seemingly, they were 20 others planned for construction. Probably what ticked the authorities off. I'm almost sure if everyone had been brought on board first, this wouldn't have happened.
Of course, still sad news for a Bitcoin early adopter. But all reports seem to indicate he's safe and will try return to US.
This is news that's a week old, although yesterday it was confirmed in Thai reports that the Navy has, in fact, destroyed Elwar's seastead. He was last online here a day before his last FB post, which suggests he really is trying to stay away.
I'm sure this will become much bigger news if/when some law firm picks up on it. A bit of a shame though. The way it sounded, it was like he'd done all his due diligence before going ahead. And seemingly, they were 20 others planned for construction. Probably what ticked the authorities off. I'm almost sure if everyone had been brought on board first, this wouldn't have happened.
Of course, still sad news for a Bitcoin early adopter. But all reports seem to indicate he's safe and will try return to US.
April 23, 2019, 09:29:52 AM
qz.com
American bitcoin trader and his girlfriend may face death penalty over Thailand 'sea home'
Elwar here in bitcointalk
his girlfriend Instagram
his facebook
A pirate’s life ain’t all that it’s cracked up to be: A bitcoin couple is sought by Thai authorities after trying to make a lawless, tax-free home on the sea outside Phuket island. If convicted, the duo face a potential death penalty for violating Thailand’s sovereignty.
SEASTEADING/YOUTUBE
Waterfront views
But Chad Elwartowski, a US citizen, and his Thai girlfriend, Supranee “Nadia Summergirl” Thepdet, had already fled the offshore cabin by the time Thai navy personnel arrived at it today (April 20).
“I was free for a moment. Probably the freest person in the world,” Elwartowski posted later on Facebook.
The duo said the cabin, built by an outfit called Ocean Builders, was floating in international waters and therefore without jurisdiction.
Thailand, however, said the structure threatened its sovereignty and plans to tow it to shore. It also revoked Elwartowski’s visa.
The cabin was situated within Thailand’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), but not its territorial sea. (Here’s the location on Google Maps.) Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (pdf), to which Thailand is a party, an EEZ extends 200 nautical miles from a nation’s coastline. Within it, a state has exclusive rights to natural resources such as fish and oil but does not have full sovereignty. It does have the latter within its territorial waters, which extend out 12 nautical miles from the shore.
First seastead is now in international waters. Only currencies accepted..฿ & BTC
The “freest person in the world” faces a possible death penalty in Thailand
A pirate’s life ain’t all that it’s cracked up to be: A bitcoin couple is sought by Thai authorities after trying to make a lawless, tax-free home on the sea outside Phuket island. If convicted, the duo face a potential death penalty for violating Thailand’s sovereignty.
SEASTEADING/YOUTUBE
Waterfront views
But Chad Elwartowski, a US citizen, and his Thai girlfriend, Supranee “Nadia Summergirl” Thepdet, had already fled the offshore cabin by the time Thai navy personnel arrived at it today (April 20).
“I was free for a moment. Probably the freest person in the world,” Elwartowski posted later on Facebook.
The duo said the cabin, built by an outfit called Ocean Builders, was floating in international waters and therefore without jurisdiction.
Thailand, however, said the structure threatened its sovereignty and plans to tow it to shore. It also revoked Elwartowski’s visa.
The cabin was situated within Thailand’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), but not its territorial sea. (Here’s the location on Google Maps.) Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (pdf), to which Thailand is a party, an EEZ extends 200 nautical miles from a nation’s coastline. Within it, a state has exclusive rights to natural resources such as fish and oil but does not have full sovereignty. It does have the latter within its territorial waters, which extend out 12 nautical miles from the shore.
First seastead is now in international waters. Only currencies accepted..฿ & BTC
Couple Uses Bitcoin Wealth to Build World’s First Seastead
The Thai government was extremely authoritarian. Unfortunately, the first seastead did not work very well. But I hope this legal issue is resolved and he can continue with his dream.
American bitcoin trader and his girlfriend may face death penalty over Thailand 'sea home'
Elwar here in bitcointalk
his girlfriend Instagram
his facebook
A pirate’s life ain’t all that it’s cracked up to be: A bitcoin couple is sought by Thai authorities after trying to make a lawless, tax-free home on the sea outside Phuket island. If convicted, the duo face a potential death penalty for violating Thailand’s sovereignty.
SEASTEADING/YOUTUBE
Waterfront views
But Chad Elwartowski, a US citizen, and his Thai girlfriend, Supranee “Nadia Summergirl” Thepdet, had already fled the offshore cabin by the time Thai navy personnel arrived at it today (April 20).
“I was free for a moment. Probably the freest person in the world,” Elwartowski posted later on Facebook.
The duo said the cabin, built by an outfit called Ocean Builders, was floating in international waters and therefore without jurisdiction.
Thailand, however, said the structure threatened its sovereignty and plans to tow it to shore. It also revoked Elwartowski’s visa.
The cabin was situated within Thailand’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), but not its territorial sea. (Here’s the location on Google Maps.) Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (pdf), to which Thailand is a party, an EEZ extends 200 nautical miles from a nation’s coastline. Within it, a state has exclusive rights to natural resources such as fish and oil but does not have full sovereignty. It does have the latter within its territorial waters, which extend out 12 nautical miles from the shore.
First seastead is now in international waters. Only currencies accepted..฿ & BTC
The “freest person in the world” faces a possible death penalty in Thailand
A pirate’s life ain’t all that it’s cracked up to be: A bitcoin couple is sought by Thai authorities after trying to make a lawless, tax-free home on the sea outside Phuket island. If convicted, the duo face a potential death penalty for violating Thailand’s sovereignty.
SEASTEADING/YOUTUBE
Waterfront views
But Chad Elwartowski, a US citizen, and his Thai girlfriend, Supranee “Nadia Summergirl” Thepdet, had already fled the offshore cabin by the time Thai navy personnel arrived at it today (April 20).
“I was free for a moment. Probably the freest person in the world,” Elwartowski posted later on Facebook.
The duo said the cabin, built by an outfit called Ocean Builders, was floating in international waters and therefore without jurisdiction.
Thailand, however, said the structure threatened its sovereignty and plans to tow it to shore. It also revoked Elwartowski’s visa.
The cabin was situated within Thailand’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), but not its territorial sea. (Here’s the location on Google Maps.) Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (pdf), to which Thailand is a party, an EEZ extends 200 nautical miles from a nation’s coastline. Within it, a state has exclusive rights to natural resources such as fish and oil but does not have full sovereignty. It does have the latter within its territorial waters, which extend out 12 nautical miles from the shore.
First seastead is now in international waters. Only currencies accepted..฿ & BTC
Couple Uses Bitcoin Wealth to Build World’s First Seastead
The Thai government was extremely authoritarian. Unfortunately, the first seastead did not work very well. But I hope this legal issue is resolved and he can continue with his dream.
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