Cambodia Expels Thai Embassy's First Secretary

[baht&sold]

So I was surprised last Wednesday in a conference call with a US based customer (not even coastal US) that they remarked "So.. are you guys going to war yet? " It was in jest, but it does mean they got the news.

Well done Whinnie, as designed the campaign is working then it would appear (offering multiple job opportunities to get the message out?)

You and yours must be well pleased at all the bad press stirred up by HE Mr Thaksin and his buddy the right honourable Mr Hun Sen.

This keeps up and tourism will be completely dead and then you and yours can celebrate a resounding 'victory'

Edited November 12, 2009 by baht&sold

[alex_aka_P]

-----------

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/11/13...cs_30116522.php

" Known as Cambodia's "Wild West" with its corrupt immigration officials, visa scams, crooked cops, prostitutes, illegal logging and gambling, Koh Kong could gain new notoriety if Thaksin Shinawatra's ambitious development plans go ahead. "

----------

Been in Cambo for many many times. Seen NO ANY "corrupt immigration officials, visa scams, crooked cops, prostitutes, illegal logging and gambling". Gamblings/casinos are NOT blocked there, Immigrations were always fast and polite enough, and about prostitutes...Yeah, I saw 4 (four) of them in all of my visits (and I have tried hard to find them). No, I did not use them - just tried to know the places of them.

It is much much MUCH easier to find ALL said above - but in Pattaya. MUCH easier. Just show your will - and you'll get.

-----------

"Koh Kong could gain new notoriety if Thaksin Shinawatra's ambitious development plans go ahead. "

----------

He is already ripped (raped? perhaps...) Thailand for his own profit.

Now it is time to start it over again, but on a fresh, unused field. God save Cambodia...... Do they really think that Mr.T will serve them for free and without his own interests?? Is he a patriot, or is he a native Cambodian to serve that country?? C'mon....Poor guys.... May I say "Give never the wolf the wether to keep"...?

Edited November 12, 2009 by alex_aka_P

[Khmerguy]

You idiot, you must be kindergarten age. The Monkey hen in Cambodia has deliberately aggravated relations by employing a man whos wanted by the courts in Thailand.

If there are any criminals in Cambodia who want to come to Thailand nows the time to jump across border cos . Extradition is DEAD between both countries, Furthermore all this proves as I thought all along , ASEAN is a joke, worthless and meaningless, with countries of dictators and undemocratic its just a facade to try and show some sort of unity which palbably is not working with Thaksin.

I think China treats ASEAN with contempt it deserves, they are a bigger player on the world stage and all these SE asian countries can play their games

Well the Khmer Rouge leader was wanted by the Cambodian Gov and Thailand help hide the Khmer Rouge by letting them hide in eastern Thailand. KR leader is a lots worster then Thaksin. Thais also violated the international law after the 1991 Paris peace accord by letting the Khmer Rouge operate along its border, which was not the case along the Vietnamese and Laotian borders. Khmer Rouge leaders Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea were living in Thailand for years. This was a violation of international law that Thailand had signed. Now Cambodia is just giving Thailand a taste of their own medicine. What do you have to say about that?

and quote from IPSnews.net

""The Khmer Rouge’s fight to regain power was aided by logistics and weapons that flowed through Thailand, even tanks," Fawthrop, a regional expert who spends time in Phnom Penh, told IPS."

Edited November 12, 2009 by Khmerguy

[webfact]

THAI-CAMBODIA ROW

Flare-up with Phnom Penh intensifies

By The Nation

Published on November 13, 2009

Thai first secretary expelled by Phnom Penh, sparking expulsion of Cambodian diplomatic representative

The diplomatic flare-up with Cambodia worsened yesterday after Phnom Penh expelled a first secretary at the Thai embassy - and Thailand responding in kind.

The Cambodian Foreign Ministry ordered Kamrob Palawatwichai to leave the country within 48 hours, from 5pm yesterday.

When Bangkok learnt of the order, they countered by expelling the first secretary at the Cambodian Embassy here, ordering him to leave the country within 48 hours from 5pm, government spokesman Panitan Wattanayakorn said.

It was not clear why Cambodia chose to expel Kamrob, one of three first secretaries in Phnom Penh while leaving Chalotorn Phaovibul, the number 2 at the embassy.

However, a security source said Kamrob had had conflicts with the Cambodian foreign ministry over Thailand's refusal to allow a Cambodian ship to enter Thai waters.

Meanwhile Cambodia's foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said, "We expelled the diplomat first, and they responded by asking our first secretary to leave their country within the next 48 hours," Cambodia's foreign affairs ministry spokesman Koy Kuong.

"The Thai diplomat has executed work in contradiction to his position," he said, refusing to give further details.

The move came while on the third day of the fugitive ex-PM's visit to Cambodia. Thaksin gave a lecture on economic issues to about 250 officials at the Economy and Finance Ministry yesterday before leaving for Siem Reap to play golf and visit Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.

Earlier, Thailand recalled its ambassador to protest at the appointment of Thaksin as an economic adviser while Cambodia recalled its envoy shortly after.

Thailand also revoked a bilateral memorandum of understanding on gas and oil projects in an area in the Gulf of Thailand claimed by both countries.

-- The Nation 2009/11/13

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[LawnGnome]

Anyone who thinks that what Thaksin is doing right now will, in any way, benefit himself or the red shirts, or the PTP, is sadly delusional.

[Scott]

Let's hope this is a chef's stew they are making and they follow the recipe carefully. Bring to a boil and then let it simmer.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Edit: The below in response to Lawngnome.

Did anyone claim that, then? Though to explore the thought, keep in mind that Thaksin has always been as much or more of a business man as a politician. This what rightly got him in trouble over and over again. So, while politically he'll take hits on it, it may be a business opportunity that's driving this.

His opponents are trying to make as big a deal as possible about it of course and that's fine. If anything that's a reminder of how much they worry about him. It's been suggested by many anti Thaksin posters; don't give him that attention or prominence and see how relevant he remains going forward.

Edited November 13, 2009 by WinnieTheKhwai

[animatic]

"He said that Cambodia’s latest move will not worsen the Thai-Cambodian situation as recalling diplomats is considered a normal diplomatic measure in finding appropriate solutions to the problem."

I wonder who said that?

Makes no difference who said it.

This is typical diplomatic push and pull.

Same as USA / Russia, UK and several other countries.

Nothing unusual at all. Except the WHY it is happening now...

This is just the way they do it. Yanking and expelling Diplomats tit for tat.

The one who does it first is typically the hothead or trouble maker,

and inverse expulsion is the appropriate proportional response.

This is typically for either spying, or this kind of spat over another issue.

This whole thing sits on Hun Sen and Thaksin's feet, Abhisit is just going by the book.

Hun Sen could care less about tourism, No doubt Abhisit does, but this is not in his power to control,

Thaksin ONLY wants to embarass and bring down Abhisit, and all the Thais working in tourism,

and it's support structures, can just sod off in his estimations.

Thaksin is clearly playing Hun Sen like a fiddle at this point,

but if things turn sour for Hun Sen, the fiddle could play while he burns Thaksin....

Edited November 13, 2009 by animatic

[JR Texas]

I would like to restate something I said earlier, on another thread. Basically, let me tell you, briefly, a story about a conversation I had in Cambodia with a Cambodian military general and a rich Cambodian businessperson.

It went something like this.

Me: "What do you think about Cambodia's internal stability?"

Businessman: "It is not that good........people are angry with Hun Sen..........part of the problem has to do with Hun Sen's commitment to the Vietnamese."

General: "Yes, many Cambodians are upset that Hun Sen is favoring Vietnamese at the expense of Cambodians."

Me: "Do you think Hun Sen is trying to get the Cambodian people to focus on the Vietnamese as the source of Cambodia's problems?"

Businessman: "Yes."

General: "Yes."

Me: "So that keeps the game going."

Businessman: "Yes."

General: "Yes."

Me: "Do you think Thailand is doing the same by getting its population to focus on Cambodia as the source of its problems?"

Businessman: "Yes."

General: "Yes."

Me: "So, Mr. T. and Hun Sen are essentially playing the same game.......distract the public from the source of the country's problem.......one blames Cambodia; the other blames Vietnam."

Businessman: "Yes."

General: "Yes."

Now, that conversation took place over three years ago, so what I have written above is not precisely what was said.........I can't remember precisely what was said.........but I do remember the conversation in general.

Basically, both the rich businessman and the General thought that "leaders" in both countries were trying to distract the public from the source of their problems. I will leave it to you to guess what that "source" is.

Now, of course, the situation is a bit different with Thailand trying to get people to focus on Cambodia as the problem and Cambodia trying to get people to focus on both Vietnam and Thailand as the source of the problem.

But I think you see my point............this is just a game of distraction..........it keeps the game going. As long as the people are convinced that the source of their problems is outside the country, the game keeps going.

In my own country, the USA, we managed to play this game with the "Russians" for decades.

If they stop playing that game and look for the source of their problems as something that is internal...........it is a new game.

I am not suggesting what should be done..............I am only letting you know about a simple conversation that might reveal a possible reason as to why this struggle is taking place now between Cambodia and Thailand: to distract the public from the source of their respective problems in order to keep the game going.

[webfact]

Govt to maintain same diplomatic level with Cambodia

BANGKOK, 13 November 2009 (NNT) – Acting Government Spokesperson, Dr Panitan Wattanayagorn, has indicated the stance of the Thai government to maintain the same level of diplomatic relations with Cambodia following the report of the expulsion of a Thai diplomat in Phnom Penh.

According to the spokesperson, Phnom Penh on Thursday has ordered Thai First Secretary to Phnom Penh, Kamrob Palawatwichai, to leave Cambodia within 48 hours without giving any reasons. Then, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand has retaliated by asking the Cambodian first secretary to Bangkok to leave within 48 hours as well.

Dr Panitan admitted that this was a sad story since Thailand was trying its best to avoid any effects to the mutual relationship. He however stated that Thailand had to make such diplomatic move to counter Cambodia. He assumed that Phnom Penh made the move following an urgent meeting on Thursday by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to revise some assistance measures currently given to Cambodia.

The spokesperson confirmed that it was not necessary to close the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, and the Thai government would try to maintain the same level of diplomatic relationship with Cambodia. He also stressed that the recent diplomatic movement of the two countries would not exacerbate the situation between the two countries.

Earlier, the Cambodian government rejected Thailand's request to extradite Thai former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra back to Thailand after he was in Phnom Penh to attend an economic conference. The Cambodian government also named the Thai ex-prime minister as economic advisor. Both Cambodia and Thailand summoned their ambassadors back to their home country.

-- NNT 2009/11/13

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[h90]

Unless Cambodia does something really stupid, this will not affect tourist-numbers.

In Europe are the current problems complete unknown. No media coverage=no impact on tourism

[hammered]

You idiot, you must be kindergarten age. The Monkey hen in Cambodia has deliberately aggravated relations by employing a man whos wanted by the courts in Thailand.

If there are any criminals in Cambodia who want to come to Thailand nows the time to jump across border cos . Extradition is DEAD between both countries, Furthermore all this proves as I thought all along , ASEAN is a joke, worthless and meaningless, with countries of dictators and undemocratic its just a facade to try and show some sort of unity which palbably is not working with Thaksin.

I think China treats ASEAN with contempt it deserves, they are a bigger player on the world stage and all these SE asian countries can play their games

Well the Khmer Rouge leader was wanted by the Cambodian Gov and Thailand help hide the Khmer Rouge by letting them hide in eastern Thailand. KR leader is a lots worster then Thaksin. Thais also violated the international law after the 1991 Paris peace accord by letting the Khmer Rouge operate along its border, which was not the case along the Vietnamese and Laotian borders. Khmer Rouge leaders Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea were living in Thailand for years. This was a violation of international law that Thailand had signed. Now Cambodia is just giving Thailand a taste of their own medicine. What do you have to say about that?

and quote from IPSnews.net

""The Khmer Rouge’s fight to regain power was aided by logistics and weapons that flowed through Thailand, even tanks," Fawthrop, a regional expert who spends time in Phnom Penh, told IPS."

True and right at the center of it was the guy who first started this little spat with his reconcilliation visit to Phnom Penh. Why would an anti-KR charater be cosying up to him? The indirect supplier of all those weapons, ammunition and diplomatic support is also worth consdiering. They have always had a special relationship with Thailand.

Hun Sen himself is former KR too but his time pre-dates what you describe.

Eventually Thailand with its superior economy and if it comes to it military and with better interantional friends will win out, so unless Hun Sen is gambling on a quick return of Thaksin he must have an exit strategy even if is gambling on a Thaksin return he needs a plan B

[geriatrickid]

I would like more details on what the 1st Secretary of the Royal Thai Embassy was doing. Was he spying as in gathering info on where Mr. Thaksin was staying, who he was meeting with, attempting to bribe Cambodians to get additional info etc.? This sort of thing goes on all the time. When someone is caught and the act is blatant, he or she gets expelled. Getting caught is a serious loss of face for foreign missions and it will be interesting to see how this plays out over the next few days.

In respect to the impact on tourism, both sides are playing with fire, although Thailand has more to lose. Almost all of the western countries have prominent No Travel advisories up for certain Thai regions. The moment there is any overt hostility as in military clashes, western governments will immediately announce no travel advisories for all of Thailand. These foreign countries learnt their lesson with the airport seizures when they had to deal with angry stranded nationals complaining that no one warned them.

Have a look at the respective foreign affairs travel advisories. At the present time there is an official warning in effect that states AVOID ALL TRAVEL for Khao Phra Viharn, and the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Songkhla and Narathiwat. The last thing Thailand needs is something that simply says Avoid all travel to Thailand. Asians from neighboring asian countries have zero tolerance for conflicts and will immediately instruct nationals not to travel. These are the countries that are supposed to make up the shortfall in western tourists.

[Steve2UK]

<snip>

Hun Sen could care less about tourism, No doubt Abhisit does, but this is not in his power to control,

Thaksin ONLY wants to embarass and bring down Abhisit, and all the Thais working in tourism,

and it's support structures, can just sod off in his estimations.

Thaksin is clearly playing Hun Sen like a fiddle at this point,

but if things turn sour for Hun Sen, the fiddle could play while he burns Thaksin....

Makes a change to be able to agree with at least part of a post of yours - <snipped> above - it's S.O.P. when diplo-pingpong gets going.

"Hun Sen could care less about tourism"? Grounds for saying this? According to Wiki, "the tourism industry is the country's second-greatest source of hard currency after the textile industry" - or do think an omnipotent Thaksin is now offering to replace it? According to Cambodian Deputy PM Sok An ( http://www.un.int/cambodia/Bulletin_Files/...ambodia_GDP.pdf ), in 2008 tourism made up about 19% of Cambodian GDP - a fall from before (global tourism downturn etc) but, from memory, I make that to be still more than double the reported percentage in Thailand. So, just how likely is your comment to be accurate?

Some fun wordplay in your last stanza but, as I've described elsewhere, IMO you get the first line exactly the wrong way round.

[tamsom]

I have said this before: Hun Sen is a genius. Please study bing fa if you think that this claim is off base. Kampuchea is a small country baiting the opposition with small gains. The Khmer empire stretched across the West to Kanchanaburi; go see the temple there. The current PM of Thai is a dork, and has absolutely no military strategy in place. Why not close the airport again?

[SoiGirlHunter]

Some news of this must have just hit the USA media. I got emails overnight from family/friends asking me about the war and if i will be ok

[hammered]

Some news of this must have just hit the USA media. I got emails overnight from family/friends asking me about the war and if i will be ok

Dont worry I had people calling me thinkinh Thailand was at war during Songkhran and after they found out only two got killed they werent very happy at the media covering it so much

[animatic]

The types of tourists that tour in Cambodia are typically NOT

the valued high end tourists that Thailand seeks, and that get scared off easily.

Hun sen will see plenty coming from the Nam side and even Lao,

and not worry about the short term loss from the Thailand border,

which is not closed yet anyway.

But short term is Thaksin's game he wants the whole shebang NOW.

[Steve2UK]

The types of tourists that tour in Cambodia are typically NOT

the valued high end tourists that Thailand seeks, and that get scared off easily.

Hun sen will see plenty coming from the Nam side and even Lao,

and not worry about the short term loss from the Thailand border,

which is not closed yet anyway.

But short term is Thaksin's game he wants the whole shebang NOW.

Two words in answer to your opening ill-informed assertion: Angkor Wat.

This post of yours is your answer to my question about the grounds for your earlier assertion that "Hun Sen could care less about tourism" ? Do you ever give a straight answer to a straight question - and without sallying off the subject?

[Yoshitaka]

<br />I have said this before: Hun Sen is a genius. Please study bing fa if you think that this claim is off base. Kampuchea is a small country baiting the opposition with small gains. The Khmer empire stretched across the West to Kanchanaburi; go see the temple there. The current PM of Thai is a dork, and has absolutely no military strategy in place. Why not close the airport again?<br />

<br /><br /><br />

"The Khmer empire stretched across the West to Kanchanaburi"?

I don't believe you. Please prove it.

Thailand has always been Thai.

[WAERTH]

"The Khmer empire stretched across the West to Kanchanaburi"?

I don't believe you. Please prove it.

You know what the problem is in this world people do not read books anymore and than challenge the obvious if they had actually read and studied some.

Buy a book and read something!

I have another suggestion though if reading a book takes to much time: Go west of Kanchanaburi and find: Muang Sing ...

Edited November 13, 2009 by WAERTH

[dumball]

'animatic' date='2009-11-13 18:24:31' post='3138481']

The types of tourists that tour in Cambodia are typically NOT

the valued high end tourists that Thailand seeks, and that get scared off easily.

Hun sen will see plenty coming from the Nam side and even Lao,

and not worry about the short term loss from the Thailand border,

which is not closed yet anyway.

But short term is Thaksin's game he wants the whole shebang NOW.

Strange you should say that , I have been in conversation with a few wealthy buisiness

people of late , one who has already moved his buisiness and its interests into Cambodia and two who are in the planning stage to do like-wise . A large hotel in the area of my residence is busier than I have seen it the 4 years i have lived here and the tuk-tuk guys I talk with tell me they are quite busy most days now .

[mca]

"The Khmer empire stretched across the West to Kanchanaburi"?

I don't believe you. Please prove it.

Thailand has always been Thai.

I haven't decided if you're a troll. a fully paid up member of PAD or just woefully ignorant. I'm aiming for the latter at the moment.

[webfact]

by THE NATION

Published on November 14, 2009

Beware of the Thaksin-Hun Sen trap - Prawase

Respected social critic Prawase Wasi warned the government yesterday not to fall into a trap set by fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodian leader Hun Sen, who were "in a temporary alliance for some purposes".

Prawase also warned against fuelling feelings of patriotism among the people, which he said could lead to hatred against people in the neighbouring country and even a war between the two nations.

"I don't want the news [of the renewed spat between Thailand and Cambodia] to be reported in a way that would cause hatred among the peoples of the two countries. I want people to be aware that this is just a temporary issue of politicians," said Prawase.

He said ordinary citizens should not allow themselves to become victims of politicians, and politicians should not lead their people to war.

"I'd like to warn the government not to become a tool of Hun Sen and Thaksin," he added.

Prawase, a Magsaysay Award winner, said he suspected Hun Sen's trump card would be to lead his country into a war with Thailand in order to deflect the public's attention from his faults.

He urged Thais to view the Cambodians with kindness as Thailand is like an adult while Cambodia is a child. Thailand has more population, greater military might and economic power, he said.

Meanwhile, 22 MPs and 15 senators yesterday signed a letter demanding that Ramkhamhaeng University revoke its honorary degree awarded to Hun Sen due to his interference in Thailand's political affairs and his lack of diplomatic manners.

One of the MPs, Watchara Phetthong (Democrat-Bangkok), represented the group in submitting the letter to Parliament President Chai Chidchob to forward to the university.

Watchara also said the Army should stop providing Hun Sen and his family with free healthcare at a state-run hospital in Bangkok, an arrangement that has allegedly been going on for decades.

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart said yesterday that he expected the row between the two countries to worsen, with the Cambodian government likely to expel all Thai diplomats in Phnom Penh and order the closure of the Thai Embassy there.

-- The Nation 2009/11/14

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[mca]

He urged Thais to view the Cambodians with kindness as Thailand is like an adult while Cambodia is a child.

preceded by

"I don't want the news [of the renewed spat between Thailand and Cambodia] to be reported in a way that would cause hatred among the peoples of the two countries

What a &lt;deleted&gt;.

When these "respected social critics" open their mouths you have to wonder if they have lead water pipes in their houses.

Can you imagine if a "respected social critic" from Cambodia said "We urge the Cambodians to view the Thais with kindness as Thailand is a 3rd world country with 1st world aspirations because they've got pizza delivery and I Phones but they can't even hold a conference or keep an airport open without causing some kind of embarrassing f#ck up"

The Nation would have a field day.

I believe half the problem between Thai and Cambodia is a number of Thais view their neighbours as a bunch of uncivilized &lt;deleted&gt;. Thaksin's milking this for all it's worth by the Cambodian government putting Thailand's nose out of joint.

Edited November 13, 2009 by mca

[BSJ]

By mid December I think a lot of people will be doing visa runs to Laos and KL if this silliness continues.

[hammered]

"The Khmer empire stretched across the West to Kanchanaburi"?

I don't believe you. Please prove it.

Thailand has always been Thai.

I haven't decided if you're a troll. a fully paid up member of PAD or just woefully ignorant. I'm aiming for the latter at the moment.

This poster is one of the few on here who has posted stuff over time that could be seen as supporting both sides in various comments. This is something we should encourage rather than criticse imho as most posters are pure party line ones. There really is no need to label or categorise posters or denigrate them.

[Steve2UK]

"The Khmer empire stretched across the West to Kanchanaburi"?

I don't believe you. Please prove it.

Thailand has always been Thai.

I haven't decided if you're a troll. a fully paid up member of PAD or just woefully ignorant. I'm aiming for the latter at the moment.

This poster is one of the few on here who has posted stuff over time that could be seen as supporting both sides in various comments. This is something we should encourage rather than criticse imho as most posters are pure party line ones. There really is no need to label or categorise posters or denigrate them.

Seconded .

Could we also see an end to posts saying "the reds on here", "the yellows on here" etc? Offhand, I can think of very few members who have stated that they are actually supporters (let alone paid-up members) of one side or another - kudos to those who do. Otherwise, we have no business assuming someone is a PAD-lover, Red-lover, Thaksinista or any of the other facile labels that are thrown around here with such abandon. Even worse IMO are suggestions that a member is being paid to post - I hope mods will delete all instances of that and warn the offending poster.

Frankly, I think all of the above just show the inability of some to tackle the content - so they fall back on trying to disqualify the writer.

[webfact]

THAI-CAMBODIA ROWS

Cambodia not expel more Thai diplomats : spokesman

By Xinhua

Cambodia does not intend to expel more Thailand diplomats, an government official said here on Friday.

"Our government's stance so far is not purposed to expel other Thai diplomats," Koy Koung, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry told Xinhua.

"But first secretary of royal Thai embassy to Cambodia really involved with spying in Cambodia. We have concrete evidence to show that Thai first secretary and a Thai man who was arrested recently by our police have spied here," Koy Koung added. Thai man will be sentenced by our court soon, he said.

Cambodian government on Thursday expelled a Thai diplomat, claiming that "he has performed his duty contrary to his diplomatic position."

Meanwhile, Thai side also expelled the Cambodian first secretary from its embassy in Bangkok.

Moreover, a Thai man named as Siwarak Chothipong for spelling in Khmer, 31, works as a engineer in CATS, was arrested on Wednesday by Cambodian police. It was said the Thai man spied through copying the letters of flights of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin in Cambodia and Prime Minister Hun Sen from CATS -- Cambodia Air Traffic Services Co Ltd which has duties to control all flights in country...and sent those reports to Thailand.

The tit-for-tat moves between the two countries came as Cambodia appointing ousted Thai former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser of Cambodian government and the Prime Minister Hun Sen on Nov. 4. Thailand recalled its ambassador on Nov. 5, and Cambodia followed suit.

Thaksin arrived here on Tuesday and give his first lecture on Thursday to 300 Cambodian economic experts at the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

-- The Nation 2009/11/14

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[mca]

"The Khmer empire stretched across the West to Kanchanaburi"?

I don't believe you. Please prove it.

Thailand has always been Thai.

I haven't decided if you're a troll. a fully paid up member of PAD or just woefully ignorant. I'm aiming for the latter at the moment.

This poster is one of the few on here who has posted stuff over time that could be seen as supporting both sides in various comments. This is something we should encourage rather than criticse imho as most posters are pure party line ones. There really is no need to label or categorise posters or denigrate them.

Seconded .

Could we also see an end to posts saying "the reds on here", "the yellows on here" etc? Offhand, I can think of very few members who have stated that they are actually supporters (let alone paid-up members) of one side or another - kudos to those who do. Otherwise, we have no business assuming someone is a PAD-lover, Red-lover, Thaksinista or any of the other facile labels that are thrown around here with such abandon. Even worse IMO are suggestions that a member is being paid to post - I hope mods will delete all instances of that and warn the offending poster.

Frankly, I think all of the above just show the inability of some to tackle the content - so they fall back on trying to disqualify the writer.

I was calling the poster to task for basically calling Tamson a liar for talking about well documented historical facts regarding the Khymer Empire. Not personal opinions. Documented historical facts. Inability to tackle the content steve? What would you suggest? Give him a google link to 1000s of web pages about a basic fact?

Of course I'll disqualify a writer who just comes out with "I don't believe you prove it" rather than having the basic common sense to do a bit of research themselves to find out the facts. That research being so strenuous as to entering "Khmer empire" into a search engine. It just makes them look, well I'm sorry, kind of thick.

The reason I referred to him as a "paid up PAD member " was his "Thailand has always been Thai" kind of nationalistic (and completely incorrect) rhetoric. Sort of along the lines of westerners brought prostitution to Thailand.

It was not a suggestion that he's paid to post. I'm not that paranoid. It was merely tongue in cheek. Do we have an emoticon for that?

Edited November 14, 2009 by mca