Embassy

[Fatdog]

Wife and I went to a Wat today to do what she wanted.

When we were there a Nun showed us a guy (Farang) who had been sleeping in the grounds of the Wat for the last 2 days.

I went and tried to speak to him, he spoke a little English, I managed to find out he was French.

He was in a bad way, he had not eaten anything or had any water for at least 2 days.

We managed to arrange an ambulance to take him to hospital.

The wife and I followed him to hospital to try and help.

I phoned the French embassy to tell them they had a French citizen who was in trouble and needed help.

They told me without the guys name they could not contact his family to get money.

I told them he could not speak much English and he was in a bad way (if he had stayed where he was was I am sure he would be dead by Sunday)

I asked if somebody from the embassy could come and speak to him, but they said that was not possible.

I eventually got the guys name, but when I called the embassy again there was no answer, maybe Friday afternoon is the problem.

The hospital told me they would contact the embassy and let them know, I even offered to pay for his hospital stay, but the guy at the hospital told me not to get to involved.

So here is the question, what do Embassies actually do? Why are they there? I always thought they were there for the citizens of their country, maybe not to provide money, but help when it was needed, for today the French Embassy let one of their countrymen down in a big way.

FD

[TerryLH]

"He was in a bad way, he had not eaten anything or had any water for at least 2 days."

Did he not eat because he couldn't? Temples are usually good places to get a meal.

I believe some embassies have info on what services they provide on their websites.

[Fatdog]

Hi Terry,

He had a bowl next to him, the Temple had given him food, but he had not eaten it.

It was one of the nuns at the temple that told us about him, maybe because I was a farang with a Thai wife, not sure.

I know his name, so if anybody knows of a French guy missing, please PM and I can let you know what hospital he is in.

FD

[Thongkorn]

I posted a Topic last year about an Englishman staying in a Temple in Sahmut Sahkon. At first i wanted to help him, he told me the usual story , met girl, Girl steals every thing including his Passport. When i spoke to the head Monk he had offered to go to the British Embassy in Bangkok with him, But he was very reluctant to go. also I asked for some contact details of people or family in the UK, he did not have any living relatives, After that alarm bells started to ring, maybe there is more to the guy situation that is being told.

[thaimate]

What do they do? British embassy ,not a lot ,paper shufflers 3rd grade most of them.

[Fatdog]

I posted a Topic last year about an Englishman staying in a Temple in Sahmut Sahkon. At first i wanted to help him, he told me the usual story , met girl, Girl steals every thing including his Passport. When i spoke to the head Monk he had offered to go to the British Embassy in Bangkok with him, But he was very reluctant to go. also I asked for some contact details of people or family in the UK, he did not have any living relatives, After that alarm bells started to ring, maybe there is more to the guy situation that is being told.

This guy did not want help,

He was just lying on the grass in the Temple grounds, just like he had given up on life.

He did not want me to help, but I could see he was sick, and when he went to hospital the doctor told us he had a bad fever and also I could see that he had been biten by insects over most of his exposed skin.

FD

[Fatdog]

What do they do? British embassy ,not a lot ,paper shufflers 3rd grade most of them.

Yep, thats what I thought, it is scary to think that as ex-pats here we have no help from our Embassy if it is needed.

It is a disgrace that an embassy will not help one of their own.

FD

[StreetCowboy]

I suppose, like the immigrants in our own countries, we should rely on the local social services to sort out local problems. I doubt the French particularly want to import destitute people of whatever nationality, though I doubt they would turn him away at the border. It seems that most governments focus on their geographical bailliwick and its residents rather than their migrant and errant Nationals, who may stray outwith the realm over which that government holds jurisdiction. If we want the care and nurture of our home country, we should live in it.

SC

[lannarebirth]

Good on ya Fatdog for having the decency and compassion to "take care" of a fellow who's up against it. As for embassies; there mission is, as far as I can discern, is to milk fees from countrymen and facilitate commercial trade.

[GuestHouse]

Here's the Mission Statement of the British Embassy to China, I can't find one for the British Embassy to Thailand http://ukinchina.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/our-embassy . Be assured that all Embassies have similar remits - well they might have some duties relating to spying they don't like to publicise.

The statement is clear and ought not to need clarification.

What is clear is that many citizens living overseas are totally unaware that their Embassy is not their to molly coddle them in their adventures overseas - The embassies do advocate for the agreed consular and treaty rights of their citizens (advocate, ie politely remind the host nation of their obligations) but the embassies are not their to 'look after' people who choose to move or travel abroad.

You cross your border and you are on your own.

[Fatdog]

I agree with SC and GH on what they have said about living over seas, we have to look afer ourselfs.

But if somebody is in trouble, and cannot look after themselves, the embassy should be there for them.

in fact it is stated in the British passport that the bearer of the passport to be afforded such assistance and protection as may be nessessary, from whom it may concern.

So infact the embassy should be concerned and provide help if required... says quite clearly im my passport.

But what should be done and what is done is not the same, for sure I have learned a lesson yesterday, we are on our own

FD

[Heng]

I wonder which of the MIA TV posters he was.

[lazygourmet]

To the OP:

On Monday, you can call again the French Embassy and ask speak to madame Wacheri (aka Khun Jet).

Just to let her know about this guy and where he is now.

She is the social coordinator and mediator for French citizen who got into trouble in Thailand... and she is doing wonders.

The french employees at the embassy will never do anything for their owns.

[Fatdog]

Hi LG.

I will do that, thanks for the info.

FD

[farang000999]

I think the US embassy should provide a free plane ticket home to any travel who is short on cash. Just have a separate queue, a few pieces of paper work and viola a 40,000 baht voucher.

[wamberal]

Firstly, what would happen if the circumstances were reversed, and a Thai national was found in a similar condition in France? I assume that he would receive appropriate assistance from the French civil authorities.

Secondly, I doubt that any embassy or consulate has unlimited budgets to cater for all the stupidities, bad luck stories, etc etc that their nationals experience when they are travelling. And I doubt that the French taxpayer would take kindly to big increases in spending to allow embassies and consulates to provide charitable assistance to every person with a hard luck story.

When I was in Thailand I always found the Australian Embassy to be very helpful, and very professional. They are their to do their job, and their job does not include mopping up every sad situation that includes an Australian national.

[wamberal]

I think the US embassy should provide a free plane ticket home to any travel who is short on cash. Just have a separate queue, a few pieces of paper work and viola a 40,000 baht voucher.

Why not 400,000?

[beano2274]

My friend was in a bad situation a couple of months ago, no passport no visa no job no money, I advised him to go to the Embassy, which he did, he was advised to go to the IDC, whilst the Embassy contacted his parents in the UK to arrange for money to be sent to get him back to the UK. The Embassy were always helpful and did inform me what was happening but could not tell me everything due to certain privacy laws. However, he got the money from his Mum, and was sent back to the UK.

The Embassy did a good job, but I know from other experiences it is not always the same, take the German in Pattaya for example.

There used to be a guy at Mochit, tall, thin wearing glasses, he just seemed to lay around all day long, smoking and not doing much, he never bothered anyone, but have not seen him recently, maybe he moved to another place, am not sure.

[farang000999]

I think the US embassy should provide a free plane ticket home to any travel who is short on cash. Just have a separate queue, a few pieces of paper work and viola a 40,000 baht voucher.

Why not 400,000?

For a private plane? That would be silly. No this is just a regular old economy flight based on the honor system. You don't claim the voucher unless you over spent during your vacation.

[theblether]

The UK embassy will help but their is a difference between help and solve all your troubles, the Embassy is not an extension of the welfare state.

[Kwasaki]

The hospital told me they would contact the embassy and let them know, I even offered to pay for his hospital stay, but the guy at the hospital told me not to get to involved.

The Thai hospital gave you the best info.

[jamescollister]

Firstly, what would happen if the circumstances were reversed, and a Thai national was found in a similar condition in France? I assume that he would receive appropriate assistance from the French civil authorities.

Secondly, I doubt that any embassy or consulate has unlimited budgets to cater for all the stupidities, bad luck stories, etc etc that their nationals experience when they are travelling. And I doubt that the French taxpayer would take kindly to big increases in spending to allow embassies and consulates to provide charitable assistance to every person with a hard luck story.

When I was in Thailand I always found the Australian Embassy to be very helpful, and very professional. They are their to do their job, and their job does not include mopping up every sad situation that includes an Australian national.

OZ embassy is good as long as you are paying for some service, not so good if there is no money in it. Lost my passport many years ago, plane was to leave in 3 or 4 days. Got the run around from the Thai employees. Usual can't be done, you need to fill this in and do this etc. Luckily at the time I was carrying a badge, stuck it up to the window. Next thing an Australian guy is there, travel warrent issued the next day. No badge and I would never have got to see anyone. Jim

[Heng]

The embassy's point of view is understandable. It's similar to when some folks partake in solo voyages (which ultimately are for that particular person's personal pleasure or entertainment) across this or that desert or ocean and then there has to be a multi-million dollar (of public funds) rescue effort when the adventure goes teets up.

[zzaa09]

Diplomatic Missions = intelligence, spying, and corporate exchanges.

The only reasons for their existence.

[wintermute]

What makes these homeless drunkard vagrants worth saving? Is it because they are western people stuck in Bangkok which qualifies them for a special pity-party? Cry me a river. They made their own bed and now they can lay in it. These people aren't deserving of pity but scorn at pissing away an easy life being born in the west and of the privileged race on whores and drink.

[StreetCowboy]

What makes these homeless drunkard vagrants worth saving? Is it because they are western people stuck in Bangkok which qualifies them for a special pity-party? Cry me a river. They made their own bed and now they can lay in it. These people aren't deserving of pity but scorn at pissing away an easy life being born in the west and of the privileged race on whores and drink.

I'm not sure that everyone that falls on hard times in Thailand has squandered a fortune on whores and drink as you and I have done. I believe that there may be other causes of hardship, some of which may not be due to reckless fecklessness. Some people believe that their country should offer them some support when they fall on hard times. I think its more a matter of nationality than race; they go to the embassy of their nation, regardless of whether their ambassador is white or brown or orange or blue or red.

SC

[theblether]

Firstly, what would happen if the circumstances were reversed, and a Thai national was found in a similar condition in France? I assume that he would receive appropriate assistance from the French civil authorities.

Secondly, I doubt that any embassy or consulate has unlimited budgets to cater for all the stupidities, bad luck stories, etc etc that their nationals experience when they are travelling. And I doubt that the French taxpayer would take kindly to big increases in spending to allow embassies and consulates to provide charitable assistance to every person with a hard luck story.

When I was in Thailand I always found the Australian Embassy to be very helpful, and very professional. They are their to do their job, and their job does not include mopping up every sad situation that includes an Australian national.

OZ embassy is good as long as you are paying for some service, not so good if there is no money in it. Lost my passport many years ago, plane was to leave in 3 or 4 days. Got the run around from the Thai employees. Usual can't be done, you need to fill this in and do this etc. Luckily at the time I was carrying a badge, stuck it up to the window. Next thing an Australian guy is there, travel warrent issued the next day. No badge and I would never have got to see anyone. Jim

As far as I am led to believe you can demand to speak to a UK member of staff if you are a UK national dealing with our embassy. I was involved in a situation in Shanghai where a female Chinese national that I knew had been notified by mail that their visa extension application had been rejected.

The ladies Chinese husband was Owner / Director of two firms in the UK, one exporting from the UK to China. I knew that if I got to the right person I could sort it out, so in as much as the Chinese staff at the Embassy tried to blank me I demanded to speak with a UK national employee and within 20 minutes the visa was granted.

To me it was a no brainer, and the UK staff member agreed it was a no brainer......some ( most ) of these visa apps are sifted by junior, often non UK staff, so if you think you have a compelling case insist on speaking to a UK national.

Make sure it is a compelling case though, if you get yourself blanked by the UK national staff member you will have nowhere else to go.

[guzzi850m2]

The embassy's point of view is understandable. It's similar to when some folks partake in solo voyages (which ultimately are for that particular person's personal pleasure or entertainment) across this or that desert or ocean and then there has to be a multi-million dollar (of public funds) rescue effort when the adventure goes teets up.

+1

[StreetCowboy]

Sometimes I wish our embassy provided a quicker, more complete, cheaper service, but I look around whenever I am there, and I also think to myself "I wish they had a better public to deal with", and there, at least, I can do a little to help things along and try to apply for things in a timely fashion, turn up with the relevant documentation, polite, well-dressed and so forth.

Ha - ha; reminds me of the last time that I had to go to our embassy in Bangkok. I had fallen foul of the ridiculous pettifogging bureaucratic unnecessary futile obstructive regulations that our government has found it necessary to impose on those of us wishing to invest our savings in the economy, and urgently needed to get someone to confirm that a copy of my passport was a copy of my passport, in order to release some of my savings, as part of the global fight against money laundering and cleaning up the banking system.

As it happened, I was fortunate that the day after I discovered I needed this, I was to have a day off work in Bangkok - specifically, a Friday, from about noon onwards. So I headed down to WIreless Road to get the relevant signatures on the relevant photocopies, only to discover that our embassy is closed of a Friday afternoon - well obviously I was moved to mutterings better muttered outwith the embassy than on crown premises. Visions of being unable to get access to my hard-earned savings, the impoverishment of my contractor, collapse of my property and ultimately, the dereliction of whole of the East end of Glasgow flashed before my eyes. I was still refreshing the eff and bee sections of my vocabulary when I got to Nana BTS, where I was delighted to find on the concourse level in one of the little concessionnaire's boxes an itinerant notary public. Within minutes he had noted what a notary should note, down to the post office below the station, and all's well that ends well, the noted documents were received with due noteriety, the savings were released, the contractor saved from penury, the property from collapse and Glasgow's east end saved from a a fate comparable to the Blitz. I say all's well that ends well, but its not over yet, though I hope we're on to the final chapter...

SC

[roamer]

What makes these homeless drunkard vagrants worth saving? Is it because they are western people stuck in Bangkok which qualifies them for a special pity-party? Cry me a river. They made their own bed and now they can lay in it. These people aren't deserving of pity but scorn at pissing away an easy life being born in the west and of the privileged race on whores and drink.

Ah, the milk of human kindness....