"The Prime Minister and the government will not interfere [with the election]," Maj.Gen. Weerachon said.

One wonders how he could possibly say that with a straight face.

The diplomats, who are ambassadors to the United Nations, hail from Antigua and Barbuda, Burundi, Central African Republic, Comoros, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Ghana, Kiribati, Hungary, Nauru, Vanuatu, and Cameroon.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall at that karaoke evening being entertained by the top brass.

^^ I am always skeptical at the language chosen for these Thai PBS stories. This was probably just some ordinary meeting or something. Quite possible the domestic media is taking the piss, too.

I think I wrote somewhere it was a Nana Plaza related meeting,

meeting took place on 2nd floor in a separee !!

Instead of going after those wonderful countries the Thais should be going after all the S.E. Asian countries to form a true defense agreement like something along the lines of NATO. So, if one is attacked they all come to the rescue... Otherwise this article and the new face book friends are really a non event...

Can someone tell me if Burundi,Gabon,Nauru,Comoros and Vanuatu are some new kinds of vegetable, or are they fruits?

One (almost useless) bonus of my ham radio hobby is that I know the location of every single nation on the planet

One (almost useless) bonus of my ham radio hobby is that I know the location of every single nation on the planet

Do you still have to shout CQDX doing that?

Wall Street Journal:

Hungary's Challenge to European Values

" Barbuda, Burundi, Central African Republic, Comoros, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Ghana, Kiribati, Hungary, Nauru, Vanuatu, and Cameroon." All have top notch quality tourist available.

Well I can find Hungary on the map.....

No application from Dubai to join?

Congratulations to Hungary to be a member in the club of Banana (growing) Republics.

What happened to your new friends from China, Russia and North Korea?

One (almost useless) bonus of my ham radio hobby is that I know the location of every single nation on the planet

I guess there aren't many people around who know the locations of these countries without looking at the map.

Including myself

Some pretty democratic and peace-loving countries on that list... C.A.R. ouch! Burundi!

Would Naruans be considered "farang kee nok"?

This is very poor reporting.

It seems they forgot to mention Nigeria, a major player in Thailand and a very close friend!

looks like a list of applicants to half of the available teaching jobs

I was quite surprised to see the omission of Pitcairn Island, given its history.

How did Hungary manage to sneak in there - was the ambassador fooled by some pretty into thinking he was doing a survey on tourism?

Most likely a junket.

Hungary will not deviate from the common policy established by the EU on this matter. It also has minimal investments at risk in Thailand.

http://www.naurugov.nr/government-information-office/media-release/unjust-criticism-has-unified-nauru-%E2%80%93-president.aspx

I like the above one on Nauru. If you change some of the names , it becomes a bit deja vu. Thailands new BFF

N. Korea will be added to the list next week along with Sealand

So that's why Scotland wanted independence, so they could sign up to FOT....unlucky, you could have been in with the big boys!

Wall Street Journal:

Hungary's Challenge to European Values

This is really quite interesting. Maybe the other 'Friends of Thailand' share similar views?

It is perhaps also quite telling that no SE Asian nations make up this dream team of nations.

Some interesting info about Nauru, one of Thailand's friends.

It has a population 9,378 and measures 21km2.

And, it is also home to a large migrant detention camp http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/may/26/government-spent-24bn-over-two-years-maintaining-nauru-and-manus

Maybe Nauru is where Thailand plans to send all the Rohingya?

Edit to add - Whilst members of the Nauru govt was today busy making friends with Thailand, it was also being widely criticized for restricting freedom of expression, blocking Internet services including Facebook and obstructing the free flow of information: http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/274770/ngos-condemn-nauru's-censorship

"NGOs say they are also deeply troubled by an amendment to the criminal code which restricts freedom of speech, what can be reported and public protests."

Sound familiar?

Oh the Irony.... to go from playing footsie (allegedly) with the President of the USA to being best mates with The Central African Republic. ....

Far better company and certainly more trustworthy than Obama!

Gen Prayut said Thailand always deems Fiji as a close and important economic partner as well as gateway to other Pacific Island countries.
But Fiji is not on the list of twelve. What happen?

Would Naruans be considered "farang kee nok"?

Well, since Nauru is not listed as part of the Guano (bird shit) Islands Act of 1856, I guess not, also because they are Micronesian and not Caucasian..

Meanwhile on Soi cowboy..."Pim" talks to her 12 boyfriends on Skype.

I've been to three of those countries.

(Two in transit only)

Wall Street Journal:

Hungary's Challenge to European Values

This is really quite interesting. Maybe the other 'Friends of Thailand' share similar views?

It is perhaps also quite telling that no SE Asian nations make up this dream team of nations.

Hungary is a curious one. All those other countries[1] are known for selling their UN votes or passports, registering dodgy seagoing vessels, helping dubious characters hide their money etc. Stuff you can do if you're technically a country.

Nauru made a few bucks allowing Australia to use its territory to dodge UN treaty obligations not that long ago for example. Taiwan used to pay at least a few of these places for diplomatic recognition before China outbid them. It would be interesting to know what Thailand is giving them in return.

This is pretty embarressing really. Especially for Hungary.

[1] the subset I know anything about, anyway.

So 0.06% of all the countries on this planet are "friends of Thailand" Wonder what the Junta call the other 183 countries?

How did Hungary manage to sneak in there - was the ambassador fooled by some pretty into thinking he was doing a survey on tourism?

Hungary are the token whites