Independence Day reception: US Embassy Bangkok apology

[webfact]

FOURTH OF JULY
US apology
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE US Embassy in Bangkok expressed regret and apologised yesterday after a veteran Thai politician was identified as an "anti-Thaksin activist" in a formal invitation for him to attend an Independence Day party.

Pramote Nakornthab, a former Thammasat University lecturer, was addressed as "Dr Pramote Nakornthab, Anti-Thaksin Activist" on an invitation for the Fourth of July celebration to be held on July 2 at a Bangkok hotel.

Pramote was known for playing a leading role in the People's Alliance for Democracy, or yellow-shirts, against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Without mentioning Pramote, the embassy said in a statement: "The US Embassy regrets that, due to an administrative oversight, an invitation to our Independence Day reception was inaccurately addressed to an invited guest. We have apologised for the error."

Pramote posted photos of the invitation/envelope on Facebook. He said he declined the invitation and wrote: "Thank you. SORRY. Cannot accept invitation due to misidentification." He said he should have been described as "pro-monarchy, pro-democracy and pro-American".

His post went viral with many users criticising the embassy for being careless.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/US-apology-30262808.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-22

[HeijoshinCool]

[ukrules]

This 'mistake' has revealed a lot more information that would appear at first glance.

[NongKhaiKid]

Ouch !

Wonder how they'll describe the PM on his invitation ?

Edited June 21, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[Pimay1]

The envelope must have been addressed by the same fresh out of college bubble headed bleach blond airhead dimwit that waited on me that last time I had the misfortune of having to get a document notarized. She asked me sarcastically what on earth is a person from Kentucky doing living in Thailand. I replied what on earth is a person with an IQ of 30 doing working at the American Embassy.

[LomSak27]

Uh oh looks like the hired help screwed up on the merge mail database envelope print hehe

[Bluespunk]

Ha,ha, ha, brilliant.

[Bluespunk]

"Pramote posted photos of the invitation/envelope on Facebook. He said he declined the invitation and wrote: "Thank you. SORRY. Cannot accept invitation due to misidentification." He said he should have been described as "pro-monarchy, pro-democracy and pro-American"."

Nice comeback.

2 out of 3 [well at least 1 anyway] true as well.

[NongKhaiKid]

If this becomes the latest fad there could be some tasty envelopes being sent out.

[NeverSure]

Nothing to say, LOL.

[Manbing]

Nothing to say, LOL.

This surely qualifies as the most pointless comment ever LOL

[chainarong]

Under the diplomatic speak the less said the better , for the many that don't use diplomatic speak , if the cap fits wear it and wear it with pride.

[amerasianex]

And more likely the invitation was printed by some Thai clerk, With only one job to do. And they could not get it rite.......This is exactly why im against any local hiring of Thai people in our Embassy. .......

[Bannum opinions]

"His post went viral with many users criticising the embassy for being careless"

Maybe more were not criticizing.

This was gleefully shown to me by some Thai people yesterday. No criticism.

There was an additional Social Media thing, whereby the letter was doctored to show the senders' address as coming from "Pro- Thaksin, American Embassy, and address. Considered to be coming from anti-democrats.

Edited June 22, 2015 by Bannum opinions

[canopus1969]

And more likely the invitation was printed by some Thai clerk, With only one job to do. And they could not get it rite.......This is exactly why im against any local hiring of Thai people in our Embassy. .......

But at least they can spell

[oneday]

How revealing. An internal database at the US Embassy and probably back in the US has a field (maybe several fields) in each record of each high-ranking person in the Thai government, which labels and classifies their political persuasions and tendencies.

...and I bet the Thai government databases of US officials is clean as a whistle.

[halloween]

The pro-Thaksin US embassy is inviting anti-Thaksin activists to a party with free-flowing alcohol. There might be fireworks!

[Pimay1]

Nothing to say, LOL.

This surely qualifies as the most pointless comment ever LOL

Good one. Direct and to the point, LOL

[TheKnave]

Pramote is an interesting guy. His father was governor of Nong Khai province, and Pramote is known there by everyone from the lady selling jok in Chaiyaporn market, to the head of Immigration, and everyone in-between.

He was educated at Cornell, and founded First Global Community College in Nong Khai, modeled after the California Community College system, where poor kids from the surrounding area can get low-cost or free two years of education, and prepare to transfer to a Thai University. He is quite the creative fundraiser...

Always an outspoken Royalist, he denies being a Yellow shirt, and has been active and vocal about his opposition to Mr. T, despite his disowning the title.

As I said, an interesting fellow...glad to see he is well.

The US Embassy is full of knuckleheads...

[TheKnave]

The envelope must have been addressed by the same fresh out of college bubble headed bleach blond airhead dimwit that waited on me that last time I had the misfortune of having to get a document notarized. She asked me sarcastically what on earth is a person from Kentucky doing living in Thailand. I replied what on earth is a person with an IQ of 30 doing working at the American Embassy.

Is she the one that comes on at 5, and can tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye?

[phrisco17]

And more likely the invitation was printed by some Thai clerk, With only one job to do. And they could not get it rite.......This is exactly why im against any local hiring of Thai people in our Embassy. .......

Definately in agreement!

[SABloke]

And more likely the invitation was printed by some Thai clerk, With only one job to do. And they could not get it rite.......This is exactly why im against any local hiring of Thai people in our Embassy. .......

They probably shouldn't hire you either-I wouldn't want spelling errors on my official documents

[Bakseeda]

The envelope must have been addressed by the same fresh out of college bubble headed bleach blond airhead dimwit that waited on me that last time I had the misfortune of having to get a document notarized. She asked me sarcastically what on earth is a person from Kentucky doing living in Thailand. I replied what on earth is a person with an IQ of 30 doing working at the American Embassy.

Yes, when she could have been running as an American Presidential candidate....

[godden]

'careless' maybe clueless would be better.

[Pimay1]

The envelope must have been addressed by the same fresh out of college bubble headed bleach blond airhead dimwit that waited on me that last time I had the misfortune of having to get a document notarized. She asked me sarcastically what on earth is a person from Kentucky doing living in Thailand. I replied what on earth is a person with an IQ of 30 doing working at the American Embassy.

Is she the one that comes on at 5, and can tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye?

I think she was one of the ladies in the "ride me all day for £3" bus adds. She didn't have any takers so she applied for a job at the American Embassy.

[Thaddeus]

The envelope must have been addressed by the same fresh out of college bubble headed bleach blond airhead dimwit that waited on me that last time I had the misfortune of having to get a document notarized. She asked me sarcastically what on earth is a person from Kentucky doing living in Thailand. I replied what on earth is a person with an IQ of 30 doing working at the American Embassy.

Is she the one that comes on at 5, and can tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye?

Kick 'em when the're up, kick 'em when the're down.

[FangFerang]

What utter posturing. He should have been happy about it, since it is obviously true.

[docshock13]

It seems that Dr. Pramote is not the only important person to fall victim to the Embassy's blunder.

I recently received my invitation to the same event addressed to:

Docshock13

Genius, Ladykiller, Renaissance Man, and All-Around Awesome Guy

Intelligence seems to spot on as regards my file!

[USNret]

The envelope must have been addressed by the same fresh out of college bubble headed bleach blond airhead dimwit that waited on me that last time I had the misfortune of having to get a document notarized. She asked me sarcastically what on earth is a person from Kentucky doing living in Thailand. I replied what on earth is a person with an IQ of 30 doing working at the American Embassy.

Don't take it the wrong way. I'm sure what she really meant is "What is a person from Kentucky doing outside Kentucky".

[jackanapes]

who on earth sent out this invitation whoever sent it obviously knows nothing about etiquette I would advise this person to study how one should make out an invitation or get some advice from someone who knows .