absolutelyBangkok archive · Politics
Originally published Feb. 5, 2009
They’re all lying. The Indian navy is lying, the Indonesian navy is lying. Aid workers are lying and the victims themselves are lying. And nobody in Thailand really complains. Right, I’m talking about our dear foreign minister.
Well, actually he accuses none of them directly. But foreigners in general. “Don’t believe what the world says about Rohingya,” Thailand’s foreign minister is quoted by The Nation. Ridiculing manifold proof that the Thai navy left boat people adrift to die.
Being caught red-handed you’d think a liar deserves at least some punishment. It’s high time to punish all those Indian and Indonesian and foreign liars. According to reliable sources Thailand currently drafts a law amendment to “align foreign liars with Thai tradition.”
Giving Thailand her constitutional right to flatly deny. Whatever.
But where’s the pan-Asian solidarity? All those Indian and Indonesian liars will be surprised to suddenly find themselves on level with usually unapologetically lying Caucasians.
It is refreshing to say the least that the new Thai government walks the talk they’re presenting so beautifully all along. Transparency, human rights, justice for all and the rule of law don’t cohabit well with lies. Time for a thorough clean-up.
We’re reassured that Thailand’s new leaders have the most noble intentions in the world. No Thai would kick out a Rohingya, would he? But what good is a democracy constantly questioned and jeopardized by mean foreign liars.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya has to be commended for therefore wisely distinguishing between what’s to be played up and what’s to be played down… But wait… Doesn’t a foreign minister’s portfolio concern foreign affairs? Minister of Propaganda would be a more fitting job.
In any working democracy he’d be forced to resign.
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