Protesting Thai idiocy
July 13, 2009
The Post reports on the latest cross-border diplomatic snafu.
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to send a diplomatic note to Thai officials this week voicing its disapproval of a Web site launched by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva that claims parts of Cambodia as “lost” Thai territory.
Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said Sunday that officials had decided to “reject” the Web site, which launched July 4, and would send the note “early this week”.
The site, www.ilovethailand.org, features a video that includes a green map of the Siamese Empire at its most expansive. As images of Thai kings appear on the screen, sections of the empire turn dark red before they are removed from the map.
Sections lost to Cambodia include parts of Siem Reap and Battambang provinces as well as the land on which Preah Vihear temple sits.
It’s worth pointing out that this web site is not the work of some rabid lunatic fringe. The web site was created under the direction of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Fortunately for Thailand, someone with an appropriate sense of decency has intervened. The web site has been removed.
July 14, 2009 at 7:23 am
The website has not been removed. It is still working, at least in Thailand.
July 14, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Interesting! From here in Phnom Penh I get something that says “Apache 2 test page”. Censored by the government, perhaps?
July 15, 2009 at 8:35 am
I saw an ad for the ilovethailand website on the Thai station last night. Either it’s still up or someone is wasting a lot of money in advertising. I get the same “test page” message from Cambodia.
July 15, 2009 at 9:00 am
Technically, the site is being blocked. A work-around can allow visitors to access the site without any difficulty.
July 15, 2009 at 11:31 am
The link to the controversial YouTube video has been deleted.