Why people are willing to spread wrong information just to be in the lime-light?

This is Mr. Andreas Haser from Austria in Europe, who has the privilege to live and work as a Broker in one of Bangkok’s skyscrapers, so he says and as reported by “Kleine Zeitung” Austria.

(Picture by “Kleine Zeitung” Austria)

So what’s  my issue here?

OK, the following is a rough but accurate translation of his report send to the media in Austria (Kleine Zeitung) in Austria on 8^th April, 2010. The link is at http://www.kleinezeitung.at/kaernten/2329685/kaerntner-bangkok-lage-kann-jederzeit-eskalieren.story;jsessionid=D69F43CC07ADD26264A33FD8D21C2AE4.p3

His report was written on 8^th. April 2010 and “BEFORE” the government did respond to the aggression of the “Red-Shirt” leaders and started a expected and somehow awaited crack on those troublemakers after being more patient like most other countries.

Mr. Haser did comment and report to foreign media that the “Red’Shirts” achieved to bring Bangkok to a standstill. – Klaus comments: as far as I remember, on the 8^th only the area around Central World and Central Chidlom was occupied by the red-shirts. This is bad enough, but surly not justify the report to foreign media that they achieved to bring Bangkok to a standstill!

Mr. Haser did comment and report to foreign media, the citizen of Bangkok did more and more support the “red-shirts” ! – Klaus comments: This is not true from general observation and statistic. 10-20,000 people in a city of official 7 Million (unofficial estimated at 11 Million) is not really a majority. Just calculate how many percent are the 10-20,000 out of 63 Million people here in Thailand really represents.

Mr. Haser did comment and report to foreign media that the Thai government did switch off the “Peoples Channel” to ensure that possible violent actions by the government will not reach the people in the north of Thailand. – So, he says that all other media in Thailand are not trustworthy!  Klaus comments: I do agree with him that some media is not trustworthy!  But do you truly think that all other media are not trustworthy with the exception of “Peoples Channel”?? Hmmm….. Mr. Andreas Haser may not know who is suspected to support (maybe even financially) his favorite TV channel! People say it’s a convicted and fugitive criminal!

Mr. Haser did comment to foreign media, the Thai army did close the road from the North of Thailand to Bangkok. – Klaus comments: Which road is he talking about?

As per Mr. Haser did comments and report to foreign media he recommends not to  visit Bangkok if there is no need.  But Mr. Haser said he feels safe! And he said there is not much to see in Bangkok anyway right now since many shopping centers and sightseeing areas are closed. Klaus comments: What does Mr. Haser actually mean to the controversial statements he made?

Mr. Haser did comment and report to the foreign media that the Central World Shopping Center was occupied (German word: “besetzt”) by the red-shirts.  Klaus comments: Mr. Haser, please inform the readers in Austria how many of the red-shirts you have seen inside Central World Shopping Center which was closed?

The reason why I translated those reports from the German speaking media to you is simply that I feel strongly to share this comments and reports to others as I know  that several points as mentioned by Mr. Haser are not really valid and not correct.  As foreigners we are very privileged to work in this beautiful country! Thailand is considered my home and Thailand has been good to me and everyone I know. Unfortunately right now our host-country suffers so much because of the greed and ‘thirst for power” by some individuals.

Klaus comments:

I strongly believe that we foreigners who have the privilege to be here in Thailand on any basis should never report lies about our host-country.

I strongly believe that we foreigners who have the privilege to be in any country  should contribute to its society wherever we can and should use our acquired ‘inside’ knowledge of Thailand’s problems to educate the foreign media about the roots of problems rather than focusing to put ourselves into the ‘limelight’

I see nothing wrong to talk to the media and I do this as well, but when talking to the media, the information should not be distorted, or from only one side of the view, or use one’s own judgment without some analysis.

I only hope that people like Mr. Haser will also report once to the foreign media on how good Thailand is treating him, on how good he lives and how many beautiful things happen in Thailand.

Klaus R. Rauter

klausrauter@gmail.com