Anger at Lady Gaga misses the point

Once again, preservation of Thai “face” and “image” takes precedence over truth and reality, and a hysterical barrage of “shoot the messenger” criticism erupts over Lady Gaga’s announcement that she intends to go shopping for a fake Rolex.
Fact: Fake Rolexes are available throughout Thailand.
Fact: Tourists come here to buy them.
Fact: Many other counterfeit goods such as DVDs, handbags and clothes are also available.
Fact: Thailand is on international watchlists for counterfeit goods.
Fact: Apart from the occasional highly publicised and limp-wristed crackdown, nothing is
being done to stop it.
Nigel Pike
Phang Nga