Pramote's embarrassment, a lesson for US embassy
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The letter from the US embassy in Bangkok to Dr Pramote Nakornthab, one of Thailand's well-known academics, inviting him to join the US Independence Day party on July 4 should have been a cause for celebration for all concerned had the invitee not been de
Dr Pramote, who was apparently offended by the letter, posted images of the envelope, together with the invite letter, on Facebook. He said the US embassy had committed a “misidentification” of him. He thereby declined the invitation.
The US embassy came out in public to apologise for the error. That was fair enough, and should end the kerfuffle.
However, to prevent a recurrence of such an error, the US government, under the leadership of President Barack Obama, should give a warning to all US embassy staff in Bangkok not to get too involved in, or be too emotional about, the internal affairs of their host country. That is the only that way can we be assured not to see a repeat of such an “administrative oversight” again.
Vint Chavala
Bangkok
