European idiocy: penalising the man who is setting the country right
After a benign tumour was removed from Randolph Churchill, Evelyn Waugh remarked that it was a "typical triumph of modern science, to find the only part of Randolph that was not malignant and remove it".
In Thailand there is a different scenario. The country has been plagued by tumours like corruption, illegal gambling, forced labour and illegal migrant treatment – all mentioned in the papers today. These are not new. The slavery report was from last year.
There is new surgeon in town and he is threatening to expunge all these illegal activities. He is targeted by the US, Great Britain and the EU. Bad words are used for his initiative. Fingers are pointing at the loss of GDP because foreign workers have returned home because of threats, most likely by the police who have fed off their backs and are keen to get rid of the witnesses before the surgeon arrives. A gambling den pinpointed by Chuwit in 2006 was successfully raided “as they were moving out”. The surgeon is not getting full support. Significantly the Cambodian workers involved apparently had not been warned off.
The US was supportive of the cancer in government last year and is now about to penalise the man who is trying to put things right.
RICHARD BOWLER
Bangkok
