There are rumours circulating in cyberspace that the health of Thailand’s crown prince, Vajiralongkorn, may have deteriorated significantly during a trip to Europe. Do any New Mandala readers have informed comment to make on this?
UPDATE 1: I have been told that press have been invited to a “public” event (at a Bangkok university – perhaps Kasetsart?) that will be attended by the crown prince on Friday. As one press representative commented “presumably this is a deliberate attempt to scotch the rumours.”
UPDATE 2: New Mandala readers looking to follow the rumours circulating in cyberspace may find these links helpful: Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree and Thailand Jumped the Shark.
UPDATE 3 (26 July): It will be interesting to see if the prince makes his expected appearance tomorrow. New Mandala has received a number of off-line emails that make it clear that these rumours about the prince have been circulating extensively in Thailand and abroad. And they do appear to be more than run-of-the-mill royal gossip. Well-connected and well-informed commentators have taken the rumours seriously enough to investigate them in detail. And, of course, some have attempted to blame Thaksin for starting the rumours. The official line seems to be that the prince has been undertaking flight training in Sweden (how much training does he need?). But the rumours of some sort of medical crisis are not yet abating.
UPDATE 4 (27 July): This snippet from The Nation should put some of the more extreme rumours to rest (and what, exactly, does a Masters degree in Home Economics involve?):
HRH Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn walks with his royal consort; Princess Srirasmi and Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti in a ceremony at Kasetsart University on Friday. Princess Srirasmi received a Master Degree in Home Economics.
Methinks Thongchai would not be very pleased w. New Mandala gossiping about royalty…
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I was reading (on a different webboard) rumors that he was sent abroad to Sweden because the King was in ill health – if the King died, and if the Crown Prince were abroad, Prem would be able to appoint Princess Sirindhorn without too much hassle.
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So, lese-majeste actually becomes saying anything at all about Thai royalty.
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My girlfriend got a phone call last week from her friend (whose father is connected to the royal family somehow) that the prince had already died. I believe it was last Thursday. Probably just a rumor though.
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The crown Prince has a chronic illness that he receives treatment for Over Seas. Its incurable nature will see this as an ongoing scenario. If Prem were to appoint Sirindhorn as Queen in the event of the King being incapable of ruling or passing away there would be new trouble from the south for Bangkok.
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On a brighter note, happy birthday for Saturday to the Crown Prince.
No birthday wishes from me for John Howard or Thaksin today though.
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I don’t believe the rumour. Happy Birthday to our great prime minister, Thaksin Shinnawat
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I was told by a Thai friend whom was informed by her British boyfriend that he heard the Thai Crown Prince passed away in Sweden. I am still trying to look the news about it up on internet.
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I have provided a brief update on this issue.
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Great. Thank you for the update. I do hope the truth, whatever that is, would emerge as soon as possible.
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Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn Visited Sweden
By Kittisak Siripornpitak
Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand has paid a visit to Sweden and resided at the Royal Thai Embassy in Stockholm and is scheduled to return to Thailand on July 25, 2007.
The Crown Prince is accompanied by his wife, Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasmi, and their son, HRH Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti.
Created 2007-07-23
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There is no doubt that a certain person has or had a medical crisis, to what extend – we don’t know. But it is fact that the Thais always gossip about some family. It’s really silly. Like little children they have to paint their world in black and white.
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Last week my wife had surgery at a respected hospital in Thailand and the medical staff, including the surgeon, could speak of little else than rumors relating to the demise of the Crown Prince. Whispered rumors regarding the Crown Prince are usually part of the normal background noise of Thai society, but this rumor did seem to reach noise levels previously unheard and thus worthy of discussion as to why the noise did reach such a decibel level.
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I have provided a further update on the crown prince, in relation to his visit today to Kasetsart University.
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Y’all McCartney did the same!
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The Crown Prince has been in Sweden for two months, it’s been called a holiday, and he’s been staying at Villa Pauli (a posh members-only club outside Stockholm) together with his entourage.
I doubt his health is very poor though because he’s been out and about during his stay, apparently he’s visited the Skansen Open Air Museum in Stockholm and before he left to go home he hosted a dinner for people whom have assisted him and his closest during the stay.
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Happy birthday today.
I like this photo:
http://www.bangkokpost.net/280707_front.jpg
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Rumours about Sia Oh and his affliction have been around for quite a while. It used to be said he hid visits to a clinic in the USa with gambling trips to Vegas
He used to be a big strapping lad – look at how gaunt he is in the picture above and he looks a lot older than his years.
After the Chakri’s came to power upon the murder of Taksin a soothsayer said there would never be a Rama X – hmmmm
Highly educated colleagues of mine in Bangkok really beleived he was dead the rumours were that strong
2 month holiday away from wife and child?????
Well dodgy – maybe the old man will outlive his son after all!
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i hate him cos’he love to be relationship with many girls in thailand also thai stars.
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so what ?
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People interested in royal trash might like to view the debate at Wikipedia on the wife. There is dispute over the pic used at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Srirasmi&oldid=146902759
This picture appears to be from the racy pictures circulated in Thailand some time ago. The debate is at: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Srirasmi&action=history
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What crown prince with an ailing father takes a TWO MONTH holiday in Sweden?
Interesting and slightly scary times in Thailand
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So what would the gossipers and gossip passers say when they sawa The Crown Prince happy and perfectly healthy photos appear on the news ( T.V. , newsopapaer, internet and maganzines)?
The person who is behind such costly spreading of the online news as well as widespread gossip is the one we all know, the ousted master corrupt Thugsin.
Beacuse the Crown Prince is number 1 heir to the throne, he is the main target of attack of greedy and power seeker.
We do not personally know the prince but feel that Thai people need to aware of these crooks’ intetntions.
Whether he is popular or not is not the question.
He does his duty and has helped relieved his father, the King more and more each day. In fact, all members of the Royal Household work very hard.
Thaksin is very jealous of the King so he tries in evey way, directly and back-stabbing, to damage his reputation and happiness. the King is the force of unity that keeps people united and live harmoniously for over sixty years. So he is in the way of Thaksin who is so ambitious to become the president and set his own empire. Of course who would accept a crook like him.
The bad karma that he did to this nation and our King will return to him. He and his family will never have a happy and peaceful life. His billion baht can not help. Those who did good receive good in return, those who did bad and said bad things certainly will repay for their evil deeds!
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Dear Nee: If you think Thaksin is behind the rumours about the prince, then you haven’t been exposed to the Bangkok rumour mill very long. Rumours on the CP are long-standing and most of those were resurrected over the past two months.
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He just visited the Central World Plaza. Local people were complaining a lot that he blocked the traffic etc. There is no way that they will ever accept him in what position ever.
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Dear Thai Friends,
I had seen the vedio “birthday’s wife” at the pool.So ashame,how they do such the thing.She will be the next queen of Thailand.Too bad for the country.
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I also have seen the vdo too , I felt sorry for thai people if she become a queen.
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Dear Judy,
Could you forward the vedio to me, please? Thanks.
Kind Regards,
Addy
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Dear Judy or Addy,
Where can I find the video of the birthday by the pool?
Thanks,
Debbie
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Dear Debbie,
I would like to see the video of the birthday by the pool too.
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Ah…. Mom Siriwanwalee in See Through sleeping suit with G String too Boot …. That’s what I have known so far ….
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Congragulations!!!! princess Srirasmi in your graduation in Home Economics .
Dont know why people have problem with her degree . She is the future queen and is she is studing in subjects she likes why should common man have any problems.
And please leave HRH Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn alone, from centuries King and princes have had many women and mistresses …i think its a part of their royal pleasure and charm.
A lay man should first think where they are and who they are commenting on the Royals.
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The video link is http://www.revu.nl/6273
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I had a look that VDO.
It’s unvelievable.
She wore a G-Sting with topless and shoes, nothingelse!
She walked here and there in the party just like we walk in our close friend birthday party in that dress while the waiters was serving food and drink. The waiters wore Thai classical dress(Jongkaben and Rachpatan)
By the time she cut the birthday cake, she also carrying a small dog names FU FU.
This was how the Thailand’s Queen-to-be behaved.
She is a great actor, she behaves nicely and modestly when she visits people in remote areas.
Please help preying to have the Crown Princess to be the next.
The Crown Prince have nothing suitable for the Throne. I don’t want the next Thailand Queen who behaved this way.
If that was done to the favor of the Crown Prince, Is he still fit for the position he has long been waiting for?
He dosen’t deserv at all!
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I saw the video of Pricess on her birthday and I think its no bid deal even princess of Wales I believe use to run around her palace in thongs. Does being naked and wearing thongs mean that you are a bad person. We are just common men and cannot even imagine living a life of the Royals….and we dont know what their lifestyles are like…..I think we should stop wasting time debating over such silly issues and think for Mal nourished Children of the world, Aids , child prostitution. Thank you.
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Maybe, somebody could send her the ministry of culture’s book on how people should behave in Thailand? Reportedly, she now studies for her PhD, and she also teaches at university — cooking.
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What’s wrong with teaching cooking? A noble profession. Look at British TV; plenty of celebrity cooks. Not sure one needs a PhD for that, but as the “naked chef”, she might be great on boring Thai TV! And she could hand out the leftovers to the malnourished children of the world! It’d be wonderful.
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Adeline said: And please leave HRH Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn alone, from centuries King and princes have had many women and mistresses …i think its a part of their royal pleasure and charm.
A lay man should first think where they are and who they are commenting on the Royals.
Why should I leave him alone? He is in a public position and therefore should be criticized for the sake of transparency and good governance.
And I don’t think royalty should even exist in this modern world. Is drug dealing and authoritarianism also part of that “charm”? I wonder what century you were born into.
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But I forget. I am a mere commoner with no rights and no dignity. At least not compared to the paragon of virtue and charm that is the Thai monarchy. I am nowhere near their level of genius, nor am I entitled to criticize them. They are perfect beings of which degenerate commoners like me should be grateful for their rule.
I submit my worthless self at the foot of the royal, majestic throne. In the meantime, let’s forget 1932 ever happened and all about human rights and dignity and might as well arrange for a caste system. After all, the overwhelming charm and mystical aura of the royals should be enough reason for me to submit my scientific mind to their will.
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I just checked out the video link above, and found it fascinating, sad and somewhat titillating all at the same time.
I realise the video is old, and this has probably all been discussed before, but I noticed what seemed like camera flashes going off during the video: – I wonder who else was present, or was it the servants taking photo’s?
Also, has it been established whether the filming was done openly, or was the camera hidden?
As an avid royal watcher, Republican, maybe you could point me to the answers (based on your posts here, I presume you are not in Thailand).
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This video is quite sad. What kind of message is the prince trying to show to everyone, that its ok to display your wife to the public? She is beyond the role of a common wife, she will be queen and if this is what they both tend to portray to the public, I don’t know what will happen when he takes the throne.
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I don’t see the video as being sad. In fact,I saw a woman -a exhibitionist ,perhaps-who was expressing her love of and devotion to her husband.
Had they going through a bad patch before the birthday party?
If the video was to remain private,as I believe it was meant to be,how does this reflect on the Crown Prince? O.K. so it records seemingly unusual behaviour displayed by a woman whose figure many woman would be envious of .How many children has the Princess had?
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No children at that time jeplang. There have long been rumors that the prince demands that his women be naked in his presence. It seems that all kinds of celebrities think they are amateur porn stars these days. Bits of the Thai royal family seem caught in the same celebrity trap.
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Alone celebrating his BD with his much younger “trying to cheer him up” see-through out -fit wife, I am truly sorry for Thai’s crown prince.
Please, Thai people remember what is important ? This video or the security of OUR COUNTRY. Don’t let anyone or anything tear up our UNITY that the current King frequently asks us to have and protect.
Feel sorry for our future King and move on with your life. “Sai bard” (offering food to the monk) first thing in the morning, going to work, kiss your wife and take best care of your children. Praying every night that OUR COUNTRY stays.
Forgive whoever broadcasting this video in order to destroy the security of the throne and OUR COUNTRY.
Safe our land.
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These pictures of the naked consort of the Clown (not crown, mind you) Prince should leave the Ministry of Culture speechless!
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http://www.revu.nl/6273
This link is apparently blocked. Is there another? Thanks.
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Dear Crown Prince,
Approximately 1978 I did a Parachute course at Williamstown Australia with you and your bodyguard.
I’am intending to visit your country in the near future and if possible would like to meet with you providing this is convenient.
Should this request be accepted by you, I can be contacted via my email address jamesjones1@bigpond.com
Regards James Jones
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James Jones,
If he knew that you ‘ve been lurking around reading blog like this one, he probably won’t invite you.
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I think this letter to the CP is cute in a way. A jibe at “the situation?”
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Of course Lese majeste doesn’t just apply to the king, but the king’s family , too.
But have you noticed that while royalty is off limits in the Thai press so too, and perhaps more so, is criticism of another institution -the armed forces. Who has the faintest idea of what those guys are up to!
Just curious: has anyone ever read a critical, in depth discussion, of the military in any Thai newspaper? I haven’t.
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Some problem about king’s family.
However our king himself is very good.
There is no any Thai politician dare to declare against him.
Or else “the politician” will be kicked by Thai people (especially from rural area).
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Dear Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn
I’m emailing you to see if I can come and visit you.
I did a Parachute Course at Williamstown Australia with you and your bodyguard in 1978.
I have been to Thailand many times and have had no success in contacting you so now I ‘am trying to make contact by this web site. I understand this is not a good web site to contact you as many people try to put you down on this web site. They don’t know you and should not judge you. This is the only web site I can find where I can leave a message and hope you will beable to read.
Take care and I hope to hear from you soon
Regards Jim Jones
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Yo Jim. long time no see. Would be great to catch up with you.
Pretty busy now as you can imagine but if you visit Bangkok just hop in any tuk-tuk and ask to go to the Palace. If you sing the old para regiment drinking song then the guards will buzz you in. Tuesdays & Fridays are Toga Party nights – BYOB
Cheers
CPV
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jim jones i can help you to contact prince vajiralongkorn if you read my message please tell me if you are interested in meeting him. i hope you reply soon
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Long live the peoples republic of thailand
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Long live the Thai monarchy – though it needs modernising.
Chulalongkorn especially remains hugely reverred in Isaarn, and among Red Shirts – as liberator of slaves and father of democracy.
There’s not much mass base support for a “Thai” republic.
There’s a far larger mass base for Isaarn breaking away from “Thailand”, but under a common monarchy, if Bangkok – especially the Yellow Shirts – try to overthrow Chulalongkorn’s legacy, i.e. by disenfranchising, ie. re-enslaving Isaarn.
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Not quite sure what a common monarchy is supposed to be as opposed to something else, but the idea of a break-away at this point is sheer tomfoolery at best. There is disenfranchisement, and that will never go away and with good reason, but the only break-away action that stands a chance of happening is mass protests and possible violent incidents at scattered places. In the past the Isaan people and activists have always been stopped, when they “needed” to be, by police and military from even entering Bangkok.
No, Isaan will never break away. The south has a better chance of that and we can see how successful it has proven to date – nil.
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Frank – I completely disagree with you.
Increasing widespread sentiment towards breaking away, means a second front will be opened up against Bangkok’s – especially the PAD’s fascism-posing-as-democracy “Thailand”.
Isaarn is a ticking time-bomb – do you think those red-shirts with legs blasted off, go back to their villages, and preach love of “Thailand” ?
The third front is the Cambodian border.
A common monarchy is some sort of arrangement like Australia,
Canada, New Zealand have with the British Queen.
Chulalongkorn is still hugely revered in Isaarn – so there’s still a chance a federal solution could work for “Thailand” as Siam.
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Interjecting here from my observer status: Chris, you are really digging your hole with a sign outside of “knowledge-gap”:
First, Thailand is not part of some Buddhist commonwealth: the king is only king of thailand, not of some far away, sometimes culturally and ethinically unconnected ex-colonies. Using your oblique term, Thailand cannot have a “common monarchy” since it doesn’t share it with anyone else.
And let’s be real, there is no chance of Isarn breaking away, “federalising”, or anything. You are fantasising of you think so.
The only issue at the current time is, can the monarchy maintain its position after succession, or will it lose influence, over the WHOLE of the kingdom, and how? Secession by Isarn? A longtime dream of many, but absolutely no movement or figurehead behind it. A non-starter.
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Funker – you really are in some kind of funk.
Isaarn is a former part of Siam : I never said it was a Buddhist
commonwealth, but Siam was a more federal set-up.
Indeed some of the earliest Siamese “states” were federal – you obviously do not know your Siamese history.
The “Thai” state is a facist creation of the Pibun pro-Japanese fsascist military clique, created in 1937.
However “Thailand” DOES share a common monarchy with Isaarn, and even Laos. The Lao monarchy were close cousins of the Thai Royals, until overthrown by the “communist” – in fact nationalist – revolution of 1975.
Incidentally here – the term Pathet Lao translates as Lao Nation – NOT “Communist” Lao, as so often mis-reported by Western and other media. And that is what the Lao PDR is – a Lao state, run by, and for Lao. And you are wrong – the prospect that they will link up, and liberate their 16 million Lao brothers and sisters in Thai-occupied Isaarn, like Vichy France, becomes stronger in their eyes, every-day they see the current break-up of “Thailand”.
If you don’t believe me, on the chances of this, read Wassana’s recent Bangkok Post article re. “Thailand’s” approaching civil war.
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Well the thing preventing the situation Chris just descibed is the clear economic gap between Lao PDR and Thailand. Isaarn might feel economically discriminated by Bangkok, they can see they’re still better of as a neglected Thai province then they would be as part of Lao PDR.
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Noud – your point is quite true.
Though my impression is that nation-building by the Thai state,
eg. through the school system, has only at best been partially successful. I’d suggest Thai pop culture has perhaps been a more effective unifier.
I’m not suggesting Isaarn would want to become part of Lao PDR. Simply that it may break away into an independent, o r semi-independent Isaarn.
This becomes ever more likely the more Isaarn sees its’ rights – of which they’re now fully aware – being eroded, marginalised, or treated with double-standards by Bangkok and Southern Thailand. But the real trigger for secession would be a pro-PAD coup resulting in widespread bloodshed.
The PAD keep talking about Thailand being “indivisable”, but as far as I can see they’re the ones doing the most to divide it.
Are any of the PAD core leaders from Isaarn ? They’re almost all either Bangkok or Southern Thai.
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Editor note (NSF): This is the 20,000th New Mandala comment since June 2006.
None of these posters knew what is really going on, instead of yapping and yapping. Laos and Cambodia already taken by Communist Vietnam; and Thailand is about to be taken by Communist Vietnam too. If this blog is a pro of Thai monarchy is fine, but to keep lying to the good citizen of Thailand is really bad. You don’t want to post my comment is your problem, but I only state what I knew about. Both Red and Yellow shirts have already been infiltrated by the Vietnamese spies, they learned and spoke Thai, Laos and Cambodian since in Vietnam before they entered these countries. It is no a conspiracy theory it is fact.
There won’t be anymore King/Queen in Thailand, King Bhumibol will be the last.
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Destin
Wow, this is the first time I’ve seen any comment related to Vietnam, and moreover, about Communist Vietnamese spies as well!! care to tell us what happened ??
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Sounds as if you are a double agent for the real infiltrator – China, not Vietnam b y a long shot. I was just in the Attorney General’s HQ in Bangkok today, and two Thai-Chinese were talking with one another. Said the man, “Are you taking Chinese lessons yet?” She replied briefly in Thai, but then changed to Chinese phrases. So, let there be no doubt that this pogrom we are experiencing here is not by any “good people” but by Chinese overlords who have long been milking the Thai cow who still remains deluded about being independent.
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Destin should get some kind of prize. That’s a fantastic story.
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Hate to say it but someone or some people are being quite sexist and non-understanding of household economics when they question what is a Master’s degree in Home Economics. Anyone that runs or manages a household, especially one as large as anyone of a royal household would know that home economics is not an applied field of academic study that can be ignored. It would appear that some of your readers need some “lessons” the gendered nature of economics……………..
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