Andrew Drummond

From The Times
April 14, 2007

Diplomat abandons blog amid a flurry of insults

Catherine Philp and Andrew Drummond in Bangkok

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is to set new rules governing the internet activities of staff, after a British diplomat’s blog about life in Bangkok was shut down under a deluge of insinuations about his professional competence and sex life.

Ian Proud, 38, who is due to leave his post at the British Embassy in Bangkok next month, began his blogging career on Monday after the Thai daily The Nationinvited him to share his impressions of Thailand.

Aware that his professional life had to remain out of bounds, he did not consider seeking permission from the Foreign Office. But Mr Proud’s daily diary of “harmless, cute little stories about Thailand” quickly blew up into a scandal after readers began bombarding the site with unflattering and salacious comments, forcing its closure after three days.

The Foreign Office confirmed yesterday that a review was under way into whether in future its staff would be allowed to write blogs as representatives of their country. Mr Proud, who is due to leave his posting next month, pronounced himself astonished by the flap.

In his first posting, on Monday, he told readers that he was so reluctant to leave that he was considering staying on in Thailand to become a full-time blogger when his mission ended. That now seems unlikely.

After Mr Proud posted a picture of himself playing football, one reader added a comment claiming to have seen the diplomat with a woman in Cowboy Street, in the red-light district. “I recall going to the embassy once and that same night I was down on Soi Cowboy and who did I bump into? Yes, it was Ian,” the respondent wrote, using the screen name Edwardio Shanks. “I saw him walking arm-in-arm with a girl.”

In a second blog, Mr Proud heaped praise on the singing skills of a member of the junta that overthrew the Thai Government in a coup last year. “General Winai gets my vote. A very fine voice indeed. I have met him a few times and can also attest to what a nice man he is.”

Reactions ranged from “patronising” and “naive” to “a load of bull” and “disingenuous piffle”. “Oh my god this guy is a complete clown,” one respondent wrote. Editors were overwhelmed by the workload in removing insulting comments until they and Mr Proud gave in and removed it from the site.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “Ian has been the victim of malicious accusations about his personal behaviour. He has rejected such accusations.” No action is planned against Mr Proud.