Comments for Andrew Drummond http://www.andrew-drummond.com Journalist covering Bangkok, Thailand and Southeast Asia Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:36:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Open letter from Aaron Quill on the jailing of his father in Thailand - April 16 08 by Jaap G. Klasema http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2008/04/16/open-letter-from-aaron-quill-on-the-jailing-of-his-father-in-thailand-april-16-08/#comment-1424 Jaap G. Klasema Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:50:12 +0000 http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2008/04/16/open-letter-from-aaron-quill-on-the-jailing-of-his-father-in-thailand-april-16-08/#comment-1424 Dear Aaron, We've both know your father for well over 10 years. To use the word "shocked" in the context of what has been happening to him, would be a gross understatement, alright ! Then I started hearing the rumors of the latest travesty of law and I can only tell you that we are both totally baffled by this. Please let me know what's happening with this case; where is your dad now and how can we help, okay ? Jaap & Chan' Klasema Pattaya Dear Aaron,

We’ve both know your father for well over 10 years. To use the word “shocked” in the context of what has been happening to him, would be a gross understatement, alright !

Then I started hearing the rumors of the latest travesty of law and I can only tell you that we are both totally baffled by this.

Please let me know what’s happening with this case; where is your dad now and how can we help, okay ?

Jaap & Chan’ Klasema
Pattaya

]]> Comment on Why won’t the Foreign Office help? - Mail On Sunday February 24 2008 by chay http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2008/02/24/why-wont-the-foriegn-office-help-mail-on-sunday-february-24-2008/#comment-1375 chay Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:12:39 +0000 http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2008/02/24/why-wont-the-foriegn-office-help-mail-on-sunday-february-24-2008/#comment-1375 I feel sorry for them. I hope they could find a very good lawyer for their case. To the "estranged" husband, obviously he is only after money. How could the baby be given not to his own father?! I would like to help David and Cynthia. IS there a way to get in touch with them or a way to send them donation for their everyday needs? I hope and pray that they will be able to make it. I feel sorry for them. I hope they could find a very good lawyer for their case. To the “estranged” husband, obviously he is only after money. How could the baby be given not to his own father?! I would like to help David and Cynthia. IS there a way to get in touch with them or a way to send them donation for their everyday needs? I hope and pray that they will be able to make it.

]]> Comment on Briton charged with adultery flees Philippines with baby - Daily Mail 21/04 by ron http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2008/04/20/briton-charged-with-adultery-flees-philippines-with-baby-april-20-08/#comment-1232 ron Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:47:02 +0000 http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2008/04/20/briton-charged-with-adultery-flees-philippines-with-baby-april-20-08/#comment-1232 Hi ive been living in the philippines now for over 2 years with my wife and baby. the philippines ive found is so corrupt as a brit they will drag every penny out of you for extension visas and other corrupt matters. no wonder so many want to leave Hi ive been living in the philippines now for over 2 years with my wife and baby. the philippines ive found is so corrupt as a brit they will drag every penny out of you for extension visas and other corrupt matters. no wonder so many want to leave

]]> Comment on Thai P.M. orders investigation into tourist killings - April 10 2008 by Mary-Jane Matheson http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2008/04/11/thai-pm-orders-investigation-into-tourist-killings-april-10-2008/#comment-1190 Mary-Jane Matheson Tue, 27 May 2008 21:07:39 +0000 http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2008/04/11/thai-pm-orders-investigation-into-tourist-killings-april-10-2008/#comment-1190 I wish you all the best in your fight for justice. I wish you all the best in your fight for justice.

]]> Comment on Glasgow gangster brings karma to Cambodia’s killing fields by Sihanoukville http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2007/03/04/glasgow-gangster-bring-karma-to-cambodia%e2%80%99s-killing-fields/#comment-1182 Sihanoukville Sun, 25 May 2008 15:41:12 +0000 http://www.andrew-drummond.com/?p=74#comment-1182 Almost a "From Rags to Riches" story... Almost a “From Rags to Riches” story…

]]> Comment on Irishman’s death on round the word tour linked to heroin - Irish Independent April 5 08 by Arnold Glovepocket http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2008/04/05/irishmans-death-on-round-the-word-tour-linked-to-heroin-irish-independent/#comment-1129 Arnold Glovepocket Thu, 08 May 2008 15:02:07 +0000 http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2008/04/05/irishmans-death-on-round-the-word-tour-linked-to-heroin-irish-independent/#comment-1129 I see your CV doesn't include the Guardian (Grauniad), maybe you could give it a go now you seem to have the qualifications, see the title! Irishman’s death on round the word tour linked to heroin.... What is a round the word tour? is it something to do with Scrabble? I see your CV doesn’t include the Guardian (Grauniad), maybe you could give it a go now you seem to have the qualifications, see the title!
Irishman’s death on round the word tour linked to heroin….

What is a round the word tour? is it something to do with Scrabble?

]]> Comment on Briton charged with adultery flees Philippines with baby - Daily Mail 21/04 by Shawn http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2008/04/20/briton-charged-with-adultery-flees-philippines-with-baby-april-20-08/#comment-1126 Shawn Wed, 07 May 2008 13:32:14 +0000 http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2008/04/20/briton-charged-with-adultery-flees-philippines-with-baby-april-20-08/#comment-1126 I agree that the story is sad, there is no doubt about that. But he was in a foreign country, bound by those foreign laws. He agreed to follow those laws when he entered the country. This story is more about either his ignorance of the laws, unwillingness to follow them, or his inability to remain celabate (or at the very least CAREFUL) untill the annulment was complete. Ignorance of the law does not exempt you from those laws. Sure the law may be unjust or antiquated to us, living in other countries, but it is still a law. You break the law anywhere, and you are subject to the consequences. I am also a father, and I will say that I am glad they were able to get out however. But to everyone who reads this. If you go to another country, be smart. Know the laws and be prepared to follow them, or this could happen to you! I agree that the story is sad, there is no doubt about that. But he was in a foreign country, bound by those foreign laws. He agreed to follow those laws when he entered the country. This story is more about either his ignorance of the laws, unwillingness to follow them, or his inability to remain celabate (or at the very least CAREFUL) untill the annulment was complete. Ignorance of the law does not exempt you from those laws. Sure the law may be unjust or antiquated to us, living in other countries, but it is still a law. You break the law anywhere, and you are subject to the consequences. I am also a father, and I will say that I am glad they were able to get out however. But to everyone who reads this. If you go to another country, be smart. Know the laws and be prepared to follow them, or this could happen to you!

]]> Comment on Briton charged with adultery flees Philippines with baby - Daily Mail 21/04 by Fil-Am http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2008/04/20/briton-charged-with-adultery-flees-philippines-with-baby-april-20-08/#comment-1094 Fil-Am Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:21:35 +0000 http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2008/04/20/briton-charged-with-adultery-flees-philippines-with-baby-april-20-08/#comment-1094 It's sad and pitiful that the Philippines has come to this. An antiquated law is used to glorify how the country is more religious and pious because there is *no* divorce; but, as stated in the piece, it's just semantics because the celebrities and the rich can afford the 'device' of an annulment -- which doesn't count in the official tally of divorce because it's off the books. And, in this case, it's a vehicle for receiving bribes. Corruption/graft is taught to every generation as a way of life because it's all that everyone sees. How can multinational business or tourism thrive if foreigners are bled dry by having to pay bribes? Those people who are nationalistic and who would have never dreamed of ever leaving the Philippines because they still had a decent way of making a living, have now decided to leave -- even if they know they'll experience hardship in another country because they won't have the same comforts that they're used to back home. Sometimes I wonder if the government does this intentionally so that foreign remittances increase and add to the GDP. Politicians don't seem to care either whether the country's professionals (nurses, doctors) leave because if any politician every suffered a debilitating illness, he/she would just get care in the U.S. The only way to cure the ills of the country is to get rid of the systemic, ingrained belief system of the old way of doing things. Unfortunately, that means that you'd have to cut off the heads of anybody over the age of 12. It’s sad and pitiful that the Philippines has come to this. An antiquated law is used to glorify how the country is more religious and pious because there is *no* divorce; but, as stated in the piece, it’s just semantics because the celebrities and the rich can afford the ‘device’ of an annulment — which doesn’t count in the official tally of divorce because it’s off the books. And, in this case, it’s a vehicle for receiving bribes.

Corruption/graft is taught to every generation as a way of life because it’s all that everyone sees. How can multinational business or tourism thrive if foreigners are bled dry by having to pay bribes? Those people who are nationalistic and who would have never dreamed of ever leaving the Philippines because they still had a decent way of making a living, have now decided to leave — even if they know they’ll experience hardship in another country because they won’t have the same comforts that they’re used to back home. Sometimes I wonder if the government does this intentionally so that foreign remittances increase and add to the GDP. Politicians don’t seem to care either whether the country’s professionals (nurses, doctors) leave because if any politician every suffered a debilitating illness, he/she would just get care in the U.S.

The only way to cure the ills of the country is to get rid of the systemic, ingrained belief system of the old way of doing things. Unfortunately, that means that you’d have to cut off the heads of anybody over the age of 12.

]]> Comment on Thai police played the keyboards at my wedding to child bride - says child rapist by Peter Marshall http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2008/03/23/thai-police-played-the-keyboards-at-my-wedding-to-child-bride-says-child-rapist/#comment-1056 Peter Marshall Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:42:01 +0000 http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2008/03/23/thai-police-played-the-keyboards-at-my-wedding-to-child-bride-says-child-rapist/#comment-1056 Anyone who has lived in Thailand for any length of time knows that the Pattaya police - in particular - are totally corrupt. It appears that this individual has been able to take full advantage of this sad state of affairs for a very long time now for his own selfish and evil interest. Anyone who has lived in Thailand for any length of time knows that the Pattaya police - in particular - are totally corrupt.

It appears that this individual has been able to take full advantage of this sad state of affairs for a very long time now for his own selfish and evil interest.

]]> Comment on Briton killed over Thai bride March 14 2008 by Peter Marshall http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2008/03/14/briton-killed-over-thai-bride-march-14-2008/#comment-1055 Peter Marshall Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:16:57 +0000 http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2008/03/14/briton-killed-over-thai-bride-march-14-2008/#comment-1055 Another shocking case involving a foreigner murdered in Thailand - and - again - outside of Bangkok in the provinces. Another shocking case involving a foreigner murdered in Thailand - and - again - outside of Bangkok in the provinces.

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