British diplomat's blog withdrawn after claims of Thai red light visits
London - The British foreign ministry said on Thursday that the blog of a British diplomat in Bangkok had been withdrawn after accusations that he had been spotted in the city's red light district.
Ian Proud, whose blog was posted on the website of the Thai national newspaper The Nation, (nationmultimedia.com) denied the "malicious accusations" made on the site, the foreign ministry said.
"These were personal comments made by a member of the British Embassy in Bangkok," a Foreign Office spokesman said.
"He is a member of the diplomatic service and as such we do not comment ... I believe the blog has been withdrawn."
"Ian has been the victim of malicious accusations about his personal behaviour. He has rejected such accusations."
The foreign ministry also said it was reviewing its policy on allowing diplomats to write blogs.
Proud, 38, has admitted to visiting Cowboy Street in the Thai capital, part of the city's red light district, but has been quoted as saying that "the suggestion that I'm some sort of upholder of the sex trade in Bangkok ... It's pathetic, frankly."
Proud's four-year tenure in Bangkok as head of the British embassy's political section is set to end next month, according to his profile in the blog. Agence France Presse
|
