Reference: West is accused of shameless blackmail, Bangkok Post, October 4, 2008

The government of Kenya accused envoys from donor countries of shameless blackmail and gross condescension because they blamed the head of the election commission there for mishandling the election held last December (West is accused of shameless blackmail, Bangkok Post, October 4, 2008). Yet, it is the not only the right but the duty of donor countries to ensure that their aid is not misused by the government of the people for whom the aid is intended. Aid recipient governments find themselves in this fix because they are corrupt and dysfunctional. If they wish to regain their sense of sovereignty they may do so by improving governance and balancing the budget without the use of foreign aid. Until then they must be held accountable by the donors. If it is colonialism then it is voluntary colonialism and the onus still lies wth the government of Kenya and not with the donors. 

Cha-am Jamal

Thailand