Bangkok: An advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs has clarified that Michael A. Alfaro is not an official White House spokesperson, highlighting that suspicious information has been found about him. Alfaro, a lobbyist and owner of a PR firm in Washington, D.C., has been criticized for the unverified information he disseminated, which does not meet standard reporting practices for conflict situations by foreign news agencies.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Chayika Wongnapachandra, an advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, posted on X regarding a report by Mr. Michael A. Alfaro, claiming that Thai soldiers had invaded Cambodian territory and restricted Cambodians’ movement in and out of their villages. A senior source confirmed that Alfaro “is not an official White House spokesman and cannot confirm which news organization he is affiliated with.” Investigations revealed that Alfaro’s report is more opinion-based rather than factual. Previously, the Royal Thai Army spokesman condemned a distorted report from Cambodia suggesting that Thailand was planning another attack, leading to the evacuation of Cambodian citizens to Oddar Meanchey Province.
Michael A. Alfaro is identified as a federal lobbyist and owner of a PR firm named Capitol Hill and Friends, as per the firm’s website. The firm’s name suggests connections to the White House and was only established this year. However, the company’s website itself has not been verified and includes several inconsistencies.
Further scrutiny of the website registration information via WHOIS raised additional doubts, as the phone number appears invalid, and the registered email address and location are vague, merely listing “Plainfield USA” without specifying the state, whether New Jersey or Illinois.
Experts with knowledge in international news reporting have analyzed Alfaro’s style, noting that it does not align with standards for reporting conflict situations. International norms require careful language and neutrality, avoiding definitive judgments on the parties involved.
In conclusion, the information reported by Mr. Michael A. Alfaro is deemed unsubstantiated and more reflective of personal opinion rather than verified facts.