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| Aof |
At the inaugural Nataraja Awards (Performing Arts Awards) in Bangkok on May 16, Aof took the stage to accept his award as best supporting actor in the Channel 3 soap opera, Prajan See Roong (Rainbow Moon).
Aof, who supports the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy, gave a brief speech about political divisions, the father of the nation (the King) and grumpy members of the King's household who in Aof's view were trying to tear it down.
The PAD likes to portray the red shirts, led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, as campaigning against the monarchy.
The reds deny it, saying the PAD exploited the monarchy as a populist device in support of its own cause.
However, judging by the enthusiastic response to Aof's speech - artistic types leapt to their feet, some with tears in their eyes, while others exhorted the crowds to cheer - many arty types feel the same way as the PAD.
Thais, Aof said, live in the house which father had built.
To make it such a loving, comfortable and embracing home, dad and many fellow Thais had made sacrifices, shedding blood, sweat and tears.
To this day, father was still looking after the place, though he was now tired and needed rest.
''If someone is angry or disappointed, wants to take it out on dad, hate him, insult him or chase him out of this house ... I would have to walk up to that person and say, if you hate our father, and do not love our father any more, you should leave, because this is our father's house,'' said Aof.
''This is our father's land. I love the King. I believe everyone here loves our King too. We are the same colour. I give my head to the King!'' he shouted.
His audience was on its feet even before his speech ended, such was the pent-up feeling among those present.
A television camera cut to director/actor Chatchai ''Nok'' Plengpanich, wiping tears from of his eyes with a white hanky.
Another celebrity was seen springing to his feet, clapping enthusiastically and looking around him for support.
At the website of the pro-PAD Manager/ASTV newspaper, thousands of readers left messages supporting Aof's stand. "I am man, but even I was in tears,'' wrote one fan.
In a subsequent interview with the newspaper, Aof said he would encourage artists who felt the same way to band together in support of dad.
Others weren't so enthusiastic. ''No matter how strongly you feel, you should keep the King out of politics,'' one said. -
2.
Singer/model Krichana Phanitphong (Gumpan Bazoo) reckons someone has it in for him after he was shot on the 27th floor of his city condo as fighting raged on the street below between red shirts and security forces.
Gumpan was heading on to his balcony of the Complete Condo in the Ratchaprarop area on May 15 when he was shot in the right shoulder.
A friend, who had ventured on to the balcony a moment earlier, wasn't so lucky. He was killed by another bullet.
Gumpan had just returned from a wedding with three friends.
One of his mates had left his motorbike at Gumpan's condo in Rang Nam Road. As they returned at 1am, they found they couldn't get access to the place, as the street had been closed off by fighting. They slept the night somewhere else.
The next day, they parked the car nearby and scaled a wall to get into his condo, where they decided to take shelter until the trouble had passed.
''About 4pm, as the sound of gunshots and explosions rang out below, one of the guys in my group ventured out on to the balcony,'' said Gumpan.
''I called out, telling him it was too dangerous, and that he should come back inside.
''But I was too late. He was shot in the neck, and collapsed. I crawled out on to the balcony to go to his aid, but was shot in the shoulder. The bullet exited through my back. His body lay there for hours before it could be retrieved.
''My other friend managed to get me downstairs. Because of the fighting, the ambulance couldn't gain access to our place for an hour,'' he said.
Gumpan doubts he was shot by a soldier, or that they were stray bullets.
''I believe the gunman, whoever he is, took aim at us and shot us deliberately .. .yet he must have known we were unarmed.
''We were high up. It probably came from someone positioned even higher than us, but I don't know who. I haven't made any enemies.
''I never thought Thailand would come to this. My condo was like a battlefield. Even the emergency workers who helped me were shot.
''I would like to ask those responsible: Why were you attacking innocent people?''
He would probably sell the condo, as the thought of staying there now gave him the creeps. -
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Gumpan Bazoo |
Gumpan was heading on to his balcony of the Complete Condo in the Ratchaprarop area on May 15 when he was shot in the right shoulder.
A friend, who had ventured on to the balcony a moment earlier, wasn't so lucky. He was killed by another bullet.
Gumpan had just returned from a wedding with three friends.
One of his mates had left his motorbike at Gumpan's condo in Rang Nam Road. As they returned at 1am, they found they couldn't get access to the place, as the street had been closed off by fighting. They slept the night somewhere else.
The next day, they parked the car nearby and scaled a wall to get into his condo, where they decided to take shelter until the trouble had passed.
''About 4pm, as the sound of gunshots and explosions rang out below, one of the guys in my group ventured out on to the balcony,'' said Gumpan.
''I called out, telling him it was too dangerous, and that he should come back inside.
''But I was too late. He was shot in the neck, and collapsed. I crawled out on to the balcony to go to his aid, but was shot in the shoulder. The bullet exited through my back. His body lay there for hours before it could be retrieved.
''My other friend managed to get me downstairs. Because of the fighting, the ambulance couldn't gain access to our place for an hour,'' he said.
Gumpan doubts he was shot by a soldier, or that they were stray bullets.
''I believe the gunman, whoever he is, took aim at us and shot us deliberately .. .yet he must have known we were unarmed.
''We were high up. It probably came from someone positioned even higher than us, but I don't know who. I haven't made any enemies.
''I never thought Thailand would come to this. My condo was like a battlefield. Even the emergency workers who helped me were shot.
''I would like to ask those responsible: Why were you attacking innocent people?''
He would probably sell the condo, as the thought of staying there now gave him the creeps. -
3.
One of the biggest high-society weddings of the year turned out to be smaller than expected, as it coincided with a night-time curfew in Bangkok.
No fewer than 4,000 invitations were printed for the wedding of Singha Beer heir Pithi ''Todd'' Pirompakdee and Channel 7 presenter, Worranuch ''Noon'' Wongsawun, held on Wednesday.
However, not all of them were needed, as some guests cancelled to avoid getting caught in the curfew declared the same afternoon.
That morning, red shirt protest leaders surrendered, setting off an orgy of destruction as disgruntled protesters set fire to city buildings.
The happy couple were formally married the previous Friday, and invited guests to celebrate the occasion at the Royal Imperial Ballroom at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani.
At 4pm, before the celebrations began, Todd and Noon met the media and posed for photographs.
''We have brought forward the finish time and hope to have it all done by 8:30pm, so people can get home,'' said Todd.
''We understand that not all guests can be present, as some want to avoid the curfew. Any guests from the industry who are afraid we will have our noses out of joint need not worry _ we understand,'' said Todd.
The clash was unavoidable. ''Planning for the wedding has been underway for a year. It's not as if we decided to call it just when Bangkok was in a state of turmoil,'' he said.
Noon said guests would be given a set of candles as a wedding gift.
''The flame symbolises new life for us as a couple, as represented by our marriage. It has nothing to do with the fires burning in Bangkok,'' joked Todd.
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| Todd, Noon |
No fewer than 4,000 invitations were printed for the wedding of Singha Beer heir Pithi ''Todd'' Pirompakdee and Channel 7 presenter, Worranuch ''Noon'' Wongsawun, held on Wednesday.
However, not all of them were needed, as some guests cancelled to avoid getting caught in the curfew declared the same afternoon.
That morning, red shirt protest leaders surrendered, setting off an orgy of destruction as disgruntled protesters set fire to city buildings.
The happy couple were formally married the previous Friday, and invited guests to celebrate the occasion at the Royal Imperial Ballroom at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani.
At 4pm, before the celebrations began, Todd and Noon met the media and posed for photographs.
''We have brought forward the finish time and hope to have it all done by 8:30pm, so people can get home,'' said Todd.
''We understand that not all guests can be present, as some want to avoid the curfew. Any guests from the industry who are afraid we will have our noses out of joint need not worry _ we understand,'' said Todd.
The clash was unavoidable. ''Planning for the wedding has been underway for a year. It's not as if we decided to call it just when Bangkok was in a state of turmoil,'' he said.
Noon said guests would be given a set of candles as a wedding gift.
''The flame symbolises new life for us as a couple, as represented by our marriage. It has nothing to do with the fires burning in Bangkok,'' joked Todd.
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