Grandmother’s stern message to conscript
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| Nong Rhang |
The grandmother of a conscript who burst into tears at an army conscription draw as he contemplated the plight of his family if he was forced to serve, has urged him to put aside his fears.
Sakrit “Nong Rhang” Srisoonthorn should forget about her welfare and get on with serving the nation, the old woman, Somsong Chamnanvetch, 75, said. She helped ease public fears about the young’s conscript’s plight after he was filmed breaking down at his local conscription station.
Rhang, of Phasi Charoen district, appeared in a video posted by a sympathetic soldier last week, sobbing uncontrollably after pulling a red card in his conscription draw, which obliges him to serve as a soldier for two years.
The young man said he was worried about the welfare of his elderly grandmother, Mrs Somsong, as he was the main bread-winner of their family with five mouths to feed.
His plight moved many netizens, including actress Panadda “Boom” Wongphudee, who runs a charity which promotes good deeds.
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| Boom |
Rhang, who works at an electrical appliance store and makes 300 baht a day, said he cares for Mrs Somsong, recently released from hospital, an ill aunt aged 55, another aunt aged 48 and 16-year old nephew who is a student.
Maj Gen Piyapong Klinpan, commander of the 11th Military Circle, where Rhang will serve as a conscript, said army chief Chalermchai Sitthisad had ordered local soldiers to provide the family with “proper care”.
As public concern about the plight of conscripts gathered, army and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) spokesman Winthai Suvaree also chimed in, saying many new conscripts expressed concern about their poor families.
Worried conscripts were at times allowed to take leave to care for elderly relatives, he said, adding their unit supervisors and fellow privates would also do what they could to ease their transition into military life.
“Don’t worry, little man of ours ... your grandmother is our grandmother. We are the same family. The whole unit will have people look after her,” the NCPO said later in a post sharing his story.
Khao Sod newspaper, which visited the youngster’s home, spoke to one of his aunts, Somthawil “Pa Toom” Sukkasem. She said Rhang felt sad that he was unable to keep a promise to his grandmother before he left for the conscription draw that he would not abandon her.
“I asked him how it went on conscription day, and he said he would have to serve as a soldier, and started crying again. I told him to calm down, being a soldier is not dangerous.
“At that moment, his grandmother returned. Still in tears, he said he couldn’t keep his promise to her. But she said, ‘go ahead, my child ... it’s the duty of young Thai men to serve the country.’
“Undeterred, he asked who would take care of her, and she said never mind. She still had me, among others at home who could look after things.
“It took Rhang two or three days to come to terms with his fate. Then on Thursday at 1am we got a visit from the army. They told us not to be scared, and that when he is not at home, someone from the army would drop in to take care of us,” Aunt Toom said.
The soldier who shared the video of Rhang crying after pulling a red card said he couldn’t help but be moved by his plight. Posting as Art Tua Por, he wrote:
“This young man cried heavily. Many people might think it was funny, but who is to know what lies behind it?” he said.
“I watched him from the time he drew a red card to when he walked over to hand over his documents. Soldiers had to help carry him over there, he was so upset.
“I went over to console him and asked him what was wrong. He said, ‘Why does it have to be me? Other people have no obligations but draw a black card and get to go home.’
“I asked him what obligations, and he said he has to look after his grandmother. Earlier, his grandma had asked him not to leave her, as she had no one else. When I heard this, there was nothing I could say ... how rotten. All I could do was console him,” he said.
Meanwhile, Boom Panadda, who earlier appealed for the public’s help in tracking down the young man’s family so she could offer assistance, has challenged the army to spell out what kind of “help” it intends to offer.
“The NCPO said it would help look after the grandmother. Yet how? Please let us know. Soldiers are busy, with a heavy responsibility. Will you send someone to take care of her, or send money?
“How will people in the unit help her? We’re all Thais and we want to do what we can. We want this young man to serve to the best of his ability. I would like to lend encouragement to Rhang and the soldiers who will take care of his grandma,” she said.
The army has yet to spell out its plans for the young man’s family.
Ex-football activist’s feminine charms
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| Pauline |
A transgender who once stood as president of the Football Association of Thailand has taken the next step in her journey towards being a woman, posing in a revealing bikini suit on social media.
Pinit Ngarmpring, 50, now known as Pauline, last August returned after two years overseas with a new name and a woman’s identity. In the photo set, she poses in a pink two piece bikini with long hair, full breasts, shapely hips and tattooed arms.
Her re-appearance in public life as a woman last year after abandoning her life in the United States stunned her fans, with media outlets publishing before and after images of the change.
Before heading overseas, the man known as Pinit was well known for starting an organised movement of Thai football fans, Cheer Thai Power, and for his involvement in the grubby politics of football.
Pauline, who said last year she was taking hormone therapy but has yet to undergo a sex change operation, said she decided to make the change after getting tired of the struggle between her feminine and masculine side.
“I am not embarrassed or scared about the change, but am worried about the reaction of some people: Will they go into shock, have a heart attack?’’ she joked.
In a message to accompany her bikini picture set on Facebook, she admits she was a late convert to the idea of a sex change.
“I set off on this journey slowly ... so I have to try as best I can to be the woman I want to be. Today I know that no matter how good my past life might have been — there are people who have loved me, and whom I have loved — I know I cannot return to the way I was. Please love me for who I am.”
Fans writing in response agreed she looked beautiful and had done a good job handling the change.
‘Unmanly’ prank enrages actress Kam
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| Kam and Noom |
Actress Gavintra “Kam” Photijak has told off her ex-footballer husband for a prank in which he claimed on social media he had won first prize in the lottery.
Rachata “Noom” Thanapornmongkol posted an image of himself holding four tickets with the winning number from the April 16 lottery, which would give him a prize of 24 million baht.
Only later did it emerge it was a prank. Noom and his friends like to pretend they have won the lottery to trick each other, media reports said.
The first to respond to the post, which set off a flurry of interest on social media, was Kam. “He didn’t win. Oh, no...” she said.
Later she put it in stronger language, adding:
“It’s not a manly thing to do ... it’s not the right thing to do. Suddenly, I have a big increase in relatives [wanting money],” she complained, as one media outlet said the couple had switched off their phone and fled the scene to escape all the attention.
Noom later admitted it was just a joke. “Settle down, everyone ... I was just playing around,” he said.
Kam’s plainly spoken response should come as no surprise to Noom.
The couple, who have known each other 16 years, were married late last year. Kam, a former Miss Universe Thailand, warned Noom she wouldn’t change her ways just because they had tied the knot.
“We haven’t made any promises to each other. But I will be like this every day ... flying off the handle, being too demanding. I am not going to change,” she vowed.
A sheepish Noom hasn’t added to his comments on the lottery post since it appeared.
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