No Longer Any Distance?
By Bangkok Pundit May 24, 2009 12:03AM UTCEarlier this month the Bangkok Post referred to Thanpuying Viriya Chavakul as the lady-in-waiting to Her Majesty the Queen, the Bangkok Post published a correction the following day stating that according to Thanpuying Charungjit Teekara, deputy private secretary to Her Majesty, a lady-in-waiting must be appointed by His Majesty the King and the appointment must be announced in the Royal Gazette. Thanpuying Viriya also holds no position in the Bureau of the Royal Household, Thanpuying Charungjit said. The correction though went much further than that.
Viraya’s role became public after she responded to an interview that Sondhi L gave to the Nation Weekend where he stated that in relation to a question about the attempt to kill him that he would “expose the lady who appears in images to be close to the palace” (คือผมไปเปิดโปงสุภาพสตรีคนหนึ่ง ซึ่งในภาพแสดงออกว่าเป็นคนใกล้ชิดเบื้องพระยุคลบาท). At that time, some suspected this was in reference to Viraya so she responded.
BP: Viraya has been under sustained attack from ASTV Manager since in April she defended Thaksin’s loyalty to the monarchy – when BP says sustained see here, here, here, and here. When ASTV Manager launches an attack on someone they go all out.
Now, we have this:
Source: Manager
As Prachatai describes:
Manager Online reported that on May 21 Post Today daily reported on its second page that Thanpuying Mom Rajawongse Busba Kitiyakara Sathanapong held a banquet among close friends as a moral support for Thanpuying Viraya Chavakul at JW Marriott Hotel on May 14.Matichon also published a photo of the event on its page 4 on the same day.
…
Readers of Manager Online fiercely condemn those present at the banquet.
BP: And who is Thanpuying Mom Rajawongse Busba Kitiyakara Sathanapong you ask? Well, it is HM the Queen’s younger sister… It is actually quite funny to read the comments at ASTV Manager where a couple of people point out to those throwing insults everywhere that they may want to google who Thanpuying Mom Rajawongse Busba is first.
Now, this is a sensitive topic so will be careful on interpreting recent events. There does seem to be an realignment. PADites including the leaders feel particularly bitter that they have betrayed by a number of people (used may be an more appropriate word). Attacks by Sondhi L, PAD, and ASTV Manager are no longer directed only in Thaksin’s direction. Having unleashed the monster (pun intended), perhaps they pondering what to do with it….




