Calvin Klein the only shield for "Underwear Hero"
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Frankly we didn't see a whole lot of heroes emerge from the Ruckus on Rajdamnoen, but you do have to hand it to a man named Kob who battled the riot cops in his underpants. A picture of Kob in considerably less than combat armour - in action at the Chamai
The photograph was initially posted on the “Ranger Thai” Facebook page and his fellow anti-government protesters praised Kob for his “courage”. The next day Kob was invited onto the stage at the Nang Lerng rally to explain what happened to his clothes.
Evidently he’d been doused in stinging tear gas and shucked his clothes so someone could wash it off. But then Kob noticed an elderly woman who was much more badly affected by the tear gas and became furious. He grabbed an armful of fire extinguishers, raced to the police barricade and started firing the foam at the cops. He emptied 15 canisters – all in his underwear.
Kob later went to a hospital to get proper treatment for the tear gas irritation and was advised to check in for three days, but he insisted on being discharged within a few hours and headed straight back to the bridge. One of the cops remembered the crazy man in his underpants and dubbed him “Ai Uan” (Chubby Guy). “Here comes Ai Uan!” they shouted, and he got into an argument with them at the barrier.
Singer Jetrin “J” Wattanasin was among the instant admirers who wanted to know more about the half-naked renegade and, on Tuesday, TV host Siriorn Mahmanee posted on Instagram, “My beloved ‘brother’ @jjetrin asked me to find him.” J then confirmed that he’d love to meet the hero, so the word spread like wildfire. “Can anyone tell Uan I’ll give him a lifetime pass to my concerts? Come and get it! And if you like Nuvo [his brother’s band], I will tell Phi Joe for you,” J promised.
So there you have an established star inviting an unknown to become a star. All he has to do is step forward and collect J’s rewards and probably a lot more too.
Origins of anger
Music Union Co executive and chief composer Nitipong “Dee” Hornak wrote on Facebook on Monday that some of the video clips emanating from the street mayhem were “indescribable” and had changed him forever.
He’d never liked Suthep Thaugsuban before, he said, but hearing some of the comments made by some key red shirts on video, he understood why so many people had rallied to Suthep’s cause.
Dee didn’t specify what “clips” he’d been watching, so there was much speculation online. There’s one video floating around in which red shirts quite openly assail His Majesty the King.
Dee said he planned to join one of the anti-Shinawatra rallies the next day. If they resume today as widely expected, with the King’s birthday past, Dee will likely become a regular on the scene.
