Those protesters showing no respect at all

 But the warning only created hilarity.

The word went round “Art Lane” near the Chidlom stage on Sunday night and the whistles suddenly fell silent – because everyone was giggling.

The targeted celebrities in turn issued swift declarations of defiance. “See you all tonight at Chidlom,” Daraneenute “Top” Pohpiti posted on Instagram. “We’ll sell [Thai flag] wristbands to celebrate the summons!” Singer Jetrin “J” Wattanasin just went ahead and uploaded the schedule for his appearances at every rally stage. Dr Sarawit “Gong” Sookbun posted a poem advising the CMPO that, if its officials were going to arrest entertainers, they should also arrest anyone committing lese majeste, a popular pastime among supporters of the government. 

The summons threat can be ignored because the government is illegitimate anyway, reasoned Benya Nandakwang, chief organiser of the artsy end of the Chidlom rally. Worarit “Not” Fueng-arom insisted he’s done nothing illegal. “If I get in trouble for expressing my opinion, this is not democracy.” 

“Summons? For what?” wondered actor Chatchai Plengpanich. “I don’t know why I should fear it because it’s normal for any Thai to exercise their rights. Don’t try to intimidate us!” Model Yosawadee “Yo” Hassawijit said that if the government thinks the celebrities are committing a crime, it should examine its own record.

So the show went ahead as scheduled at Chidlom, all the stars lining up onstage and introducing themselves three times just to make sure the CMPO got their names right. It was also pointed out that the centre’s list of offenders was missing a few names. Actress Sinjai Plengpanich stepped forward and suggested she be included too, but, “Don’t issue the summons to Singjai Honghai!” That’s her maiden name. 

Celebrity Thai tutor Kitmanoch “Kru Lilly” Rojanasupya first gave her name as Kru Dao Thaugsuban. “I am Kamnan Suthep’s daughter, but now I have changed my name to Kru Dao Vejjajiva,” she laughed. The crowd cheered – she’d previously joked that she’d like to be Abhisit Vejjajiva’s wife.

Singers Srisalai Suchartwut and Jintana Suksathit (a National Artist) joined the ensemble that night, adding more variety to the usual music on offer. And actress-TV host Yanee “Tuk” Chongwisuth showed up among the regular “Chidlom talk show” cast, doing an impersonation of Yingluck Shinawatra in a faux interview with Kitti “Kleur” Chiewwongkul, Pawanrat “Miew” Naksuriya and Top. 

Tuk [weeping]: My son had whistles blown at him. 

Miew: They went to his school and blew whistles at him?

Tuk: No, he was playing football and was offside!

Kleur [mimicking Sorrayuth Sutthanaschinda]: What will you do about the rice-pledging scheme? The farmers need to get paid!

Tuk: [laughing hysterically]: We have no money, so we’ll have to arrange a loan.

Miew: What would the collateral be?

Tuk: Our nation! 

Kleur: What if we have no money to pay it back?

Tuk: We’ll just sell the country!

All this was recorded for YouTube and of course the video went viral, so it’s a safe bet that Tuk’s name is on the CMPO list now too.