Marching band music still out of tune

The band members chose representatives to speak on their behalf in a press interview on Wednesday, which school director Patcharapong Tripeta was supposed to attend but did not. 

The band’s supervisor, Anusorn Pornnaramitr, admitted that he and their 25-year-old manager, Pongsakorn “Book” Lertsakworakul, were heard speaking on the audio tape leaked online, in which a cynical strategy is discussed to find cash for their planned overseas junkets.

But neither spokesman would reply when asked whether that was really school director Patcharapong making the ugliest remarks on the tape, despite the speaker being identified as such in Thai (“Por Or”). “It’s a very serious issue,” Book declared. “I can’t say who else was on that clip.” Of course, The Public (God bless us) have already decided it’s Patcharapong, and now we have confirmation that the audio is authentic.

Did the band know in advance that it would be the sole entrant in its category in the Dutch competition? Yes, Anusorn said, but the idea was mainly for their musicians to gain some experience. “That tournament is partnered with the one in the US, so the qualifications, adjudication methods and standards are the same. We heard about this in February and thought it would be good experience for the band.”

Wasn’t the Bt9-million budget for the trip awfully fat? Anusorn said he just takes care of the band members and had nothing to do with the budget request to the government.

Nor did Book and Anusorn have anything to do with recording the tape that was leaked, they said, and they have no idea who put it online. They apologised to everyone and insisted there was no intention for the band to become “beggars”. Book apologised specifically to tea tycoon Tan Pasakornatee, who’d funded the trip more or less under duress, and it seems as though he might get his money back. Arun Bangkrakulnoon, president of the school’s Parents and Teachers Association, says it will help repay the debt. 

Nevertheless there are loads of people on the social networks thinking that any such remuneration won’t even come close to repairing the damage done. Our country’s marching bands will need to do a lot more marching in the future.

 

Kanok shock!

The scandal in hot pursuit of Bangkok’s marching band of beggars involves a sordid nude photo among several photos allegedly of Nation Channel news host Kanok Ratwongsakul that were posted on Instagram and Facebook on Monday by someone identified only as “liekanok”. A video clip also appeared on Instagram showing a man who resembles Kanok. This liekanok person says she’s angry with him (who’s married, but not to her) for dumping her and running around with other women. 

Pocked with reporters’ questions at the National Book Fair on Wednesday, Kanok stayed cool and acknowledged that it might indeed be him in some of the pictures – but the one supposedly showing “him” masturbating is definitely doctored. He said his wife stands firmly beside him. “I want to confirm that we have no family problems,” he added, and then filed a lawsuit against liekanok. “I was advised to do so. Even if those photos are of me, the poster is still guilty.”

With the matter heading to court, Kanok is taking a month’s break from his duties. “If I’m proved guilty, I’ll be willing to quit my journalism career.”