Fancy watches, unchecked power and Thailand 4.0 were the targets of the floats and displays that enlivened the annual Chulalongkorn-Thammasat football match on Saturday afternoon.
Video by Bangkok Post photographers.
The event at Supachalasai National Stadium in Bangkok had been preceded by speculation about how far the students would be allowed to go. Ever since the military coup in 2014, soldiers and police have kept a wary eye out for any floats that could cause offence in their eyes. The event was not held last year because of mourning for the late King Bhumibol.
However, this year the pre-parade screening was less heavy-handed than in the past. Latthaphol Yimlamai, a Thammasat student and president of the school's political satire group, said it was the first year that all political effigies had not been checked before they were taken to the stadium.
"Everything went smoothly and 100% perfect, particularly the last highlight, the constitution float," he said. It was intended to send a message that the constitution, regarded as the supreme law of the land, had been changed.
The message on the wrist of the Nontok effigy says "I've already returned it to my friend", a reference to Gen Prawit's watches. (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)
The Chulalongkorn parade led with a focus on social issues including the Thailand 4.0 programme intended to create a modern digital society.
It also features a float with the head of the National Anti-Corruption Commission and an arm chained. Its mouth is closed by the other hand with a diamond ring and a Mickey Mouse watch on the arm. At its base are a submarine and a tank.
The Thammasat parade followed with the much-awaited images of political satire.
The first TU float to enter the stadium featured “Nontok”, a demon who abused his power and was reincarnated as the giant Tossakan in the Ramakien. A sign on his bare wrist said: “I’ve already returned it to my friend” -- a reference to the claim made by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon about the luxury watches that have landed him in hot water with the public.
The next float, “Rolling the Land", showed two men folding a mountain, with the fertile top occupied by the Thai flag and a few people while the large base is for wildlife and animals, a reference to unfair land allocation.
Another float showed an unbalanced scale tilted in favour of state officials and military hardware on one side outweighing healthcare on the other, with charity runner Toon "Bodyslam" trying to right the balance.
Another float showed a locomotive at a platform, with various blocks labelled “44” lying around it, indicating the rampant use of special powers under Section 44 to override obstacles to infrastructure projects.
Finally, the constitution float challenged people to imagine "what would happen if the constitution, the highest law of the land is not originated by and linked to people?"
The current constitution was drafted by a panel hand-picked by the junta, with minimal public input. The public referendum that endorsed it was devoid of meaningful debate as the military had made speaking out against the charter illegal.
The commentary on the constitution float continued: "The giants volunteer to write a new charter by telling men they have already looked into all of their needs and everything will be in men's best interests. The giants have good hearts. They want to see a peaceful land that grows based on the plan they lay down 20 years in advance.
"Some commend them, saying they are good giants, but when men try to check what's inside, they are stopped by the giants who pledge to protect it.
"Even as men demand the return of their power and put one of their own at the top, the many bodies infiltrated by these giants will continue to impede them. Men will face obstacles and are mired in chaos and instability stemming from the giants' constitution."
The match is also known for elaborate flash-card displays in the stands, and this year was no exception. One display on the Thammasat side featured the now-infamous image of Gen Prawit shielding his eyes from the sun, revealing a luxury watch. The scoreboard above his head read "Pom 25 - Friends 0", a reference to the number of expensive watches spotted on his wrists so far. A caption alongside the image said: “A good man Thailand doesn’t want”.
Artiwara Kongmalai , aka Toon “Bodyslam”, the charity runner who became the man of the year in various polls after he raised 1.3 billion baht for state hospitals, led the card display on the Chula side along with his actress girlfriend Ratchawin "Koy" Wongviriya. He is a law graduate and she has a mass communications degree from the university.
The football match itself, the 72nd held since 1934, ended in a 1-1 draw. In the history of the event, Thammasat has beaten Chula 24 times, lost 16 matches and drawn 32.
The match went smoothly on Saturday under the usual overbearing security, but military authorities insisted that no ban on political effigies was issued. Some 300 police and soldiers were deployed to maintain peace and order. No untoward incidents were reported.
Pol Col Phopthorn Jitman, superintendent of the Pathumwan police station, said 220 city police, 10 anti-riot officers, 20 officers from the 2nd Cavalry Division, 30 forensic officials and 10 explosive ordnance disposal officers were deployed.
The officers were asked to watch for any placards containing "improper" messages. Anti-government placards were not allowed to enter the venue, Daily News quoted Pol Col Phopthorn as saying.
Students from the two public universities began to queue at the venue on Saturday morning as officers prepared to open the gates for at 11.30am.
Army chief Gen Chalermchai Sittisart said cavalrymen were there to maintain peace and order only, and not to inspect parade floats or banners.
He denied that the military had issued a ban on effigies of government figures or commentaries on the watch scandal involving Gen Prawit.
The National Council for Peace and Order, he said, respected the annual tradition that reflected social and political issues. But he said he believed students would act in a suitable way during the parade.
