Published on December 02, 2005

She might not quite be Helen of Troy, whose beauty launched a thousand warships, but Sarocha Pornudomsak has seen her role transformed from television celebrity into a political heroine of sorts. The public perception of Sarocha is that she is a smart young woman, who has both beauty and brains.

She speaks fluent English and can moderate her TV news programme as well as any professional on the international news networks.

One government official said she has named her daughter “Am” – Sarocha’s nickname – because she is so impressed with Sarocha’s personality and her public role.

During her tenure at Nation Channel, Thaksin was one of Sarocha’s admirers. Twice, The Nation’s reporters overheard Thaksin admire Sarocha for her journalistic skills and her English proficiency. Thaksin could mention her name and surname accurately then. He claimed to be a big fan who watched her programme every day and often asked about Sarocha whenever he met The Nation’s reporters.

But the fact of the matter is that Sarocha is very unhappy with the dilemma she is facing. As Sondhi Limthongkul’s co-host of the “Thailand Weekly” talk show programme, Sarocha has been inadvertently dragged into the diabolical conflict between Sondhi and Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and been named as one of the defendants in the prime minister’s billion-baht suits against Sondhi and his Manager Empire.

Sarocha had been co-hosting the “Thailand Weekly” programme with Sondhi that was aired on Channel 9 every Friday. When Sondhi got into trouble with the Thaksin government and the “Thailand Weekly” programme was removed it forced Sondhi to take the show into the public arena, holding the talks at places such as Thammasat University’s auditorium and Lumpini Park.

Since then, the “Thailand Weekly” shows have quickly developed into fully politicised diatribes aimed at discrediting the prime minister, to remove him from office and also to instigate constitutional reform.

Events have moved as quickly as an avalanche beyond Sarocha’s control. Even Sondhi could not have imagined that his “Thailand Weekly” talks would attract such a huge crowd and followers nationwide, and the pair of presenters have become the prime minister’s number one enemy.

If you ask Sarocha now what she wants most from life, she would say that she would like to return to her quiet life, to live without fear and to marry her boyfriend.

“I admit that I never thought that it would arrive at this kind of situation,” she said in a recent interview in Krungthep Thurakij’s “Sao Sawasdee Weekly”.

“Am I stressed? Yes. And so are my Mom and Dad,” she added.

Still, it is too late to turn back the clock now.

Sarocha, born into a well-to-do family, started her career as a news anchor at The Nation Channel. With a degree in broadcasting from the US, she was an outstanding presenter from the outset and she quickly developed her craft. Sarocha’s exposure was further highlighted when she co-hosted the international news TV talk show with Suthichai Yoon, The Nation’s editor in chief.

After a stint at Nation Channel, Sarocha moved on to join Channel News Asia and was based in Singapore for about two years. Sondhi, who also had ambitions to build up his TV broadcasting business, invited her to join him for his then brand-new Thailand Outlook Channel, the first English-language satellite TV channel.

Sarocha’s career then moved further into the spotlight when she was picked by Sondhi to co-host the “Thailand Weekly” (Muang Thai Rai Sapda) talk show with him, which commenced in July 4, 2003. Sondhi thought that her Western education would compliment his Eastern way of thinking.

From that point, Sarocha was on the fast track to becoming a TV celebrity.

One of her former colleagues at Nation Channel said Sarocha is a woman of high intellect. “She is eager to learn new things, and she is very generous and friendly with her associates,” the colleague said.

Sarocha said she has learnt many things from Sondhi, especially in terms of how to conduct herself for live TV. She said she never knows what Sondhi is going to say in advance when working with him, so everything is very spontaneous.

“I have never done this kind of live broadcasting before. The audience will often see my face showing surprise about what Khun Sondhi is disclosing, but this is part of the charm of our programme,” Sarocha said.

Initially, both Sondhi and Sarocha were seen as Thaksin supporters. They were often accused of trying to help to clarify Thaksin’s policies. With Sondhi’s U-turn however, Sarocha has been forced to scramble her way though.

She often plays the role of good host by throwing questions to Sondhi so that he can hurl further attacks on Thaksin. At Muang Thai Rai Sapda at Lumpini Park on November 11, which was her birthday, she thanked the large crowd, saying that their presence was like a birthday gift to her. The result was a huge round of applause.

Sarocha’s TV role has caused controversy before. When superstar Tata Young was heavily criticised by the Thai public over her relationship with Tennis ace Paradorn Srichaphan, Sarocha and Sondhi sided with the public, attacking Tata’s behaviour in their programme.

More recently, she was seen appearing in court to defend herself and Sondhi over the prime minister’s Bt1-billion suit. Sondhi was in Udon Thani at Wat Pa Ban Tad for security reasons. Well-wishers presented her with bouquets of flowers and the smile she gave in front of the court building was touching, although few realised that deep inside she was trying to appear tough.

Her friends have reportedly been sending her SMS messages offering her moral support and although the situation right now is tough, she says she does not regret the experience entirely. “I don’t regret working with Sondhi because it has given me invaluable experience. One thing I have learnt is to have strength. Facing a lawsuit and being criticised have made me stronger,” she stated firmly.

“I have asked myself when this difficult situation is going to end, or whether I will still have a place to stand when it is over. I haven’t found the answer yet, but I hope society will welcome me back. I still enjoy my career,” she said.

Chatrarat Kaewmorakot,

Jintana Panyaarvudh

The Nation

Post your comment to this story here