About 200 supporters of the jailed election commissioners gathered outside Klong Prem Central Prison until the early hours yesterday.

The Hilton Klong Prem International Resort & Spa, part of the Hanoi Hilton chain, has completed a renovation of its Bangkok wing in time to welcome three VIP guests, who have just received decorations of the highest honour for their dedication to the Kingdom.

Phi Na, Phi Na Kwa and Phi Na Thisut checked into the Hilton Klong Prem in Nonthaburi on Tuesday afternoon to relax and enjoy a private party, held to celebrate their achievement in organising the April 2 Fool's Day. They got coupons and other a la carte bonuses to spend their time at Hilton Klong Prem as long as they like.

They drank blood from the same cup and vowed to stick together "till death do us part". The trio has been knighted as The Three Musketeers, ready to lose their lives rather than to live in shame.

The Three Musketeers' motto is "We Believe".

Mr Water Brightmind, the general manager, is so proud that his Hilton Klong Prem has the honour to welcome Phi Na, Phi Nakwa, Phi Na Thisut. It is not usual for Hilton Klong Prem, in spite of its international reputation as a five-star resort, to serve VIP guests because this resort is usually more popular among traders of crazy-horse tablets.

The last time Mr Water rolled out the red carpet to welcome a VIP guest to the Hilton Klong Prem was about two years ago when Chuwit Bathtub booked an entire floor for himself alone. Other guests had to make way for Chuwit, the big-time politician, who took over the swimming pool all by himself for a bubble bath.

Hilton Klong Prem's catering service set a record then by selling fried rice at Bt5,000 a plate - 10 times more expensive than what is charged at the Oriental or Shangri-la - to Chuwit.

Mr Water, who got his hotel management degree from Switzerland, had outbid Regent Ratchadaphisek Motel in the pitching for the three VIP guests to come over to stay at Hilton Klong Prem. Regent Ratchadaphisek occupies a basement at the Criminal Court Building. It caters to guests who like to stay overnight rather than those who prefer a long stay. The guests just check into the basement motel after they have completed their business at the Criminal Court Building.

Mr Water stood by on Tuesday evening to welcome Phi Na, Phi Na Kwa and Phi Na Thisut. The resort's Bangkok wing has just been renovated with the addition of a spa.

Mr Water: Welcome, sirs, to our resort. Please enjoy your stay with us. We will try to make everything comfortable for you.

Phi Na: I am beginning to like this resort at the very first impression.

Phi Na Kwa: I feel like I'm living in my own home already.

Phi Na Thisut: I am dying to see the spa facility.

Phi Na: I also wonder whether you have a foot-massage service.

Mr Water: Yes, we have everything.

Phi Na Kwa: Can we have the swimming pool all to ourselves?

Phi Na: We insist that we get better service than what was given to Chuwit. We do not want to look inferior.

Phi Na Thisut: I have just had a call that Chuwit will come over to visit us. He will buy us some khao phat (fried rice) and o-lieng (iced black coffee).

Phi Na Kwa: How nice of him. But let him wait at the reception.

Phi Na: An old friend never dies. I have never liked Chuwit's moustache. But I am beginning to love him now more than ever.

Phi Na Thisut: Let's check out our suite. We'll need a good night's sleep.

Phi Na: Do you have a Gameboy?

Phi Na Kwa: And a waterbed and a LazyBoy sofa, which can massage our back?

Phi Na Thisut: How about a karaoke lounge? I have not sung "Love Me Tender" for quite some time.

Mr Water: We'll check it out for you. By the way, we have re-decorated three superior luxury suites for you. They are next door to the Chuwit Nimmannoradee Suite. The room that Chuwit stayed in has since been kept as a gallery. We owe our reputation to his publicity stunt.

Phi Na: I wonder how many bathtubs you have in the Chuwit Nimmannoradee Suite? I heard that he liked to take a bubble bath with five girls at the same time.

Mr Water: Before I leave you to enjoy your stay, I would like to remind you about our first-class service. All the guests will get a wake-up call at six o'clock. After taking a bath, they will proceed to the cafeteria to have breakfast served with red porridge and fish sauce. Then they will head to the courtyard for an aerobics session. You all need to stay in shape. We have training for you if you like, such as carpentry, TV repairing, fruit carving, plumbing and so on. The special menu for lunchtime is unmilled rice with salty egg and phak bung phai daeng (morning glory). In the afternoon, you can stroll in the courtyard to get fresh air. We have dharma hour before dinner. You may watch TV for half an hour in the Hall of Metta. Then you will go back to your suites for a nice sleep. The lights will be off at nine.

Phi Na: It sounds very exciting.

Phi Na Kwa: I can't wait to jump into the swimming pool.

Phi Na: Are we going to stay here for a night or can we stay longer?

Phi Na Thisut: I shall try to make sure that we all enjoy a long stay.

Thanong Khanthong

The Nation