Da Torpedo's downfall a warning to the like-minded

In one of its arguments, her defence team contended Daranee's remarks were of no consequence because she was in no position to make an impact deemed offensive to the monarchy.

The Criminal Court struck down the argument on the ground that regardless of her social standing, she was accountable for her foul and offensive remarks.

If viewed by the standard of legal strategy, the defence appeared to have mounted a surprisingly weak case. But Daranee's logic in explaining her action might have touched a chord with people of like minds posting their insults against the monarchy via thousands of web boards.

Cyberspace is littered with political graffiti deemed offensive to the country's revered institution. Are Internet vandals sharing the same thoughts as Daranee and acting foul-mouthed out of spite, since they see themselves as too marginalised to make a difference?

Daranee emerged out of obscurity to achieve instant fame, though in a bad way, by smearing the monarchy. Several people under catchy pseudonyms gain cult-like popularity in web boards by posting offensive messages. The royal bashing may be the name of the game for fame seekers, whatever the cost.

Born into a Sino-Thai family, Daranee spent 45 years of her life like any law-abiding, tax-paying citizen. As a Ramkhamhaeng University graduate, she worked as a journalist for a number of media outlets.

Following the ousting of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on September 19, 2006, she left her media profession to become an anti-coup activist. There was no clear explanation about her abrupt change nor about the financial backing for her advocacy.

She struggled to form a people's network to oppose the power seizure and to demand the restoration of the suspended 1997 charter.

She was among the first anti-coup groups to arrive at Sanam Luang and have a collection of rally sites set up a few short months after the coup.

Crowds began to surge from less than ten to a few dozen after she began to pepper her speeches with foul words, gaining notoriety as Da Torpedo.

The underlying theme to her speeches was the alleged link between the coup and the Royal Palace, with chief royal adviser General Prem Tinsulanonda as the conduit. She seemed,however, more intent on belching out foul words and curses instead of stating her case.

For months, she was a regular crowd rouser at Sanam Luang but failed to gain any recognition even by fellow advocates in the anti-coup movement.

Her fate changed overnight on May 30, 2007. She set up her stage as an auxiliary to the main rally site of the red shirts. Her speech on that fateful day was so foul that a street vendor, hawking her food nearby, threw a bag of faeces on to the stage.

Finally, Da Torpedo received her due recognition from the red shirts. She became a regular fixture at their rallies. After the red shirts welcomed the anti-coup activists to their bandwaggon, her remarks expanded to cover pro-Thaksin messages.

Last year, she framed her comments at three red-shirt rallies on January 18, June 7 and June 13 to make veiled attacks on the Royal Palace. Although she did not mention any names, her remarks were explicit and insulting.

The matter came to light after yellow-shirt leader Sondhi Limthongkul blew the whistle on the inflammatory remarks.

The Criminal Court ruled last Thursday Daranee had tarnished the reputation of Their Majesties with malicious intent to sway the crowds to lose their reverence and trust in the monarchy.

Daranee was penalised with a combined jail term of 18 years for three counts of insulting remarks, each carrying six-year imprisonment.

As Daranee languishes in her cell, she may reflect on whether she has accomplished anything worthwhile in return for her conviction. How many will remember her message other than the legacy of her foul mouth?