Audience shows support for media mogul
 The Nation
November 26 , 2005 - Part of the audience at yesterday’s Muang Thai Rai Sapda show at Lumpini Park stayed long after hosts Sondhi Limthongkul and Sarocha Porn-udomsak disappeared from the screen, apparently in a demonstration of “people power”.
While some folk said they had attended to offer moral support to Sondhi and Sarocha, many said they had gone just because they wanted to know the truth.
Business consultant Prayad Ounchanum, 56, said he had gone along to support Sondhi. It was his first time at the park but he was a fan of Sondhi. He said he had checked out Sondhi on the Internet at manager.co.th.
Prayad said the government was just trying to bully Sondhi and Sarocha by taking their programme off the air and filing suits demanding billions of baht.
He said he admired Sondhi’s bravery for opposing the government and standing up to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He condemned other media outlets for being too ignorant to publicise the other side of the story. Col Surin Klinchomhant (retd), 68, who was at the show for the second time, said it was unacceptable for the government to take legal action against Sondhi. He also said he was concerned about Sondhi’s security.
“The government is taking absolute control of the country, but if the public rises against the government it won’t survive,’’ he said.
University of the Chamber of Commerce student Sompol Amornwithayathan, 19, said he would attend the show no matter who was hosting it because he wanted to have access to information. This was his second time at the show, and even though he was not a fan, he said Sondhi was credible.
The tycoon talked sense about the Egat privatisation, he said, adding that the government was not sincere and covered everything up when the people questioned things.
“I want to get information,” said Sudarat Koh, 62, a housewife.
She said she did not read newspapers, and certainly not Thai Rat, because they refused to cover controversial issues that caught public attention.
The sight of uniformed men at the venue made her feel unsafe because they did not belong there, she said.
At least 600 city police officers went to the event to boost security and search the public for arms.
Budsarakham Sinlapalavan,
Kornchanok Raksaseri |
