A pop singer has faced both support and criticism after tweeting that Thailand is, and will always be, underdeveloped. She later apologised saying that she tweeted out of anger at a delayed public bus.
It takes real courage for Thai artists to post anything political on social media, since it risks a decline in popularity.
The recent example is Suthita ‘Image’ Chanachaisuwan, 19, a finalist from season three of the Voice Thailand. The singer tweeted on 2 August 2017 four messages expressing her sorrow at living in Thailand.
“This country sucks. No way to develop even in the next 50 or 1000 years. Shoot me!
“Seriously, if you can’t even make [public] buses and vans arrive consistently in all routes, how can you be developed? Funny.
“I’m so tired. Don’t want to call this place home.
“I’m willing to work harder and pay higher taxes if I get better welfare in daily life,” read the four tweets respectively.
Though she later deleted the messages, her tweets went viral and polarised social media. On the one hand, she was slammed by other artists for criticising her homeland and was pressured to move abroad.
Pharunyoo ‘Tack’ Rotchanaritthitham, another celebrity, took to his instagram to announce he would not tolerate insults against Thailand.
“I love Thailand and love everything that is Thai. Though we might have natural disasters, traffic jams, bad politicians, bad police and soldiers, protests and thieves, that is just a small part. There is also a bigger part that is good,” read Tack’s instagram. “Overall [Thailand] is ok. Everyone can express their ideas. But if you curse or insult Thailand, I will not tolerate it.”
But others have shown sympathy for Image. Netiwit Chotiphatpaisal, a pro-democracy student activist, posted on his Facebook that other people should be as courageous as Image in speaking out the truth.
“Speaking the truth in this country comes with a cost. But if we don’t do so, nothing can be changed. Don’t let Image merely be an excitement of someone daring to speak. We have to be brave together with her,” posted Netiwit.
Amidst the controversy, Image told media through an unnamed friend that she tweeted the messages after waiting for a delayed public bus in heavy rain.
“Usually, [Image]’s parents pick her up [from university] but that day, she decided to go home by herself. And then the bus might have been delayed or had some problems so she posted those messages,” said Image’s unnamed friend.
According to her friend, Image is not against the ruling junta or any political affiliation.
Suthita ‘Image’ Chanachaisuwan (Photo from The Voice Thailand)