It was hot, but the crowd at Victory Monument didn’t seem to mind as Sgt Chamnan Rungruang told jokes while unofficially kicking off the “Return Happiness to the Public” event thought up by the coup-makers yesterday afternoon.
“It’s my job to interact with the public,” said Sgt Chamnan from the Thai Psychological Operation team. He has been trained to perform on stage and keep audiences entertained and relaxed.
Held by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the event was scheduled to begin at 4pm but started almost two hours earlier because a large crowd had already begun gathering at the temporary stage at Koh Phaya Thai Plaza near Phong Lee Restaurant by one of the bus stops. Chairs, free food and drinks were provided for the audience while a group of doctors from Phramongkutklao Hospital also gave free medical check-ups.
After the brass band from Rajvinit School marched past the monument showing off their musical skills, other bands took to the stage. The performances included the orchestra from the Royal Thai Army, the musical band from the Royal Thai Police, and the Ponglang band from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
The event attracted an audience of several hundred people. People waiting for buses were also treated to a free show.
One of the most popular activities for members of the audience seemed to be taking selfies with soldiers guarding the area.
Traffic around Victory Monument was still flowing but the three lanes nearest the stage were occupied by soldiers’ vehicles and some cars belonging to the media, forcing passengers to get on and off buses that stopped in the fourth lane.
“The event was an idea [by coup leader and NCPO chief Prayuth Chan-ocha] to return happiness to the people as they have suffered from the political conflict for many years,” said Maj Gen Sombat Thanyawan from the Cavalry Centre who was supervising the performances.
The event was the second held by the NCPO after the one at Santi Chai Prakarn Park last Saturday afternoon. But this was the first to be held in an open area which could easily be attacked.
A few dozens soldiers were deployed. Plainclothes police officers were also on patrol on the streets while unarmed soldiers in uniform were stationed on the skywalk connecting the BTS station and bus stations in the area.
Victory Monument was chosen as the stage location because it stands as a symbol of the conflict as both sides of the political divide have held protests lambasting each other there in the past.
“This should be the spot where understanding begins,” Maj Gen Sombat said.