iieiiei1eWrkers - Leicester Research Archive - University of Leicester

In order to achieve the primary mission of the Forestry Department, the hero
and his colleagues, Thep and Lert, take the law into their own hands.
However, the presentation of deforestation adopts an alternative perspective.
While the hill-tribes and villagers are officially charged as the main culprits,
Roi Pa highlights 'corporate crime' rather than the 'individual criminal'.
Although he is unsympathetic to either the director presents the former as the
real 'enemy' and the latter become 'one of us' as Sua Term, the great bandit,
is won over by the hero.
SUA: "Thank you for sparing my life, Uncle.., but you hills! not
forge! your promise..
TERM: "Ye/i!"
SUA: "From now on you can't cut any tree, not in any forest."
TERM: "You bastard, do you mean to rid me of my living?"
SUA: "If you are a man you 'd better keep your promise. .you can 'I
take any of these logs either...
TERM: "Sure, I won 't take theni. . . but what will I do for a living,
may I ask? You want me to go back to robbery, do you?"
SUA: "I don 't care., a promise is a promise. .other wise I don 't
think you are a man at all..."
(Roi Pa, 11:1-2)
As the hero's formidable ally, Sua Term's role is second only to Sua himself.
The image of their friendship and their respect for one another shares the
populist view of the 'outlaw hero' to be found in many popular fictions and
folk tales.
TERM: "You are such a fine man, Sua. . .all my life I don 't think /
will love anyone else as much as I love you.
SUA: "Apart from Luangia and my patrons, you are another person
whom I respect, Uncle Term.
TERM: "(laughter)" (Roi Pa, 21:2)
When the hero and his friend are endangered by the logger tycoons for
example, it is Sua Term who comes to the rescue.
THEP: "I heard that Polieng Ithi and his gang is very powerful
because they have some influential figures be/i md them.
That's why they could take over other people 's franchise or
do whatever they wish to."
LERT: "Yes, those who resisted them are murdered.. Sua and I have
both experienced it, haven 't we? Luckily Sua Terni was in
lime, otherwise.. "
(Roi Pa, 17:4)
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