iieiiei1eWrkers - Leicester Research Archive - University of Leicester

In contrast, Puyai Li (Village Head Li), written by Pipat Boribun during the
military regime of Sarit, is highly comical. Its parody of a village meeting
mocks the hierarchical power relations between the establishment and the
villagers.
PUYAI LI (VILLAGE HEAD LI)
In the year 1961, Puyai Li called a meeting
The villagers all assembled at Puyai Li's house
Now Puyai Li will tell you what he was told
The state ordered, they ordered that peasants
must raise ducks and sukorn (pig)
Ta Si hua klan (the drunkard) asked,
What is a sukorn?"
Puyai Li stood up right away and said,
"Sukorn is nothing but a ma noi."
Ma noi, ma noi tammada (repeat)
The word game is based on the colloquial mu (pig) and ma (dog) which are
also abusive terms. To avoid the vulgarity they are officially called sukoriz and
sunak. The narrator humourously depicts a surreal village meeting in which no
talking back is permitted. But as it happens the contrast between the polite
and vulgar vocabulary produces misunderstanding and reveals the ignorance of
the village head. The link between knowledge and power is broken. More
importantly, the story makes fun of authority whilst defying the newly launched
modernisation scheme.
As these examples show, commentaries on militaristic power are possible but
rare. They must be cautiously woven into humour or abstract satire. In
contrast, ordinary soldiers are praised for their patriotism and heroic deeds.
Most Luktoong stars pay tribute to the glorious warriors who are one of 'us',
in songs like Yodrak Salakjai's Rangwan Nakrob (A Warrior Reward), Sayan
Sanya's Karnpatiyan Taharn KIa (Oath of a Warrior), and Rangsri Serichai's
Kiat Taharn (Glory of a Soldier). Yodrak Salakjai's hits in particular, are
associated with the macho but highly patriotic imagery of the defender of the
realm in juxtaposing the hero in uniform with love and sex. They include
Taharn Rua Ma Laew (Here Comes the Navy), Taharn Sang Mm (A Soldier's
Goodbye), Tor Char Dor Jai Diew (True Love of a Border Patrol) and the
most recent hit, Taharn Mai Pai Kong (The New Conscript).
Whilst the power of the military is glorified politicians often bear the brunt of
the criticism as in songs like; Kamron Sampunnanon's Mon Karnmuang (The
Magic of Politics) and Songkroa Samattapapong' Pak Krasob Ha Sieng (Political
Campaign of the Sack Party). Although Pleng Luktoong shares similar
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