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In sufficient clothing

February 18th, 2007 by Andrew Walker · 10 Comments

A New Mandala exclusive. Actress and Thammasat university student Chotiros Suriyawong is rumoured to have denied rumours that she was rumoured to be appointed cultural spokeswoman for the Surayud-CNS government. Rumours had been sparked by the appointment of Thaksinomic guru Somkid Jatusripitak as regime spokesman on sufficiency economy. A regime insider allegedly told New Mandala: “if populist-capitalist Somkid can preach about sufficiency then surely Chotiros can teach people about culturally appropriate behaviour.”

black dress

Chotiros recently landed herself in hot water by appearing at an awards ceremony in what has been described as an “ultra-sexy dress.” There were vocal calls for punishment to be “meted out” by Thammasat University where she is a senior student.  Since then, Chotiros has promised to “shed her sexy dress” in a meeting with Thammasat mandarins and has embarked on a program of reading to the blind. Let’s hope they don’t use braille!

Tags: Snapshots · Surayud regime · Thailand

10 responses so far ↓

  • 1 patiwat // Feb 19, 2007 at 4:59 am

    What the Thammasat University Rector Suraphol Nitikraipot and Dep Rector of Student Affairs Parinya Thewanarumitkul did to her was misogynistic and dumb.

    She’s a grown adult, she can marry, she can drink, she can get married, she can vote (if only we had elections). She broke no law, but they still demeaned her in public and punished her, as if she were a drunk driver or a criminal.

    When Chula students compete in the Miss Thailand competition, they get praised as being shining examples for Thai ladies.

    When daughters of high-society aristocrats get caught on cell phone home porn, people still wai and bow to them.

    When students younger than Amy wear even less than her in fashion shoots, movies, or music videos, they get praised for their talent.

    So really, what is the rationale for Thammasat’s punishment of her?

    If it wants to take a hard line against all sexy dress, it should formally do it. Ban all Thammasat students from appearing in magazines or media of any type. Ban them from competing in beauty pagents. Ban them from wearing low pants, short skirts, tight shirts, showing their belly buttons, g-strings, or for that matter, no underwear, at any time or place.

    And since the issue is “inappropriate” actions and the institution’s good name, why don’t they ban all students from engaging in any political activities at any time as well?

    I’m ashamed to be a Thammasat man.

  • 2 Lleij Samuel Schwartz // Feb 19, 2007 at 2:35 pm

    There is only one rational response concerning this situation:

    *wolf whistle*

  • 3 Srithanonchai // Feb 19, 2007 at 3:23 pm

    At Thammasat, you have a rector who called for a royally appointed prime minister only to be told subsequently by the king that this was illegal and undemocratic (mind you, this rector is a full professor of law!), and you have a vice rector (with a Dr jur from Germany!) who pretends to be a political progressive but thinks that selling condoms on campus endangers morality. And then both of them violate the personal rights of one of their students. After all, what business does Thammasat have with what its students do in their personal spheres: absolutely nothing!

  • 4 New Mandala » New Sakdina // Feb 21, 2007 at 1:59 pm

    [...] well established universities with a good name (even if some of their students don’t know how to dress in public!) and provincial “Johnny-come-latelys”. International degrees should, of course, [...]

  • 5 Naphat // Feb 21, 2007 at 5:39 pm

    Now a National Human Rights Commissioner weighs in: it’s a violation!

  • 6 fall // Mar 15, 2007 at 2:43 pm

    A little dig on Pakitpao’s case. Paemika seem to admit having an affair. Now, a university student in prestigious Chula having sex with married man. Surely this goes way beyond an ultra-sexy dress. How come no one come out and chastise her on this…
    May be she need more than 15 days of public work?

    Good of Chula to rule it as personal matter.

  • 7 kuson // Jul 16, 2008 at 4:42 pm

    I love her dress -its sexy!

    I honestly think who she is inside is more important that who she is outside (but unfortunately these things are quite sensitive in the culture. ) . I for one, can’t dress well, will not be a role model for that, but think I can contribute to the country.

    Remember, “Hellen Keller”, though blind taught many people to See :)

  • 8 rawingwong phonpiak // Sep 4, 2008 at 4:44 pm

    What’s the matter with you people anyway? The girl is simply demonstrating the concept of sufficiency economy: as little of everything, including clothing, as possible. If you are of a clean mind, you can see that the girl is simply stunning.

  • 9 jonfernquest // Sep 4, 2008 at 6:43 pm

    Ajaan Chotiros has revealed to everyone who runs a website how to maximize traffic.

    She’s still a spike in our web traffic graph, a year and a half later.

  • 10 Frank G Anderson // Oct 29, 2009 at 10:24 pm

    That was up here in Korat. I recall the event. She had to clarify later that she was indeed NOT naked underneath but had worn underwear. Maybe, but it shore don’ look like it!

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