Informal Northern Thai Group Bulletin 06 October 2019 1. Last MEETING (449th): TUESDAY, 17 September 2019, Chiang Mai “"Sattahip" by Rong Wongsawan - A Story of the American Military and Thailand”. A talk by Siamrad Maher. 2. NEXT MEETING (450th): TUESDAY, 08 October 2019, 7:30 pm at the Alliance Française, Chiang Mai “Wrestling with Notions about Our Neighbors: Thai-ness & the Thai”. A talk by Herbert Swanson. 3. A list of works by and about the Thai writer Rong Wongsawan (1932-2009) available at the EFEO library in Chiang Mai and compiled by Louis Gabaude 4. 1ST NOVEMBER MEETING (451st): TUESDAY, 12 November 2019, 7:30 pm at the Alliance Française, Chiang Mai “Honey bees: their importance and interactions with humans in Southeast Asia”. A talk by Panuwan Chantawannakul. 5. FUTURE MEETINGS. 6. INTG CONTACTS: CONVENOR - SECRETARY - WEBSITE. 1. LAST MEETING (449th) - TUESDAY, 17 September 2019, Chiang Mai “"Sattahip" by Rong Wongsawan A Story of the American Military and Thailand” A talk by Siamrad Maher + 9 readers 1.1. PRESENT: Hans Bänziger, Saengdao Bänziger, Daniel Bellamy, Owen Bersot, Elliot Boinais, Patricia Bow, Robert Bow, John Butt, Martha Butt, Leo Ellis, Eric Eustache, Olivier Fauchereau, Michael Ray Fitzgerald, Louis Gabaude, Frederic Gloor, Graham Jefcoate, Min Thaw Htun, Preston Jewett, Emily Hamel, Terence A. Harkin, Patrick Morel, Khuned Sachdev, Princess Ying Sita, Suriya Smutkupt, Winnie Tan, Dagmar Waters, Rebecca Weldon. Signed: 27; Counted: 39, including the 9 readers. 1.2. THE TALK: Siamrad Maher began by introducing himself and the author Rong Wongsawan as well as his book "Sattahip". A reading of extracts from this book by Payap University Students followed. Siamrad Maher is a Payap University student, who is doing internship as a Thai Literary Studies translator. He is under the tutelage of Dr. Tony Waters, the head of Doctor of Philosophy Studies in Peacebuilding at Payap University. Siamrad is a Thai and American citizen, having been adopted from Thailand and grew up in America. He retired from the US Air Force in 2010, after completing 23 years of honorable service. During his active duty years, he served as an aerospace medical technician and as a Thai translator. He was the lead and only translator on numerous missions in Thailand, such as the annual Cobra Gold exercises and the tsunami humanitarian medical missions of 2004. He was awarded a Navy achievement medal and named one of the top performers—as he was the only Thai translator for a multi-service medical team that conducted medical missions in multiple remote villages in Thailand. Rong Wongsawan (1932-2009) was a Thai author, journalist, and photographer who wrote over 100 books and thousands of articles. He was recognized and inducted in the National Culture Commission in 1995. He is best remembered for his relentless exploration of the expressive potential of his own language, and as a writer who could approach topical and often unsavory themes with a rare brand of insight, honesty and wit. Sattahip was a book published in 1972, detailing the effects of the American military on the people and towns that were located by U-Tapao Airbase.1 Rong wrote the stories as a first person writer, who conducted interviews with the Thais that were working in the town of Sattahip.2 The stories includes interviews with rental wives, big mafia boss, and business and bar owners in the near by towns of U-Tapao. The translation of the book, along with experiences and difficulties of translating were discussed. A script reading of a few scenes was performed by students from Payap International College, Siamrad Maher, Tony Waters and John Butt. The scripts had been written by Tony Waters, and the readings were coordinated by Michael Day from the Payap English Communication Department. Script Play Reading from Sattahip (1972) by Rong Wongsawan Roles: Rong Wongsawan as narrator Rong Wongsawan as actor Rong’s Co-worker Sattahip Friend Song thaeo3 Driver Two on-lookers Big Boss Girl 1 Girl 2 Scene 1 Narrator: - The situation has changed for this town. Sattahip has never seen a big business boom like this before—whether or not they involve Americans that are pink, or black. Our friend watches as people hurriedly walk past the bars, and he said, “Becoming rich here is like they had predicted. If you can see it happen, then even the hard things to do become easy.” Working in the bar business, you must be careful and be attentive to details. Co-Worker - It’s like any other kind of work, you must know about the heart of the matter—being lucky is also a part of it. 1 U-Tapao (อู่ตะเภา) Airbase—located in Ban Chang district (amphoe), Rayong province, Thailand—was built by the United States in 1965-66 to accommodate B-52s for missions in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia during the American Vietnam War. U-Tapao was a front-line base along with the other US bases at Korat, Udon, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, and Takhli. This former American base is now "U-Tapao International Airport", a joint civil–military public airport serving Rayong and Pattaya cities. [Editor's note] 2 Sattahip (สัตหีบ) is a district (amphoe) in Chonburi Province, Thailand. In Pāli and in Thai, satta means 'seven', while hip (Thai: หีบ) means 'box' or 'barrier'. Thus 'Sattahip' is said to refer to the 'seven barriers', which are the islands that protect the coast of the district: Ko Phra, Ko Yo, Ko Mu, Ko Tao Mo, Ko Nen, Ko San Chalam and Ko Bo. [Editor's note] 3 A songthaeo (in Thai "สอง แถว" = "two rows") is a passenger vehicle used in Thailand and Laos. Adapted from a pick-up or a larger truck and roofed, it has normally two benches on the rear platform for "two rows" of passengers to sit. [Editor's note] Narrator - He said that from what he had seen, and what he had read from the newspapers, the current number of American airmen at U-Tapao Air Base is not less than 7000. Co-Worker - The Army soldiers has about 3000 personnel at Samaesan base, which makes the total add up to 10,000. Narrator - He grabbed a piece of napkin and unfolded on the table, next to the whiskey. With a ballpoint pen, he started writing on the napkin and said: Co-Worker - Let’s think about the numbers—let’s say the average American soldier spends 1500 baht a night for his happiness at the bar with a girl. Rong - What rank is he? Co-Worker - It doesn’t matter— I have the numbers chart at home, if you want to see it. It’s not necessary, I already figured it out—whether or not they’re high or low ranking—they spend about the same amount every month. Rong - 1500 baht times 10,000. That means you add four more zeros to the end, which means the total is— 15,000,000! Co-Worker - 15 million baht! That is just only the minimum number—the true number is way higher than that! The bottom line is that there are at least 15 million baht rotating around the bars every month. Just imagine how much that is in a year?! Rong - 180 million baht! Co-Worker - You see, it’s not a just little money we’re talking about— and that is the hope and dreams of everyone doing business here! Rong - It’s a gigantic opportunity! Co-Worker - And this is only for the bars, and the bargirls. There’s also other opportunities, such as renting houses, bungalows, hotels, and the transportation and taxi services— all the things that the Americans use, so they can spend their money. Rong - Do you have time to spend with me here in Sattahip? Maybe about 2-3 days? Co-Worker - It’s hard to tell. To tell you the truth, I might or might not have time—I can’t give you an answer now. Let’s wait until tomorrow—if we meet again. Rong - Do you think you might have any recommendations for me? Co-worker - Just ask me. Rong - Where should we go first? Co-worker - Ten kilos from here! Narrator - The night made them weak and sleepy, it was after midnight. There were so many questions. So they returned to their hotel rooms. I wonder what is there to see—10 kilos from here? Next Day Narrator - They looked around Kilo 10, looking for something to see, and to take photographs for their newspaper. A song thaeo came speeding down the road, with dust storms trailing it along the way. A person sitting in the front is waving at us—like he has something important to tell us. In the back, there are two ladies sitting as passengers. He is driving in the middle of road, which is not normal—but we don’t have time to think about what is normal. He sped up to about 100 meters from us, where we are able to hear what he was yelling. He came so close that they could ear the swearing. SongTaew Driver - You fool!! Sattahip Friend 1 - Idiot! Observer - Bully! Song thaeo Driver - Why are you taking pictures? Rong - Why not ? Am I not allowed? Song thaeo Driver - Around here, no taking pictures! Rong - Who says? Song thaeo Driver - The big boss Narrator - They took that answer with a wonder. The term “big boss” is hard to understand its meaning at this moment of urgency. Who is he referring to? We had read in the newspapers in Bangkok, from the October articles, about the new and many changes in Kilo 10.