Therefore -- until one day, while waiting for the
hard time to pass, there was a heli-copter right
circle them over KOH TAO. While they circling around
-- the pilot wave his hand as sign to the political
prisoners. This made all the prisoners talk about
it for three weeks before getting the right meaning
which the pilot already try to tell the truth was
that -- the political prisoner were all forgiving
since there was change in politis that the new government
of Jompol Plag Pibulsongkram, (the prime minister)
was driven out by vote in parliament in building
the Na-khon Petchboon into capital city and to build
Budha Buri at Saraburi. Since then, Kwuang Apaiwong
repalced him. He and his new government asked for
mercy from his majesty to forgive those political
prisoners both from Bavondej rebel case in the year
1933 and in the rebel case of year 1938. At last,
they were free from penalty at Suratthani in 20
October 1944.
Hope and courage come back to them again. The political
prisoner were fresh, lively and excited the decease
seems to vanished all. The prison officers change
their gesture and words. All were full of respect
-- calling them in name and honor like -- Khun Luang,
Khun Pra or Sir all around even they just cursing
and satire them lately. Some prisoner guard think
about progess in their occupation, they asked the
political prosoner who seems to be back in power
or be famouse in future.
The political prisoner were ordered to move out
of KOH TAO to Suratthani prison -- waiting to be
freed. Only trouble was -- after they were free
-- where will they get the money to buy new clothes
instead of ridiculous things and nearly naked they
wear. Where would they get the money for their meal
during the back trip and where to get the money
for bus ticket from the terminal to their home.
Further, some were uncertain that whether their
house would already be damaged from the bomb or
not.
At the Suratthani prison the prison guard bring
their belongings to sell to others since it was
war time, all the usage supply were hard to find
and in expensive price. Since the political prisoner
were blind to the world situation. They sold their
belongings in cheap price. Crowd went to buy inexpensive
thing at the gate of prison -- just like it was
a market.
Prung Susewe sold the 15 g. weight golden necklet
in 40 baht price. He was glad about the excess value
(18 baht) since he bought it when it was 22 baht
-- until he knew the right price was 400 baht.
So Sethbutr and Paew Saeng Song-Song sold their
mosquito net in value of 40 baht. Prince Sithiporn
Krydakorn sold his new woolen blanket in the price
of 80 baht. He was glad until he knew, right! an
hour later, the chinese tailor run back to buy again
-- this time he valued it 1,000 baht. Prince Sithiporn
had got nothing to sell.
Finally, when it was 20 October 1944 -- the day
that the political prisoners were free at Suratthani
-- all the market were crowded with the ex-prisoners
in rediculous clothing. Some seemed like a ragget
cloth. Some weared the thing we used to call shoes
since there were a large hole underneat and nearly
worn out. Some weared the ragged hat, too. This
was that all the clothing style were already changed.
To wear "Pa-Muang" or "Kang-kaeng
Prae" with button necked suit were out of style
already. The ex-political prisoners could not determine
what to ware and whether to buy new clothes or not.
Prince Nimitrmongkol Navaratna and Khun Siriyothin
went to buy shorts made of synthetic cloth. They
thought it was so smart like made of a woolen cloth.
They also bought polo shirt with a hat but after
change cloth and walk through the sun to get on
train. At that time, they were allergic to the synthetic.
They can't stand so they change back to their prisoner
from at Petchburi. Their were many other people
brought them the "KAW HOH" (packed rice
with thai food) and many trays of Kanom Mo-Kaeng
to encourage of praise all the ex-prisoners during
the trip, a generous friends brought a suitcase
for So Sethbutr. So Sethbutr told us that he felt
a little bit uneasy after 10 years of not wearing.
At Thonburi terminal (Bangkok noi), Manit Wasuwat
was the first to welcome So Sethbutr in order to
offer him a job as director of "Sri Krung"
newspaper. |
