absolutelyBangkok archive · Culture & Arts
Originally published Sept. 13, 2010
Chapeau! Two Thai senators, Payap Tongchuen, 59, and Direk Tungfang, 64, recently replaced their velvet gloves with boxing gloves. A senator kicking at a senator, glorious.
On Sept. 13, 2010, they kicked the crap out of each other at a temporary boxing ring in the compound of Bangkok’s parliament. Well, why temporary!
The senatorial fight was completely apolitical. Dressed up like real Muay Thai fighters they faked two rounds of Thai kick boxing in a campaign to preserve the country’s martial arts. But what if:
A good old spank is not uncommon among fellow Asian lawmakers. Taiwan’s parliament, site of huge brawls, is notorious for fist fights — with no gloves. And the country moves on.
We’re not moving on. We’re stuck. Maybe because of conflicts swept under that huge rug of lies, pretension and fraud. Hey this is Thailand, a deeply violent society where words lead nowhere and differences are preferably still settled by the power of the gun.
The world has moved on beyond the age of gladiators and duels. But obviously not Thailand. Smilingly, the two senators are boxing proof.
Nah, it’s not just a PR stunt. Must be something deeper. What other nation could come up with a, say, Harry Reid vs. Mitch McConnell.
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