Phuket Drama: Yingluck Monitor Lizard Fiasco Averted

[webfact]

Phuket Drama: Yingluck monitor lizard fiasco averted

Phuket Gazette

Officers retrieved the monitor lizard carcass within minutes of PM Yingluck Shinawatra's arrival at the Klong Koh Pee project site. Photo: Warisa Temram

Onlookers estimated the monitor lizard died the day before PM Yingluck visited the site. Photo: Warisa Temram

PHUKET: -- The bloated carcass of a monitor lizard was hastily retrieved from a swamp at Klong Koh Pee in Phuket on Monday, just moments before the arrival of Thai premier Yingluck Shinawatra, it can now be revealed.

Prime Minister Yingluck and her entourage were scheduled to arrive at the Saphan Hin side of the proposed Klong Koh Pee elevated road project site at about 3pm.

After more than 15 years of waiting, local officials and staff at the nearby Chalermprakiat School were prepared to present the project to PM Yingluck in the best possible light.

They prepared a large sign welcoming her to the area, replete with computer-generated images of how the elevated road would span the mangroves below, turning their daily commute from a time-consuming grind to little more than a walk through – or over – the park.

As the crowd jostled for camera position with the PM’s appearance imminent, one reporter noticed something floating in the nearby mangrove swamp not far from the welcome sign: the belly-up carcass of a monitor lizard, a creature held in such low regard by Thais that its name hia is not uttered in polite society.

A widespread belief among Thais is that the sight of a monitor lizard is a harbinger of bad luck to any and all unfortunate enough to view one.

When spoken reference to the creature cannot be avoided, it is often referred to by the more euphonious name tua ngen tua thong (gold and silver creature) in order to avoid a jinx.

Thus, the presence of the bloated carcass just behind a stage the PM was about to stand on sparked considerable commotion and shock among the crowd.

Phuket City Municipality officers were called in to remove the dead lizard, which people estimated to have died at least a day before.

They managed to complete the task just moments before PM Yingluck and her entourage arrived.

PM Yingluck, who never viewed the lifeless lizard, approved 200 million baht in funding for the project the following morning.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12669.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-03-22

[laurentbkk]

No comment ....

[metisdead]

A post of a derogatory generalization toward Thais has been removed as well as a reply.

[animatic]

Monitor Hub.

Hia Dum!

As long as the PM doesn't see it, it wasn't there?

Just dumb.

The 'Hia Curse' is on and there's no way back... it made the papers.

Also no doubt construction of the elevated highway will poison the habitat it is intended to over pass, but the Thais passing over won't have to risk seeing a tua ngen tua thong (gold and silver creature). Just be followed by the Phi Krasue ghosts of the dead swamp life forever in their dreams.

Edited March 22, 2012 by animatic

[fxe1200]

The exhaustive investigation of the Thai police lead to the conclusion, that the lizard attempted suicide by deliberate drowning. The reason for the decision to drown itself, could have been the knowledge of PM Yinglucks upcoming visit and to emphasize that the lizard community of Klong Koh Pee will not acquiesce the project as proposed.

[bbradsby]

Bad luck my lizard's patoot... Someone should unleash a dozen at the PM's speech, and watch the numbskulls scurry.

These monitor lizards are beautiful, cool creatures. For all the unfortunate urbanistas who have never seen one - go to the park at the South end of Langsuan and watch them cruise in the pond, or just keep your eyes open in suburban or rural swamplands in the rainy season.

Perhaps this story is a perfect snapshot into the traditional Thai psyche: the natural world has good and evil creatures that hold magical powers over the fates of men; if it's bad, it doesnt exist if you don't see it. if thinking about something gives you fear of a curse, rename it to take away it's power over you.

[JohnAllan]

The monitor lizard has more than just a passing resemblance to a number of politicians, then . . .

[BWPattaya]

A few years ago I had a computer screen go bad. I took it apart and found a small lizard inside which had shorted out some connections. It had been electrocuted. Forever afterwards I have referred to it as a monitor lizard.

[SICHONSTEVE]

The exhaustive investigation of the Thai police lead to the conclusion, that the lizard attempted suicide by deliberate drowning. The reason for the decision to drown itself, could have been the knowledge of PM Yinglucks upcoming visit and to emphasize that the lizard community of Klong Koh Pee will not acquiesce the project as proposed.

A suicide "harbinger of doom" perhaps!!!!

[geriatrickid]

Beautiful natural control method of disposing of dead critters, and other reptiles.

if anything it is good luck because it helps prevent disease.

RIP lil buddy.