Thai Protest Leaders Strike a Pose

By NOPPARAT CHAICHALEARMMONGKOL

BANGKOK–Antigovernment protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban’s celebrity status has recently gotten a new edge thanks to his appearance on the cover of one of Thailand’s leading fashion magazines.

Antigovernment protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban poses on the March cover of one of Thailand’s leading fashion magazines. LIPS Magazine’s Facebook page

Wearing a white shirt decorated with a Thai flag and accessorized with a whistle and set of red, white and blue wristbands, Mr. Suthep smiles sweetly on the simple cover above a tagline that reads, “The Power of Change.”

The magazine, called LIPS, has been flying off the shelves so fast vendors say they’re having a hard time restocking. Demand has been surprisingly high considering LIPS costs roughly $3 a copy, nearly three times what an average street-side meal does in this country.

A veteran politician and former opposition lawmaker, Mr. Suthep emerged in November to lead a crusade aimed at forcing Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her government from office. In the months since, he’s managed to rally hundreds of thousands of mainly middle class urbanites to his cause and has organized demonstrations that have shaken up Bangkok.

Boonpak Boonkamnerd, a 57-year-old officer worker, was among roughly a hundred people queuing Wednesday at a rally site in Lumpini Park in hopes of getting more copies.

“I’ve waited three hours,” said Ms. Boonpak, who already has three copies of the magazine at home and is looking to buy more for her friends.

Buying in bulk is fairly normal say vendors located in Siam Square, a bustling commercial area nestled between two former key protest sites. Two bookshop owners said they received their first and only delivery of the magazine last Monday evening and sold out almost immediately.

Surin Ngamsuay, who has been running her small bookshop for more than 25 years, said most of the 170 copies of LIPS she was able to obtain were reserved by regular customers even before the issue hit the stands. “Some less-regular customers came by [later] and pleaded to get at least one copy,” she said. Still, there weren’t enough to go around – even to those who offered to pay double.

Another store shipped all the copies it received to its sister shop in Los Angeles, where Thai readers had made advance orders.

The decision to put Mr. Suthep on the cover has proven fortuitous for the LIPS brand. Before this month’s edition, bookstore owners said they typically sold between 5-10 copies of the magazine each month. Now they’re selling 10 times that amount in just a few hours.

LIPS’s editor-in-chief Sakchai Guy, who is also a veteran photographer, called the surge in demand “unprecedented.”

“Look at the queue of people waiting to buy a magazine here,” he said, nodding to a long line of hopeful buyers near the protest rally stage inside Lumpini Park. “The volume that we have published for this edition is more than five times the average. We’re talking about more than 200,000 copies already.”

Mr. Sakchai said he came up with the idea for the cover shoot as a way to show readers that fashion is more than just clothing and accessories.

“Fashion is about everything,” he said. “So we decided to offer something both for the eye and for the brain so readers can enjoy fashion while learning about what has been going on in Thailand.”

Mr. Suthep cleaned up well for his shot. The bronze-skinned 64-year-old who once served as deputy prime minister before the current government took power, often appears slightly sweaty and ragged while out on his street rallies.

On the cover and inside the magazine, he appears dapper.

This month LIPS also shot another cover that features Mr. Suthep’s relatively-popular comrade, Anchalee Paireerak, in stilletos and a little black dress, quite a departure from her signature jeans and t-shirts. Fans and supporters of the antigovernment movement often buy both editions say vendors.

Some analysts say the frenzy surrounding the magazine doesn’t accurately reflect the strength of the antigovernment movement. Protests have slackened since reaching a fever pitch in February. Even Mr. Sakchai said he was surprise to receive such an overwhelming response.

“After all,” he said, “our magazine is about beauty and trends for the fashion-conscious.”

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2014/03/23/thai-protest-leaders-strike-a-pose/

--The Wall Street Journal 2013-4-03-23

Mr. Suthep cleaned up well for his shot. The bronze-skinned 64-year-old often appears slightly sweaty and ragged while out on his street rallies.

No wonder after all the walking and talking on a regular basis. The darling of the Isaan can't make it in one piece to a noodle shop.

Tell the court he's too busy, and doesn't have time to show up to hear charges against him, but no problem finding time of photo op of magazine cover.

Ohhh, the irony of it all.

Tell the court he's too busy, and doesn't have time to show up to hear charges against him, but no problem finding time of photo op of magazine cover.

Ohhh, the irony of it all.

I wouldn't bother appearing for trumped up charges either.

This month LIPS also shot another cover that features Mr. Suthep’s relatively-popular comrade, Anchalee Paireerak, in stilletos and a little black dress, quite a departure from her signature jeans and t-shirts.

She cleaned up pretty good too!

Khun Suthep looking very well, and healthy - politics is certainly at least partially about image, and he does portray a good image - the big drawcard is "change", as so many want to see a cleanup.

I think these reflect his character more:

Just plain crazy

Scaring Children

Collecting money "for the rice farmers"

Breaking up with old friends and trying to make new friends - how about a coup?

The man who will save Thailand from complete self destruction.

These magazines are flying off the shelves because in say 20 years post reform Thailand when it is prospering and very economically strong and the statues start going up around the country of Suthep. These mags will possibly worth money to a collector.

You will never see a statue of Thaksin or Yingluck here...... ever.

A man in search of a post failed-coup career.

Tell the court he's too busy, and doesn't have time to show up to hear charges against him, but no problem finding time of photo op of magazine cover.

Ohhh, the irony of it all.

I wouldn't bother appearing for trumped up charges either.

A court order is a court order, regardless of the charge. It they're "trumped up", then have the stones to show up and prove it. That's all I'm saying.

Tell the court he's too busy, and doesn't have time to show up to hear charges against him, but no problem finding time of photo op of magazine cover.

Ohhh, the irony of it all.

and remember your idol spent more time on overseas shopping trip than looking after her country

so both agree when in power things are different

you would not have been one sided now would you ?

Tell the court he's too busy, and doesn't have time to show up to hear charges against him, but no problem finding time of photo op of magazine cover.

Ohhh, the irony of it all.

I wouldn't bother appearing for trumped up charges either.

The big difference is that you would be brought in to face them, kicking and screaming, no matter how busy you might be.

A man in search of a post failed-coup career.

You will tell us when you get on the front cover won't you

I believe they are doing an article soon on illegally dumped rubbish in Thailand soon

they may need a front page shot

Jealousy is a curse my friend

The man who will save Thailand from complete self destruction.

These magazines are flying off the shelves because in say 20 years post reform Thailand when it is prospering and very economically strong and the statues start going up around the country of Suthep. These mags will possibly worth money to a collector.

You will never see a statue of Thaksin or Yingluck here...... ever.

Hate to tell you this

but after 8 years of living in Thailand

when it come to the future most Thai's can not see past next week

why you not try living here before you tell us about Thais

Your log on names really suits you

A man in search of a post failed-coup career.

what failed coup?

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

Tell the court he's too busy, and doesn't have time to show up to hear charges against him, but no problem finding time of photo op of magazine cover.

Ohhh, the irony of it all.

I wouldn't bother appearing for trumped up charges either.

The big difference is that you would be brought in to face them, kicking and screaming, no matter how busy you might be.

Interesting thought, Yingluck kicking and sceaming while being dragged to the court. After all, same treatment for all.

LIPS has just signed it's professional death warrant. Let's see how the Reds react to this.

The man who will save Thailand from complete self destruction.

These magazines are flying off the shelves because in say 20 years post reform Thailand when it is prospering and very economically strong and the statues start going up around the country of Suthep. These mags will possibly worth money to a collector.

You will never see a statue of Thaksin or Yingluck here...... ever.

Or they could be used for another purpose. Your username provides a clue.

LIPS has just signed it's professional death warrant. Let's see how the Reds react to this.

They are currently voting to send eigher K. Thida or K. Jatuporn for a make over for the next cover of that fashion magazine.

Tell the court he's too busy, and doesn't have time to show up to hear charges against him, but no problem finding time of photo op of magazine cover.

Ohhh, the irony of it all.

and remember your idol spent more time on overseas shopping trip than looking after her country

so both agree when in power things are different

you would not have been one sided now would you ?

You're being overly presumptuous in your statements about my "Idol". I have no idols. I have no stake in either side. I have no respect for either side. All are different sides of the same coin as far as I'm concerned. So why don't you save your own biased statements for someone who really does have an "idol" in this game of political bull shit.

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LIPS has just signed it's professional death warrant. Let's see how the Reds react to this.

Reds don't do Fashion.

They are however, adept at causing mayhem and lighting fires !

And the media drumbeat of aggrandizing the anti-democracy movement keeps-on-a-going.

For starters, lets correct the headline...... Coup-mongers are not protesters..... As mentioned so many times, they use 'protests against the Govt., and phony focus on issues" as mere cover for their true intentions of seizing power they cannot achieve electorally. They would rather not display this intent however...Especially to International coverage...They just hope their abnormal Independent organizations and judiciary appear normal to International observers.

Lips magazine is an Elitist rag produced for the wealthy who think they deserve to own Thailand. Its latest issue is a hopeless piece of anti-democrat nonsense.

The media appear to laud the magazine and the anti-democrat leadership by breathlessly blathering about what a hit Suthep has created for the magazine. Reporters even tripped off to Lumpini Park to find - what a surprise! - that the magazine was a hit amongst anti-democrats at the fortress surrounded by the military protection and more than 2,000 thug-guards.

Back in the days after the Army slaughtered red shirts in 2010, this magazine managed to celebrate Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd who was the voice of the Abhisit regime during the crackdown and continually advocated hard line responses to red shirts and justified murder.

LIPS has just signed it's professional death warrant. Let's see how the Reds react to this.

Reds don't do Fashion.

They are however, adept at causing mayhem and lighting fires !

At first I thought someone would say Reds don't read.

Khun Suthep looking very well, and healthy - politics is certainly at least partially about image, and he does portray a good image - the big drawcard is "change", as so many want to see a cleanup.

"the big drawcard is "change", as so many want to see a cleanup"

Who?...You mean the many, but electoral minority PAD-Dem's? .....Those seeking to alter their electoral inadequacies by cooking the systemic books under the guise of advocating holier-than-thou cover they call 'reform". Systemic changes so they don't need to change one iota, in order to become politically competitive..

Those many?

The man who will save Thailand from complete self destruction.

These magazines are flying off the shelves because in say 20 years post reform Thailand when it is prospering and very economically strong and the statues start going up around the country of Suthep. These mags will possibly worth money to a collector.

You will never see a statue of Thaksin or Yingluck here...... ever.

Hate to tell you this

but after 8 years of living in Thailand

when it come to the future most Thai's can not see past next week

why you not try living here before you tell us about Thais

Your log on names really suits you

"...when it come to the future most Thai's can not see past next week"

Ignoring the generalized denigration of above comment, I would suggest that the politicized voter majority certainly see the future...Their voting patterns prove it, and is called 'politicization"

It is also is unbecoming, speaking negatively of the messenger, instead of focussing on the message, IMHO.

LIPS has just signed it's professional death warrant. Let's see how the Reds react to this.

"Let's see how the Reds react to this"

See Post #22.

I don't know how the 'Reds' will react, but most likely in concert with pro-democracy views, as enunciated in that Post.

This is really sickening. He can not go to court because he is too busy protesting but he can take time to pose for the camara???????????????

The man who will save Thailand from complete self destruction.

These magazines are flying off the shelves because in say 20 years post reform Thailand when it is prospering and very economically strong and the statues start going up around the country of Suthep. These mags will possibly worth money to a collector.

You will never see a statue of Thaksin or Yingluck here...... ever.

Thailand is prospering, and has been for years. With only a big dip year, Suthep was in power then, this is what the Democrats did:

Tell the court he's too busy, and doesn't have time to show up to hear charges against him, but no problem finding time of photo op of magazine cover.

Ohhh, the irony of it all.

I wouldn't bother appearing for trumped up charges either.

90 people killed because of him???? trumpt up???? He signed the order for them to open fire. he should be held accountable. Just like you ALL are saying about yingluck. Get it right.

Khun Suthep looking very well, and healthy - politics is certainly at least partially about image, and he does portray a good image - the big drawcard is "change", as so many want to see a cleanup.

Impossible. With him Thailand will go back to 1991 all over again.