Villagers demand school director leave province for wearing red dress

Villagers have demanded a school director leave the province because she wore a red dress at a party.

On 28 November 2016, some 120 people in Ratchakoot Subdistrict in the southern province of Ranong gathered in front of a local school and placed a wreath at the school gate with a message reading, “We are sad, Director….from the Ratchakoot people”, Matichon Online reported.

Several police officers and soldiers were deployed at the scene to control the situation.

The crowd demanded that the recently instated director of the school, Panadda, leave the province and explain why she wore a red dress at a recent party organised to welcome her into her new role.

Panadda told media that she had merely put on the dark red dress out of belief that red is an auspicious colour. She added that she normally wears black and white since the nation is still in its mourning period for the late King Bhumibol.

Panadda stated she has already discussed the matter with Wirat Rakphan, Deputy Governor of Ranong, and that the region’s Special Education Bureau will discuss the issue.

After King Bhumibol’s death in October this year, people who have donned colourful apparel have been sometimes viewed as inappropriate and disloyal to the Thai Monarchy.

The stigma applies especially for those who put on red shirts because the colour is associated with the anti-establishment red shirt political groups.

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