On 27 October, several video clips went viral online showing a woman committing a physical assault against a girl in a student uniform at sunset at Ayutthaya railway station.

During the national anthem, the girl did not stand up. A woman in a dark red shirt who stood up during the anthem watched the girl until it ended. Then the woman walked to the girl student, pointed her finger at her, pulled her hair and slapped her in the face.

People came in to stop her. “Let go of me,” shouted the woman. “You are a useless student. You wear a student uniform.”

Video footage of the assault also reveals a man’s voice shouting in support of the assault, claiming that the student talked back, asking the woman if she was her mother.

On the same night, the parents of the student went to file a report at Ayutthaya Police Station. It was revealed that the high school student was 15 years old. And the woman using the name Pu was a 45-year-old vendor who sells roti nearby.

The parents of the student said that their daughter did not stand up for the national anthem because she was having her period. Her uncle said she had a medical examination to confirm that this was true.

As she is a young teen, an interdisciplinary team came in to check her physical and mental wellness. Phonchai Somphong, Deputy Director of the school where she is studying, said on 28 October that she remains slightly in shock.

At a police press conference on 28 October, Pu said her action resulted from “a sudden wave of anger” and apologized to the student’s relatives. She said that her action had nothing to do with politics. She does not belong to any royalist group and has not participated in any political activities.

“I saw a girl just sitting there, the national anthem played, then I asked the girl if she is Thai. That’s it. But an angry impulse really erupted. I am truly sorry.”

She said it was her habit to ask anyone whether they are Thai when they do not stand up for the national anthem. However, she said she had learnt a lesson and will not do it again. The uncle of the student said on behalf of the student’s relatives that they forgave her, but the matter will still proceed according to the law.

The Bangkok Post said that the woman has been charged with assault. Police will continue the legal action after they finish checking the physical and mental condition of the student.

On the evening of 28 October, 24 hours after the attack, a flashmob was held by Khana Ratsadon Ayuthaya at the same place where the student was assaulted.  Around a hundred of people gathered to sit during the national anthem and together raised the three-finger salute to condemn the violence.

But the nationalist vendor is not without supporters. According to Khaosod English, Pu received a donation of 18,200 baht from government supporters on the Facebook page เชียร์ลุง (which means “cheer uncle”; uncle here refers to Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha). The Facebook page admin claimed to have checked with the police that the maximum punishment is a 10,000 baht fine.

Asking for donations of not more than 100 baht each, the Facebook page said they do not support violence. They simply want to help a woman struggling to make a living. According to Matichon, the financial support was widely criticized by netizens. Nawat Itsaragrisil, a Thai TV host, condemned the support for violence in a Facebook post.

“If we look deeply, this is a big problem of Thai people. Violation of personal rights and physical and mental injury is regarded as something that can be seen every day. The condition of Thai society has only terror and insecurity as we can see, like a home in the jungle or cruel city.

But what is most surprising is that a group of people are helping each other to donate money to the aunt who slapped the young student to pay the fine. There is nothing stranger than this. Or is this a lavender field in the eyes of someone?” 

According to Section 6 of the 1942 Royal Decree on National Culture, standing up for the national anthem was required. However, this law has been abolished since the enforcement of the 2010 National Culture Act.