The Biographies of
Thao Thep
Krasatree and Thao Sri Soon Thorn
Source
: Tourism Developmental and Promotional Division.
The legend about
Thao Thep Krasatree and Thao Sri Soon Thorn has been recorded and retold to their
generations until now. The original name of Thao Thep Krasatree was Jun. She was Jom Rang
who was Thalang governor's eldest daughter while the original name of her sister,
Thao Sri Soon Thorn was Muk.
Khun Jun ( Khun is
the tittle name for Thai people ) was born at Ban Kian Sub-District,Thalang District,
Phuket in the 1735 by the end of Ayudhaya period or in King Boromakot's reign. Khun Jun
had two younger sister, Khun Muk and Khun Mha and other two younger brothers, Khun Art and
Khun Reung.
Khun Jun married
Khun Sriphakdee who was the chief of Takua Toong Sub-District's son. His lineage was
from Nakhonsithammaraj. They had 2 children, Khun Prqang and Khun Thian. Khun
Jun had become a widow after her husband had been dead. Then she remarried Phya
Phimol who was swnt to mange the government service at Thalang. (Phya was a rank for Thai
government officials ).
They had 5 children. Later Phya Phimol was appointed Thalang governor by KingTaksin. In
1980 The Great King Buddha Yod Fa had his coronation and became the first king in Chakri
Dynasty. He had The Great King Taksin including his relatives and the solsier who belonged
to King Taksin Be executed.
However in the south
region, Phya Nakhonsithammaraj and Phya Phimol still claimed that they were independent.
In 1984, King Budda Yod Fa ordered Phra ( another rank for Thai government
officials), Phya Phi Phai Pho Khai to clear up those two independent communities.
Finally, Phya Pimol was defeaed and died.
Khun Ying Jun ( Khun
Ying is a promted position for Thai women ) was arrested and brought to Pak Phra
Camp. At the same time the Burmese troop attacked and invaded Takua Toon Sub-district and
Pak Phra Camp. Phya Tham Tai Lok was dead in the battle. Khun Ying Jun and her fellows
escaped from Pak Phra Camp. They gathered some people to fight against the Burmese troop
at Thalang District.
After the Burmese
had invaded Thkua Toong, they moved downward by boat to attack Thalang.Their trip was
arranged accordingly to the stratagem of The Burmese's commander in chief ' kang Woom
Meang Yee '. Having known that the Burmese boat troop had moved to Thalang since
the first lunar month,Khun Ying Jun and Thai people in Thalang District
prepared many things to withstand their enemy. Many people were on their duties in
the military camp. They bought the opium from Captain Francis Light, a merchant from
England who dealt with Thai people to make the guard men alert and active.
Unfortunately, at
that time, Thalang governor was seriously sick and then died. Many things were in a
confusion. There were nothing done with the dead governor. No one was appointed a new
Thalang governor. Most people felt disheartened, then they left their houses to stay in
the forest.
When they heard that
Khun Ying Jun had come back and gathered people to fight against The Burmese, they then
felt delighted. Many were willing to stand beside their brave leaders,Khun Ying Jun. The
Thai people helped each other gathering people, weapons to withstand their invaders.
After discussing the
war situations with all Thai commanders, Khun Ying Jun and every people agreed that the
Burmese's boat troop might land at Ta Phao Sea Port which was the biggest and
nearest to Thalang District. However, they then got a news that their enemies
changed the stratagem and trip. Khun Ying Jun ordered her people to build two
military camps.
The first one was at
the back of Phra Nang Sang Temple. Mr. Art, her younger brother was the commander.
The other militart camp was at Nang Duk Moat with Mr. Thong Phoon as the commander.
Khun Jun was the general commander and Khun Muk worked as the supervisor for both
military camps.
Since there were few
people in Thai troop, Thai people couldn't fight directly with the Burmese. Khun
Ying Jun and all commanders selected about 500 strong, medium-aged women to disguise
as men. These man-look like women all wore men cloth, carried some smoked coconut leaves
which
were made to be looked like guns or weapons. Every night these people would go
marching near the camps. The purposes for arranging marching were to mislead the
Burmese troop and to delay them in attacking The Thai troop.
Sometimes the Thai
people would disturbed the Burmese soldiers who were reconnoitering the area or were
gathering food. These caused the Burmese people to be in trouble since they lacked
food and the needs. Some Burmese soldiers felt ill and died. When 4 month passed by,
the Burmese realized that they had no ability to invade Thalang District. They then moved
back to Burma. According to the Thai old calendar, that event was on Monday, the
fourteenth waxing moon, the fourth lunar month Pee Masiang ( The year of the small
snake in the Thai old calendar ) or onMarch 14th 1985.
When the great King
Buddha Yod Fa heard about the bravery of Khun Ying Jun, Khun Ying Muk and the people
at Thalang District, he kindly appointed a new Thalang governor, Khun Ying Jun Thao Thep
krasatree and Khun Ying Muk Thao Sri Soon Thorn.
The Thai generations
all realized the bravery and good deeds of Thao Thep Krasatree. Thao Sri Soon Thorn
and the people in Thalang, A monument as it is called 'The Two-sister Heroine
Monument' was built at Ban Tharua Village, Sri Soon Thorn Sub-district, Thalang
District,Phuket.
On March 13th each
year, it is thalang Conquer Day, many activities are performed. Both governmental of
private organizations bring beautiful wreaths and street processions to commemorate
and pay respect our beloved heroines.
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