College of Representatives 2020: “CIA” discharges huge debts from student mob sales – BBC News Thailand

The first thing a fried chicken vendor like Mr. Sonthaya Mongkol does after waking up at 6am on the day he goes out to sell. It is to prepare raw materials.He washed the fresh chicken that he had previously ordered and cut it into pieces. And put them in a large plastic tub Before pouring in the secret recipe for marinating

While you wait for the aromatic marinated spices mixed with chicken. Twilight took a cell phone and plugged it into a speaker that could fit in your hand. Listen to the news about the rally through social media. He opened a chat app and walked into a room called “CIA,” where hundreds of food cart vendors gathered. Be used as a place to send news and exchange information about the meeting place where to settle and sell goods.

“I have to get there fast before anyone else. So that we can have the best sales area and be able to sell the desired quantity. After confirming information with friends from the CIA group He began to check the news again to confirm the meeting place. And Come out to the meeting point, “Twilight said, handing over the phone.

Twilight does not work in any way for a secret global organization. He was a simple fried chicken vendor selling food at various gathering areas in Bangkok and was often one of the first to arrive in the area. Even before the protesters

“Maybe the journalist’s car hasn’t caught up with me yet,” Twilight said, laughing proudly at the nickname people in the online world gave her.

Twilight, known to the CIA as “Son,” had just started selling in the assembly area for a few weeks, and this was a turning point in her life. After months of lack of income during the COVID-19 epidemic, Selling products in the assembly area creates new opportunities for him to take an interest that is no different from “Renaissance” at all.

Sonthaya, 39, originally from Nakhon Phanom province, has been looking for work in Bangkok since 1995, has been working in various ways. Since the company employees Security Guard Up to become a food vendor and Selling fried chicken has been a main occupation for two years.

Sonthaya told BBC Thai that being a trader is independent. Even with no previous experience But he made his income until he started saving AND became a business owner Be your own boss But the COVID-19 outbreak since the beginning of the year has deteriorated economic conditions. He became more difficult to sell and lacked the income to support his family.

“Life before COVID was not very good, I couldn’t sell something, but when I met COVID-19 it became more difficult because I used to sell at 1,000-2,000 baht a day. Reduced to 500 baht a day,” Twilight said.

Twilight had to go into debt, borrow money to finance purchases. But you rarely earn the amount AND you still had to borrow more money until you got into debt like a pig. The proceeds of the sale must be deducted to use the debt until there is no profit and it is negative. Twilight began to stress over debts that she couldn’t use all of them.

To this day, the economy has not improved. And the debt is becoming increasingly inflamed, prompting Twilight to find a way to earn a living. Until he started following the news of the rally and thought it was a good opportunity to make money.

He went out to sell fried chicken in the assembly area for the first time on October 14 around the Monument to Democracy. Which allowed him to see a way to earn a living that earns between 8,000 and 9,000 baht a day and the highest ever sold, 12,000 baht.

“I sold fried chicken at the rally until I started getting rid of all my debts for a year. And it started to have tens of thousands of savings. We have recovered from going on sale at a meeting of a group of students,” Sonthaya said with pride.

“On the day of the meeting, October 14, I started going out to sell things at 7 in the morning and I continued to sell until 5 in the morning the other day, selling chickens for 70 kg. At 12,000 baht, I am very proud to sell it so much. It’s a lot for me, especially in this economic situation. “

Said the delicious smell of fried chicken. Make people follow the smell and buy and eat

“Following in my mind If there is a meeting, I will go because we do it through the mouth to our stomach. I was fighting because there was a family to take care of. No matter how big or small the mafia is, I have to look for my own business opportunities. I don’t choose a side. Where I can sell it, I sell it, “Twilight explains.

Twilight usually wakes up early to marinate the chicken first. And began to prepare the equipment to prepare the car to wash various containers before cooking sticky rice to pack in bags. And put on a thermos

After finishing the preparations around 11 a.m., he checks the news from various social media channels and calls his friends on the CIA network. And the rally card to confirm the venue of the day To see where you can enter and sell things. Before getting things ready, get in the trailer and drive

“The CIA is a joke to a group of salespeople like me. I think it’s funny because a lot of people think that we always get to the place before the general crowd knows about it. When they asked me what I thought, I must say that I am proud because they value to grassroots like me, ”Twilight said.

“We try to go as fast as possible because I think we have to sell things. In the past I had a lot of problems. There was no pocket money and many debts. When I found this opportunity, I had to hurry up and take advantage of it because it was a guarantee that I would definitely sell it. No matter how close or far the meeting place is, I will go, no matter which mob I go to, I will definitely see myself.

Sonthaya told BBC Thai that his CIA network also had a lot of people. Every time they go to sell anywhere, they will exchange numbers or lines of change. Part of the networking was due to Twilight and many networked marketers going “curry” too often.

“They’ve eaten me before me. Curry goes a long way, around Rama 2, so I want to make sure we get to the right place at the right time. My CIA friends and I will get to the meeting place at least once. hour, ”he explains.

“When driving I will open the news on my mobile phone and connect to a small speaker to listen to the news on the road.”

When asked about his political stance, Twilight explained that he was nowhere to be found. Who argues that he is a merchant AND sell all groups of things already But he prefers to sell to the group of students. Because they honor and respect Twilight as an adult.

“Selling things to children is easier and faster than selling to adults. Another thing is that young customers do not haggle or ask for a discount. I’ll be the one to offer you a discount or a voucher, ”Twilight explains.

Twilight said he had been barred from selling items in a group gathering area. They thought Twilight was on the opposite side of them simply because her badge and car colors matched what he thought was an opposition to the mob.

“Today we run the risk of not selling things in the assembly area. Because there are police who prevent us from entering the area if we are late AND accused of being a water supply for the protesters. However, I am on the same side of democracy. So, I’m not scared, “Twilight said.

“I can say that today I can open my eyes and mouth because of the student mob. If I don’t have a mob until now, I don’t know how much I owe you.”

Although there are concerns about the safety of going to the local assembly market. But Twilight gave more importance to her mouth and stomach. He believes that this democracy is made partly for the stomach and the future of all.

“I just want you to do whatever it takes to improve the economy. Improve your everyday life and survive. Our expenses are there every day. If the economy is good, everyone will be happy. I’m not on anyone’s side. But yes I had to choose, I would be on the side of democracy, ”Twilight said.

“I asked him if he was afraid of danger. I can answer that I am afraid. But through the mouth, through the stomach, I have to go. However, first I have to do to create a good future for my family. If you compare your fear with the financial need I chose to earn money first. “