Dhevaprom: Kwanruetai

Chapter 1

Mom Luang Poke Kes's return had to be indefinitely delayed due to the political unrest in Thailand. The chaos began when the National Peacekeeping Council, known as the NCPO, staged a coup against the government led by Prime Minister General Chatchai Chunhawan. They justified the coup by claiming rampant corruption and the government's attempts to undermine the military institution.

After seizing power, the NCPO appointed Anand Panyarachun as the acting prime minister, drafted a new constitution, and called for general elections. However, General Suchinda Kraprayoon, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and a key figure in the NCPO, eventually took office as prime minister again, sparking widespread public dissatisfaction. This was due to the fact that the newly drafted constitution lacked democratic elements, and Suchinda's rise to power seemed like a continuation of military rule, which contradicted his previous promises. 

As a result, protests erupted, led by students and supported by opposition parties like the Democrat Party, the Unity Party, the New Hope Party, and the Power Party. Demonstrators demanded that the prime minister resign.

The protests grew in intensity as more people gathered, and the situation became more tense. The protesters marched from Sanam Luang to Ratchadamnoen Avenue, in front of the Government House. Chatklao, being both a soldier and a doctor, was called in for duty, as military doctors were considered part of the armed forces. He had to remain in his barracks, unable to go outside. Many of his fellow doctors and juniors wanted to join the protests in support of the people, and he, too, felt the same. But as a soldier, Chatklao understood he couldn't participate. His duty was to serve and do his best as a military doctor.

Worried, Chatklao kept himself updated on the situation by watching the news on TV and listening to the radio, alongside other officers who had been summoned for emergency preparedness, in case the protests turned violent. The night before, there had been clashes between the police, the military, and the protesters.

Chatklao anxiously followed the news throughout the night, knowing that both sides of the conflict were made up of fellow Thais. As a true soldier, he didn't want to harm the people. Meanwhile, the people protesting simply wanted democracy. The faces of the military doctors were somber as they listened to the radio broadcasts, some getting information from friends who had secretly gone to join the protests.

Chatklao had medical friends from other institutions who were also involved, including Siriraj, Ramathibodi, and Chulalongkorn universities. When he heard that the military was mobilizing to break up the protests, his worry deepened, especially for his junior colleague, Pramech, a sixth-year medical student about to graduate, who had strong ideals and had snuck out to join the protests despite orders not to leave the barracks. Chatklao tried to contact him but received no response. He waited for him in the lobby, and as soon as he saw Pramech walk in, Chatklao rushed over.

"You've been gone all night. I've been so worried," Chatklao said.

Pramech, an idealistic young man, had an impulsive personality. Despite the order to stay in the barracks, he had been sneaking out to join the protests every day. Tonight, he had gone missing, and Chatklao was deeply concerned.

"I was trapped in a blockade, but I just managed to escape," Pramech said, looking exhausted. On TV, they reported that there had been armed clashes, with some rebels attacking government facilities, prompting a crackdown. But what Pramech told him was that the military had used force to disperse the protesters near the Democracy Monument.

"What's the situation there?" Chatklao asked.

"It's chaotic, Khun Chat. People were running in panic. Some of them fought back, and there were gunshots all night long," Pramech replied.