 
Source : Tourism Developmental
and Promotional
Division. |
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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 ). |
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They had 5 children. Later Phya Phimol was appointed
Thalang governor by King
Taksin. 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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