ML RUNGKHUN POWERS KRABI PLANT PROTEST
For a man born into high society, ML Rungkhun Kitiyakara has a laid-back signature look — long hair and a closet of casual clothing he pairs with Nanyang-brand slippers. The 47-year-old enjoys a simple lifestyle. He lives on a farm in Nakhon Ratchasima where he’s kept a low profile for several years.
This month he re-entered the public eye when he joined a campaign against the planned coal-fired power plant in Krabi.
He was briefly detained for helping stage protests against the power plant alongside five other protesters. The government has since decided to delay the project’s implementation.
But ML Rungkhun says it’s still too early to celebrate the move. The government hasn’t given its final confirmation that the project has been cancelled.
It’s not the public figure’s first time participating in a civil movement. He previously took part in a rally with the People’s Democratic Reform Committee. Led by Suthep Thaugsuban, the rally campaigned for energy reform.
ML Rungkhun was born to Apasra Hongsakula, the first Miss Universe from Thailand, and MR Kiattikhun Kitiyakara. He studied design at Central St Martins in England.
With his good looks, he landed a gig as a model in Thailand. He became known as “ML Joe”.
After working for a while, he returned to school, enrolling in Ramkhamhaeng University as a philosophy student. Following graduation, ML Rungkhun surprised people by opting to spend four years in the monkhood, a decision driven by his desire to learn more about Buddhism.
Emerging from the monkhood, he chose to stay out of the spotlight. He got married to a staff member at his mother’s beauty salon. They had one son together.
He got involved with Save Andaman Coal, l eading a campaign against the Krabi coal-powered plant, through a series of encounters with activists.
After being detained, ML Rungkhun was let go after one night.
The public upset over the detention made the stint shorter, he said.
The government agreed to order the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to redo the project’s environment and health impact assessment and environment impact assessment studies before putting the plant construction into motion.
Confirmation of the project’s cancellation is pending.
As a final warning to the government, ML Rungkhun says: “Power comes from the general public — not small, elite groups of people.”