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.