Somboon Chaowanakosol aka Master Bobi, 48, the owner of the high-end eyeglasses center Isoptik at Ratchaprasong’s Erawan Shopping Mall made headlines last month claiming he was beaten up by People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC)’s guards, even though he supports the PDRC movement. He opens up to BK about losing B1 million per day because of the protests and launching a B5-billion fund to hunt down ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra with help from the leaders of Al-Qaeda.

How did you become Master Bobi?
I learned how to make optics from God, that’s why I can make the best glasses in the world. I was number one at selling high-end optical lenses in the world, so the lens company hired me to teach other international optic businesses, and my students called me master after this. The most expensive glasses I’ve sold were B9 million. They were covered in pink diamonds. 
 
How did you get into trouble with the PDRC?
I was totally against the idea of the protests closing down business areas for more than seven days ever since 2010 when the red shirts came. I don’t oppose these protests but they shouldn’t close down the area for so long. What Chai Srivikorn, the president of Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA), said, that traders lost only 10-20 percent of their income, was a lie. That’s from the landlord’s perspective because they still have rental income. But traders here have lost 95 percent of what they usually gain. I had to speak out. The PDRC at Ratchaprasong, led by the Democrat Chumpol Julasai, didn’t like what I said. He sent his cronies to threaten me on Jan 20 when I tried to do a blessing ceremony for Thailand on the Ratchaprasong sidewalk. They finally assaulted me on Jan 29 by knocking me to the ground. They are worse than the redshirts!
 
How much have you lost?
I’m losing B1 million per day. I’ve calculated it. I’ll be bankrupt in 30 days. Now the building management is trying to kick me out and close my shop. Thaksin Shinawatra is one of the stakeholders of the Erawan Building so I believe he sent the order to get rid of me. I can’t go home and have to hide in the Erawan Hotel because there are people trying to abduct me. My life is now reliant on credit cards.
 
What are you going to do?
I’m ready to die now so I will fight to the bitter end. I founded a fund to hunt down Thaksin. I aim to raise B5 billion in seven days. I’ve already opened an account in the Virgin Islands to handle this mission. I will give money to anyone who can bring Thaksin to me. I have friends around the world, including Al-Qaeda leaders. They are my customers and they hate Thaksin because they want revenge for the Muslims who were killed at Krue Sae and Tak Bai. They can tell me whenever Thaksin is on board a plane, then I will give those billions of baht to any pilot who brings him to me. 
 
What will you do after you get Thaksin?
I will take him to a secret island and lock him up until he surrenders and tells me how to unlock his account. I will bring all his dirty money back to Thailand and give it to the people. Then I will form a dream government where I will handpick each minister. I’m already eyeing big businessmen like CP founder Dhanin Chearavanont. I’m the final answer to all this political mess. I’m the only one who can bring Thailand out of this turmoil. I’m sending out a leaflet to get this message out. 

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