Dear Mr Teng,
You've only got yourself to blame. I used to like you the most among the Three Stooges-like "Sam Cha" gang. For years I have been laughing at your jokes every week on the comedy show Ching Roi Ching Larn. I even caught on YouTube the episodes I missed on TV.
But alas, from this day on, not any more.
You are not the person I always thought you were. You know full well what I'm talking about, don't you Mr Funny Bearded Man?
Last week, Mr Teng, you went to Deputy Commerce Minister and red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua's birthday party. You took an intimate photo with the birthday boy and said that you "want to see Thaksin come home".
(In the photo you are wearing a white shirt but I realise now that your underwear is definitely red.)
How old are you now? You're 47, right? What makes you think a man your age can go anywhere he wants without the consent of the general public? Don't you realise hundreds of thousands of your fans have shirts and underwear that are yellow, multi-coloured and various shades of colours other than red?
Isn't it your duty as a public figure to please the people both on and off screen?
There is absolutely no need to wait for your side of the story and I join the media and the online world in jumping to the conclusion you are now a red-shirt man. Don't you get it, Mr Teng? Going to a red shirt's party automatically and inevitably makes you one of them.
I have rejected dozens of birthday invitations from my friends (some I have known from kindergarten) because they said "I don't know" when asked what they thought of Thaksin. (Staying in the same room with those who have different political views makes me sick.) If only you did the same, none of this would have happened.
And since you are now a red shirt, there's no denying you are also in favour of the corruption, the riots and the burning of many buildings in Bangkok three years ago. Because, let's admit it, there are no such things as good and bad red shirts. There's only one shade and they are all the same.
Is there any part of my argument that doesn't make perfect sense? And yet, you later tried to claim you are politically neutral and that "wanting to see Thaksin come home" is just a joke. I have only one question for you: after decades of clowning around on TV, haven't you realised that a comedian is not supposed to joke, and everything that comes out of your mouth will be taken literally and seriously? Only politicians _ not you or any other buffoon _ have the right to say something without being taken seriously these days!
It doesn't matter one bit how you, Mr Pongsak Pongsuwan (yes, I know your real name), have entertained millions and millions of Thai people, making us laugh for more than 20 years. From this moment on, only the jokes from two other main members of your gang, Nong Chachacha and Mum Jokmok, will get my laughter. When you put on your deadpan face and are about to crack a joke, I will mute the telly and your sense of humour, however creatively funny, will forever fall silent on my deaf ears.
And in case you argue you are the victim of our rash divisiveness, let me show how you are wrong.
First of all, the leaked photo of you and Nattawut hugging is not an attempt to use you to gain red-shirt support, but simply captures the party's merry atmosphere. Second, those suggestive headlines are not using your name to boost sales, but are helping make you a little bit more famous. Instead of feeling suspicious, shouldn't you be grateful?
And last but not least, isn't it a blessing in disguise when Panthongtae Shinawatra concluded on Facebook that you are a red shirt and used you as a symbol of those who want his father Thaksin home. Instead of thinking he might be using you, you ought to be thankful he's gracious enough to take you under his wing when so many are criticising you.
Even though you tried to look sad, did the wai and said you were sorry to the press, I'm afraid what's done cannot be undone. I can no longer trust you because while you might look sad and repentant on the outside, your thoughts inside might be going in quite the opposite direction. You might still be wondering "how can going to a birthday party of someone I know be so wrong?" or "what if, for some personal reason, I really want Thaksin to come home?"
For the sake of your once-brilliant sense of humour, I will talk some sense into you. Thailand is no longer a mess like it was decades before. What you did undermined the system our governments and other groups have been building up over the years. It's a new democracy, our modern tradition.
Thailand is no longer a place where you can go around doing as you please without being branded this or that. What you think and do should no longer be based on the rule of law or how you feel but what the majority of people expect of you.
Read this letter 10 times through, and who knows I might laugh at your jokes again.
Your fan, Mr Shallow-minded Drag on Democracy.
Kaona Pongpipat is a feature writer for Life.