The longing has never faded among the close circle of friends “Mo Amina - Hippo - Poodle” went to visit "Tangmo Nida" on her birthday at the Rangsit Methodist Church, Khlong 4. They revealed that every year near her birthday, stories tend to arise. They have believed from the start that the incident was unnatural, and shared the special gifts they would have given if their dear friend were still alive.
Do news stories always come up near Tangmo’s birthday?
Mo Amina said, "Near every monthly anniversary, you can notice it. Following the news on February 24, the day she passed and her birthday, since we come here every month, we watch closely. As the anniversary approaches, something always seems to come up. We listen, not ignoring it, but we consider whether it’s possible or not."
Do you see it as an accident or not an accident?
Mo Amina said, "Honestly, from the first three days, we insisted it was unnatural. We spoke out even before a week had passed that it was unnatural. We said everything, but maybe no one believed us then—I don’t know. I spoke as someone who was at the pier since the night of the 24th at 10:30 p.m. until we found her. I was there the whole time, barely sleeping. I saw who was working and what they were doing. We said everything."
Did Paesa say some friends in the group changed their statements?
Mo Amina said, "Regarding that person, I don't want to talk about them or give them any importance. The past is the past. Everyone knows who treated her well or not. It depends on actions. Many may not know, but I believe that person knows in their heart. We know their behavior; close friends know well. I have never spoken about that person at all because the past is just the past. There’s nothing to discuss."
I don’t talk about that person, but if you ask about friends who changed statements, I think it’s best to look at the written documents. If we talk about it, it’s Hippo, right? (laughs) I just want everyone to focus on what the documents say, whether the signatures are on the case files, or what kind of documents they are. Hippo has documents with her. She should have time to find them. If she really wants to confirm the truth, there should be documents on both sides. Just look. I think the matter can be discussed and resolved."
Hippo said, "As Mo said, we ultimately rely on documents because we also have them. On the day I went as a witness, I didn’t know what to say. Everyone can see them, but I don’t have legal knowledge."
Mo Amina said, "She just doesn’t know how to act, whether releasing them is allowed or not. I think those in authority who can release them should check. She has case files, and if she can release them, she is willing to do so. The truth is from four years ago. If anyone wants anything, just ask directly."
Many are worried about safety?
Mo Amina said, "Honestly, what many have experienced, we faced it from the first three days. We didn’t publicly say who was affected, but we gathered at home to share who experienced what, who was followed. We all love her, but we also have parents. It’s not that we don’t love her, but sometimes for our safety. I remember my mother said, ‘Amina, there’s someone at the house.’ Mom was very willing to help. I kept investigating from the first three days, not caring about anything else. I admit I was obsessed and sleep-deprived for days. But when my mother spoke, since I have a family and a little niece, I agreed. We love her but need limits in how we love her. Today, I think my actions show that I still love and do things for her. Even if I don’t publicly speak, I love her in my own way and respect her."
So, Mo, people really came to your house?
Mo Amina said, "Regarding being targeted, we faced it from the start. We have been affected for a long time. Hippo was followed. Everyone got calls, but no one spoke out. We let it fade and ended, staying within our own space."
Are you afraid? "Yes, we are, but we encourage each other (laughs) because outsiders can’t fully understand us. The whole country cannot understand us completely. So, we know among ourselves and support each other quietly. We don’t loudly tell anyone or speak publicly. I think much time has passed, and we haven’t done anything wrong."
Poodle, you still work on boats now; are you afraid?
Poodle said, "Am I afraid? Not really. I’m happy working, but sometimes a thought flashes: ‘What if I fall into the river?’ It’s just a fleeting thought, but safety measures are in place."
Mo Amina said, "It haunts us. We don’t like to look at the Chao Phraya River anymore because she was there. We don’t want to remember. That’s why I come here to see her remains. It’s more comforting here. The place is shady and peaceful."
Do you still meet or talk with Bird?
Mo Amina said, "We talk sometimes when the chance arises, mostly on Instagram."
Poodle said, "We always encourage him. When he does live sales, we support him. It’s a way to offer encouragement. I feel he might come today, but maybe we won’t see him (smiles). We don’t know when he’ll come. Bird comes every year secretly and rarely tells anyone. I send pictures saying I’m visiting Mo at the church. He thanks me and says thanks for coming. When we ask if Bird will come, deep down, we know he will, but he doesn’t say when."
They said they want Mo’s IG back?
Mo Amina said, "Everyone wants it. Honestly, many photos of us are on his device. We want those photos, but they’re gone now. We can’t do anything."
Poodle said, "It feels like it was shut down."
Hippo said, "I don’t know why, but at first, it appeared as a memorial."
Poodle said, "Then it disappeared; it was closed down."
Mo Amina said, "We want them back."
Poodle said, "There were so many photos. Mo liked to take funny pictures and tease friends."
Mo Amina said, "Sometimes she liked to secretly film friends. We want those."
Hippo said, "There are many on the device with lots of memories."
Mo Amina said, "If I could say something, I want everyone to respect her a lot. When she was alive, she built a good reputation and body of work. Now that she’s gone, words or actions that damage her reputation or what she built, I just want people to respect her. From watching much news about her, I do watch it all. I just want to see what respects her."
I want to ask people to respect what she created. She was the beloved heroine for many. Anything that damages her image or reputation, I don’t want it publicized because many people are divided over negative matters. I feel no one can prove if it’s true or false, and we never heard it from her directly.
I just don’t want people to speculate endlessly about how things must be. I think we should follow the evidence and what the authorities verify. Whatever the outcome, whether we like it or not, it is the final conclusion, and we must accept it."
When asked what gift Mo would give Tangmo if she were still alive for her birthday?
Mo Amina said, "I would give her a beauty clinic voucher, maybe worth tens of thousands. She wanted to update herself."
Hippo said, "She wouldn’t want that. Do you know what she last wanted to update? She wanted to do endotine. She said, ‘I want to do endotine.’"
Mo Amina said, "She loved beauty, nice clothes, cosmetics, and beauty clinic vouchers. Bring them all. She liked small treatments. If giving a gift, give what she liked."
Poodle said, "I’d give her spicy salad because she never knew it. She stayed home all the time, kept to herself, never went out. Then I took her to eat spicy salad. She asked what it was, and I told her. From then on, she ordered spicy salad herself and liked eating it."
Hippo said, "I would take her to Iconsiam since she never went there and buy children’s shoes. She liked collecting cute baby shoes. She had hundreds. If there were doll shoes, everyone would understand. But she had every brand. Whenever she saw cute ones, she’d pick them up and ask who they were for. She said she collected them. I just realized how many she had. So, I want to take her to Iconsiam."
Mo Amina said, "She loved little children very much and would say, ‘Oh, such cute shoes!’"
Poodle said, "Her personality was very playful, like a gay man. She would call people ‘mommy, mommy, where are you going?’ It was a gay vibe because she had many gay friends. She loved it."
Did you just find out you were threatened too?
Mo Amina said, "We never talked about it or made it a big issue. We kept it quiet among ourselves, supporting each other. When we sat and talked, we wondered if anyone would understand us if we explained it. So, we just encouraged and protected each other."
Hippo said, "The main point is our family. I’m a bit forgetful until my brother told me he was followed because he looks like me, like a twin. Then I wondered where my safety was."
Mo Amina said, "So, everyone was targeted. We sat together to discuss how to proceed. We love her, but what path should we take? We decided to find a middle ground and sat and talked. We concluded it’s okay to be criticized by outsiders. No one will fully understand us."
Hippo said, "Whenever we gather, it’s always at Anna’s house."
Poodle said, "Then we talk about what incidents we’ve encountered."
Click to read
Entertainment newsMore
