Royalist teen under fire, bad PR job, old man says thanks

Firebrand denies he’s a victim

A royalist teen has found himself the centre of unwelcome attention after he let the TV cameras into his slum home, sparking a debate over whether he is an unwitting victim of the social order he champions.

Kodchayotee “Game” Cheaplaem, 15, a founder of the group Teens Helping the Nation Network, and a member of the royalist Thai Pakdee group, is known for his sharp tongue and presence on yellow-shirt rally stages. PPTV interviewed him at his run-down slum home in Bang Kae last week, remarking that while many were familiar with his utterances at pro-monarchy gatherings, few knew much about the lad himself.

Game admits most members of this teen network are in fact adults, as he claims few teens love their country. He was referring to the anti-government youth movement, Free Youth, which…