BANGKOK, Thailand — Sign-language interpreters in Thailand have run afoul of some ruling-party supporters by holding their noses to refer to the new prime minister.
Samak Sundaravej, chosen in parliament Monday as the first elected prime minister since a September 2006 coup, has been nicknamed “Mr. Rose Apple Nose” because many claim his nose resembles the fruit.
Thai sign-language interpreters often indicate prominent facial features as shorthand for dignitaries, and during a live broadcast of Monday’s parliamentary session, they held their noses between two fingers numerous times to refer to Samak.
One interpreter, Kanittha Rattanasin, said this gesture has long been used for Samak but is drawing wide notice only now.
“It is not meant as a nose joke,” she said. “We have touched our noses for years to refer to Samak but people noticed this time because we had to repeat the movement over 300 times.”
