rebelliousness and honour. Traditional stories tell of nak leng who helped people in the locality by any means possible, even to the extent of robbing from the rich to aid the local in areas where the mechanism of official administration was remote, and often they opposed attempts to make the administration more effective. The modern usage of nak leng contains a mixture of negative and positive connotations. It may describe men who are tough, independent and who are prepared to use their command of brute force to assist underdogs in the face of the brutality of other rogues or government officials. Nak leng of this type are seen a generous, loyal and true to a certain moral code. Yet at the same time it can also be applied to a simple gangster, who wields brute force for personal gain and with criminal intent. The terms jao pho and nak leng clearly occupy some of the same cultural space. In the same way that mak leng in the past existed because of the inefficiency of central administration in maintaining law and order and dispensing justice, jao pho in present-day Thailand exist and flourish because of the laxity of the central administration and because of the susceptibility of il officials and military officers to corruption. However, in many crucial respects the two terms, jao pho and mak leng, are significantly different. A nak leng is a simple tough may have his admirable side but may equally be a simple is nak leng may law criminal. A pho a leader. A the he is to it A jao plio generally operates (or aims to operate) above the law. pho may possess the positive traits of namely their generosity, loyalty and characteristics moral code (of being true to their word). But most jao pho accumulate wealth through illegal means, often behave like and frequently hire simple nak ieng as their assistants. Furthermore, while nak leng tend to be local fi jao pho in the context are often able to extend their power across eral provinces and to carve out a role in the politics of the nation. Sombat Chantormvong to wealthy men who have influence over high officials, and who use their informal influence to act above the law. Implicit in his a is that jao plum tend to be agents of violence.