rice petrol stations, hotels and by wholesaling. In the mid-1920s built his working (vote bank) for two local politicians Thienngeon and Boonchu Rojanasathian. Sia Jiew used hi barami (powerful position) to help Boonchu, a relatively unknown politician, to succeed against Siri Siriyothin prominent old-time local politician (ao thin and army man. In an interview with a newspaper, Sia Jiew explained why he helped sia liew himself was uneducated whereas Boonchu was highly educated and had risen to the top management rank in the Bangkok Bank. Moreover, Boonchu was a Chonburi man Sia Jiew might also have added that Boonchu was, like him second-generation ethnic Chinese. By helping to secure Boonchu promote one of the most dazzling Jiew was helping election, Si cions of Chonburi Chinese community, and at the same time building a powerful connection in the heady political realms of Bangkok. Sia liew had three close aides and friends who each looked after important sections of his business empire. Kam nan Bo looked after soil and gravel transport, construction contracting and road building. Sia Lin (Uthai Hirisatja) took care of fish and shrimp farming. Sia Thong looked after the whisky agency. Sia personally controlled the hotels and shopping centres 14 All of the group had developed wide connections within the locality Sia built connections with big men in the army and he was a devout supporter of the Village Scouts, a local organizied by the Border Patrol Police to combat support communist influence. Sia Lin's wife was president of the Village the eastern region. Sia Jiew donations for charity, which raised his status in the community His looked after the delicate business of enforcement. It was said that his and protection from an important Paan man to carry out many illegal He had reportedly the gunning down of more than 10 who were in the opposite camp was rivalry between the groups of Sia li and the late Kiang not confined to business and gunplay. From the mid-1970s, it also extended to parliamentary elections. Sia Jiew sided with