Soapbox - The Hitler Game

[george]

Thai sex industry tycoon set to test premier's grip on power

BANGKOK: -- The godfather of Thailand's sex industry is heading the challenge to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's growing political empire in a key election test ahead of national polls early next year.

The race to become Bangkok's next governor officially started with massage parlour kingpin Chuwit Kamolvisit one of the frontrunners in a field lacking any serious contender from the ruling party.

Despite his controversial background as the boss of a chain of high-profile parlours, Chuwit is credited with blowing the whistle on corruption after alleging last year he paid police and politicians millions of dollars in bribes.

Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai (Thais love Thais, TRT) party has reportedly been reluctant to field a candidate fearing that it could be humiliated after the first choice for the job refused to run.

Purachai Piumsombun won the hearts of many Bangkok residents when, as interior minister, he led a morality drive which saw the city's notorious nightlife -- some of it run by Chuwit -- hit with early closing hours and police raids.

However, analysts say Thaksin is hedging his bets by unofficially backing one of the few women in the field, independent candidate Paveena Hongsakul, whose only major pledge so far is to be available to voters 24 hours a day.

Paveena's complaints led to Chuwit being charged with employing underage girls as prostitutes in some of his massage parlours that once employed nearly 2,000 young women. He was acquitted last month.

The pair shook hands Monday amid a carnival-like atmosphere, complete with confetti, balloons, dancing girls and thousands of applauding supporters, as the first 17 candidates filed their nomination papers for the election due on August 29. More are expected to join the race.

Chuwit said he had nothing to fear from Paveena since she was not a policeman.

"The feeling among the voters is that they have no choice because they cannot believe in the other candidates," Chuwit told AFP.

Chuwit was behind a string of the most gaudy and upmarket "massage parlours" in Thailand, including themed spots such as "Honolulu" and "Copacabana" in Bangkok before selling most of them.

In what is likely to become a colourful campaign, the others standing for election include an untested candidate from the main opposition Democrat party and a controversial politician whose son was cleared of murdering a policeman in a high-profile test of the impartiality of the country's judicial system.

A newspaper poll Monday showed the two top candidates were running close but Thailand's electoral law meant they were unable to say who the two were.

But the result is not likely to have any significant bearing on the outcome of next year's national elections.

Thaksin's populist focus has seen his government's ratings soar, and the divided opposition's dip, and all the indications suggested a big win for his administration.

Thaksin, a former tycoon, has a tight grip on power with his coalition holding 365 of the 500 lower house seats.

He has said he wanted to win 400 seats next year, but his progress has been hit by the continuing insurgency in the Muslim-led south, the resurgence of bird flu and rows over his economic policies.

Apirak Kosayodhin, the only candidate backed by the Democrats, drew the number one ballot for the governor race on Monday -- putting him on the top of the long list of candidates on voters' papers.

But pundits said that his good looks were unlikely to compensate for the perception that he was young and untested.

-- AFP 2004-07-27

[ASIC]

Apirak Kosayodhin, the only candidate backed by the Democrats, drew the number one ballot for the governor race on Monday -- putting him on the top of the long list of candidates on voters' papers.

People just tick the first one on the list? Sad if elections has to sink to Florida levels.

But pundits said that his good looks were unlikely to compensate for the perception that he was young and untested.

Good Looks? Did you see his election posters?

[ovenman]

Speaking of the multitude election posters...

I love the poses on some Chuwit's posters. He has this angry look about him, apparently trying to convey the message that he's a man-of-action. More likely, he's pissed 'cause the cops just filched another million baht from his wallet.

Some of Paveena Hongsakul's posters are good, too. She's dressed as though she's auditioning for a revival of the Village People!

[Lioneric]

I hope that Chuwit will won as a Prime Minister so everyone can dance and drink until 7a.m everyday. Cheers!!!

[Rhys]

IF.. Arnold can do it in California.. Then Chuwit.. can supply it BKK.

And the next Governor is....