Crackdown On Vote Buying

[hammered]

More Complaints Of Vote-Buying In Thailand Election

BANGKOK -- More complaints of fraud and vote-buying have emerged in the run-up to the general election in Thailand set for Dec 23.

The distribution of VCDs containing speeches of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra tops the list of complaints.

Over 70 election fraud cases have been reported, with more allegations of rampant vote-buying in Bangkok and its surrounding provinces than in the rest of the country.

Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) Secretary-General Dr Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn said the allegations include vote-buying and political parties organising dinners and giving out vouchers in violation of election laws.

"It may come as a surprise but there are more complaints of vote-buying in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan than in other places. Maybe we will get more after the election. The amount is not much, about 300 baht or 400 baht (about RM30 or RM40) per person, but when it involves many voters, it's a lot," he told Malaysian journalists in an interview here.

Unlike in the past, where vote-buying was openly done, especially in the poor north and north-eastern regions, political parties are more careful now because the new law allows for dissolution of parties found guilty of corruption in the election, he said.

"We are going on a publicity drive to educate the people while candidates are required to pledge that they won't take part in such immoral activities. The ECT is hoping to come up with a code of conduct for future elections," said the former judge, who was appointed to the hot seat after the coup on Sept 19 last year that ousted Thaksin.

Dr Suthiphon said the ECT would scrutinise all candidates and investigate all complaints before announcing the official results, which could take up to a month after the polls.

A total of 3,894 candidates from 31 political parties are vying for the 480 seats in the election called by the government, but Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party, which won the 2001 and 2005 election and the 2006 polls boycotted by major opposition parties, was dissolved in May for election fraud.

With 111 of its executive members banned for five years, other leaders have regrouped under the People's Power Party (PPP) that is expected to win the most number of seats but short of the required majority to form the next government.

Dr Suthiphon said the ECT was still investigating the distribution of Thaksin's VCDs. Some political parties claimed that Thaksin was campaiging for the PPP although the law bars him from participating in political activities.

"If there is evidence that the PPP is involved in distributing the VCDs, then the party can be dissolved. As for Thaksin, our interpretation is he, like the other 110 former executives of TRT, cannot be involved and, if his speech constitutes party campaigning, he can be charged under criminal law," he said.

Dr Suthiphon said he was disappointed that some parties were not courting the 46 million voters with their policies but finding fault with the ECT instead, adding that the polls agency remained neutral and was not picking on the PPP helmed by former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej.

"The ECT commission includes four former judges and one former deputy public prosecutor. We are trying to clean up the whole system but whenever we try to do something, some people claim the ECT is against them," he said.

On fears of unrest in the run-up to the election and aftermath, he said the situation has been rather calm with minimal problems although there were reports of one of two party workers being killed. He also said that the fairness of the election would not be compromised although emergency law remains in several parts of the country, including in the restive south and north.

The ECT will set up 88,000 polling stations throughout the country on polling day. More than one million people voted yesterday on the first of the two-day advanced voting.

- BERNAMA (Malaysia)

Have I read this correctly- that it could be a month after the polls close that the results are made public? What if there's a Dem landslide- could it still take a month to realease the results? Bets?

The EC for this election as for previous ones to certify every election result before a candidate is deemed elected, or in other words stste that they were fairly elected. I would guess in this election it will take a bit longer than normal whoever wins. If there were to be a Dem landslide - unlilely - Samak would launch lots of accusations and these would still need to be investigated. Whatver one thinks of the EC one thing is for sure, they dont rush into decisions. It could also make the post election time a very tense period. Just imagine if one party is close to an overall majority or the two big parties are very close in numbers, a few red cards could make all the diference. I wonder if anyone has actually thought that there could be a close or controversial election and after it so much controversy and even possibly rallies, demonstrations and God forbid violence that a government is never formed. This really does look like an unpredictable time.

[blaze]

More Complaints Of Vote-Buying In Thailand Election

BANGKOK -- More complaints of fraud and vote-buying have emerged in the run-up to the general election in Thailand set for Dec 23.

The distribution of VCDs containing speeches of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra tops the list of complaints.

Over 70 election fraud cases have been reported, with more allegations of rampant vote-buying in Bangkok and its surrounding provinces than in the rest of the country.

Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) Secretary-General Dr Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn said the allegations include vote-buying and political parties organising dinners and giving out vouchers in violation of election laws.

"It may come as a surprise but there are more complaints of vote-buying in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan than in other places. Maybe we will get more after the election. The amount is not much, about 300 baht or 400 baht (about RM30 or RM40) per person, but when it involves many voters, it's a lot," he told Malaysian journalists in an interview here.

Unlike in the past, where vote-buying was openly done, especially in the poor north and north-eastern regions, political parties are more careful now because the new law allows for dissolution of parties found guilty of corruption in the election, he said.

"We are going on a publicity drive to educate the people while candidates are required to pledge that they won't take part in such immoral activities. The ECT is hoping to come up with a code of conduct for future elections," said the former judge, who was appointed to the hot seat after the coup on Sept 19 last year that ousted Thaksin.

Dr Suthiphon said the ECT would scrutinise all candidates and investigate all complaints before announcing the official results, which could take up to a month after the polls.

A total of 3,894 candidates from 31 political parties are vying for the 480 seats in the election called by the government, but Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party, which won the 2001 and 2005 election and the 2006 polls boycotted by major opposition parties, was dissolved in May for election fraud.

With 111 of its executive members banned for five years, other leaders have regrouped under the People's Power Party (PPP) that is expected to win the most number of seats but short of the required majority to form the next government.

Dr Suthiphon said the ECT was still investigating the distribution of Thaksin's VCDs. Some political parties claimed that Thaksin was campaiging for the PPP although the law bars him from participating in political activities.

"If there is evidence that the PPP is involved in distributing the VCDs, then the party can be dissolved. As for Thaksin, our interpretation is he, like the other 110 former executives of TRT, cannot be involved and, if his speech constitutes party campaigning, he can be charged under criminal law," he said.

Dr Suthiphon said he was disappointed that some parties were not courting the 46 million voters with their policies but finding fault with the ECT instead, adding that the polls agency remained neutral and was not picking on the PPP helmed by former Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej.

"The ECT commission includes four former judges and one former deputy public prosecutor. We are trying to clean up the whole system but whenever we try to do something, some people claim the ECT is against them," he said.

On fears of unrest in the run-up to the election and aftermath, he said the situation has been rather calm with minimal problems although there were reports of one of two party workers being killed. He also said that the fairness of the election would not be compromised although emergency law remains in several parts of the country, including in the restive south and north.

The ECT will set up 88,000 polling stations throughout the country on polling day. More than one million people voted yesterday on the first of the two-day advanced voting.

- BERNAMA (Malaysia)

Have I read this correctly- that it could be a month after the polls close that the results are made public? What if there's a Dem landslide- could it still take a month to realease the results? Bets?

The EC for this election as for previous ones to certify every election result before a candidate is deemed elected, or in other words stste that they were fairly elected. I would guess in this election it will take a bit longer than normal whoever wins. If there were to be a Dem landslide - unlilely - Samak would launch lots of accusations and these would still need to be investigated. Whatver one thinks of the EC one thing is for sure, they dont rush into decisions. It could also make the post election time a very tense period. Just imagine if one party is close to an overall majority or the two big parties are very close in numbers, a few red cards could make all the diference. I wonder if anyone has actually thought that there could be a close or controversial election and after it so much controversy and even possibly rallies, demonstrations and God forbid violence that a government is never formed. This really does look like an unpredictable time.

I think somebody might have thought of this- somebody who wouldn't object to, 'in the national interest' hanging on to power for another - few months/years. Bloody demonstrations would be gift from the gods. This is what Sonthi L was supposed to provide- and didn't.

In such an event, the military will certainly have reason to point out that democracy in Thailand is just too dangerous- for now and that only big brother can bring order to the chaos.

[Old Man River]

I really don't see the military hanging on to power directly as there is no need. Either the Demo's and Chart Thai will lead a coalition based on votes or the military will negotiate a coalition of "friendly" parties disqualifying elected officials of the PPP as needed. Either way, the military will not fade from view completely, but far enough to where it will be viewed by outsiders that democracy (but not Thaksin) has returned to Thailand.

As has been stated almost by all on TV, the real trick will be to see how long the next government will last and what the coalition after that will look like. In essence, you don't want to be in the government that follows the junta, but rather in the government that follows the government that follows the junta.

[sriracha john]

Flyers 'signed by Thaksin' promise Bt1,000 per vote

NAKHON PHANOM - Residents of this northeastern province have found flyers left in public places that were "signed" by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and promise Bt1,000 per vote for the People Power Party (PPP).

The party described the "falsified" leaflets as a dirty trick aimed at discrediting the party.

"We know what political party is behind this smear campaign. We have filed a police complaint and will refer this matter to the local election office," said Chusak Sirinil, chief of the PPP's legal team.

The flyers were in the form of a personal letter from Thaksin to constituents in the Northeast, thanking them for their support in installing a PPP government.

They indicated that Thaksin had sent funds for distribution to voters via PPP canvassers, and that he pledged to return to run the country following the party's victory.

- The Nation

[Gimbo]

The only effective way this will work is if the vote buying party is punished. Going after the worker ants is a bit futile, however going after the queen ant is another story.

Surely the only effective way for it to work is for vote-buying to not actually work, and simply be a way of throwing away money. (

Why don't the people take the money, then still vote for whoever they want? Simply pocketing the money from however many stupid candidates are handing it out. Aren't the ballots secret after all?

I talked with the wife about this, and that is exactly what people used to do in prevous years according to her. They only saw it as free money, and voted for whomever they fancied at the ballot box.

[hammered]

I was reading in one of the papers (doesnt seem to be on the WWW) this morning that PNET have said the Isaan is rife with mass vote buying. Apparently they have taken the complaint to the government as they say local authorities are doing nothing about it. If this is an accurate report it is quite damning as PNET are regarded as neutral and clean, and certainly not a government mouthpiece. Quite who is meant to be doing the vote buying was not clear in th story.

[sriracha john]

Poll Panel Cracks down on Vote-Buying

Election Commission officials have arrested suspected vote-buyers with 180,000 baht cash in 100 and 20-baht banknotes in Maha Sarakam Province.

In Buri Ram Province, officials arrested vote canvassers with a list of names and cash near the campaign stage of the Puea Pandin Party.

Election Commission officials in Buri Ram Province, together with the police, arrested 36-year-old Sompong Kunrum as he took down the names of people who turned up to listen to the rally by constituency 4 MP candidate Peerapong Hengsawad from the Puea Pandin Party. Officials confiscated the list of names and 2,340 baht in cash.

Sompong denied allegations of vote-buying and said he was asked by his neighbor to take down the names of those who attended the rally and the money that was found was his own. Officials will speak to villagers and witnesses to find the truth.

At the same time, the Kosumpisai Police and Maha Sarakam election officials searched a vehicle and found three suspects in possession of 100,000 baht cash in 100-baht banknotes and 80,000 in 20-baht banknotes, as well as a list of names of residents of the district and nearby districts.

Police arrested two suspects, Adul Piengket and Taweesin Ngamsamai, while another suspect managed to escape. Police are interrogating the two to see if the money is intended for vote-buying.

- Thailand Outlook