Detained Protest Leader Carries Thai Opposition Poll Hopes

[webfact]

Detained protest leader carries Thai opposition poll hopes

by Thanaporn Promyamyai

BANGKOK (AFP) -- His face is on the posters and his name on the ballot paper, but in Thailand's first poll battle since the government crushed mass protests, the main opposition candidate is conspicuously absent.

In the parliamentary by-election in a suburb of Bangkok this Sunday, a leader of the "Red Shirt" anti-government movement, detained on terrorism charges, is standing against a member of the elite-backed ruling party.

The vote, which comes two months after the army broke up the Reds' rally in the heart of Bangkok, is seen as a litmus test of support for both the government and the opposition ahead of a general election expected next year.

While the capital's streets have been swept clean and tourists are slowly returning, Thai society remains deeply divided following the worst political violence in decades, in which 90 people died and about 1,900 were injured.

A court allowed Red Shirt leader Kokaew Pikulthong to leave prison briefly last month to register for the parliamentary race, triggered by the death of a ruling-party lawmaker, but his request to be released to campaign was denied.

Instead he has been allowed to record a short message in jail for his party to play at rallies.

So while other contenders take to the streets, the opposition Puea Thai (For Thais) candidate -- who has not been convicted of any crime -- must rely on allies such as Red Shirt lawmaker Jatuporn Prompan to campaign for him.

"It is an injustice that one party's candidate can do anything (in the campaign) while the other candidate is allowed only a censored, three-minute voice recording for voters," Jatuporn told AFP.

Even so, he said he was optimistic about the chances of Kokaew, who if elected could be freed thanks to parliamentary immunity.

"People are responding well and I am confident Kokaew will win," Jatuporn said.

Victory would be particularly sweet for the opposition because the stronghold of the Reds -- many of whom seek the return of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra -- is not in the capital but in the rural northeast.

Panich Vikitsreth, the candidate for the ruling Democrat Party, which has traditionally enjoyed solid support in Bangkok, brushed aside suggestions he would benefit from the detention of his main rival.

"It is Puea Thai's choice. They can choose another candidate who can campaign, but they chose one who cannot come out," he said in an interview.

At its peak the Red rally attracted up to 100,000 people demanding immediate elections, but most of the leaders are now behind bars. The movement hails Thaksin's policies for the poor, such as cheap healthcare.

The Reds were campaigning for elections they hoped would oust the government, which they view as elitist and undemocratic because it came to power after a court ruling threw out the previous administration.

The government has rejected calls from the opposition for a state of emergency to be lifted in Bangkok for the by-election, citing lingering fears of unrest.

It has used the powers to arrest hundreds of suspects and silence anti-government media.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has called for reconciliation following the civil violence but shelved a proposal to hold early nationwide elections in November. By law he must go to the polls by the end of 2011.

In the coveted constituency in the northern suburbs of Bangkok, where the prosperous city merges with the poorer countryside, parties have been staging rallies, handing out leaflets and knocking on doors to drum up support.

The opposition has even produced a folk song urging voters to back Kokaew, saying that even though he is behind bars, the authorities cannot imprison his heart.

Veena Nonsee, a 42-year-old housewife, said she wants a lawmaker who will work for the good of the constituency and improve residents' lives.

"I don't want to choose a candidate representing the government because they didn't do the right thing during the protest," she said.

"But if I choose a Red Shirt candidate, they didn't do the right thing either.

"This election is very difficult to decide."

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-07-23

[jayjay0]

Will the out come be a true test of Puea Thai suport or a vote against Abhisit.

Any way what kind of a mickey mouse legal system lets a man in jail run for a elected position.

It is a good thing for him that Thailand has a legal system and not a Justice system. The last thing he wants is Justice. By his actions he has shown us he wants anarchy.

[slapout]

Did I read this correctly, if he is elected. then he will inherit immunity to past charges? He missed the Monk/temple option so is this is a backdoor fix?

Then again, look at his legal council, the incarcerated individual, and both of their, past verbal masterpieces, and it becomes apparent, the path thru the system has been traveled before.

[ThaksinKharma]

What happened to Pheu Thai Party's grand plan to use a robot to campaign in place of the absent Korkaew??

Pheu Thai look for robot to campaign on Kokaew's behalf

The Nation

Published on June 25, 2010

Pheu Thai Party decided to look for a human-sized robot to promote its Bangkok MP Kokaew Pikultong

Deputy Leader Plodprasop Suraswadee said yesterday that the party needed a robot that can raise and wave its arms as well as play a recording of Kokaew's voice during the election campaign.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/06/25/politics/Pheu-Thai-look-for-robot-to-campaign-on-Kokaews-be-30132376.html

[DP25]

This article is one laugh after the other

[webfact]

one post deleted

Politicians, former politicians, convicted politicians and public figures we dislike have proper names.

Please use them if you want your post to live.

//Admin

[Robby nz]

Mrs said last night Jutaporn was on Tele offering to send 10 people to replace Korkaew but seems he didnt offer to go himself.

Still his time will come.

I see he now has a prison haircut so that time may not be far off.

[ThaksinKharma]

Pheu Thai unfazed by public opinion on by-election

The opposition Pheu Thai Party has shrugged off the recent poll, which indicated higher popularity of the Democrat Party’s candidate during the advance voting of the Bangkok by-election last weekend.

51.05% of the respondents backed Mr Panich Vikitsreth of the Democrat Party while 34.30% supported Mr Korkaew Pikulthong of the Pheu Thai Party.

The other five candidates received less than 1% altogether.

The survey was conducted among eligible voters in Bangkok's Constituency 6 before and after the advance voting on 17-18 July. The official ballot casting will take place on 25 July.

NNT - July 20, 2010

http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255307200042

Pheu Thai Claims Sure By-election Win

The opposition Pheu Thai Party is confident its detained candidate will win the Sunday by-election. If elected, he will be the first to become an MP while being in prison.

Red-shirt core leader Jatuporn Prompan, a Pheu Thai party-list MP, said his party's executives and red-shirt supporters share the same opinion that the group's candidate for Bangkok's by-election in Constituency 6, Korkaew Pikultong, has been treated unfairly.

A request for him to be released on bail during the campaign was turned down repeatedly by the court. They also believe his terrorism charges are politically motivated.

Jatuporn, however, believes Korkaew will make history by becoming the first to win a House election while being imprisoned.

If Korkaew wins, the Pheu Thai Party will assign its veteran MP Colonel Abhiwan Viriyachai, who is a deputy House speaker, to handle the process of getting him released from jail to serve his duty in Parliament. On August 1, a new legislative session is scheduled to open.

Pheu Thai will hold a major campaign rally at Suan Siam theme park this evening.

Many senior party members, including outspoken MP Chalerm Yoobamrung, are set to take to the stage to deliver their campaign speeches in favor of Korkaew.

Meanwhile, key Democrat members, such as chief adviser Chuan Leekpai, advisory board member Banyat Bantadtan and Deputy Prime Minister Trairong Suwakhiri, will visit four main areas in Constituency 6 to woo votes for party candidate Panich Wikijset.

TAN - July 23, 2010

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1032599

[otherstuff1957]

51.05% of the respondents backed Mr Panich Vikitsreth of the Democrat Party while 34.30% supported Mr Korkaew Pikulthong of the Pheu Thai Party.

The other five candidates received less than 1% altogether.

I sure hope that they can do a better job of counting to 100 when the actual votes are cast.

[Bagwan]

Why should he be granted immunity? He transgressed, assuming that he is found guilty, before being elected. Is immunity granted retrospectively? So you can murder all your political opponents, get yourself elected and you are home free?  Total lunacy!