Thai Parties Go Nuts About Numbers

[webfact]

JULY 3 GENERAL ELECTION

Parties go nuts about numbers

By The Nation

Political parties and their cheerleaders yesterday tried hard to put a positive spin on the numbers they received in the lucky draw for their ballot paper numbers.

All parties wanted to get a single-digit number as they are easy for voters to recognise and remember. But a lot of major parties got double digits and tried to find the words to make the results sound better.

The Pheu Thai Party won a psychological victory as it drew number one and will be in the top spot on the ballot paper. Yingluck Shinawatra, Pheu Thai's top party list candidate, said she was glad to get the number as it reflected victory.

Deputy leader Plodprasop Suraswadi said his party got number one because of the power of meditation by leader Yongyut Wichaidit the night before application day.

The ruling Democrat Party got number 10. The Democrats' chief advisor Chuan Leekpai said Pheu Thai was lucky to get number one as it was easy for voters to remember. "But it does not reveal the size of vote you will get, the size might be as small as the number," he said.

Democrat Sirichok Sopha compared the number 10 with football strikers. Many soccer superstars such as English footballer Wayne Rooney wore the number 10. "The number one is the goalkeeper who gets [hit by] salvoes all the time," he said.

The Chart Thai Pattana Party needed a long explanation to make number 21 sound good. The party's chief advisor Banharn Silapa-archa said the number 21 was a lucky number for the party. According to a Chinese philosophical text the number one means 'Yin' while two means 'Yang'. "When Yin and Yang come together it is very powerful," he said.

Furthermore, Banharn himself was the 21st prime minister of Thailand. "It might be difficult to communicate with voters but the number 21 is good for us," he said.

The Bhum Jai Thai Party's explanation for number 16 was linked with the day of the lottery. Thailand holds lottery draws every first and 16th day of the month.

"For people at the grassroots, 16 is a lucky number since it is the day they have the chance to win the lottery," said party spokesman Supachai Jaisamut. "If you vote for number 16, you don't need to wait for the lottery result on the day of the 16th anymore."

"Besides, one plus six equals seven and seven is a good number," he said.

Chuwit Kamolvisit, leader of the Love Thailand Party, said he was desperate to get number five. "Number five is in the middle of one and 10. "Look at the north and we see the number one, look at the south and we see number 10, so the middle path is five," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-05-20

[webfact]

She's 1, He's 10

By The Nation

Red-shirt leaders - and their wives - beat incumbent MPs to top spots in Pheu Thai party list Exactly one year after their surrender to the authorities following 10 weeks of street protests aimed at bringing down the government, the leaders of the red shirts triumphantly managed to secure their places on the candidate list of the Pheu Thai Party.

The opposition camp, having cemented its ties with the red shirts, its main support base, was given a psychological boost when it drew No 1 as its election number. Its rivals, the Democrats, drew No 10.

At least 25 red-shirt leaders or their close associates - including the wives of four leaders - are among the Pheu Thai Party's 125 candidates contesting the July 3 general elections in the party-list system. That's 20 per cent.

These include key leaders of last year's street rally, Jatuporn Prompan and Natthawut Saikua, who have the 8th and 9th spots respectively on the party list. Weng Tojirakarn, another key red-shirt leader, is in 19th place on the list, which was submitted to the Election Commission on the first day of candidacy registration yesterday.

Rapipan Pongruangrong, the wife of fugitive red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong, is placed 27th on the list, which is still higher than many senior politicians and key financiers of the party. Yaowanit Piengket, the wife of red-shirt leader Adisorn Piengket, is in 47th place. Adisorn recently gave himself in to police after months of living in hiding.

Most other red-shirt leaders are in the first 50 places, which should be considered a "safe zone" as Pheu Thai is expected to win almost half of the 125 party list MP seats at stake.

In the previous general election in December 2007, Pheu Thai's former incarnation, the People Power Party, won 34 of the 80 seats in the proportional representation system. The Democrat Party came second, winning 33 seats.

Red-shirt leaders Vipoothalaeng Pattanaphumthai (46th) and Payap Panket (48th), who also led last year's anti-government rally, were among the first 50 party-list candidates. Khattiya Sawasdiphol (42nd), the daughter of Maj-General Khattiya "Seh Daeng" Sawasdiphol, was in a higher position than those two red-shirt leaders although she was not among the protest leaders. Her father, considered the red shirts' chief military strategist, was shot dead in a sniper attack a few days before the protest leaders surrendered.

Other red-shirt leaders and their nominees are placed below 50th place - such as Korkaew Pikulthong (54th); Vichien Khaokham (60th); Udorat Apornrat (66th), who is the wife of Waipoj Apornrat; Chinnawat Haboonpad (72nd); and Chaweewan Klangsang (79th), the wife of Suthin Klangsang.

Many of the red-shirt leaders contesting the election are charged with terrorism in connection with last May's unrest and riots that left 92 people dead and some 2,000 others injured. There has been concern that the criminal case against them may affect their MP status if elected. However, there is also a perception that their election as MPs will give them immunity from legal action during the parliamentary session.

Yingluck Shinawatra, who is at the top of Pheu Thai's party list, yesterday defended the decision to place red-shirt leaders high on the candidate list - in a safe zone and in places higher than those of many incumbent MPs.

She said that the party had considered many factors and that the decision had resulted from the party's decision-making mechanism. She added that it was approved by the party's executive board.

"You should see the matter in the big picture and not just part of it. The party does not allot quotas to any particular group of people," said the Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidate, who is the youngest sister of self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Red-shirt leader Thida Tojirakarn said the Pheu Thai Party was now a mass political party as red leaders were able to fill its party list.

"The masses have now begun to control the party," she said.

Natthawut, a candidate on Pheu Thai's party list, said yesterday that he and other red-shirt leaders had served the party with hard work so they deserved to fill top slots in the party list. The red shirts did not demand their rewards but Pheu Thai deemed it appropriate to endorse their candidacy, he added.

Yingluck, who turns 44 next month, said the fact that Pheu Thai got No 1 in yesterday's draw was a good omen for the party.

She also pledged to address the plight of the people before the amnesty issue involving Thaksin, who has escaped a jail sentence overseas. "If Pheu Thai wins, we will first tackle problems related to the people's livelihood," she said, denying that the amnesty issue was her priority.

Yingluck, a first-time election candidate, said people would have the final say as to which political party would win the election and lead the next government and whether an amnesty should be granted. She said a panel might be formed to consider an amnesty in connection with events dating back to the coup of September 2006, and she stressed that the amnesty, if granted, would not be applicable to Thaksin alone.

She said that she was ready to serve as prime minister if the people gave her the mandate.

Weng, one of the red-shirt leaders released on bail, said yesterday that he decided to change his mind and became a Pheu Thai election candidate because his new mission would be to make structural changes towards democracy.

"My mission now is to change the country into a democracy. It can be done through structural changes in the parliamentary system, such as constitutional amendments and law changes," said Weng, who earlier said he would not contest the election after being granted bail. "I have no desire for honour [in politics]," he added.

-- The Nation 2011-05-20

[timekeeper]

its a good number for Yingluck

she will find it easy to remember and will remind her of her fathers sole purpose in all this

think only of number one...........

[WinnieTheKhwai]

That's remarkable.. Out of 20+ numbers to get number 1. What are the odds.. (Don't tell me, I KNOW what the odds are). If this is what it takes for some parties to recognize what they're up against this time around then better late than never..

[timekeeper]

its a good number for Yingluck

she will find it easy to remember and will remind her of her fathers sole purpose in all this

think only of number one...........

sorry i meant brother.......

[RogueExpat]

Deputy leader Plodprasop Suraswadi said his party got number one because of the power of meditation by leader Yongyut Wichaidit the night before application day.

Statement alone should be good for 10 seats.

[animatic]

There is no real point in attempting to assign 'better luck' to a draw from a hat.

Numerologist aside it is just 'a number'

[whistleblower]

'All parties wanted to get a single-digit number as they are easy for voters to recognise and remember.'

If the majority of Thai people cant remember or recognise double digit numbers, you know the country is f***ed.

"Deputy leader Plodprasop Suraswadi said his party got number one because of the power of meditation by leader Yongyut Wichaidit the night before application day."

"Democrat Sirichok Sopha compared the number 10 with football strikers. Many soccer superstars such as English footballer Wayne Rooney wore the number 10. "The number one is the goalkeeper who gets [hit by] salvoes all the time," he said."

And from these statements you know who is making sure it stays f***ed!!!

[hoaker]

I hope these candidates put this much effort in explaining a number to running a nation towards the upside benefits for the public.

[featography]

That's remarkable.. Out of 20+ numbers to get number 1. What are the odds.. (Don't tell me, I KNOW what the odds are). If this is what it takes for some parties to recognize what they're up against this time around then better late than never..

Thai way; create your own luck around whatever number you get dealt

too bad the numbers didnt go as high as 70. I would be glued to the tv waiting for the explanation for getting that ever so popular double digit number.:jerk:

[mrgreg]

"easy for voters to recognise and remember".

What's the point in remembering the party number anyway?

Don't tell me the voters are asked to put a number in the envelope? If so I understand that could lead to a major confusion...

[jimbeam1]

There will be many lottery tickets bought on the strength of these numbers?

You are No6. I am not a number. I am a free man??

jb1

[IanPrince99]

“Nobody remembers who finished second but the guy who finished second.” Bobby Unser

[whybother]

"Nobody remembers who finished second but the guy who finished second." Bobby Unser

That is probably different for political parties where the party that finishes second are still able to form government, because the party that finishes first doesn't have enough support.

[rubl]

Yingluck Shinawatra, who is at the top of Pheu Thai's party list, yesterday defended the decision to place red-shirt leaders high on the candidate list - in a safe zone and in places higher than those of many incumbent MPs.

She said that the party had considered many factors and that the decision had resulted from the party's decision-making mechanism. She added that it was approved by the party's executive board.

It warms the cockles on my heart to read that explaining a ballot number is much more important than providing a wee bit more details on 'many factors' and 'party's decision-making mechanism' apart from being 'approved by the executive board', so why you ask? Who needs a democracy and democratic procedures anyway

[samurai]

She's 1, He's 10

By The Nation

Like the photo, good shot, in the right moment.

[samurai]

Yingluck Shinawatra, who is at the top of Pheu Thai's party list, yesterday defended the decision to place red-shirt leaders high on the candidate list - in a safe zone and in places higher than those of many incumbent MPs.

She said that the party had considered many factors and that the decision had resulted from the party's decision-making mechanism. She added that it was approved by the party's executive board.

It warms the cockles on my heart to read that explaining a ballot number is much more important than providing a wee bit more details on 'many factors' and 'party's decision-making mechanism' apart from being 'approved by the executive board', so why you ask? Who needs a democracy and democratic procedures anyway

Blame the lazy journalists and the media for providing us only with tiny bits.

[FOODLOVER]

I'm glad that's settled

[animatic]

So she is cute.

Is she a 1 or a 10?

See depending on context it means the inverse.