Political Violence Continues: Thailand Election

[webfact]

Political violence continues

By The Nation

Political violence has continued during the runup to the July 3 poll, with a canvasser under gunfire attack in Lampang, and a fake bomb planted in Ayutthaya.

There was one canvasser working for Chat Thai Pattana Party shot dead in Chiang Rai, however likely out of personal conflicts with his local rivals, local police said.

In Lampang, assailants opened fire on a restaurant owned by Phansak Khamkaew, former mayor of Khelang Nakhon municipality in Muang district late Friday night, causing damage to the building but no casualties. The the case was just known when a complaint was lodged with police yesterday.

Phansak cited conflicts he had with local politicians as the possible reason, and police said the conflicts should stem from his and fellow Phue Thai councillors' veto of a Bt65 construction project against decision by the municipality management.

In Ayutthaya, a fake bomb was abandoned 300 metres away from the local Phue Thai Party office. Police received a call from a scavenger reporting his find at 3.30 pm three large plastic pipes tied together with a circuit of an alram clock set to ring at 6 pm.

At a rice market in Mae Chan district in Chiang Rai, Nimit Kaewkamphol, a canvasser of CTP Party executive Pradit Pattaraprasit, was gunned down during a heated argument with Pramote Khongthong, who allegedly shot him dead before a large crowd or rice farmers.

Quoting witnesses, police said both Pramote and Nimit, head of Phai Khwang Tambon Administraive Organisation (TAO), had long been enemies over their purchases of rice from farmers. Pramote has reportedly contacted police for possible surrender in the near future.

In Bangkok's Bueng Kum district, police ruled that the gunfire attack last week on the home of Jaroen Jehsaman, a canvasser of Democrat Party, had stemmed from his personal conflicts, not his political role. Police repeated a theory that he had angered legal wives whose husbands were stolen by women who cast love mantras on the men.

From five election candidates who have requested initally for police protection during the runup , the number has risen to 49 last week and 123 as of yesterday, while vandalisng of election banners and cardboards is increasing.

A total 232 policemen have been assigned to stay close to those candidates, whose names and locations are not provided by the police, during the rallies and at their homes.

A total of 84 people have been arrested for vandalising 269 election banners and cardboards of various parties, and will be charged for criminally causing property damage. Police call on the public to report such cases at 1599 around the clock.

Two men have turned themselves in to police, following a police annoucement calling on career gunmen on a blackllist to their surrender, or "face drastic measures."

The men are Thanakrit Wongthongdee, the 58th in the 75person raking, and Suwit Choosawas, the 73. Both them, who have previously had Bt50,000 each on their head, have been wanted for multiple murders, including killings of political canvassers two years ago.

Pol General Phongsaphat Phongjaroen, the director of the police's centre handling security during the political rally, commented that eggs were not regarded weapons if not hitting their intended targets, referring to an incident in which two eggs were thrown at Pheu Thai Party's Yingluck Shinawatra during her rally at Lumpini Park on Saturday.

-- The Nation 2011-05-30

[webfact]

Police to Step up Security Ahead of Poll

The police has promised to intensify security prior to the election to cope with possible politcally-motivated murders by hired gunmen.

The police have pledged to strengthen security in provinces with fierce poll competition, while vowing to prosecute police officers found to have been involved in campaigning.

National Police chief, Police General Wichien Potpohsri, stated a total of 123 MP candidates have seek additional protection so 232 police officers have been assigned for the task.

He went on to say he told officers to remain neutral and vowed to take legal action against officers who are found to have helped MP candidates canvass for votes.

Following an egg-throwing attack at the Pheu Thai campaign stage at Lumpini Park over the weekend, the police chief said security officers will be stricter in checking people attending campaigning events to look for weapons.

As for constituencies with fierce competition, police officers have been ordered to increase their patrols.

The police chief is also looking into campaign poster vandalism as there have been 84 cases reported, with more than 260 posters destroyed.

Concerning the attempted murder of Pheu Thai MP candidate in Samut Prakarn Province, Pracha Prasopdee, Wichien said the arrest of two suspects found no links to the case.

An investigation will be carried out to see if the two are wanted for any other crimes.

In the meantime, two suspects in a 2009 murder case in Suphan Buri Province have turned themselves in to police after the police issued a list of 75 wanted hitmen, which included their names.

The two said they felt pressured to turn themselves in on fears of being extrajudicially killed by the police.

Members of the public are urged to inform police about any possible clues about the wanted hitmen via the 1599 hotline.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-30

[ianbaggie]

Guys, Guys, we dont need rotten eggs at Pheu thai HeadQuarters and during rallies - theres enough there to start with!!!!!!!

[hanuman1]

Looks like so far there's been more anti-PTP violence than anti-Dem.

Not to worry though, there's still a long way to go and plenty of time for the PTP 'terrorist supporters' to catch up.

Is anyone keeping score? I guess no-one with an axe to grind...

Edited May 30, 2011 by hanuman1

[mccw]

Seems mostly the ptp and their former allies turned traitors to the dear leader are fighting it out like uncivilised mafia types they are. That or amongst themselves to see who gets the top local spot and the spoils that come from such a position.

[webfact]

Political Campaigns Turn Aggressive in Provinces

As the July election draws closer, campaigns for votes have become notably fierce.

Campaign posters have been reported torched by unknown vandals in various provinces.

Political temperature soars in Constituency 3 of Maha Sarakham Province.

These “hot zones” include Payak Bhumpisai, Yang Si Surat, Na Dune and Na Chuakdistricts.

Several campaign signs belonging to The Pheu Thai Party have been destroyed.

Pheu Thai Constituency 3 candidate Yutthapong Jarassatien said his campaign signs were torched, while some were viciously torn down.

He called on the central Election Commission to launch an investigation into the cases.

In Nakhon Phanom Province, over 100 campaign signs advertising the policies of the Democrat Party have been vandalized.

Some were posted on main roads and easily visible to passers-by.

Locals said the vandalism of the Democrats' campaign posters is nothing new.

No Democrat candidates have ever won an election in Nakhon Phanom in the past 20 years.

The political mercury is also rising in Si Sa Ket Province. Chat Pattana Puea Pandin Constituency 6 candidate Dr. Thongdee Chaipoh also saw his campaign signs vandalized.

Most of the signs were placed next to those of a Pheu Thai candidate whose signs remain untouched. Thongdee expressed his dismay over the vicious vandalism.

Meanwhile, Si Sa Ket Constituency 2 candidate of the Matubhum Party, Pittaya Boonchaliew, denied he attempted to buy votes or violated any electoral law.

Earlier, 45 year-old Krissanai Naiyanit and 34 year old Jakri Gaewchiangthong turned over evidence they claimed implicated Pittaya for vote-buying.

The Matubhum Party is led by former army chief General Sonthi Bunyaratkalin, who led a coup that ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-30

[samurai]

Looks like so far there's been more anti-PTP violence than anti-Dem.

Not to worry though, there's still a long way to go and plenty of time for the PTP 'terrorist supporters' to catch up.

Is anyone keeping score? I guess no-one with an axe to grind...

Abhisit gets mixed welcome in Bang Kapi

By The Nation

A man calls Abhisit "a killer"

At about 7.30, he went to Sri Boonruang pier. However, while he was talking to people waiting to take the boat, a male resident from an apartment across the canal was heard shouting "killer" while a woman turned away from him, saying "I had better go, I don't want to see him."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/05/30/national/Abhisit-gets-mixed-welcome-in-Bang-Kapi-30156556.html

[jdinasia]

Looks like so far there's been more anti-PTP violence than anti-Dem.

Not to worry though, there's still a long way to go and plenty of time for the PTP 'terrorist supporters' to catch up.

Is anyone keeping score? I guess no-one with an axe to grind...

Actually it looks like more real violence aimed at CTP people, someone without an axe to grind might have noticed that Trying to influence which way CTP lands after the elections? or .....

[hanuman1]

Looks like so far there's been more anti-PTP violence than anti-Dem.

Not to worry though, there's still a long way to go and plenty of time for the PTP 'terrorist supporters' to catch up.

Is anyone keeping score? I guess no-one with an axe to grind...

Actually it looks like more real violence aimed at CTP people, someone without an axe to grind might have noticed that Trying to influence which way CTP lands after the elections? or .....

I was comparing the amount of violence between two groups - which I explicitly stated - and not three or more. Your suggestion that there was evidence of more violence against CTP may well be true but is utterly irrelevant to what I posted.

Keep grinding....

[rubl]

Being a candidate in the upcoming elections is like having a death wish it seems. Latest stats

BREAKINGNEWS

Over 1,000 policemen prepared to protect candidates

The Royal Thai Police has prepared over 1,000 policemen to provide protection to election candidates when asked for, a senior police officer said Monday.

Pol Lt Gen Worapong Chiewpreecha, an assistant police commissioner-general, said so far 123 election candidates have sought police's protection.

Most of the candidates are constituency-based candidates of the Pheu Thai and Democrat Party.

Worapong said each of 11 police provincial bureaus has trained 150 police officers to work as bodyguards for election candidates.

-- The Nation , 2011-05-30

[OZEMADE]

Well the only one I read from the Nation was the top one. The only Political thing I saw there was about some election signs getting damaged and torn down?

The heading was Political Violence Continues?

[jdinasia]

Looks like so far there's been more anti-PTP violence than anti-Dem.

Not to worry though, there's still a long way to go and plenty of time for the PTP 'terrorist supporters' to catch up.

Is anyone keeping score? I guess no-one with an axe to grind...

Actually it looks like more real violence aimed at CTP people, someone without an axe to grind might have noticed that Trying to influence which way CTP lands after the elections? or .....

I was comparing the amount of violence between two groups - which I explicitly stated - and not three or more. Your suggestion that there was evidence of more violence against CTP may well be true but is utterly irrelevant to what I posted.

Keep grinding....

Ummmm No. Well .. possibly yes, you may have been doing that but if so you are missing the plot as the articles clearly show that the deadly violence is not at this point in time aimed the direction you want people to look. That you are apparently only thinking that the overt action against one of those 2 groups would be a significant measure (of what, I have no idea) ... is missing all of the sub-text of politics here. As in most places, regionally the power families have things pretty tied up as to how the polls will play out in their area. So why the violence against the canvassers and in some instances the politicians? ....

You seem to suggest that political violence specifically targetting one of the 2 largest parties is more significant, or unrelated to, political violence targetting a party that may be in the position of 'kingmaker' (pardon the expression --- it has nothing to do with the monarchy, but who is in the position to make or break the upcoming coalition government.) ... if so ....then your thinking about multi-party politics in Thailand doesn't seem well considered. There is more to coalition politics than the big 2 --- In hitting smaller parties it could very directly relate to what happens to the big 2. This would suggest that those who have the most to lose (again the big 2 or their coalition partners) need to be looked at in relation to these events.

[hanuman1]

Looks like so far there's been more anti-PTP violence than anti-Dem.

Not to worry though, there's still a long way to go and plenty of time for the PTP 'terrorist supporters' to catch up.

Is anyone keeping score? I guess no-one with an axe to grind...

Actually it looks like more real violence aimed at CTP people, someone without an axe to grind might have noticed that Trying to influence which way CTP lands after the elections? or .....

I was comparing the amount of violence between two groups - which I explicitly stated - and not three or more. Your suggestion that there was evidence of more violence against CTP may well be true but is utterly irrelevant to what I posted.

Keep grinding....

Ummmm No. Well .. possibly yes, you may have been doing that but if so you are missing the plot as the articles clearly show that the deadly violence is not at this point in time aimed the direction you want people to look. That you are apparently only thinking that the overt action against one of those 2 groups would be a significant measure (of what, I have no idea) ... is missing all of the sub-text of politics here. As in most places, regionally the power families have things pretty tied up as to how the polls will play out in their area. So why the violence against the canvassers and in some instances the politicians? ....

You seem to suggest that political violence specifically targetting one of the 2 largest parties is more significant, or unrelated to, political violence targetting a party that may be in the position of 'kingmaker' (pardon the expression --- it has nothing to do with the monarchy, but who is in the position to make or break the upcoming coalition government.) ... if so ....then your thinking about multi-party politics in Thailand doesn't seem well considered. There is more to coalition politics than the big 2 --- In hitting smaller parties it could very directly relate to what happens to the big 2. This would suggest that those who have the most to lose (again the big 2 or their coalition partners) need to be looked at in relation to these events.

err...quite.

There is a problem with your interpretation of things I 'seem to suggest'.

I hereby explicitly and very apparently suggest that you're at your finest when sticking to the text of whatever posts/reports etc help build your arguments.

Cheers!