Police Alert: Poll Heats Up In Thailand

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Police alert: Poll heats up

By The Nation

Ranking of hot spots reassessed; PM revises North tour after Democrat candidate shoved by three men in Phitsanulok

The political violence during the runup to the July 3 election is threatening to escalate, given police's new designation of red zones on top of a similar list, and an incident in which a Democrat Party candidate was harassed during his rally in Phitsanulok last Friday.

In addition to "hot spots" in 15 provinces including Bangkok earlier designated by police to heighten security to curb against likely political violence, a new category "red zone" is assigned to Chiang Rai, Nakhon Sawan and Narathiwat, which is not on the hot spot list, to mark the highest potential of violence while all candidates are under police protection.

Police have also set up a new security alert based on "intensity and likelihood" of possible incidents in 37 constituencies, in the 17 provinces included on both the red zone and hot spot lists, out of a total of 375 across the country. The creteria used on this alert list are defections of candidates and canvassers among rival parties and arrivals of people living elsewhere.

Among the 37 constituencies, six are on normal alert, another 28 on extra alert and another six on intensive alert, said Prawuth, who did not say which provinces they were in. Reports of illegal activities or incidents leading to violence can be submitted at 1599 around the clock.

Following an incident in which Democrat candidate Warong Dejkijwikrom was shoved hard in the chest by three men during his vists on Saturday in Phitsanulok, caretake prime minister and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has called off a number of planned visits in Chiang Mai, according to party candidate Norraphol Tantimontree.

The new rallies have been scheduled in Mae Rim district after party officials reported a large number of red flags a clear sign of strong support for Pheu Thai Party by redshirt antiDemocrat locals in Muang district, along with widespead vandalism of Democrat election banners and cardboards.

Norraphol said party officials had lodged petitions with the provincial Election Commission office over many incidents allegedly involving rival parties against Democrat candidates and staff during the campaigns in Chiang Mai, popularly hailed among and dubbed by media as the reds' capital.

Abhisit had vowed to continue his tour in the North despite the incident with Warong, saying that he would make visits to planned locations across the country including many in the North awaiting only for dates and time to be confirmed.

The number of candidates seeking police protection is now 288 from 10 parties, mostly those campaigning in the North and the Northeast.

A police spokesman, Pol Maj General Prawuth Thawornsiri, yesterday also warned against bookmakers running an adhoc gambling scheme election and vote results, especially certain websites welcoming punting from online users.

Although there have not been any criminal cases of complaints about betting over vote sesults, but such an online betting is illegal and subjects violators to a maximum five year prison term and/or a fine of up to Bt200,000.

Prawuth also called on candidates to make sure that their election banners and cardboards did not obstruct traffice or sight when attached to trees or power poles, or on sidewalks, without saying whether it was in violation of orderlinessrelated regulations, while anyone removing such banners face punishment although banners affected their way of life or were attached in obstructive manner to the public or private properties.

-- The Nation 2011-06-06

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