Thai Democrat Canvasser Shot Dead In Yala

[webfact]

Canvasser killed in restive Thai south: police

YALA, June 21, 2011 (AFP) - An election canvasser was shot dead in Thailand's Muslim-majority deep south on Monday, just hours before the prime minister was due to campaign in the troubled region, police said.

The man, who was off duty at the time, is the second canvasser to be killed this month, although the authorities said it was unclear whether the latest attack was linked to Thailand's July 3 vote.

The 55-year-old Buddhist, who was a local sub-district leader, was killed by unknown assailants in a pick-up truck while riding his motorbike home with his wife from a wedding in Muang District in Yala Province, police said.

Militants in the area often target people on motorbikes.

The victim was a canvasser for the ruling Democrat Party led by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who was scheduled to arrive in the area late Monday for a tour of three southernmost provinces that have been under a state of emergency since 2005.

More than 4,500 people, both Muslims and Buddhists, have died in almost daily attacks since insurgents launched an uprising in Thailand's deep south near the Malaysian border in early 2004.

Critics accuse the government of failing to address the grievances of Thailand's Malay Muslim minority, including alleged abuses by the military and a perceived lack of respect for their ethnic identity, language and religion.

Police have said they will deploy 100,000 officers across the country to guard polling stations for the election. Many candidates have requested protection.

An opposition politician was shot and wounded in May in what the authorities said appeared to be a politically motivated attack.

Last week a canvasser for the Bhumjaithai Party, a key coalition partner of Abhisit's Democrats, was shot dead on Bangkok's Khao San Road, an area popular with foreign backpackers.

The election will be the first since Thailand was rocked by its deadliest political unrest in decades last year, when more than 90 people died in street clashes between armed police and opposition protesters.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-06-21

[webfact]

Democrat canvasser shot dead in Yala; wife also badly injured

By The Nation

Police say attack might be political, though insurgents' role not ruled out

A Democrat Party canvasser in Yala was shot to death yesterday and his wife injured in a gunfire attack, though police have yet to say if it was politically motivated or carried out randomly by insurgents.

Sophon Songkaew, also a kamnan in the predominantly Muslim Muang district, was shot in the head and torso by a lone gunman, who then took two shots at Sophon's wife Wimol before making off with the victim's gun.

Police said that since the victim played a key part in campaigns ahead of the July 3 elections, it was likely the murder stemmed from politics, though they did not rule out insurgents, who have been targeting officials over the past few weeks.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission is looking into an incident during which red shirts harassed Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva at a recent campaign in Samut Prakan, and are trying to determine if it was in violation of electoral regulations.

Samut Prakan governor Cherdsak Choosri said the province was a stronghold of red shirts and that they had the right to express themselves, though they should do it "in a democratic manner". He said he was confident he would not be transferred because of the incident.

In Bangkok's Don Muang district, Democrat Party candidate Thaenkhun Jit-issara lodged a complaint with the local EC office and supplied video evidence of three men burning down his election signboard.

In Sukhothai, a Bhum Jai Thai candidate intercepted a pickup truck that was trailing his motorcade and managed to capture one of the occupants, who was identified as Chanakarn Khwanrungroj. Firearms and munitions were also found in the vehicle.

After Bhum Jai Thai candidate Manoo Phukprasert filed a complaint saying he feared for his life, police went on the hunt for the two men who fled after the pickup truck was stopped.

Police later apprehended one of the occupants, former Army sergeant Aphichart Sripan, who said he had been working as a driver for an unnamed candidate who was campaigning against Manoo. Neither person faces charges.

In another case, investigators said they have found more evidence related to the shooting of Bhum Jai Thai candidate Suban Jiraphanwanich in Bangkok.

Chana Songkhram police said an eyewitness had provided them with critical evidence.

A company of officers has been stationed in Lop Buri to provide protection for candidates and support local investigators in solving Suban's murder.

-- The Nation 2011-06-21

[ToffeEFCpower]

Another guaranteed seat to the UDD

[bf2002]

The Democrats must be desperate to send their own into that region to gain votes.

It shows just how much they really care for their supporters....what type of person sends a canvasser into Thailand's own version of "little Iraq"?

Another guaranteed seat to the UDD

[geriatrickid]

The Democrats must be desperate to send their own into that region to gain votes.

It shows just how much they really care for their supporters....what type of person sends a canvasser into Thailand's own version of "little Iraq"?

Another guaranteed seat to the UDD

It's called democracy. If they pull out it is the same as surrender. Should violence triumph over the ballot box?

[animatic]

The Democrats must be desperate to send their own into that region to gain votes.

It shows just how much they really care for their supporters....what type of person sends a canvasser into Thailand's own version of "little Iraq"?

Another guaranteed seat to the UDD

It's called democracy. If they pull out it is the same as surrender. Should violence triumph over the ballot box?

On this we agree.

No they should not surrender to intimidation and violence intended to prevent legitimate democratic competition at the ballot box..

Edited June 22, 2011 by animatic

[tartempion]

More than 4,500 people, both Muslims and Buddhists, have died in almost daily attacks since insurgents launched an uprising in Thailand's deep south near the Malaysian border in early 2004.

Something is wrong deep South

I wonder if 4500+ people were killed in Europe or North America what governments there would do about someting sounding a civil war.

ETA, IRA like?

[whybother]

More than 4,500 people, both Muslims and Buddhists, have died in almost daily attacks since insurgents launched an uprising in Thailand's deep south near the Malaysian border in early 2004.

Something is wrong deep South

I wonder if 4500+ people were killed in Europe or North America what governments there would do about someting sounding a civil war.

ETA, IRA like?

What about the middle east or Africa?

Edited June 22, 2011 by whybother

[Pi Sek]

The Democrats must be desperate to send their own into that region to gain votes.

It shows just how much they really care for their supporters....what type of person sends a canvasser into Thailand's own version of "little Iraq"?

It's called democracy. If they pull out it is the same as surrender. Should violence triumph over the ballot box?

Totally agree with you. What's more, there are lots of parties - all of them I think - with canvassers that work in, or have scheduled a visit to, the Deep South, as would be the case in any election in any democratic country.

I haven't felt the need to post this for some time - a good 4 or 5 months - but I don't think many people on here have any idea what is going on in the Deep South's 3 problem provinces. I know the area very well indeed and have no issue walking around the various towns, talking in Yawi, buying fruit at the markets - it is a nice place with nice people. I haven't been intimidated, threatened, shot at... in fact I have had hundreds of conversations with Buddhists and Muslims about the similarities between all religions and what each individual can do to promote a better sense of humanity, and none of them have involved raised voices - usually just smiles and understanding.

What's more, an average of 1.75 fatalities a day from insurgency three provinces broad is considerable, but let's put that into context. South central LA. The Brazilian favelas. Parts of south east London. The bank of the Seine on a Friday night. These are all places that all see much higher body counts than the Deep South, in much smaller areas. I'm not trying to say that the situation in the Deep South is acceptable - I'm just trying to say that, apart from the army checkpoints on the roads, many people don't see any sign of an insurgency, other than the local gossip value.

I would like to hear on exactly what basis bf2002 has made his assumption - how well do you know the Deep South, or even Iraq for that matter?