Thailand Live Sunday 3 Jul 2011

[webfact]

Army chief Prayuth has voted, and duly declined press questions. /via@tulsathit

[webfact]

Prayuth did make a little comment after all. "I'm here as a Thai, not soldier." /via@tulsathit

[webfact]

Free ride for MRT on #thaielection day from 6am-4pm: http://yfrog.com/h349linaj /via@yokekung /via@tukky_nt

[webfact]

Key players in Thailand's election - Facts

BANGKOK, July 3, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand votes Sunday in an election seen as crucial to the future of the troubled kingdom. These are the main players behind the vote:

The Democrat Party:

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's ruling Democrat Party, founded in 1946, is a conservative, pro-monarchy and establishment force, backed by the military and most of the Bangkok-based elite.

The Democrats, who have not won a general election since 1992, took power via a parliamentary vote in 2008 after court decisions threw out governments allied to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup.

The Democrats' main power bases have traditionally been the capital and southern provinces, while northern rural areas are strongholds for the opposition.

Puea Thai Party:

The main opposition party, whose name means "For Thais", is the third incarnation of the party founded by the fugitive Thaksin.

The favourite to win the vote, its main contender for prime minister is Thaksin's sister, political novice Yingluck Shinawatra.

Thaksin has dubbed Yingluck, 44, his "clone" and she is seen as his political proxy, echoing much of his earlier populist platform and raising the possibility of an amnesty for politicians including her brother.

Thaksin Shinawatra:

The toppled prime minister remains the most dominant figure in Thailand's political landscape five years after his ouster, despite living in self-imposed exile in Dubai to avoid a 2008 jail term for corruption.

Still pulling the strings of the Puea Thai Party and a hero to masses of mainly working-class "Red Shirts" for his vote-winning policies such as cheap healthcare and microcredit schemes, he is also wanted on terrorism charges for inciting unrest during their protests last year.

Though idolised by many, especially in the rural north, the man who made his millions in telecoms is hated by the ruling elite, who see him as corrupt and a threat to the revered monarchy. He is also accused of human rights abuses.

The Army:

Having staged 18 actual or attempted coups since the country became a constitutional monarchy 79 years ago -- most recently to oust Thaksin -- the army is no stranger to meddling in politics.

Its powerful chief, General Prayut Chan-O-Cha, launched a thinly veiled attack on Yingluck last month, calling on the public to vote for "good people", in an apparent reflection of the army's nervousness over her popularity.

The military sees itself as the guardian of the monarchy and often cites perceived threats to the beloved royal institution to justify its actions.

The potential kingmakers:

If neither of the main parties wins an outright majority in Sunday's election, potential coalition partners would be thrust into the role of kingmakers in the formation of a government.

The party likely to come third is the two-year-old Bhum Jai Thai ("Thai Pride") spearheaded by banned politician Newin Chidchob, a friend-turned-foe of Thaksin's who plans to remain allied with the Democrats.

Other small parties such as Chart Thai Pattana seem more willing to align themselves with Puea Thai.

The King:

Although he has no official political role, King Bhumibol Adulyadej is seen as a stabilising force in the troubled country.

The 83-year-old king, the world's longest-reigning monarch and revered as a demi-god by many Thais, has been in hospital since September 2009.

The royals are a taboo subject and rights groups have been alarmed by the increased use of lese majeste rules to suppress freedom of expression, including several high-profile arrests.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-07-03

[webfact]

From the US ambassdor to Thailand... RT @KristieKenney: Voting is a great equalizer. Rich or poor, old or young, each vote matters equally.

[george]

Watch our Live coverage of the Thai Election 2011

Live TV stream, updates and results:

Here: http://www.thaivisa.com/content/thailand-election-2011

[webfact]

Abhisit Vejjajiva is now casting his ballots at Sawasdee Wittaya School polling station in Bangkok. #thaielection11 /@ThaiElection11

[webfact]

Abhisit votes at Sawasdee School in Vatana

Prime Minister and Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva arrived at Sawasdee Wittaya School polling station at 10:09 am in Bangkok to cast his ballots.

The prime minister voted at 10:11 am.

An army of reporters waited to interview him there.

Abhisit urged voters to come out to exercise their rights.

Abhisit arrived with his wife and daughter who also voted at the polling station No 4.

-- The Nation 2011-07-03

[webfact]

Yingluck votes in Beung Kum

Pheu Thai's party-list MP candidate Yingluck Shinawatra cast ballots at Klong Lamjiak School polling station in Bangkok's Beung Kum Sunday morning.

She arrived at the polling station shortly after voting began at 8 am.

An army of reporters waited to cover her voting there.

-- The Nation 2011-07-03

[webfact]

Abhisit is returning to his home. He will go to Democrat Party headquarters after ballot boxes close. /via@nationnews

[webfact]

Army chief votes in Phyathai

Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha cast his vote at polling station No 12 on Soi Praditphat 5 in Phyathai district at 9:30 am.

Prayuth was ranked 213 in the voter list of the poling station.

He was smiling when he urged voters to come out to vote in full force to protect democracy.

-- The Nation 2011-07-03

[webfact]

[Photo] Chuwit Kamolvisithcasts his vote at polling station No 150 in Din Daeng. via @nationphoto: http://on.fb.me/jR4P0N /via@nationnews

[webfact]

Raksanti leader Purachai Piumsombun cast his vote with his wife at polling station No 33 in Chatuchak. /via@nationnews

[webfact]

Bangkok's MRT is free today from until 4 pm to encourage people to go to vote. /via@nationnews

[webfact]

EC chairman: unofficial election result at each polling station expected within 2 hours of poll closing at 3pm /MCOT

[webfact]

Speculation that Abhisit went to vote later than expected was because he wanted to arrive exactly at 10:10 a.m. /via@RichardBarrow

[webfact]

When going to poll, don't forget to buy popcorn and beverage for the afternoon/evening entertainment (vote count). /via@tulsathit

[webfact]

Purachai votes in Chatuchak

Raksanti Party leader Purachai Piumsombun cast his vote with his wife at polling station No 33 in Chatuchak district.

After casting his vote, Purachai declined to give an interview. He said he would speak to reporters at his party office in the evening.

-- The Nation 2011-07-03

[webfact]

RT @tukky_nt: EC chairman: unofficial poll results expected by 6pm #ch3 #thaielection11

Shinawatra siblings cast their votes; no sign of Pojaman /TANN

[webfact]

Chamlong cannot vote

Chamlong Srimuang, a co-leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, could not vote in the Sunday general election.

In the last election four years ago, Chamlong registered to cast an absentee vote in Kanchanaburi and failed to inform the Election Commission in advance that he wanted to vote in his home constituency this time.

Chamlong said he was not sure which agency he should blame between the EC or his district office.

He said he was busy demonstrating so he failed to change his type of vote.

He simply wanted the EC to record that he turned up to vote at his polling station in Bangkok's Constituency 5 already.

-- The Nation 2011-07-03

[webfact]

Heavy rains in Songklha slowed down voters in the southern province in the morning. /via@nationnews

My condo security guard won't vote because he'd have to go to his province but has to work. Wonder how many are in this situation /via@aleursic

[webfact]

Oat Panthongtae Shinawatra dropped his ID card in ballot together with his ballots. Not allowed to open box. /TAN_Network

What can you do when you accidentally drop your ID card in ballot box? Nothing. Embarrassing moment for Thaksin's family /via@RichardBarrow:

[webfact]

CORRECTION: RT Oak Panthongtae Shinawatra dropped his ID card in ballot together with his ballots. Not allowed to open box.

[webfact]

DR Surin Pitsuwan: @ASEANSG: With my 85 ys old Mom http://yfrog.com/gzhxlgnj /via@ThaiElection11

[webfact]

AFP: Tourists warned to be vigilant as Thailand votes

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Pheu Thai candidate Natthawut Saikua and wife cast their vote at Polling Station 3 in Nontahburi at 11:10 am. /via@nationnews:

[webfact]

Troops of media are here at Democrat headquarters although no key member has arrived. #ThaiElection11 http://lockerz.com/s/116510844 /via@Aim_NT

[webfact]

Yingluck monitoring vote results

BANGKOK, 3 July 2011 (NNT) – Pheu Thai prime minister candidate Yingluck Shinawatra has travelled to the Pheu Thai Party headquarters to monitor the ballot counting and will give a press briefing again when she is certain with the election result.

After casting her vote, Ms Yingluck travelled to the Pheu Thai Party head office, worshipped holy beings and inspected readiness of the centre at her party to monitor the ballot counting results. Many party core members also travelled to the party head office.

The Pheu Thai prime minister candidate told the press that she would wait to see the election result first prior to giving an official press conference as she wanted to make sure that the election result would be most accurate.

Asked about her contact with potential coalition parties, Ms Yingluck responded that she would let everything go according to its processes and wait to see the election first. She hoped that the election would go on smoothly, and her party had not yet received any electoral complaints.

-- NNT 2011-07-03

[webfact]

Defence minister urges people to cast votes

BANGKOK, 3 July 2011 (NNT) – Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan has encouraged voters to come out and cast their votes today as a good omen for the national politics.

General Prawit travelled to cast his vote in the polling station at Suan Wang Thong 2 in Soi Lat Phrao 71 at 8.10 hrs. Speaking after casting his vote, he admitted that a number of people came to exercise their political rights and he deemed it a good omen for national politics.

The minister also brush aside another wave of rumoured coup d’état and asked everyone not to link such a rumour with the now running election. He added that if everyone came out and cast their votes, the national political situation would become a lot clearer.

General Prawit hence encouraged people to come out to vote for their preferred MP candidates and parties to represent themselves in Parliament and solve problems of the nation.

-- NNT 2011-07-03

[webfact]

Natthawut votes in Nonthaburi

Natthawut Saikua, a red-shirt leader and Pheu Thai party-list candidate, cast his vote at Polling Station No 3 in Nonthaburi's Constituency 2 at 11:10 am.

He exercised his voting right along with his wife.

-- The Nation 2011-07-03