Divided Thailand Votes In Crucial Election

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Divided Thailand votes in crucial election

by Daniel Rook

BANGKOK, July 3, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand voted Sunday in a hard-fought election pivotal to the future of the divided kingdom after years of political turmoil pitting the ruling elite against the disaffected rural poor.

The poll is the first major electoral test for the government since mass "Red Shirt" opposition protests paralysed Bangkok last year, triggering a military crackdown that left more than 90 people dead.

More than 170,000 police are being deployed to protect polling stations for the tense vote, which could herald a comeback for the Red Shirts' hero, the fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Countries including Australia, Britain and Japan warned their citizens to be on guard for possible violence.

Toppled in a 2006 military coup and now living in self-imposed exile in Dubai to avoid a jail term for corruption, former billionaire telecoms tycoon Thaksin has tapped his youngest sister to run in his place.

Yingluck Shinawatra, a telegenic businesswoman tipped by many to become Thailand's first ever female prime minister, is a 44-year-old political novice described by Thaksin as his "clone".

Polls have shown the mother-of-one enjoying a comfortable lead over the ruling Democrats, led by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who is fighting for his political life after less than three years in office.

Yingluck was one of the first to vote at a school in Bangkok where she smiled and showed her ID card to the television cameras before casting her ballot.

Abhisit later visited a polling station near his home with his wife and daughter, a first-time voter.

"I urge all eligible voters to come out and cast votes quickly because this election is very crucial for our country," he told reporters afterwards.

Abhisit has accused the opposition of trying to "whitewash" its fugitive leader's crimes, urging voters "to get rid of the poison of Thaksin."

The ex-leader remains a hugely divisive figure, adored by millions of rural voters but hated by the ruling elite who see him as corrupt, authoritarian and a threat to the revered monarchy.

The opposition Puea Thai party has proposed an amnesty for convicted politicians if it wins -- a move apparently aimed at bringing Thaksin home, where he faces terrorism charges in connection with last year's protests.

Many doubt the Bangkok-based elite in government, military and palace circles would allow the one-time owner of Manchester City football club to come back as a free man.

If Thaksin tries to return the army may "strike back", said Thai academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun, of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

"If he sets foot in Thailand the military could accuse him of coming back and trying to create disunity among Thais."

The military is a constant wildcard in a nation that has seen almost as many coups as elections, although experts say it will be harder for the generals to justify another intervention if Puea Thai scores a big victory.

The judiciary also has a record of banning political parties and their executives. Thaksin or his allies have won the most seats in the past four elections, but the courts reversed the results of the last two polls.

In contrast Abhisit's Democrat Party has not won a general election in nearly two decades.

The Democrats, the country's oldest party, have traditionally enjoyed solid support in Bangkok and the south, but polls suggest its popularity is fading even in such traditional strongholds.

"I voted for number one (Puea Thai) because I think their policies can solve Thailand's problems," 37-year-old Sainampueng, who did not want to give her full name, said after casting her ballot in the capital.

British-born Abhisit took office in a 2008 parliamentary vote after a court ruling threw out the previous administration, and he is accused by his foes of being an unelected puppet of the military and the establishment.

The vote is seen as a major test of the kingdom's ability to emerge from its long political crisis, which has seen years of street protests by Thaksin's "Red Shirt" supporters and the rival "Yellow Shirt" royalists.

Revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 83, is seen as a unifying figure in a country often riven by violence, but he has been in hospital since September 2009.

Political parties have taken to online social networking like never before to reach voters, but police have warned anybody caught campaigning on sites such as Facebook or Twitter on election day risks six months in prison.

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

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You decide

By The Nation on Sunday

EC worried about rains playing spoilsport; outcome of election will be known by 10pm tonight

Millions of Thai voters go to the polls today to decide which political parties and candidates deserve their trust to represent them and to run the country.

The Election Commission (EC) said yesterday that unofficial voting results were expected to be available no later than 10pm today, although there was concern that heavy rains today could affect voter turnout.

Election commissioner Prapun Naigowit yesterday said he was worried about the weather. It could be raining today so he asked eligible voters to cast their votes early.

There are 47,321,136 eligible voters in this election.

More than 180,000 policemen will be deployed throughout the country to ensure safety on election day, according to national Police chief General Wichean Potephosree.

He said police assigned to security duty at polling stations have to report about the overall situation starting with the transport of ballot boxes from district offices to the polling stations. The police also will be required to report results of the vote count to the National Police Bureau, which will forward them to the EC.

EC secretary-general Suthiphon Thaveechaiygarn said yesterday that the EC in association with the Royal Thai Police and the ad hoc Television Pool of Thailand had set up a centre to report election results at Parliament to help the media keep the public informed.

He said the Royal Thai Police would be in charge of reporting unofficial election results from every polling station across the country. Counting results will be reported to every police station, which would forward them to the EC.

The report will be classified into two parts. First real time reporting will be forwarded to the centre at Parliament. Authorities with a password will have access to see the results.

The second part is the unofficial election results will be sent to be published in the EC's websites and the Television Pool of Thailand to disseminate the information to the public.

The second report will be about 10 minutes later than the real-time reporting.

Election officials at every polling booth have been instructed to carry out their duties with neutrality. "They check each other and they must have ID cards stamped to prove their authority," he said.

There are 90,854 polling booths and 1.2 million election officials taking care of the voting.

Prapun added that those who had registered for advance voting but could not get the chance to exercise their right can vote today. However, those who registered to vote outside their constituency cannot exercise their voting right. The latter must inform authorities the reason they failed to vote otherwise they will lose their voting rights in the next election. Alcohol sales are banned from 6pm yesterday to midnight today. Posting messages that carry content to promote and attack candidates or parties is also prohibited, including revealing opinion surveys until election day has passed.

The EC accepted 120 election complaints out of 400 that had been submitted. Most complaints concern vote-buying allegations and election officials were instructed to carry out their duties with neutrality.

Prapun yesterday said the EC was prepared to handle any issue that would arise from the flood situation in certain areas and the border conflict with Cambodia.

Contingency plans have been put in place in case some polling stations are flooded in such provinces as Nan, or in case there was renewed border fighting that would affect provinces like Si Sa Ket and Surin.

At a glance

- 47,321,136 eligible voters in this election.

- 183,629 police to provide law and order on voting day.

- 90,854 polling booths.

- 1,200,000 election officials

- 55.6% of 2.86 million people registered for advance voting voted last Sunday.

- 32.7 million voters cast ballots in previous election in 2007.

- 74.5% of eligible voters turned out in 2007.

-- The Nation 2011-07-03

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ELECTION

195,000 police and troops to guard voters

By The Nation on Sunday

Two vote-buyers nabbed in Korat, Phuket; special plans for border

The Royal Thai Police will deploy more than 183,000 officers to ensure law and order during polling on election day today, while 12,000 personnel from combined security forces have been sent to secure 2,157 poll stations in the three southernmost provinces.

Police chief General Wichean Potephosree said yesterday the police were ready to maintain law and order. Election activities, such as vote campaign signs or vote-wooing on the Internet, as well as sales of alcohol were prohibited from 6pm yesterday till midnight tonight. Police would also watch out for vote-buying attempts and set up checkpoints for security.

He said police had arrested vote-buying suspects on Friday with Bt130,000 in cash in Nakhon Ratchasima, and in Phuket with Bt69,000 in cash.

Police also warned people not to use camera phones to take pictures of their ballots or show marked ballots to others, as it was illegal and punishable with a year in jail plus a fine of up to Bt20,000.

Police inspector-general Sathaporn Laothong reported that 42 officers accused of taking sides with a political party were under investigation and so far 13 of them faced disciplinary action.

At least one officer would be present at each polling station, and they were expected to report on the vote counting to local stations and the Royal Thai Police. So, the results of both constituency MPs and party-list MPs should be known by 10pm, assistant police chief Pol Lt-General Jiroj Chaiyachit said.

Assistant police chief Pol Lt-General Worapong Chiewpreecha said that pre-election security operations from June 16-30 had led to the seizure of 1,048 guns, 16 war weapons, 12 explosives, while 901 wanted suspects were arrested for old cases and 11,423 arrests made in regard to drug cases. A "post-poll" police campaign would continue for a further four days.

Region 4 Internal Security Operations Command chief Maj-General Akara Thiproj said that 12,000 officers of combined security forces would provide security at 2,157 poll stations in the three southernmost provinces and that his office would be ready to assist in emergencies upon request, especially a natural disaster or an insurgent attack.

Meanwhile, senior election officials in the provinces bordering Cambodia said yesterday there was a contingency plan in case border clashes broke out, the Thai News Agency reported.

Si Sa Ket election director Mongkon Kamprao said that the transport of ballot boxes to 2,704 polling stations in the province had run smoothly.

In regard to the situation along the Thai-Cambodian border in Kantharalak district, Mongkon said if a border incident occurred during voting, officials stationed at polling stations would have to suspend the process and relocate polling stations to safe zones.

If a clash takes place as officials are counting votes at local polling stations, the vote-counting process would be halted. In this event, officials would close and lock ballot boxes, in line with EC regulations, before handing the boxes to election commissioners stationed at affected polling stations, he said.

Buri Ram's election director Thawee Chunkor said yesterday that eight polling stations in Ban Kruat district would be at risk if clashes broke out along the border.

According to reports and coordination with related-security agencies, the situation along the border in Buri Ram remains normal, Thawee said. If a row erupts and disrupts voting at the eight polling stations, authorities may consider postponing voting at those stations.

-- The Nation 2011-07-03

[barrybankruad]

In my village the polling booths have just opened. The last of the 'vote for me' bribes have been handed out. Of the four candidates standing for election three of them have offered cash incentives for votes. Interestingly the only party NOT to have handed bribes was the Pheu Thai Party. Maybe they are covering themselves for any electoral challenges later. I cannot of course say whether this state of affairs occurred in other constituencies.

[gregb]

In my village the polling booths have just opened. The last of the 'vote for me' bribes have been handed out. Of the four candidates standing for election three of them have offered cash incentives for votes. Interestingly the only party NOT to have handed bribes was the Pheu Thai Party. Maybe they are covering themselves for any electoral challenges later. I cannot of course say whether this state of affairs occurred in other constituencies.

As I was told PT has opted not to pay this year in constituencies where they believe they are going to win anyway, so I think your experience may not be an isolated incident. It will be interesting to see whether this tactic pays off for them or not. It will certainly reduce their chances of getting caught buying votes.