Election Day In Thailand

[sriracha john]

There are clearly an unprecedented number of "destroyed Ballots" - which is rather unfortunate.

I guess people mis-understood the "Vote No" campaign and assumed that simply destroying their Ballot paper would be enough.

Patrick

naw... that's just the occasional nutty law professor doing that...

the numbers of these nulled votes IS disturbing...

and why are provinces with the highest percentage of these invalidated ballots, these ballots, which if we are led to believe, occur when someone apparently can't make an "X" inside a box properly ,

occuring in the North and Northeast?

if the total nation-wide tally is close, these could be a deciding factor...

Edited April 3, 2006 by sriracha john

[Plus]

Acc. to The Nation some ballots were disqualified because they had some notes written on them.

Like "Thaksin can suck on my ..., to be continued on the next ballot". There are two ballots to mark - constiuency and "party list".

Also on the front page there's a photo of a voter clearly marking "no vote", apparently secretly taken form behind - we were talking about privacy yesterday. There was none.

I put the Nation's unofficial results for Bangkok in Excel and it's 1 mil for TRT vs 1.2 mil "No vote". About 5% of ballots were invalid, and there are no numbers for other parties.

Exit polls are illegal, I believe, so all the results trickle from counting stations from all over the country, and that's what we get on TV. Total counts are not updated in real time.

Again, there is a map in The Nation that shows all south, starting from Bangkok, voting "No" and nort east voting TRT. North wasn't counted at the time of printing, and many urban constituencies in Isan voted No, too.

Total countrywide results will be neck to neck. TRT's prediction of 15 mil is interesting. If turnout is 60% vs 72% last year, 15 mil will be about 56% - still a win for TRT (by it's own rules - against "no votes")

If turnout is about 70% - just slightly lower than last year, 15 mil will be less than 50%.

[bulmercke]

The Nation:

southern mice 03/04/2006 13:48

To be declared a true winner in the election, the "no vote" cast in the ballot boxes where TRT is the only Party contending, should be construed as 'votes' given to the invisible contender against TRT. So, if 'no vote' is more than the votes secured by the lone TRT candidate, the TRT candidate should be declared as the 'LOSER'. Delete

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Eric G. Herisson 03/04/2006 13:35

Thaksin is and will always be a crooked politician and a despisable human being. Thai people desreves much better. Please get rid of that clown! Delete

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neutral 03/04/2006 13:28

Taksin...take the message. The educated Thais know WHAT they want!! Delete

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bulmercke 03/04/2006 12:39

Thaksin must surely see the light now. The people no longer want him. The election was meant to be another "big vote of confidence" for him.....but results, so far, suggest anything but! Delete

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student 03/04/2006 11:55

Thai people don't want Taksin and Thai Rak Thai anymore. Delete

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Sue 03/04/2006 11:52

Smart academician knows. Delete

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Mee 03/04/2006 11:49

Ohh..very surprised!

[Jai Dee]

Mr. Pongthep: TRT will evaluate the election result for PM Thaksin to make any political decision

Thai Rak Thai Party Deputy Leader Pongthep Thepkanchana (พงศ์เทพ เทพกาญจนา) revealed that his ruling party will evaluate the outcome of the general election, and the result of the evaluation will be used for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to make any decision regarding politics.

Mr. Pongthep referred to the election result where the majority of people have voted for “No Vote” in Bangkok and other provinces. He said the party will have to wait for the final result from all the provinces before making any assessment.

He said the party will compare the voting result for its party-list members of 50 percent with the voting result of other parties. He said the numbers of “No Vote” will be compared as well. He said the information will be taken into the consideration, in order for the premier to make any decision as he earlier announced.

Mr. Pongthep disclosed that the Thai Rak Thai Party has gained more votes in certain areas and the party is not able to reveal at the moment about its political path.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 April 2006

[sriracha john]

Not a happy camper.....

He's too stressed...

He's welcome to join our thaivisa peace rally (note... that's rally, not party yet, sushi... )

OHMMMM>>>>>>

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra looks grim faced as he leaves Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, April 3, 2006.

(Rompres National)

[seonai]

What sort of time do you think we will know the final results?

[Jai Dee]

PM will discuss political situation on Channel 11 tonight

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinwatra will talk about Thailand's political direct through a television show called Krong Sathanakarn (กรองสถานการณ์) on Channel 11 tonight, while demanding the media to help seek ways to solve the political conflicts.

The Prime Minister has still refused to comment over the vote count as he would like all constituencies to finish on counting the ballots first. However, he is confident that the scores of “No Vote” will be less than half of the number of all eligible voters in the country.

He has also demanded the media to help seek ways to end the current political conflicts, and said that he is willing to hear every solution. He said that solving problems might not be under his management but must go in line with democracy.

Referring to his refusal to make an announcement last night, Dr. Thaksin said that he would not like to say anything as the vote count has not been officially announced yet.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 April 2006

[bulmercke]

I find it really sad that I have to follow the unfolding election results on a farang website! All I can find is the figures in 'panels' at the bottom of the screen - no analysis etc. Even ASTV isn't constantly updating its viewers. (I gave up on ch. 3, 5, 7, 9 & 11 a long time ago!)

Thanks to you guys for keeping me informed!

>>>>>>

Nilapat - well - if Thaksin resigns sometime this evening - you won't be getting much info. here either.

We'll all be too busy getting pissed at Gullivers.

[sriracha john]

Acc. to The Nation some ballots were disqualified because they had some notes written on them.

Like "Thaksin can suck on my ..., to be continued on the next ballot". There are two ballots to mark - constiuency and "party list".

Also on the front page there's a photo of a voter clearly marking "no vote", apparently secretly taken form behind - we were talking about privacy yesterday. There was none.

I put the Nation's unofficial results for Bangkok in Excel and it's 1 mil for TRT vs 1.2 mil "No vote". About 5% of ballots were invalid, and there are no numbers for other parties.

Exit polls are illegal, I believe, so all the results trickle from counting stations from all over the country, and that's what we get on TV. Total counts are not updated in real time.

Again, there is a map in The Nation that shows all south, starting from Bangkok, voting "No" and nort east voting TRT. North wasn't counted at the time of printing, and many urban constituencies in Isan voted No, too.

Total countrywide results will be neck to neck. TRT's prediction of 15 mil is interesting. If turnout is 60% vs 72% last year, 15 mil will be about 56% - still a win for TRT (by it's own rules - against "no votes")

If turnout is about 70% - just slightly lower than last year, 15 mil will be less than 50%.

Thanks for that "Excel"lent work, Plus.....

figured there had to be a computer geek somewhere in our midst...

seriously.... thanks..

off to view the map... thanks for pointing that out, as well...

[george]

PM will discuss political situation on Channel 11 tonight

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinwatra will talk about Thailand's political direct through a television show called Krong Sathanakarn (กรองสถานการณ์) on Channel 11 tonight, while demanding the media to help seek ways to solve the political conflicts.

What time is this programme?

[Jai Dee]

Gen. Sonthi: The army will only accept PM or government that have been elected according to Democratic regime

Army Commander-in-Chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin (สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน) stated that the army will only accept the Prime Minister or the government that have been elected according to the democratic regime.

Gen. Sonthi referred to the decision of the People’s Alliance for Democracy to continue the protest again on the 7th of April. He said the army is closely monitoring with the situation and does not want the situation to escalate. He said the current situation should cease by now as everything is proceeding in accordance with the democratic system.

He said the army is ready to serve all government policies no matter who will be elected as the new Prime Minister or government.

As for the adjustments and transfers of army officials during the midyear which might be late due to the establishment of the new government, Gen. Sonthi insisted that the changes will not affect the officials’ performances.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 April 2006

[ColPyat]

The Nation:

southern mice 03/04/2006 13:48

To be declared a true winner in the election, the "no vote" cast in the ballot boxes where TRT is the only Party contending, should be construed as 'votes' given to the invisible contender against TRT. So, if 'no vote' is more than the votes secured by the lone TRT candidate, the TRT candidate should be declared as the 'LOSER'. Delete

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Not really, he is still will have the most votes for a single party, and therefore according to all democratic rules anywhere, would be asked to form the government.

Eric G. Herisson 03/04/2006 13:35

Thaksin is and will always be a crooked politician and a despisable human being. Thai people desreves much better. Please get rid of that clown! Delete

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Very constructive...

neutral 03/04/2006 13:28

Taksin...take the message. The educated Thais know WHAT they want!! Delete

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ah, yes, lets take the voting right away from the uneducated ones as they vote for the wrong candidate.

bulmercke 03/04/2006 12:39

Thaksin must surely see the light now. The people no longer want him. The election was meant to be another "big vote of confidence" for him.....but results, so far, suggest anything but! Delete

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Yes, and what about the "people" who want him, they not "people"?

student 03/04/2006 11:55

Thai people don't want Taksin and Thai Rak Thai anymore. Delete

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So, but what about the millions who still want him. They not Thai?

Sorry, just being devil's advocate, and playing around with the color scripts

[sriracha john]

Also on the front page there's a photo of a voter clearly marking "no vote", apparently secretly taken form behind - we were talking about privacy yesterday. There was none.

yes, still an unresolved EC issue... along with the rubber stamping, invalidated ballots

I put the Nation's unofficial results for Bangkok in Excel and it's 1 mil for TRT vs 1.2 mil "No vote". About 5% of ballots were invalid, and there are no numbers for other parties.

Other constituencies outside of BKK have reported three times the rate (15%) of invalidated, null votes...

[bulmercke]

PM will discuss political situation on Channel 11 tonight

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinwatra will talk about Thailand's political direct through a television show called Krong Sathanakarn (กรองสถานการณ์) on Channel 11 tonight, while demanding the media to help seek ways to solve the political conflicts.

What time is this programme?

>>>>>>>>>

8.30pm

BREAKING NEWS

Embattled Thaksin calls for national reconciliation

Bangkok (dpa) - With initial tallies of ballots from a snap election held Sunday showing a nation deeply divided and a large drop in popularity for the ruling Thai Rak Thai party, caretaker premier Thaksin Shinawatra on Monday called for "national reconciliation."

"It's not necessary for me to be prime minister but we need national reconciliation," said Thaksin, before joining a meeting of his Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party to assess the outcome of Sunday's polls.

Thaksin was scheduled to make an announcement on public television Monday at 8:30 p.m. on whether he would step aside or soldier on for a third term as prime minister.

The results of unofficial vote counts had the TRT winning less ballots than the "no vote" ballots in 23 out of 36 constituencies in Bangkok.

While the TRT is still expected to win all the Bangkok seats in this one-horse race, the strong abstention vote in the capital amounts to a slap in the face for the ruling party, observers said.

"This is a warning from the people," said opposition Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva. "This is something strange and new, to have so many no votes.

Sunday's snap election was unique in Thailand's political history because all three opposition parties boycotted the polls to protest what they called the prime minister's abuses of his populist appeal.

The opposition urged their supporters to tick the "no vote" box on their ballots as a protest vote against Thaksin.

In the February 2005 general election, the ruling party won more than 30 of Bangkok's constituencies. Backing from Bangkok, Thailand's capital and home to the country's middle and upper classes, is deemed crucial to a government's stability.

Common political wisdom has it that while the rural areas elect governments, Bangkok overthrows them.

Thailand's 17 southern provinces, the traditional stronghold of the Democrat party, were also showing a majority of no votes, but, according to preliminary counts, the Thai Rak Thai was claiming the majority vote in the northern and north-eastern provinces, where it won by wide margins in the 2001 and 2005 polls.

Without the opposition parties in the race, Sunday's snap election was essentially a one-horse race with only Thai Rak Thai candidates contesting more than half the country's 400 constituencies.

Under the constitution, a single candidate must win at least 20 per cent of the eligible votes in his or her constituency to win. With many no votes cast in Bangkok and the southern provinces, it was expected that there will need to be several rounds of elections, delaying the opening of parliament indefinitely and possibly leading to a constitutional crisis.

The opposition and a Bangkok-based mass movement against the embattled premier that staged nearly daily demonstrations demanding Thaksin's resignation during the election campaign claimed that Thailand is in need of a new round of political reforms to safeguard the democratic system against populist premiers in the future.

Thaksin, in pre-election speeches, vowed to stay on as prime minister if his party won more than half the votes cast on Sunday. While the TRT may still win more than half the votes cast, the huge "no vote" against them was hardly a vote of confidence.

But Thai media reports on Monday cited sources in his party as saying that Thaksin was considering stepping aside to allow one of his trusted aides to become premier in the post-election period to pave the way for political reforms.

"Once Thaksin is gone it will probably become a bit easier for the TRT to do a deal with the opposition," said Chris Baker, long-time political observer and co-author of "Thaksin: The Business of Politics in Thailand."

Democrat spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon said it was too early to say whether the opposition would demand Thaksin's resignation as a precondition to a compromise deal with the TRT.

"We have always concentrated on the need for political reform," said Ong-art. "That's the most important thing."

The Democrats have argued that they boycotted the Sunday polls because a general election would not solve the country's problems, which have essentially been created by Thaksin.

>>>>>>>>

I'm gonna stick my neck out and predict that this evening Thaksin will use this broadcast to announce his resignation.

Broadcast at 8.30 p.m.

Edited April 3, 2006 by bulmercke

[francois]

Not a happy camper.....

He's too stressed...

He's welcome to join our thaivisa peace rally (note... that's rally, not party yet, sushi... )

OHMMMM>>>>>>

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra looks grim faced as he leaves Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, April 3, 2006.

(Rompres National)

hi'

5555555

this is the face I was waiting for since a few weeks ... toxin loosing and his sad sick face !!

time to get out ...

francois

[ColPyat]

Army Commander-in-Chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin (สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน) stated that the army will only accept the Prime Minister or the government that have been elected according to the democratic regime.

Now, that is the second clear meassage about the PAD's demand of a Royaly appointed interim Prime Minister.

Yesterday's message of General Sarayud from the Privy Council stating that the palace is refusing to be drawn into politics, and now Army Commander-in-Chief Sonthi.

If the PAD does not cease demonstrating, or adapt their demands, i do see them isolating themselves even from the quarters they have hoped will come to their aid.

I thnk it should be clear now to anyone that it is high time to get the mobs off the streets, and start negotiations towards a compromise, or else...

[sriracha john]

PM will discuss political situation on Channel 11 tonight

Referring to his refusal to make an announcement last night, Dr. Thaksin said that he would not like to say anything as the vote count has not been officially announced yet.

Then why did schedule the press conference for 7:00pm last night, in the first place?

Was it because he was expecting a cakewalk victory?

By scheduling one, he showed that he didn't have any qualm to "say anything before the count had officially been announced" when he erroneously figured he would win easily and clearly.

Edited April 3, 2006 by sriracha john

[jdinasia]

for those of youthat can read Thai

http://www.manager.co.th/Politics/ViewNews...D=9490000044380

[Jai Dee]

Sources at the The Nation are providing results in other areas of Thailand:

Rayong, Khon Kaen, Nongkhai, and Bangkok.

[Jai Dee]

31 Thai Rak Thai one-horse candidates fail: unofficial results

Unofficial results as of noon Monday showed that 31 Thai Rak Thai one-horse candidates failed in the Sunday election because they did not receive up to 20 per cent of votes from eligible voters in their constituency.

There are a total of 278 Thai Rak Thai candidates contesting the election with no opponents.

The laws require them to receive at least of 20 per cent of votes from eligible voters in their constituencies.

Of the 31 candidates, 30 contested in southern provinces. The other one failed in Phetchaburi's Constituency 1.

Source: The Nation - Breaking News - 3 April 2006

[Jai Dee]

Disillusionment at the voting booths

Voters at a polling station in Bangkok’s Watthana district cast their ballots in yesterday’s new voting arrangement.

Many affluent Bangkok voters in the Silom and Sukhumvit districts are disillusioned with the direction of Thai politics, but they nonetheless came out to vote yesterday to protect their political rights.

Suvit Limsiriphan, a 43-year-old businessman, went to cast his no-vote ballot at the polling station in St Joseph Convent School in the Silom area. He said that he is not hopeful that the election will help to improve the current political situation.

“The sole key to all the political problems is Thaksin [shinawatra]. He must clarify himself. If he has nothing to hide, he should come out and give clear explanations to the people. Let the people judge for themselves,” Suvit said, stressing that he is not calling for the premier’s resignation.

“As long as Thaksin does not provide clarifications by himself, everything will become worse, even if his Thai Rak Thai party [TRT] wins this election. The election cannot solve the current political problems,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, Sirikwan Tiralerd, 30, a language instructor, said outside the polling station that she cast no-vote ballots because there were no good candidates.

She explained that she voted to prevent others from exploiting her voting rights even though, in her opinion, the election benefits neither the people nor the country.

”People who understand the current political situation know well that this election will not solve the turmoil. It does not, and will not, eliminate the root of all the problems. This election is merely a set-up to serve caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin’s TRT,” Sirikwan said.

She added that the outcome of the election is likely to worsen Thai politics. More problems and confusion will arise from the election’s outcome, she warned.

“TRT will win this election despite a lot of no-vote voters in Bangkok. Most of the people in the provinces still support it, unfortunately,” she said.

Another no-vote voter is Siriporn Leepreechanont, a 37-year-old company employee. She warned that the election will add more confusion to the ongoing political problems because it lacks transparency.

“When the election authorities, who are supposed to be neutral and independent, take sides in this election, how can we voters trust them? Now we have no one to lean on but ourselves,” she said with concern.

“This election is such a big waste for the Thai people and the country, considering the huge amount of tax we have to pay annually.”

At the polling station next to The Emporium shopping mall on Sukhumvit Road, Samanrat Kanjanavanit was among the many voters who came determined to cast no-vote ballots, but, in the end, the 40-year-old freelance writer decided not to exercise her voting rights despite having spent almost an hour traveling from her home in a soi far away from the main roads and observing other people at the polling station in the noontime heat.

She said that she became hesitant about casting her ballot when she noticed the strange positioning of the voting booths. “Other people could easily see how we voted. Isn’t our vote supposed to be secret? I felt vulnerable,” she said.

ThaiDay observed that each polling booth faced a wall or partition. That left voters no choice but to turn their backs to election officials, which meant that their ballots were exposed to people behind them, and how they voted could be concluded from the way they handled the ballot papers. To make matters worse, the space inside most polling stations was limited, so voters in the act of voting were in close proximity to the election officials and voters waiting for their turn, which increased the likelihood of their votes not being secret.

Samanrat added that she was the only member of her large family who had come to vote as the others were boycotting the election for lack of transparency.

Source: ThaiDay - 3 April 2006

[jdinasia]

Army Commander-in-Chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin (สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน) stated that the army will only accept the Prime Minister or the government that have been elected according to the democratic regime.

Now, that is the second clear meassage about the PAD's demand of a Royaly appointed interim Prime Minister.

Yesterday's message of General Sarayud from the Privy Council stating that the palace is refusing to be drawn into politics, and now Army Commander-in-Chief Sonthi.

If the PAD does not cease demonstrating, or adapt their demands, i do see them isolating themselves even from the quarters they have hoped will come to their aid.

I thnk it should be clear now to anyone that it is high time to get the mobs off the streets, and start negotiations towards a compromise, or else...

LOL ... the Anti-PAD rhetoric begins again ... last week it was there will be a backlash in BKK .... etc ...

[Jai Dee]

Calls to nullify election after voters’ exposure sparks uproar

Thaksin with his son Panthongtae cast his ballot yesterday near his residence on Charan Sanitwong Road.

A new voting booth arrangement introduced by the Election Commission for yesterday’s national poll that effectively exposed voters’ choices to passersby, sparked widespread criticism and prompted calls for the election’s results to be nullified.

Calls to nullify the results were made by the anti-Thaksin People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) which has been spearheading the protracted campaign to oust the caretaker premier and the People’s Network for Elections (P-Net), an independent election monitoring group, on the grounds that the bare-all polling arrangement contravened constitutional provisions that guarantee the confidentiality of voters’ choices.

“This election was probably one of the most irregular in history, having been plagued with all sorts of [dishonest] schemes and cheats, particularly the new arrangement in the polling booth which allowed election officials and outsiders to see who the voters voted for,” said PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila.

Claiming that the configuration violated Article 104 of the Constitution, Suriyasai said one of the five PAD core leaders, Somsak Kosaisuk, will represent the alliance today in filing an urgent petition with the Administrative Court to nullify the election’s results. The petition will also request a temporary court injunction to bar the EC from announcing any of the election results.

The new polling arrangement, in which voters did not stand with their backs against the wall, quickly became a contentious issue soon after polling began at 8am yesterday and remained so through the day until the polls closed at 3pm. The reconfigured booths prompted people to file complaints with P-Net and other poll monitoring groups as well as radio news stations covering the election.

In all previous elections voters have stood with their backs against the wall while casting their ballots in booths. Yesterday’s new arrangement saw voters walking straight into the polling booths with election officials and others outside the polling stations watching them from behind.

A Bangkok-based radio-news commentator monitoring a live telecast of former prime minister Chuan Leekpai, casting his ballot in his southern home province of Trang, said he could clearly make out from the TV monitor who Chuan voted for. “Khun Chuan had a small frame and I could see it over his shoulder,” the radio newscaster said.

EC officials yesterday countered critics by explaining that the new arrangement was aimed at facilitating voters by allowing them to walk straight into the booths after entering the polling station.

The EC also claimed that the greater visibility would allow election officials to monitor and prevent illegal conduct on the part of the voters, such as changing ballot papers or photographing the ballots to claim rewards that might have been promised.

But P-Net bought none of these explanations. Echoing the PAD’s similar arguments, P-Net Secretary-General Warin Thiemcharas maintained that the new polling arrangement was contrary to the spirit of the constitutional provisions which provided for confidentiality.

Warin said P-Net would petition the Human Rights Commission to look into the matter since the new polling arrangement amounted to an infringement of the voters’ basic rights. The group would also ask the Parliamentary Ombudsman to seek a clear-cut ruling from the Constitutional Court over whether the latest EC action was constitutional or not.

Warin also suggested that voters in every province could exercise their rights by filing lawsuits at their respective provincial courts if they felt the new polling arrangement had exposed their voters to other people. The provincial courts would then forward the cases to the Constitutional Court in Bangkok.

“If the Constitutional Court rules in favor of the complaints, the election results will be nullified and the four Election Commissioners will have to leave their jobs,” Warin said.

Source: ThaiDay - 3 April 2006

[sriracha john]

Sources at the The Nation are providing results in other areas of Thailand:

Rayong, Khon Kaen, Nongkhai, and Bangkok.

thanks for that, Jai Dee...

it points out what I posted earlier, for example Khon Kaen district 10...

10,535 invalid ballots with 56,393 votes cast *an 18% throw out rate*

almost every 5th ballot is thrown out?

[sriracha john]

and the North...

Chiang Mai district 10

12,821 invalid votes with 50,334 votes cast...

an eye-popping 25%....

every fourth ballot is marked improperly????

[Jai Dee]

Pol. Gen. Chitchai says that TRT meeting does not concern over the further political direction of the party

Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Chitchai Wannasathit (ชิดชัย วรรณสถิตย์), who is also the committee member of the Thai Rak Thai Party, disclosed that the recent meeting between his party members did not concern any matter regarding the political direction of the party.

Pol. Gen. Chitchai said that the meeting discussed and assessed the current political situation following the general election yesterday. In the meeting, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra also reaffirmed that he will uphold democracy, to contribute peace in the country.

As for the huge scores of “No Vote” in this election, Pol. Gen. Chitchai refused to comment on the news claiming that voters are signaling that they do not want Dr. Thaksin to continue his premiership. He added that such news should not be released as it may cause confusion among the general public.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 April 2006

[dan10400]

Sources at the The Nation are providing results in other areas of Thailand:

Rayong, Khon Kaen, Nongkhai, and Bangkok.

thanks for that, Jai Dee...

it points out what I posted earlier, for example Khon Kaen district 10...

10,535 invalid ballots with 56,393 votes cast *an 18% throw out rate*

almost every 5th ballot is thrown out?

i looked at the bangkok results first and saw something like like around 5% invalid and thought that was a lot. then you look at all other districts (such as khon kaen) and the numbers consistenly exceed 10%.

another vote of confidence in the thai electoral system.

[otherstuff1957]

Here are the Chiang Mai results:

Chiang Mai

[seonai]

Ya, what's with all the invalid ballots?

Does anyone have a link to the map in the Nation mentioned before - I can't find it. The one of the results.

[ratcatcher]

"Suranand says he accepts people's voices expressed through 'no vote'

PM's Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva said Monday that the Thai Rak Thai Party would analyse what caused the people to become dissatisfied against the party and abstained in the Sunday election.

Suranand said he accepted the people's voices but the party would have to analyse the causes and try to correct the mistakes.

"There must be discussion in the party to find out what caused Bangkokians to change or become dissatisfied and we will map out solutions," Suranand said."

"

THE NATION 03/04/06

Geez Sherlock, what does it take for you guys to get the picture here??

The people are pissed off bigtime with the antics, over the last few months, of your "party"

Perhaps he will call a consulting firm in to anal ize where they went wrong?

This guy Suranand gets paid a lot of money to tell the Thai people what the average somtam seller could have told them. "They f**cked up." ook bai!

Edited April 3, 2006 by ratcatcher