Registration cancelled in 7 South provinces

[Lite Beer]

Registration cancelled in 7 South provinces
The Sunday NationChart Thai Pattana

Chart Thai Pattana

BANGKOK: -- Constituency MPs enlist for polls in Northeast, North and Central provinces

Election officials in seven provinces in the South cancelled the first day of registration for constituency MP candidates yesterday after protesters laid siege to their offices. However, registration in the North, Northeast and Central areas continued without disruption.

In Bangkok, Pheu Thai Party candidates have already registered for all 33 constituencies. Pimchana Hosakul, wife of former Pheu Thai MP Karun Hosakul - who was banned from politics for five years - has registered to for Don Muang district.

The deadline for registration is Wednesday (January 1).

Apart from Pheu Thai, other parties like Chart Thai Pattana, Rak Thai and Prachakorn Thai, also showed up to register their candidates.

Police stepped up security at the Government Complex on Chaeng Wattana Road, where the registration was being held.

In Chiang Mai, Pheu Thai candidates registered in all 10 constituencies, with the party's chief strategist Somchai Wongsawat saying he was confident Pheu Thai would win an unprecedented number of seats as the opposition Democrat Party had boycotted the polls.

He said the Democrats had the right not to run in the election, but their boycott would not have much effect as there were up to 40 parties running in the polls.

In Songkhla, election officials in eight constituencies handed in their resignation after protesters broke into their offices and demanded that they quit.

Songkhla provincial Election Commission chief Chokchai Polwattana has called a meeting to find a solution to the problem.

In Trang, no candidates showed up to register after protesters broke into the gymnasium where the registration was to be held. Trang police chief Pol Maj-General Jeerawat Udomsud led a team of officers to bring the situation under control.

A similar problem occurred in Phatthalung when protesters blocked all entrances to the building where MP candidates were to register. One of the protesters, 59-year-old Charoon Panrai, said he was not against the election but wanted reforms to be put in place first.

Separately, a group under the People's Democratic Reform Committee for Songkhla's 16 districts has been calling on candidates to boycott the election, urging them to sacrifice for the country by allowing reform to take place first. The group blocked all entrances to the Tinsulanonda Stadium where the registration was to be held. So far, no names have been registered as no candidates showed up. But the group allowed police and EC officials to enter the site to carry out their duties.

In Satun, the number of protesters was not large enough to block MP registration. Candidates of two major parties were able to register for Constituency 1. They were Chart Thai Pattana's Thanin Chaisamut and Pheu Thai's Pol Maj-General Pichet Pitisettapan. At Constituency 2, only 100 protesters turned up but failed to stop the two parties' candidates from registering.

Meanwhile, the registration of candidates in Chumphon was postponed indefinitely as some provincial election officials resigned after about 300 PDRC protesters cut water and electricity and laid siege to the municipal office were registration was to be held.

About 50 police were deployed to maintain security, but were instructed to remain on the second and third floors of the building in order to prevent clashes.

Pheu Thai's Rujinat Srisuwan and Pracharaj's Kasem Thienthong showed up to register but had to be led out by police amid jeers and boos from the mob.

Chumphon EC official Nukul Klaewthanong and EC chief of the province's Constituency 1, Anan Maneerat, tendered their resignations yesterday for failing to carry out their duties.

In Udon Thani, Pol General Pracha Promnok led Pheu Thai MP candidates to register in nine constituencies amid a cold, lacklustre atmosphere with a marked absence of supporters or opponents. A Chart Thai Pattana Party candidate also showed up to register yesterday.

-- The Nation 2013-12-29

[pumpuiman]

I love how this reads like instructions.

They might actually help raise the death toll.

Go "Nation"

[noitom]

The Thai big man and his staff look really cool in their white jackets.

[MK1]

This is the very reason why Thailand should be divided into at least three states in one country otherwise there will never be any political normalcy and peace between the people of the North, Bangkok and the South. Sadly politics, greed and corruption have torn the country apart.

Edited December 29, 2013 by MK1

[englishoak]

The Thai big man and his staff look really cool in their white jackets.

I thought they were off duty waiters.......

[ubonjoe]

A post suggesting violence and replies to it removed.

[spare5]

The Thai big man and his staff look really cool in their white jackets.

I thought they were off duty waiters.......

Waiter of a Malaysian restaurant.

[ggt]

The Muslim MO...terrifying the population...killing the leadership and educated people...holding the culture hostage...is not unique to Thailand...

This has been going on for decades in many countries...take the PI...in the Southern Islands...the Muslims have been fighting the elected government for what seems like forever...killing people at random intervals...no place to hide or relax...often killing or maiming both women and children...

When will the carnage stop?

[15Peter20]

The other parties were asked by the PDRC not to register in order for the PDRC's reforms to be put in place first.

They all registered, which is a clear signal of their mistrust of the PDRC's intentions.

[SOTIRIOS]

...what sense does it make to put the Registration Deadline at January 1st......

...this smacks of yet another setup.....

....then you want to call this a fair and democratic election.....

...pathetic....

[ubonjoe]

Derogatory post and relies to it removed.

[gamini]

wife of banned politician registers in his place!! So much for reform!

[Ulic]

Registration cancelled or postponed. Surely they will register on another day before January 1st.

[NanLaew]

wife of banned politician registers in his place!! So much for reform!

sister of exiled former prime minister registers in his place!! And WINS!!!

[NanLaew]

...what sense does it make to put the Registration Deadline at January 1st......

...this smacks of yet another setup.....

....then you want to call this a fair and democratic election.....

...pathetic....

Come on now. In most every civilized, democratic country, there are precise pre-election registration deadlines for all parties.

January 1st gives those willing to work legally within the confines of the Constitution for the betterment of the country 30 days to do their campaigning.

Of course, you have been here for so long, you haven't voted at home for aeons.

Or just roll over and give it to motor-mouth and his cronies at the Democracy Monument. That is the path of least resistance after all?

[h90]

This is the very reason why Thailand should be divided into at least three states in one country otherwise there will never be any political normalcy and peace between the people of the North, Bangkok and the South. Sadly politics, greed and corruption have torn the country apart.

But than you have the mess that the states fight against the central government for the budgets.

[noitom]

How many Thai muslims made the ballot in the Thai south?

[Maha Sarakham Marty]

wife of banned politician registers in his place!! So much for reform!

sister of exiled former prime minister registers in his place!! And WINS!!!

or NOT!!!

As what at the last election for this banned politician's seat:

Democrat Party candidate Tankhun Jitt-itsara surprisingly won the Don Muang by-election, beating the candidate of the Pheu Thai Party, which was seen as the all-time champ of the constituency. The outcome has taught a new political lesson for both Pheu Thai and the Democrats.

The Don Muang by-election became a clear model for study because Pheu Thai has dominated the constituency for years. With deeper consideration, it could be seen that Pheu Thai's political support was based on supporters of former MP Karun Hosakul. Karun, a native Don Muang politician, became the all-time hero of the constituency for years before he was disqualified by the Supreme Court, leading to the by-election. His strong base helped the Chart Thai Party win its first Bangkok House seat when Karun supported Janista Liewchalermwong in the election. Karun later joined Thai Rak Thai, forerunner to Pheu Thai.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Don-Muangs-a-tough-lesson-for-Pheu-Thai-30208666.html

[NanLaew]

wife of banned politician registers in his place!! So much for reform!

sister of exiled former prime minister registers in his place!! And WINS!!!

or NOT!!!

As what at the last election for this banned politician's seat:

Democrat Party candidate Tankhun Jitt-itsara surprisingly won the Don Muang by-election, beating the candidate of the Pheu Thai Party, which was seen as the all-time champ of the constituency. The outcome has taught a new political lesson for both Pheu Thai and the Democrats.

The Don Muang by-election became a clear model for study because Pheu Thai has dominated the constituency for years. With deeper consideration, it could be seen that Pheu Thai's political support was based on supporters of former MP Karun Hosakul. Karun, a native Don Muang politician, became the all-time hero of the constituency for years before he was disqualified by the Supreme Court, leading to the by-election. His strong base helped the Chart Thai Party win its first Bangkok House seat when Karun supported Janista Liewchalermwong in the election. Karun later joined Thai Rak Thai, forerunner to Pheu Thai.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Don-Muangs-a-tough-lesson-for-Pheu-Thai-30208666.html

Whooosh!!!!