Trying to vote: an aggravating denial of my basic right

[webfact]

LETTER FROM A POLLING BOOTH
Trying to vote: an aggravating denial of my basic right
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Frustration was the only word that explained what echoed in my head and my mind, as I was unable to enter a polling booth for the advance voting yesterday.

Actually it should have been a peaceful day for me to cast my vote at the Saint John's Polytechnic, where I had registered.

I woke up very early and took my car to the poll station, but once I arrived there I could not enter the building to cast my vote as hundreds of anti-government protesters had blocked it since 7am.

Many protesters lay down on the roads to stop would-be voters from casting their ballots. Some held their hands together to form a human chain in a bid to block the voters. "If you want to enter the polling station and cast your vote, you must step across the protesters lying on the road. You can if you dare," Issara Somchai, a core leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee, said through a loudspeaker to the people who wanted to vote.

At 8am, which was supposed to be the time to open the poll station and allow voters to enter, the door to Saint John's Polytechnic was still closed by the Chatuchak officials. Only Issara was allowed to enter the poll station. He negotiated with the chief of the poll station to cancel the advance election and shut it down. While the door of the station was still closed, a middle-aged man arrived at the school but was told he could not enter.

"I just want my right to vote. I have the right to cast my vote," he said.

As he tried to enter the poll station, he was surrounded by a group of anti-government protesters.

Some shouted at him that he was Thaksin's slave and did not love His Majesty the King.

After talking with the protesters for a while, he was allowed to enter the poll station but he had to step across the protesters lying down on the road.

He was reluctant to make a decision for a while. Finally, he decided to turn back as he did not want to step across any protesters Picharinee Rattanachammaung, 50, from Chiang Mai province faced the same experience. She tried to show respect to the protesters and asked them to allow her to pass their line.

Eventually, she was allowed through but she could go only a half way and had to turn back as some protesters blocked her. While standing amid the protesters, she took out a flashlight to shine at them as a gesture. Once she had departed the poll station, protesters blew whistles at her as the sound of victory.

Around 10am, a 25-year-old Nong Khai native, Chana Ekarot, entered Saint John's Polytechnic school to check his name and make sure he had the right to cast an advance vote.

"I came here to protect my right to vote, even if I could not cast my vote. I think one man, one vote is still the basic principle of democracy," he said.

Some would-be voters called in at the Phaholyothin Police Station to report that they were unable to vote.

Prior to the advance voting yesterday, I joined several candle-lighting sessions. My hope then was that the caretaker government would not lose its mind and launch any action that would bring back the painful memories of 2010. I also hoped protesters would come to their senses and not embark on any action that would induce violence. I sincerely didn't think they would go this far, even blocking others from voting. It's intimidating and frightening.

To me, the anti-government protesters have turned themselves into anti-election and anti-democracy protesters. Everybody knows that this election contains flaws, but they should not include the flaws intentionally created by these "peaceful" protesters. I was frustrated but still hopeful that I could cast a vote at a later date. It will come one day when we all understand the inviolable rights of all countrymen born in this free country.


-- The Nation 2014-01-27

[Cricketnut]

Shame, shame and more shame PDRC. You don't hold the moral high ground, rather as per your actions the polar opposite and to lay on the ground like soi dogs and threaten people " if you dare". Your acting like and are a bunch of rabid dogs trying to feast upon the people. Tis a pity you can't stand with your tails held high rather than salivating at the mouth as you are now.

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE 8.2 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited January 27, 2014 by Cricketnut

[moonao]

These so called protesters are nothing but a bunch of undemocratic thugs and bullies.

For those trying to vote, please take photographs or videos of those yellow shirt idiots blocking the voting booths, post them online so they can be identified by the police and name and shamed.

[LuckyLew]

These so called protesters are nothing but a bunch of undemocratic thugs and bullies.

For those trying to vote, please take photographs or videos of those yellow shirt idiots blocking the voting booths, post them online so they can be identified by the police and name and shamed.

And you call selling you votes for money and murdering those who oppose you democratic?

[Yunla]

Both of the political factions are facing the wrong direction and running as fast as they can, towards a bleak and pitiless horizon. The problem is that they are dragging the rest of us along with them. Destination anarchy is inevitable when Democracy is blocked as in the OP. Everyone should be allowed to vote, and if Suthep&co want to win elections, they should re-brand their party campaign and policy vows to appeal to more people across the spectrum. Simply blocking voting doesn't bring reform, it brings further instability and bitterness. Its a cheap shot, and wide of the mark too.

[Centrum]

Shame, shame and more shame PDRC. You don't hold the moral high ground, rather as per your actions the polar opposite and to lay on the ground like soi dogs and threaten people " if you dare". Your acting like and are a bunch of rabid dogs trying to feast upon the people. Tis a pity you can't stand with your tails held high rather than salivating at the mouth as you are now.

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE 8.2 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

God, what a ridiculously, laughable post.

Steady on old boy or you'll give yourself a heart attack

At least the rabid dogs didn't resort to murder while making their political pointof view!

[londonthai]

The next Sunday, with millions of voters around polling stations, the picture would be different - the protesters will be chased away by ungry citisens

[SebD]

Both of the political factions are facing the wrong direction and running as fast as they can, towards a bleak and pitiless horizon. The problem is that they are dragging the rest of us along with them. Destination anarchy is inevitable when Democracy is blocked as in the OP. Everyone should be allowed to vote, and if Suthep&co want to win elections, they should re-brand their party campaign and policy vows to appeal to more people across the spectrum. Simply blocking voting doesn't bring reform, it brings further instability and bitterness. Its a cheap shot, and wide of the mark too.

Wholeheartedly agreed.

Forgive my ignorance of the subject but, having visited Thailand for the past dozen years or so, with a Thai partner who lives with me in the UK and speaking a bit of the lingo whilst able to meet and converse/socialise with both Bangkokian Hi-So's and up-country folk alike, I am still a little at a loss.

I don't really know which (if either) of the current political parties are good or bad for "Thailand" as a whole (I suspect it to be neither).

But I do put my faith in the ballot box (rightly or wrongly but undoubtedly fairly).

Is it truly beyond the ken of the Yellow (right-wing) brigade to mount an election campaign to challenge the Red (left-wing) incumbents (especially given their wealth and supposed education/worldy-wiseness)?

Cuz, if they can't even manage such a campaign, given their advantages and fiscal support, why should anyone (me included) suppose they can be entrusted with governing an entire nation?

[pipkins]

Wow. now that is an image. Real revolution anybody.!

If this is not the viral image of the day, I'll eat sutheps vest!!! Stunning and wall done to the artist who I would love to credit

Edited January 27, 2014 by pipkins

[Fryslan boppe]

Both of the political factions are facing the wrong direction and running as fast as they can, towards a bleak and pitiless horizon. The problem is that they are dragging the rest of us along with them. Destination anarchy is inevitable when Democracy is blocked as in the OP. Everyone should be allowed to vote, and if Suthep&co want to win elections, they should re-brand their party campaign and policy vows to appeal to more people across the spectrum. Simply blocking voting doesn't bring reform, it brings further instability and bitterness. Its a cheap shot, and wide of the mark too.

The "heart of the matter"....This 'reform before election" nonsense is simply the elite not wanting an election until it can change the rules (again)........Their strategy of wanting to reform the system, so they don't need to reform themselves to appeal to a diverse electorate is so blatantly obvious, that only the most agenda-hardened prognosticator would suggest it is altruistic.

Voting now is a symbolic gesture of rejection. It is a rejection of the anti-democrats and a rejection of double standards.

[noitom]

It looks like the elite are starting to strategize throwing Suthep under the bus. Rather than choose a competent, inspiring leader to take the baton of legitimate protest, they have probably worked out a back room, under the table "deal" with Thaksin. This would in effect throw the nation under the bus. Unfortunately, any "deal" made between the anti-Thaksin protest and the man himself or his sister would break apart at first opportunity to double cross in typical Thai style.

[sixfiftysevenmember]

These so called protesters are nothing but a bunch of undemocratic thugs and bullies.

For those trying to vote, please take photographs or videos of those yellow shirt idiots blocking the voting booths, post them online so they can be identified by the police and name and shamed.

At the same time can they please photograph the "Red' thugs who shot and killed a man and those same 'thugs' who viciously beat a man in the back of a pick-up.

Oh! and also the police who stood around doing nothing. Sorry for such a tall order!

[pipkins]

These so called protesters are nothing but a bunch of undemocratic thugs and bullies.

For those trying to vote, please take photographs or videos of those yellow shirt idiots blocking the voting booths, post them online so they can be identified by the police and name and shamed.

Thousands on twitter and news bullitin boards. CMPO have a facebook page collecting them as well.

Also, vid from yesterday shows somebody on the peaceful student convoy firing a gun from the truck leading the parade in Bang Na.

Pictures don't lie. See the Respect my vote poster comparing it to France. Brilliant and this imigary is worth more than millions of vile words from the fascist and his son.

Anybody notice the nepotism. navy chief is nephew, Akanart is his stepson. Suthep grooming him for a lifetime in repression? Absoulte disgusting double standards as ever from him and his ilk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcymHt0s-_A#t=1

[Fryslan boppe]

Wow. now that is an image. Real revolution anybody.!

Wow......That is creative.....This is the admirable old lady who they assaulted...If I was her, I'd copy this and place it in a huge and beautiful frame......What a foto...Luv it!...This foto is going viral in a hurry.

Edited January 27, 2014 by Fryslan boppe

[pipkins]

These so called protesters are nothing but a bunch of undemocratic thugs and bullies.

For those trying to vote, please take photographs or videos of those yellow shirt idiots blocking the voting booths, post them online so they can be identified by the police and name and shamed.

At the same time can they please photograph the "Red' thugs who shot and killed a man and those same 'thugs' who viciously beat a man in the back of a pick-up.

Oh! and also the police who stood around doing nothing. Sorry for such a tall order!

Somebody did. It went viral on youtube and twitter.

Sadly it also shows gun fire coming from the speaker truck near the beginning. Sure shooting at the reds sure won't have calmed the situation will it.

Please, some of you, read, google and tweet more. Really embarrassing posts yesterday from the yellow side.

[yourauntbob]

"To me, the anti-government protesters have turned themselves into anti-election and anti-democracy protesters. Everybody knows that this election contains flaws, but they should not include the flaws intentionally created by these "peaceful" protesters. I was frustrated but still hopeful that I could cast a vote at a later date. It will come one day when we all understand the inviolable rights of all countrymen born in this free country."

Perfectly said. It is an insult to democracy that this group still calls themselves democratic.

[kotsak]

You want to vote?

[yourauntbob]

At least the rabid dogs didn't resort to murder while making their political pointof view!

ummmmm.......

[96tehtarp]

Thailand has powerful and fearful (self censorship here) laws. This we all know. It is a red line not to be crossed.

In most civilized countries interfering with election polling is judged to be a crime on par with the offence of (self censorship here) in Thailand. The act of conspiracy to interfere with election polling would be equally a red line.

Civilized countries treat interfering with election polling, sedition, and incitement to insurrection to be a crime on par with high treason.

We have, in Thailand, other priorities and laws which are rewritten, and re-rewritten, and enforced all according to whim.

Nobody is running this country.

Edited January 27, 2014 by 96tehtarp

[tom21]

"did not love His Majesty the King." so the yellow shirts are saying if toy vote you do not love the king. I would love to answer that but forum rules and thailands law prevents me. all I know is let see what happens next sunday

[pipkins]

Looking at the reports (quite a detailed one in The Nation which was a pleasant surprise) Id say more people later in the day were trying to get the stations re-open than there had been closing them.

Just they were not organised as probably first time anyone can remember that idiots could be allowed to organise and shut them down.

Nation actually quite damning and this is really speaking volumes. They also took the pic of the day with the peaceful PDRC strangling and lauging at a voter.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Frustrated-voters-say-rights-violated-30225266.html

[blackman]

You want to vote?

gloriously staged picture by the reds to make the anti's look bad

the guy being strangled should be on Thai soaps at 6pm, his acting is so poor

[Ulysses G.]

To me, the anti-government protesters have turned themselves into anti-election and anti-democracy protesters.

That is exactly what they have done and it makes the reds look like they are in the right to the rest of the world.

[pipkins]

Thailand has powerful and fearful (self censorship here) laws. This we all know. It is a red line not to be crossed.

In most civilized countries interfering with election polling is judged to be a crime on par with the offence of (self censorship here) in Thailand. The act of conspiracy to interfere with election polling would be equally a red line.

Civilized countries treat interfering with election polling, sedition, and incitement to insurrection to be a crime on par with high treason.

We have, in Thailand, other priorities and laws which are rewritten, and re-rewritten, and enforced all according to whim.

Nobody is running this country.

And so it should be.

Another sad part of this is that the Police are included in that - true in any country. - an cannot operate at Stations or in the area surrounding them without the express request from the EC to do so. This attracts flames, but it is the law and is written in the constitution here.

The Courts were banking on the Police intervening yesterday then crying foul and charging the police and government with interfering with elections.

Of course, as it is the Elite backers man Suthep doing it, it's ok.

I'm still waiting for the backers to be named publically. think some are jumping ship, but they are as treacherous as Suthep himself for backing this and they need to be dealt with..

[Yunla]

I don't really know which (if either) of the current political parties are good or bad for "Thailand" as a whole (I suspect it to be neither).

Supporters of both parties either need to demand a change of leadership and change of policy agendas, or they need to stop supporting these two grinning gargoyles that we laughingly call political parties. In the case of the latter, the supporters should form two new parties, with leaders selected from the spheres of agriculture, medicine, industry, infrastructure development. Leaders should have worked in those spheres for decades. The best leaders are ones who had real lives in the actual core mechanisms of society, not people who grew up wanting to be a politicians, or who migrated to that sphere from other high-state offices.

With the new 'common-sense' leaders in place, and strict regulation of internal party policy and corruption, the two groups can return to the debating table and form consensus on how to get this run-down political situation back on the rails and probably surprising everyone with its successful performance. As far as I see it, the new party / legit leaders is the 'only game in town', they will have to adopt this approach if they are to break free of the impasse. Do I think it will happen soon, no. Not in my lifetime. But it will have to happen eventually because the alternative is a gradual descent into oblivion.

[icommunity]

The DEM's PCAD/PDRC is not a peaceful anti-government group. They are anti-people, anti-democracy, anti human-rights, violence thugs in the streets, parks,

[ianf]

The DEM's PCAD/PDRC is not a peaceful anti-government group. They are anti-people, anti-democracy, anti human-rights, violence thugs in the streets, parks,

...............who get murdered by the peaceful loving Thaksin Red Shirts! Oh yeah!

[icommunity]

The thugs shouted at voter : "Some shouted at him that he was Thaksin's slave and did not love His Majesty the King." RESPECT MY KING"

I think they are shaming the King with such shameful activities.

[SebD]

Thailand has powerful and fearful (self censorship here) laws. This we all know. It is a red line not to be crossed.

In most civilized countries interfering with election polling is judged to be a crime on par with the offence of (self censorship here) in Thailand. The act of conspiracy to interfere with election polling would be equally a red line.

Civilized countries treat interfering with election polling, sedition, and incitement to insurrection to be a crime on par with high treason.

We have, in Thailand, other priorities and laws which are rewritten, and re-rewritten, and enforced all according to whim.

Nobody is running this country.

Agreed.

Nobody runs this country.

Especially the one who maybe has most influence of all in this superstitious land.

More shame on Thailand's diysfunctional/archaic political system.

[noitom]

To me, the anti-government protesters have turned themselves into anti-election and anti-democracy protesters.

That is exactly what they have done and it makes the reds look like they are in the right to the rest of the world.

It sure is making Thaksin look smart.