Thailand Live Sunday 2 Feb 2014

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: 3:43pm Looks like Pheu Thai is a winner in this constituency in Bang Kapi (Pic @t_louder) pic.twitter.com/jAopG4XPKI

[Lite Beer]

RT@tulsathit: A glimpse of Bkk results: A count in Chatuchak shows 67 votes for PT and 48 abstentions. via @chavarong

[Lite Beer]

Farmers refuse to lift road blockade

Protesting farmers continue to block the South-bound highway to protest against the government’s delayed rice payments despite police request that they open just one lane to ease traffic gridlock.

Pol Captain Prachak Thetthong, deputy inspector of highway police in Wang Manao, Ratchaburi’s Pak Tho district, met today with representatives of the protesters for discussion on his plea for the protesting farms to open one lane of the highway to be open to traffic so that most of the cars and trucks will not be diverted to detour route through Ban Wang Manao.

He reasoned that the detour route is narrow and will soon be damaged as it cannot stand the unusually heavy traffic. Also, the heavy traffic may damage a 200-year old church in the village and is causing pollution problem to the villagers who have been living peacefully and quietly, he added.

However, the farmers have refused to budge claiming that there are several detour routes that the police should have directed the traffic to instead of just the route through Ban Wang Manao.

More tents have been pitched on the highway at Wang Manao intersection by the farmers and kitchens have been set up to provide food to the protesters for a long-haul protest. Used typres were also laid on the highway to strengthen the road blockade.

The protesters have vowed to carry on the road blockade until they get their payments from the government.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/farmers-refuse-lift-road-blockade/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=farmers-refuse-lift-road-blockade

-- Thai PBS 2014-02-02

[Lite Beer]

RT@Tulip_Oum: Govt satisfied with 89.28% voting units that able to operate, will petition EC to set by-election within 7 days per article 78.-@Wiroon_PJ

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

No elections in nine southern provinces and five districts of Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Two hours after the start of the voting today, elections still cannot be staged in 42 constituencies in nine southern provinces and five constituencies in Bangkok due to closure of the polling units and other problems, said Mr Puchong Nuttrawong, secretary-general of the Election Commission today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701429-voting-cancelled-in-42-districts-nationwide/page-2#entry7383977

[Lite Beer]

RT@Saksith: Re. EC announcement. TR @ NewVerapat : It sounds like ... They're going to announce their Resignation

[Lite Beer]

RT@bangkokpundit: EC : 89% of polling units were open to vote. EC can’t legally announce voting results today.

RT@Saksith: EC: “We want to thank everyone who casted their ballot and took part in this election.”

RT@tulsathit: EC confirms election results can't be announced. Feb 23 is earmarked to fix advanced voting trouble.

RT@tulsathit: EC does not touch upon issue of today's election's "legitimacy", though it says 89.2% of polling units functioned today.

[Lite Beer]

RT@tulsathit: Another glimpse: For poll units 7-15 of Bang Bon, 2,447 out of 7,480 eligible voters cast ballots. via @Bell_Rakung @js100radio

[Lite Beer]

RT@teamkorn Apparently YL's vote is now invalid, she put her ballot in the wrong box (orange party list ballot goes in other box) pic.twitter.com/T5o3GLUt0I

[Lite Beer]

RT@JenRevadee: Pic. She's holding a partylist ballot and thats a constituent-ballot box. pic.twitter.com/2EVKc39hZj

[Lite Beer]

Caretaker Dep PM Pongthep: No problems in 89% of constituencies nationwide; 2 people arrested for ripping ballots in Minburi & Nakhon Pathom /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

RT@terryfrd: A BKK Post exclusive from our remote helicopter pilot Sithikorn Wongwudthianun. pic.twitter.com/jbuG92q2fp

[Lite Beer]

RT@Saksith: Looks like PM Yingluck indeed mistakenly Put her in The wrong ballot Cards Boxes. Pic.twitter.com/sBv8v5u67L via @ Jenredvae

[Lite Beer]

RT@Saksith: TR @jeerapong_nna: 16.40 PM confirms putting ballot in wrong box, says she followed officials’ instructions, notified EC already

RT@Saksith: .@jonmarsk she voided her vote, but voted anyways, so she’s free to run for office again. Only if she didn’t show up at all would be trouble

[Lite Beer]

Election Commission: poll cancelled entirely in 9 provinces, some areas of another 9 provinces /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

RT@Tulip_Oum: Narathiwat reportedly seen only 30% of eligible voters has casted their votes.-@NationChannel24

[Lite Beer]

RT@PKinbangkok: Incompetence or sabotage by district official? RT @preedayip168: "@go6tv: ดูชัดๆ เจ้าหน้าที่ กทม... นายกฯถามแล้ว .. pic.twitter.com/oAKR2t1c2h"

[Lite Beer]

RT@jotterer: Crowd cheers as protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban arrives at #Ratchaprasong protest stage #ElectionTH pic.twitter.com/t8f3sECUcC

[Lite Beer]

UPDATE:

Voters flock to police as poll cancelled
By English News

Bangkok, Feb 2 - More than 1,000 frustrated voters have notified the police for not being able to cast their ballots, as polling was canceled in many areas.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701429-voting-cancelled-in-42-districts-nationwide/page-2#entry7384261

[Lite Beer]

RT@Saksith: Here’s the @AFP video of PM Yingluck casting her ballot in the wrong boxes. Nobody said anything… youtube.com/watch?v=bGKpC5…

[Lite Beer]

RT@tulsathit: Rant: If some1 yesterday had offered YL's "wrong box" and Chuwit street fight as biggest poll incidents, I'd have bitten his hand off.

[Lite Beer]

Caretaker PM says she's satisfied today's election proceeded without violence, thanks all concerned parties /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

RT@bangkokpundit: Thai Rath quotes EC Director for Chiang Rai as saying that turn-out was about 60% thairath.co.th/content/region…

[Lite Beer]

RT@RichardBarrow: Suthep has just announced that protest marches across #Bangkok will continue. Next one is on Monday & will be 14km long

[Lite Beer]

RT@sunaibkk: Protesters in Hatyai end seige of mail center, which blocked ballot distribution, saying mission to obstruct voting is accomplished.

[Lite Beer]

RT@veen_NT: Tarit: It's important to continue SoE in the said areas. #CMPO

RT@tulsathit: CMPO asks police to investigate poll officials who "abandoned" their duties. via @js100radio

RT@veen_NT: Tarit: Some officials intend to 'neglect' their duties at polling booths. We will as police to investigate & charge them.

[Lite Beer]

RT@tulsathit: Chalerm: Pheu Thai will win 260-280 seats. via @NationChannel24

[Lite Beer]

Govt calls on Election Commission to hold new polls within one week
By English News

BANGKOK, Feb 2 – The Election Commission (EC) should hold new elections in unsuccessful constituencies in seven days to enable voters to exercise their rights, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana said today.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/701508-govt-calls-on-election-commission-to-hold-new-polls-within-one-week/

[Lite Beer]

FEBRUARY 2 ELECTION
Foreign media worried what happened after poll
Chanon Wongsatayanont
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- International news outlets were concerned with the violence on the eve of the election day but yesterday they reported that the election itself is going smoothly except for a few scuffles.

However, many expressed concerns of what will happen after the election yesterday, which seems to be what the political turmoil is leading up to.

The BBC said that "Voting in 13 of Bangkok’s 33 constituencies, and in 37 of 56 constituencies in the south was disrupted" by protesters from the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC). However, election in the north and northeast proceeded peacefully.

Al Jazeera has expressed doubts that the current election will be successful at the first place. Al Jazeera reported that "The [election] commission has already voiced concerns that it would result in too few legitimately elected MPs to form a parliamentary quorum."

Reuters said that even if the Pheu Thai party managed to win in an election, the victory would be far from celebratory. "With parliamentary seats unable to be filled, she [Yingluck Shinawatra] could find herself on shaky ground, exposed to legal attacks and unable to pass bills and budgets crucial to reviving the economy."

Earlier last month, several provinces in southern Thailand could not register election candidates because they were obstructed by the protesters.

The CNN quoted Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, a member of the Election Commission, saying that a new parliament will take three to six months to form.

Many news outlets also reported on the violence between pro- and anti-government supporters on Saturday at Lak Si intersection. The New York Times, along with many other media outlets, said that both sides of the conflict were armed

-- The Nation 2014-02-02

[Lite Beer]

RT@stevelai: Abhisit Vejjajiwa talking about low voter turnout on @ChannelNewsAsia. "Confident that elections are NOT free, fair or constitutional"