Thread: Thai elections 2011-Thai PM sets stage for tough election

Onanong to contest Bangkok's Constituency 2

DEMOCRAT ABOUT-TURN
Onanong to contest Bangkok's Constituency 2

13 May 2011

By The Nation



Two Democrats, Onanong Kanjanachusak and ML Apimongkol Sonakul, have agreed to settle a problem arising from the redrawn voting zone following mediation on Friday by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The party executive board initially picked Apimongkol to seek reelection in Bangkok's Constituency 2 under the singleseat system. Onanong, who shared the constituency under the multiseat system, threatened to quit the party.

After meeting with Abhisit, Apimongkol said he had sought and received the party's permission to switch to Constituency 3 in order to make way for Onanong.

Under the new arrangement, Onanong will run in Constituency 2 and aspiring candidate Sukij Kongthoranin will give up his Constituency 3 to contest the poll as a partylist candidate.

Meanwhile, police have invoked the ordnance law to dismantle a "no vote" campaign billboard.

The billboard, erected by the People's Alliance for Democracy on Rajdamnoen Avenue, depicted a lineup of five individuals with animal heads dressed in suits under the slogan "Don't Let Animals Enter Parliament".

Police spokesman Maj General Prawuth Thawornsiri said on Friday the billboard message was deemed inappropriate and that the PAD was not authorised to put up the billboard under the city ordnance.

Well, all of this just proves that Thailand at the moment is something that Orwell predicted.

Those of you who have read 1984 will remember that Winston Smith worked at the Ministry of Truth where his job was to delete and modify history. I've just seen that happen.

We cannot mention LM? Are these the rules?

Originally Posted by SteveCM

Mention of LM outside that sub-forum is arguably not quite as clear-cut.

Steve, you just mentioned LM

Originally Posted by SteveCM

two Democrats, Onan

Dem's will fail to catch the irony.

Bangkok Post : Thaksin needs to cast spell

ABOUTPolitics

Thaksin needs to cast spell

Pheu Thai is relying on ousted PM's charisma to give party decisive edge as surveys indicate close poll

• Published: 14/05/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

The opposition Pheu Thai Party has been a political brand built on the power and glory of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.


Thaksin: Disheartened by survey

Thaksin means more to the party now than ever before, with the election approaching.

He is also more active in the party than at any time in the past year. His heavy presence, bolstered by frequent phone-in contacts and Skyping at party meetings, coincides with predictions that Pheu Thai and its rival Democrat Party will not win more than 200 seats each in the July 3 poll. Surveys by political pundits show that neither party is likely to win an outright majority.

Pheu Thai dismisses the predictions and insists it is likely to win about 270 seats of the 500 at stake.

The Democrats have conducted their own survey, which suggested they will capture more than the 160-plus seats they won at the 2007 general election.

The survey also suggested Pheu Thai is unlikely to do as well as its forerunner, the People Power Party, did in the previous election.

The PPP was dissolved for electoral fraud and Pheu Thai rose from its ashes.

In fact, the Democrats' survey suggested the Democrats and Pheu Thai will be locked in a close race, with the winning party scoring a victory margin of only up to 10 seats.

The Democrats believe they have expanded and consolidated their support during their almost three years in power despite falling out with their former ally, the People's Alliance for Democracy.

The PAD has urged its supporters to vote no in the poll. The Democrats believe they might lose some of their traditional supporters in the campaign but not a significant amount.

A Democrat source said Pheu Thai under the direction of Thaksin had surveyed voters to compare its potential candidates for prime minister _ Chalerm Yubamrung, Pol Gen Pracha Promnok, Mingkwan Sangsuwan and Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's younger sister _ against Prime Minister and Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The results of the survey found no Puea Thai candidate was able to outshine Mr Abhisit.

Disheartened Thaksin looked around and saw no one but himself who could compete with Mr Abhisit, according to the Democrat source.

Thaksin must be seen by supporters to be in control of the party to keep it from crumbling away through defections of members.

The former premier now phones in regularly from exile to members at party forums and red shirt gatherings.

He has even plugged Pheu Thai's election manifesto.

The source said Pheu Thai is well aware its policies alone will not win the day. It needs Thaksin to work his magic to maintain the party's upper hand in the election.

The Democrats believe that Pheu Thai is worried about its post-election future after trying to get parties to sign a joint declaration giving the party that wins the most seats the right to form the government first.

Pheu Thai is resigning itself to the likelihood that it will not score a landslide victory.

Re above State Media drivel....Post #258

And the state media misinformation campaign percolates right along.

I like this one..."The results of the survey found no Puea Thai candidate was able to outshine Mr Abhisit".

Another one of these infamous Polls.

Just mix among the majority Democracy Movement crowd and above quote could not generate more derision.

I feel sorry for the linguistically challenged Farangs who have no means of getting beyond this State Media stuff.

Originally Posted by Calgary

Re above State Media drivel....Post #258 And the state media misinformation campaign percolates right along. I like this one..."The results of the survey found no Puea Thai candidate was able to outshine Mr Abhisit". Another one of these infamous Polls. Just mix among the majority Democracy Movement crowd and above quote could not generate more derision. I feel sorry for the linguistically challenged Farangs who have no means of getting beyond this State Media stuff.

I agree with you 100% and it's boringgggggggggg to hear this drivel being pumped out day after day!

I'm one of the linguistically challenged Farangs but common sense tells me this government will hoodwink Thai's anyway they can despite most speaking the language fluently, unfortunatley many Thai voters are "mentally challenged and uneducated" and that's why this drivel is being pumped out everyday.

Originally Posted by tomta

We cannot mention LM? Are these the rules?

Originally Posted by SteveCM

Mention of LM outside that sub-forum is arguably not quite as clear-cut.

Steve, you just mentioned LM

I did - and the post containing it is still there intact whereas your preceding ones got deleted. From that I can only deduce that my amateur summary was broadly correct. While I know that TD moderation likes to stay out of sight, I do think this is one occasion when it would be good to have dependable input on what's allowed or not - regarding mention of LM.

Originally Posted by SteveCM

While I know that TD moderation likes to stay out of sight, I do think this is one occasion when it would be good to have dependable input on what's allowed or not - regarding mention of LM.

Normally I'd agree with you but LM's at least a very dangerous subject to post let alone attempt to discuss, saying that I couldn't get any of my reply posts accepted on TD.


What you posted was a fair summary, I'll say no more than that because I think we know the answers anyway.

Thailand’s high-stakes gamble after crackdown - The Globe and Mail

One year later

Thailand’s high-stakes gamble after crackdown

MARK MacKINNON
BANGKOK— From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Published Friday, May. 13, 2011 7:01PM EDT
Last updated Friday, May. 13, 2011 10:25PM EDT


As bullets ricocheted through Bangkok’s Wat Pathum Wanaram temple during the violent climax of Thailand’s political crisis last spring, the woman known as Nurse Kate was just finishing treating one of the wounded when she saw another injured man lying near the entrance to the Buddhist temple.

Despite the firefight raging around her, the 25-year-old made her way to the new victim. Then, despite the green cross that was plain on her white vest, someone shot her dead.

The story of brave Nurse Kate, whose real name is Kamolkate Akkahad, is well known in Thailand. What isn’t agreed on, however, is who shot her three times as she was tending to the wounded inside the supposed sanctuary of a Buddhist temple, where some 2,000 others had taken refuge from the violence of that day.

Was she gunned down by an army sniper, as much of the evidence suggests, during the operation to bring an end to two months of rolling demonstrations by Red Shirt anti-government protesters in the commercial heart of Bangkok? Or was she killed by rogue protesters, perhaps the infamous Black Shirts who battled the army with automatic weapons, in an effort to turn more people against the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva?

That such a question can still be asked speaks to the depth of the divide that persists in Thailand 12 months after the crackdown that left Nurse Kate and 90 others – most of them Red Shirt supporters – dead in the country’s worst political violence in modern history.

If you’re a supporter of Mr. Abhisit’s government (and thus of the ruling establishment, which includes the country’s military and monarchy), May 19, 2010, was the day the insanity of having the centre of Bangkok held hostage by the supporters of a fugitive politician was finally brought to an end.

If you’re a Red Shirt (and thus likely a fan of the exiled former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra), there’s no question Nurse Kate was shot dead by a soldier, one more victim of the effort by the country’s elites to repress an uprising by the country’s poor and disadvantaged.

Much riding on election
Which narrative will be written, at least temporarily, into the history books will depend on who wins the general election campaign Mr. Abhisit launched this week when he asked the country’s King to dissolve parliament.

If Mr. Abhisit’s Democrat Party returns to office, the only people likely to face trial are the leaders of the Red Shirt movement, some of whom are already in prison or temporarily free on bail. If the opposition Pheu Thai (which will reportedly be led by Mr. Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra) forms the next government, they’re promising to prosecute Mr. Abhisit and others involved in ordering the May 19 crackdown.

Precisely because the stakes are so high, many worry that this country of 64 million people, Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, is heading into another period of turbulence.

“This could be the most violent election ever, both during the campaign and even after,” said Surat Horachaikul, an assistant professor of political science at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University.

Both the Democrats and the Red Shirts bluntly warn that there could be a return to street violence if the other side takes power after the election.

The polls suggest Pheu Thai, the political wing of the Red Shirt movement, will win the largest number of votes, if not an outright majority in Thailand’s 500-seat parliament on July 3. Despite a full-out push by the Democrats to win over the rural poor who form the backbone of the Red Shirt movement, the north and northeast of the country – where Mr. Thaksin is revered as the man who introduced cheap health care and rural development programs – remain firmly Red Shirt territory, as are poorer parts of Bangkok.


[1st page of 3-page article - click link for the rest]

^^^ At this time with a so called "free and fair election" coming soon, I'd say this was a well balanced and well written article and probably one that will be clear to Farangs, unfortunately I'm not sure the undecided Thais could possibly understand it.

Great pity really, it needs to be translated with nothing getting lost in the translation.

What is clear is how the military leader is digging himself deeper and deeper into politics, day by day. He needs to be got rid of, then we can consider a free election and potential democracy at some point down the road.

Day by day this lunatic military leader is entrenching himself visibly at the heart of politics. Any people, such as Abhisit and Suthep, that enable and support him are an utter disgrace and traitors to democracy.

Originally Posted by SteveCM

The story of brave Nurse Kate, whose real name is Kamolkate Akkahad, is well known in Thailand.

1.bp.blogspot.com

Thailand Crisis 2010: Photo Gallery : Soldiers on BTS track above Pathumwanaram Temple aimed at demonstrator

JOTMAN: May 2010

What happened at Wat Pathum Wanaram? | Asian Correspondent

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011...-30145852.html

http://www.thapthancity.comwww.bangk...-invited-to-uk

From Twitter today:



ThaiElection11 ThaiElection2011

Party slogan: Pheu Thai: "Think Anew, Do Anew, Again for All Thais", Democrat: "Move On With Policies for The People" #ThaiElection

9 minutes ago


Note: "[at]ThaiElection2011" is The Nation's election-dedicated Twitter account

Bangkok Post : Thaksin

Breakingnews >

Thaksin’s aide denies allegations

• Published: 14/05/2011 at 01:28 PM
• Online news: Local News

The general election is the solution to the country’s political conflict and it allows people to choose their representatives and government, not for whitewashing anyone as alleged, Noppadon Pattama said on Saturday.

Mr Noppadon, a legal advisor to ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinnawatra, was responding to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s remark at the election campaign in Ratchaburi yesterday that if Pheu Thai wins at the polls and becomes a government, there would be unrest in the country.

He was also responding to the remark by Deputy Prime Minister for security affairs Suthep Thaugsuban that Thaksin wants Pheu Thai to win the election so it can hold power to whitewash him.

Mr Noppadon said he did not want to make word war with Mr Abhisit and Mr Sthep on the allegations because he knows well what they both are thinking about the ex-premier.

“The Democrats had been beaten by Thaksin's party in all general elections in the past years. Only one time that the Democrat Party was not defeated was the election that it boycotted,” he said.

He called on Mr Suthep to think of the election in a positive way and respects the decision of the majority of voters. The Democrat Party should not try to form the next government if it does not win most votes at the coming polls, he added.

Bangkok Post : Election campaign posters cluttering up city fast

Election campaign posters cluttering up city fast

Bangkok residents complain of even more eyesores and that BMA restrictions are seldom enforced

• Published: 14/05/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

With the general election scheduled for July 3, the campaign poster clutter is returning quickly. The problem is especially apparent in Bangkok where competition is fierce and people are highly interested in politics despite the relatively low voter turnout in past elections.

A Democrat Party election billboard that was erected on the in-bound Vibhavadi Rangsit Road shortly after the House dissolution on Monday. Election posters are flooding the city in the lead-up to the July 3 poll. CHUMPORN SANGVILERT


Many local residents have complained that Bangkok with its mushrooming highrise buildings does not need any more eyesores. They insist the city has no room for election campaign posters of various sizes sprouting up along roads and in public areas.

Bangkok residents say there is a law designating the areas for election campaign signs and posters, but it is seldom enforced.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) can invoke its own poster-control regulations.

In the last general election, in 2007, the BMA allowed political parties to place their campaign signs in public places except on traffic islands, pedestrian bridges, flyovers, road medians, traffic signs, traffic lights, government boards, government buildings and fences, bus stops, public phone booths, mailboxes, monuments, police booths and public toilets.

Campaign posters were also prohibited at Sanam Luang, public parks, traffic roundabouts, roads around the Grand Palace and Chitralada Palace, at the Royal Plaza and on Ratchadamnoen Avenue.

The Election Commission (EC) allows just two sizes for posters. A large poster can measure up to 130cm wide and 245cm long. The number of such posters must not exceed five times the number of polling stations in each constituency.

A small poster can measure up to 30cm wide and 42cm long and the number must not exceed 10 times the number of polling units in each constituency.

Nathapol Teepasuwan, campaign director for the Democrat Party, said its candidates could select the producers of their campaign posters, yet the party has a say on the specifications and the appearance of the posters to make sure they reflect the party's identity.

He said the party told its candidates to strictly follow the EC's rules and limit their campaign budgets to 1.5 million baht apiece as required by law.



The Pheu Thai Party has issued similar instructions to its candidates. Anudit Nakhonthap, Bangkok campaign director for the party, said its candidates are told to ensure that posters convey the theme of the party's identity. But they are free to add other details to the campaign posters as they see fit.

Somchai Sappoj, 47, who has managed the Democrats' election campaigns in Bangkok for the past 15 years, said he had to find poster printers well ahead of an election.

The key is to print campaign signs before other parties and plant them quickly in prime locations before other parties do.

"Strategic locations for campaign posters to catch public attention include kerbs, intersections and crowded places like food markets. My team has at least four to five staffers who will place posters from 8pm to 2am every night.

"We can place about 40 posters a night. We can mobilise more people if we want faster installation," said Mr Somchai, vice president of the Suan Luang district council and who works for Samart Maluleem, a Democrat in Suan Luang and Prawet districts.

He noted that competition for prime locations was more intense this time because the EC had reduced the amount of designated poster areas.
Mr Somchai usually begins with big posters bearing the party's policies and photos of candidates with the party leader. Later he will place small signs that focus on the faces and numbers of candidates. Just before an election, he will plant another set of posters focusing on the candidates' numbers only.

Somnuek Phaewsakune, who is responsible for campaign posters of Democrat Suthi Panyasakulwong in Phra Khanong and Bang Na districts said to keep the posters from being vandalised, he would not put up all the posters at once but keep about 10% in reserve to replace damaged ones.Some posters in past campaigns were stolen and the candidates' pictures defaced by political rivals, he said.


Writer: Supoj Wancharoen
Position: Reporter

http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255405140012

Pheu Thai members forced to resign for disagreeing on who to be next PM

BANGKOK, 14 May 2011 (NNT)-Democrat Leader’s Spokesperson Mr. Thepthai Senpong asked the Election Commission (EC) to investigate the financial situation of the Pheu Thai Party as no evidence was found on how the Opposition had obtained the money for the election campaign.

The Spokesperson raised the suspicion to the EC and urged that the investigation be held to verify the morality of the Opposition regarding their financial support. Meanwhile, Mr. Thepthai cited a report from Pheu Thai members that their party made them write a resignation letter from being an MP in advance.

It is said to make it easier for the party to nominate a preferred individual as the next Prime Minister while other members who may not agree on the same person are no longer able to vote because they have resigned as MPs. Mr. Thepthai blamed the Opposition for threatening to abandon their members for not nominating the preferred nominee given that every one had the right by law to choose who they favored as prime minister.

http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255405140011

PM expects Democrat-Pheu Thai competition to be fierce

BANGKOK, 14 May 2011 (NNT) – Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, as the Democrat Party leader, has expressed belief that the competition between his party and the Pheu Thai Party will be intense during this election.

Prime Minister Abhisit stressed the significance of the upcoming general election to all Democrat MP candidates at the party’s seminar today at Grand Miracle Hotel. He said the poll this time was crucial to the nation and the people and was different from past occasions as it would take place in the midst of conflicts, violence and political movements outside Parliament. Therefore, he forecast a heated competition and encouraged the fresh candidates to learn as much as possible from their seniors.

In other words, the competition will likely be between two political giants, the Democrat and the Pheu Thai Parties, while their votes should be neck and neck, according to Mr Abhisit. He thus noted that the party’s policies were an important instrument to win the people over.

http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255405140006

Suan Dusit Poll: Political rift persists after election


BANGKOK, 14 May 2011 (NNT) – The majority of people have voiced their confidence that competition in the national politics will remain fierce and political disputes will persist after the House dissolution, according to a recent survey by Suan Dusit Poll of Suan Dusit Rajabhat University.

The survey was conducted with 1,328 respondents across the country from 10 to 12 May 2011. They were questioned on their opinions on the future of the Thai politics after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had dissolved the house

As for positive points, 46.24% of the respondents stated that there would be a new election. 21.17% said they expected to get new MPs and new government to improve the country. 18.49% and 14.10% of them named reduced political conflict and rising confidence of investors respectively.

As for negative points, 40.80% of the respondents indicated fierce political rivalry. 34.73%, 13.30% and 11.17% of them said discontinuity in national administration, huge budget spent to run a new election, and quarrels caused by disunity in politics respectively.

As for things that people believed will remain after the election, 37.24% of the respondents said political conflict and disunity. 32.71%, 17.55% and 12.50% named political demonstrations, corruption practices of politicians, and same old faces of politicians in Parliament respectively.

"In other words, the competition will likely be between two political giants, the Democrat and the Pheu Thai Parties, while their votes should be neck and neck, according to Mr Abhisit"

Wishful thinking???????Two political giants??????? Votes neck and neck????????? was this the case at the last couple elections? I dont think so....Therefore, chalk all this verbiage up as wishful thinking.

Originally Posted by SteveCM

Meanwhile, police have invoked the ordnance law to dismantle a "no vote" campaign billboard.

The billboard, erected by the People's Alliance for Democracy on Rajdamnoen Avenue, depicted a lineup of five individuals with animal heads dressed in suits under the slogan "Don't Let Animals Enter Parliament".

Police spokesman Maj General Prawuth Thawornsiri said on Friday the billboard message was deemed inappropriate and that the PAD was not authorised to put up the billboard under the city ordnance.

2bangkok.com