Anything & Everything About Thailand

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 2 April 2006 :-

Sondhi 'feared aircraft bomb'

Secrecy and speculation have replaced almost all reporting around the mysterious trip to China by anti-Thaksin protest leader last Friday, and his failure to return to Thailand as promised.

Supporters now say that Mr Sondhi feared there might be a bomb on his aircraft, and/or a "pro-Thaksin welcoming committee" at Don Muang airport, so he refused to return from Guilin last night.

The original story, long abandoned, was that Mr Sondhi could not return because the Bangkok Airways flight from Guilin was fully booked.

The state-run Thai News Agency reported this morning that Mr Sondhi has promised now to be back to help to lead a scheduled rally in Hat Yai, Songkhla province, biggest city in the South, on Wednesday.

It is unclear, however, exactly who he promised this to. Mr Sondhi has suddenly avoided all but the most friendly reporters, and even his own Manager Online website has been reduced to quoting "sources" for their stories about their publisher.

He also told supporters he would definitely be in the lead when the People's Alliance for Democracy re-starts its Bangkok rallies at the Makhawan Bridge on Friday evening.

On the other hand, said TNA, "Mr. Sondhi will face a lese majeste charge for his address before a mass rally of PAD-led demonstrators at the Makhawan Bridge on March 23."

That has sparked rumours that Mr Sondhi has actually fled Thailand, at least temporarily, to escape the investigation and possible criminal charges. - (BP)

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Sunday 2 April 2006 :-

Army chief slams absent Sondhi over royal remark

Army commander-in-chief General Sonthi Boonyaratklin yesterday lashed out at Sondhi Limthongkul, a key leader of the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy, for making a remark deemed "insulting" to His Majesty the King.

"Such a remark upsets members of the armed forces [who serve under HM the King]," Sonthi said.

Asked how the armed forces would react to the incident, he said: "I think you know what could happen if the armed forces are displeased."

According to the Army chief, peaceful demonstrations are acceptable in a democracy, but the highly revered King should not be mentioned in a disrespectful manner.

Sondhi, the media firebrand who has been co-leading the anti-Thaksin movement in the past few months, earlier mentioned the King in a manner that could be deemed as lese majeste while he attacked Thaksin Shinawatra, the caretaker prime minister.

Admiral Sathiraphan Keyanont, the Navy chief, said Sondhi's reference to the King was unacceptable and police are investigating the case.

Meanwhile, Sondhi yesterday postponed his return from Guilin in China, saying he could not get a seat on a Bangkok Airways flight.

Bangkok Airways yesterday reported it had received a bomb threat at Don Muang International Airport, resulting in the delay of its Guilin-bound flight in the afternoon.

Officials did not find any explosives aboard the jetliner and it was cleared to depart for the Chinese tourist city. Sondhi had planned to return to Bangkok last night on the aircraft.

Besides the bomb threat, a group of people had earlier said they would hold a rally at Don Muang to protest against Sondhi for making the "insulting" remark concerning the King.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Sunday 2 April 2006 :-

Worst not over yet, poll suggests

A survey of Bangkok residents suggests about half the city's residents believe they are living through a political crisis and almost 36 per cent expect tension to intensify after today's vote, an Abac poll said yesterday.

The survey was conducted from 1,458 respondents on Friday to find out if people thought the election would end the political turmoil.

About one in three of respondents said the turmoil would persist regardless of the outcome, an equal number thought the situation might spiral out of control, and about 25 per cent said political peace would probably be restored.

Asked whether the authorities should use force to disperse the protesters, 43 per cent said 'no' while 26.6 per cent said 'yes', with about 30 per cent expressing no opinion on the matter.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Sunday 2 April 2006 :-

GENERAL ELECTION : All set for contentious vote

Turnout expected to be same as last year, amid heightened security; results due on Wednesday, says Election Commission

A total of 86,905 polling stations are ready for 44 million voters to cast their ballots today and 869,050 officials will supervise the process and count the votes.

"Final preparations have been concluded and the voter turnout is expected to be about 72 per cent, on a par with the last general election," Election Commission secretary-general Ekachai Warunprapha said yesterday.

Of the 941 candidacy applications submitted for constituency voting, 589 candidates will run for the 400 House seats up for grabs. The other 100 seats are to be filled by party-list candidates allocated according to the proportion of votes each party receives.

Thai Rak Thai candidates will run unopposed in 200 constituencies in 59 provinces and must muster 20 per cent of the vote in each of these constituencies to win them.

Nonthaburi's third constituency has no potential MP because of Friday's disqualification of the lone Thai Rak Thai candidate Pimpa Chantharaprasong.

Voters there will cast ballots for party-list candidates today.

They can chose a constituency representative when the EC accepts fresh candidacy applications and organises a ballot at the same time as next month's Senate election.

Today's balloting will take place between 8am and 3pm, with voters being offered pens or a stamp to mark "X", or they can use their own pen of any colour.

EC chairman Vasana Puemlarp promised to complete the unofficial count by tomorrow and give the official outcome on Wednesday

Vote tallying will be conducted at 400 centres manned by 162,400 counters and 4,000 security guards.

Authorities in the three southernmost provinces are promoting the vote as well as strengthened security with bomb squads stepping up checks at polling stations.

Due to a freak storm in the lower Northeast yesterday, the Air Force provided a C-130 aircraft and a helicopter to fly 5,000 ballot boxes from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani and will help transport the ballots to counting centres today.

Monitors from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan yesterday inspected the preparations at 188 polling stations in Songkhla and are scheduled to observe the voting.

At every province, officials fanned out to transport ballot boxes for overnight storage at district offices before releasing them to polling stations today while boats and helicopters have delivered boxes to islands.

Many civic groups are monitoring today's poll in a bid to prevent vote rigging and Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya said the public should help officials ensure a clean election takes place.

"Some ill-intentioned people might try to tarnish the vote, hence it is everyone's responsibility to vote and to safeguard the ballots," he said.

Democrat Party spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon said rumours that piles of Bt1,000 notes were ready for distribution on the eve of the election should be probed.

Ong-art urged voters to cast their ballots although his party was boycotting the election.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he was ready to accept the election outcome, regardless of whether it was favourable for him or not. Suspected ballot fraud should be reported to the following hotlines, run by volunteers from the media and health professions: (02) 621 6705; (02) 621 7814; (09) 163 3326; (09) 163 3364 or [email protected]

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 2 April 2006 :-

Protests keep 5,000 Singaporeans away from Bangkok

Singapore - The political demonstrations in Bangkok over the past few weeks have caused at least 5,000 Singaporean tourists to cancel trips to Bangkok, a travel agents association said.

"It's quite common for Singaporeans to cancel trips when there is unrest at the destination," The Sunday Times quoted Robert Khoo, chief executive of the National Association of Travel Agents, as saying.

The latest figures from the Tourism Authority of Thailand showed 30,000 people scrapped their trips to Thailand's capital over the past month, with the bulk from China and Singapore.

Travel agents said their customers were avoiding the unrest and switching to other regional destinations.

"Some customers inquiring about Hong Kong said they had initially intended to go to Bangkok, but changed their minds because of the protects," said Joycelyn Su, senior manager of outbound tours for CTC holidays.

Most of the agents cited a 30 to 50 per cent drop in the number of inquiries regarding Bangkok trips.

"I usually get about two dozen inquiries for Bangkok in a week, but the number has halved," said Vincent Wong, manager of Diamond Tours.

The purchase of a controlling interest in Thailand's telecommunications giant Shin Corp by Singapore state investment agency Temasek Holdings from the family of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra sparked the anti-government protests.

Under the complex structure of the deal, Thaksin's family paid no capital-gains tax, which s+++ed popular anger against him.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Sunday 2 April 2006 :-

Sondhi arrives from China

Sondhi Limthogkul, a decision maker of the people's Alliance for Democracy, arrived at the Don Muang International Airport at 11:00 am Sunday.

Sondhi said he went to take a break in China and did not intend to flee lese majesty charges as his opponents had spread the rumours.

Sondhi said he would not go to vote but would go home to take a rest.

He said he was ready to defend himself in court.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Sunday 2 April 2006 :-

BANGKOK AIRWAYS : Firm to build Khmer airport

Bangkok Airways Co plans to put a Bt400-million airport on Cambodia's Kong Island in its first such venture abroad.

The new airport would join three in Thailand - Samui, Sukhothai and Trat. Trat is the gateway to Chang Island.

CEO Prasert Prasartthong-osoth said yesterday that construction would start this year, beginning with a runway, terminal and operation offices, and take a year to complete.

Bangkok Airways leases land on the casino island, which has become a popular tourist destination, especially for Thais, since Cambodia eased its immigration conditions to attract more visitors.

Bangkok would be connected to Kong Island, which lies just off the southern tip of Trat, twice or three times a week by ATR aircraft.

"We will be the first airline to operate on the island, just as we were in Siem Reap in Cambodia years ago," Prasert said.

Cambodia wants to attract investors to the island by promoting it as a special economic zone, he said.

The airline targets business people and tourists, particular from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand.

Prasert denied that his service would see a big proportion of gamblers but agreed that they would be a major group.

The move is part of the company's network expansion from Indo-China to mainland China and other parts of the Far East such as Hong Kong and Japan.

The regional airline is also studying the feasibility of constructing an airport in southern Burma, but progress has been slow. It flies from Bangkok to Rangoon.

The privately owned airline is growing rapidly in the Asian market with three million passengers a year, of which 90 per cent are tourists from the West.

Bangkok Airways' sister airline in Cambodia, Siem Reap Airways International, operates Siem Reap-Phnom Penh, Siem Reap-Hong Kong and Siem Reap-Luang Prabang routes. It also flies from Phnom Penh to Kong Island and to Bangkok.

Siem Reap is home to the famous temples of Angkor Wat.

Bangkok Airways recently introduced Bangkok-Hiroshima flights.

The airline repositioned itself from a tourist carrier to a boutique airline several years ago to avoid clashing with budget airlines.

Bangkok Airways markets World Heritage Route tour packages, which combine the famed sites in countries along the Mekong River, including Sukhothai, Luang Prabang in Laos, Danang in Vietnam, Angkor Wat, and Yunnan in China.

"We don't want to compete with low-cost airlines, so we created the route to serve the upper-end market from both Asia and Europe," Prasert said.

The airline is developing a hotel chain called Heritage to complement its World Heritage Route.

Bangkok Airways and private-sector representatives met during the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Investment Summit in Luang Prabang to discuss ways to develop the GMS as a quality destination. Bangkok Airways was one of the major sponsors for the conference, which was held from Tuesday to Thursday.


Suchat Sritama
The Nation
Luang Prabang

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Sunday 2 April 2006 :-

BANGKOK INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW : Toyota tops orders with 3,800 units

Largest exhibition of kind in Bangkok draws 1.3m visitors

More than 12,000 cars, including three luxury ones worth more than Bt20 million, were ordered at the country's largest automotive exhibition.

In terms of orders made at the Bangkok International Motor Show, which opened at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Bitec) last Monday, Toyota came top with more than 3,800 cars and pickup trucks ordered. The runners up were Isuzu, Honda and Chevrolet with 1,500, 1,000 and 900 respectively.

In the high-end market Mercedes-Benz got most orders with more than 420 luxury cars. BMW sold 300. The most expensive car at the show was a Bentley for Bt20 million. Bentley took three orders for its new series. Jaguar sold 10 cars, and Lexus received 50 orders for its new series.

Jaturon Komolkit, deputy chairman of the organisers, said more than 1.3 million people had attended, making it the largest automotive exhibition ever. He expected more than 300,000 people today, the last day.

He said the exhibition offered car companies an opportunity to present their new models and high technology to the public rather than to make sales. Though orders were fewer than last year's 13,000, Jaturon said he was satisfied with the the show.

Among the more than one million visitors were caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his son Panthongtae. Though showing interest in the Bt13-million Jaguar XK, which was debuted in Paris last September, Thaksin did not buy it, though his wife Pojaman ordered a BMW 740 before the show opened.

Many companies used the event to test the water for their new series.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 2 April 2006 :-

Thaksin hints at crackdown

Prime Minister Thaksin voted on Sunday and then dropped a strong hint that he has seen just about enough mass protests.

He showed up with his three children, and all cast their votes. His wife, Khunying Potjaman, votes in a separate constituency, and also voted on Sunday morning - ironically at the same polling station, and almost at the same time as opposition leader Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang.

A main organiser of the People's Alliance for Demcoracy protests, Sondhi Limthongkul, returned from China (see separate story). He told an interviewer for CNN last week that he did not intend to vote, and apparently did not.

That would make him ineligible for all political offices and many duties in the event he and PAD achieve their goal of forcing Mr Thaksin out of office.

But the prime minister, who started his career as a police officer, hinted Sunday that in the post-election period he might be less tolerant of civil disobedience and street protests..

"It's time to bring law and order," Mr Thaksin said to journalists before speeding away from the Bang Plad polling station.

PAD is scheduled to resume public protests on Wednesday in Hat Yai, and then in Bangkok on Friday evening at the Makhawan Bridge, scene of a lengthy street gathering last month. (BP, from agency reports)

************************************************** ********

Mostly peaceful election ends

Millions of Thais went to the polls Sunday to decide the fate of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has vowed to refuse the premiership if his Thai Rak Thai Party wins less than half the ballots.

Anti-Thaksin activists announced within hours of the end of the election that they will file a lawsuit at the Administrative Court on Monday seeking to quash the polls.

Spokesman Suriyasai Katasila of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), the umbrella group which has been trying to force the prime minister to resign, said PAD will ask the court to move urgently.

The Election Commission, responsible for organising the snap election, predicted that 72 per cent of Thailand's 44 million eligible voters would cast ballots. Turnout appeared brisk throughout the country. Preliminary results will be known tomorrow morning (around 0000 GMT Sunday).

The results could be close, and certainly will result in many re-votes. Voting is compulsory in Thailand, but all ballots have a "No Vote" or absention choice - and many voters were expected to tick that box and select None Of The Above.

Many constituencies had just one ballot choice, and in a Bangkok suburb voters have no choice because the only, Thai Rak Thai party candidate was disqualified at the last minute.

"Let the people decide," said Thaksin, after casting his ballot at a school compound in Bang Plad district in Thonburi, a Bangkok suburb. Thaksin encouraged people to excercise their right to vote. "This is democracy," he said, making a claim that his opponents would contest.

Thailand's three former opposition parties - the Democrats, Chat Thai and Mahachon - have boycotted the election to protest Thaksin's "new form of dictatorship and authoritarianism," according to Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Mr Thaksin, who started his career as a police officer, hinted Sunday that he would not tolerate more civil disobedience in the post-election period.

"It's time to bring law and order," Thaksin said before speeding away from the Bang Plad polling station in his chauffeur-driven car.

There was no violence during the actual voting period on Sunday. Police in Pattani reported several fake bombs were placed close to polling stations, causing scares and alerts.

But less than 40 minutes after voting ended in Narathiwat province, three bombs exploded around polling places, injuring nine people, including four soldiers and two police officers, spokesmen said.

At one polling station, Chulalongkorn lecturer Chaiyun Chaiyaporn made good on his threat to conduct a stunt, tearing up his ballot while voting. He threatened the action, assuring maximum publicity, on the grounds he "disapprove[s] of Thaksin’s ways." He was immediately arrested and charged with destroying an election ballot.

TV stations reported that a second lecturer from private Kasem Buntit University cut his finger and marked his ballot with blood at a Lad Prao polling station. Police arrested him on the same charge.

Thaksin is a billionaire telecommunications tycoon whose populist Thai Rak Thai Party won the 2001 and 2005 elections by wide margins.

The opposition accuse him of using his popularity "as a licence for corruption and violation of rights." They have called on their supporters to tick the "no vote" box as a protest against Thaksin's rule.

Although there are 18 parties contesting Sunday's election, Thai Rak Thai is the only real contender. Of the 941 candidates who registered to contest the polls, only 589 met EC qualifications. Most of those rejected were from the 17 small, largely unknown parties.

************************************************** ********

Thaksin confident of post-election calm

Caretaker Prime Minister and Thai Rak Thai party leader Thaksin Shinawatra said he is confident that there will not be any chaos after Sunday’s general election.

Speaking to reporters at the headquarters of his TRT Party, Mr Thaksin said he would like to congratulate the Thais for coming out to exercise their right in a show of endorsement for democracy.

Mr Thaksin said he has full confidence that the Election Commission will be able to resolve the various contentious issues that could arise from the fact that TRT is the only major party fielding candidates.

Mr Thaksin declined comment on move to form the next administration, saying that one only has to wait for the outcome of the election which will represent the people’s will that all sides must respect.

Meanwhile, the Election Monitor Centre received a total of 296 complaints about electoral fraud during the voting hours of between 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Dr Wilasinee Pipitkul, a lecturer at the Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University who represents the EMC said 133 out of 296 complaints said the vote-casting cubicles were arranged in such a way that voters feel inconfident that they’re voting in secrecy.

Other issues that voters complained with the ECM related to the display of candidates picture and numbers within the voting area which is a violation of electoral law; and the neutrality of officials supervising the voting stations as some were said to persuade voters to vote for certain candidates. Some electoral officers were reported to hover about too close for comfort in the voting booths.

Dr Wilasinee pointed out that television news footages all show how famous people waved the ballot box they cast clearly showing who they voted for and this could also breach Section 104 of the Constitution that said voting must be conducted in secrecy.

The ECM is compiling all complaints to be forwarded to both the election watchdog P-Net and the Election Commission for further action, she said

************************************************** ********

Vote-buying rampant in northeast

BANGKOK, April 2 (TNA) – The main opposition Democrat Party, which boycotted Sunday’s general election, said it is monitoring the vote count relentlessly in light of complaints about vote-buying in particular in the northeast.

Democrat Party spokesman Ong-art Klaampaiboon said even though the Party did not field candidates, but it has set up a centre to receive electoral complaints after it exposed a conspiracy by Thai Rak Thai Party to bribe smaller parties to field candidates.

Mr Ong-art said that from voting opened until 3 p.m, the Party received 523 complaints, with the majority cases alleging vote-buying in several northeastern provinces. Another key complaint dealt with the arrangement of the vote-casting cubicles in such a way that many people suspect their ability to cast vote in total secrecy could be compromised.

Mr Ong-art said Section 104 in the Constitution guarantees voters’ right in confidential voting.

Other issues include the claim to use other people’s voting right, names of eligible voters missing from the voting station, as well as allegations that officials in several provincial areas tried to persuade voters to vote for one of the candidates and not to use the “no vote” slot.

“These complaints indicate the level of people’s anxiety and suspicion whether the election is conducted in a free and fair manner. The Democrat Party will watch the vote-counting carefully and would like to urge the people to observe vote-counting first-hand if they can,” he said.

************************************************** ********

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 3 April 2006 :-

ELECTION UPDATE

Thai Rak Thai party sources say that Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is considering whether to step aside and turn the caretaker government over to deputy premier Somkid Jatusripitak, who is also the commerce minister, as one way to try to cool the heat of division.

Caution: The counting is incomplete.

As of Monday morning, Prime Minister Thaksin and Thai Rak Thai have almost completely lost Bangkok to the "no-vote" option. Many Bangkok constituences voted 3- or 4-to-1 against Thai Rak Thai.

Similar numbers are reported in early returns from the South.

In the North, however, the Prime Minister and his party have made gains.

Mr Thaksin has promised not to take office if he gains less than 50% of the votes.

Final official results are expected by tonight Thailand time.

Early results from Sunday's election show a strong protest vote that could keep Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from claiming a decisive mandate and lead to constitutional crisis.

The strategy of the opposition to boycott the polls and call for the public to tick the "no vote" (abstain) option box on their ballots appeared to work in Bangkok.

Bangkok votes always are counted and available first, so caution is needed.

With half the Bangkok votes counted in the capital, "no votes" were in the majority.

For example, with 20% of votes counted, returns in Constituency 6 of Bangkok showed lone Thai Rak Thai candidate Danupol Punnakan with 5,090 votes, with "no vote" getting 11,473 - 69% of all votes counted.

Thai Rak Thai won 32 of Bangkok's 37 constituencies in the February, 2005 election.

But Mr Thaksin's main support is from the countryside. Early returns showed he was getting solid support in the North and Northeast - enough for another parliamentary majority.

The turnout was around 70% of the 45 million registered voters, compared with 73% in election of February of last year.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 3 April 2006 :-

City candidates take hammering

Early unofficial results last night showed a high number of people marked the no-vote option on their ballot papers in Bangkok, indicating the city was against the return to power of the Thai Rak Thai party.

In unprecedented numbers, voters in most constituencies in the capital chose to abstain through the no-vote option, surpassing the number of votes obtained by many Thai Rak Thai party favourites.

Observers said the ruling party was taught a lesson. Many of its favoured candidates in the one-horse race in Bangkok who had been expected to draw enough votes to meet the 20% of the electorate requirement were beaten by the high number of no-vote votes.

These included constituency 7 candidate Pisut Jintasophon, who had 12,751 votes compared to 20,915 no-vote votes with 78% of the vote counted.

Another disappointment was actor-turned-politician Danuporn Punakan of constituency 6 who, with 30% of the ballot counted, had 7,863 votes as opposed to 14,687 for the no-vote group.

Constituency 5 candidate Chakrapob Penkair with 1,648 votes was trailing behind the 4,617 no-vote ballots when the count reached 8%.

Thai Rak Thai contestants able to defend their turf included Pavena Hongsakula who had managed to rally 22,294 votes against 12,185 no-vote votes at the half-way mark.

Observers agreed many Thai Rak Thai candidates were facing an uphill battle to meet the 20% electoral requirement.

Thai Rak Thai deputy leader Pongthep Thepkanchana attributed the high abstention rate to anti-Thaksin demonstrations led by the People's Alliance for Democracy, the election boycott by the three opposition parties and the media's role in the "Vote for No-Vote" campaign.

Mr Pongthep said these three players - PAD, the opposition and the media -played crucial roles in increasing the number of crosses in the no-vote box in yesterday's elections.

He shrugged off calls for Thai Rak Thai candidates whose support fell below the no-vote vote in their constituencies to give up their right to become MPs, saying the party would abide by the election law. Under the election law, a candidate, running uncontested in an electorate has to get at least 20% of the registered vote to take a seat in the House.

In constituencies where there were rival candidates, the winner did not need to get 20% of registered votes, Thai Rak Thai executives emphasised. Mr Pongthep said it was hard to conclude that Thai Rak Thai's popularity had declined as there was a low voter turnout yesterday.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Monday 3 April 2006 :-

'No vote' stuns PM
Early results show Thaksin losing huge support in the capital

- Rattled leader avoids press, plans emergency meeting with senior Thai Rak Thai members this afternoon

- Ruling party insiders fear result could give new momentum to PAD

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra abruptly cancelled a planned evening press conference and re-fused to leave his home last night, apparently rattled by a staggeringly high number of "abstain" votes in an election he portrayed as a virtual national referendum on his beleaguered leadership.

Early counts showed the ruling Thai Rak Thai Party losing its grip on Bangkok, the hotbed of anti-government protests for more than three months. Abstain votes in many constituencies in the capital outnumbered votes for Thai Rak Thai candidates, who ran in a virtual one-horse race because the opposition bloc had boycotted the election.

But the question of legitimacy will not be limited to Bangkok. The Democrat-dominated South also gave Thai Rak Thai a big snub. Many "winning" Thai Rak Thai candidates in the South stand to be disqualified because the law stipulates that candidates who have no competition must win at least 20 per cent of support from eligible voters in their constituencies. This raises the highly contentious issue of whether an "incomplete" House of Representatives can convene and elect the next prime minister.

Thai Rak Thai sources said party leaders were rocked by informal exit poll results showing that the number of abstain votes, called "no votes" by the anti-Thaksin movement, would be much higher than expected. "Everyone is bewildered," said a party insider. "Many targets have not been reached. Now the biggest worry is Bangkok."

At press time, many of Thai Rak Thai's Bangkok candidates were trailing the "no vote" numbers in their constituencies. It appears that anti-Thaksin sentiment is particularly strong in inner Bangkok, but he remains fairly popular in the suburbs. But even though many Thai Rak Thai candidates will beat the "no votes", the party is afraid that the poll results will give new momentum to the campaign by the People's Alliance for Democracy to oust its leader.

A belligerent Thaksin had vowed not to return to office if the "no votes" plus votes for smaller parties beat pro-Thai Rak Thai votes nationwide. According to the sources, the exit polls conducted by the party showed that Thai Rak Thai's 19 million votes in the last election could plunge to 15 million this time.

"The leaders are still shocked and the party's mood is tense," said a party source. "They had expected a high turnout of 'no votes' but never thought it would be this high."

Ominous signs came on the eve of the election, when mobile phone users circulated a large number of text messages calling on people they know to vote "no" and bring their own pens to the polling stations due to rumours about "magic" ink designed to rig the election. Shops in Bangkok reported a notable increase in the sale of pens yesterday. It was somewhat ironic that cellular phones, which brought Thaksin enormous wealth and unprecedented political power, were used as a major tool in the campaign to oust him.

Thaksin smiled broadly early yesterday, though some observers suspected it was a forced smile, but refused to comment on his immediate political future. But after the poll closed, he and other Thai Rak Thai leaders became unusually quiet and avoided reporters. He then cancelled a press conference scheduled for 7pm and headed home. An urgent meeting with key Thai Rak Thai members was reportedly scheduled for this afternoon.

Among Thai Rak Thai Bangkok candidates facing humiliation by "no votes" are Pongpisut Jintasopon (Constituency 7), Sita Tiwari (Constituency 8) and Pimon Srivikorn (Constituency 18).

There is also concern that even in the Thai Rak Thai strongholds of the North and Northeast, large numbers of "no votes" in inner city areas will embarrass the party.

With no exit polls, officials did not expect a full picture of the returns until some time today.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Monday 3 April 2006 :-

PAD wants election annulled

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) will today ask the Administrative Court to invalidate yesterday's general election, Suri-yasai Katasila, the spokesman for the group, said yesterday.

The PAD said the Election Commission (EC)'s decision to change the position of polling booths nationwide was illegal as it allowed people outside the booths to get a glimpse of who the voters were voting for.

Meanwhile, a group of legal experts will today file a complaint with the United Nations, asserting that the new set-up of the booths was a human-rights violation.

The Democrat Party and the People's Network for Elections in Thailand (P-Net) also criticised the EC for the change, saying it violated the Constitution.

The PAD's action follows criticism from many voters, including former prime minister Anand Panyarachun, who were unhappy with the way the EC had arranged the ballot booths, forcing them to cast their ballots by turning their backs towards the polling stations staff and observers.

It is thought that most voters will have marked an "X" in either box No 2 for the Thai Rak Thai Party candidate or in the box for a "no vote" to show their rejection of a return of Thaksin Shinawatra to the premiership. On the ballot sheet, the No 2 box was in the upper left-hand corner while that of the "no vote" was at bottom right.

Suriyasai said he believed some people outside the booths could easily have seen where a person was making their mark on the sheet.

The PAD's representatives will ask the court to rule this election illegal and to bar the EC from announcing the results, he said.

In previous elections, the booths were arranged in such a position that no one else could see a voter's choice.

Legal expert Bhodhiphong Bun-luawong said he and some of his colleagues would ask the UN to declare the election invalid as the EC had violated the human rights of the voters.

P-Net coordinator Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said the group would ask the National Human Rights Commission to rule on whether the EC had violated people's rights.

The commission would then pass the complaint on to the Constitution Court to rule whether the EC broke the charter.

"If the EC is found guilty, all four of its current members will have to resign," he said.

Democrat Party spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon said the change in the position of the booths could violate Section 104 of the Constitution as it left the act of voting open to other people to see where voters made their marks.

EC secretary-general Ekkachai Warunprapha, meanwhile, said the change came after the EC received complaints that the old set-up allowed people to carry out illegal activities inside the booths.

"Some people took pictures of their ballots to show to people who were bribing them so they would get paid," he said.

After receiving a number of complaints yesterday, however, Ekkachai said the EC would consider switching to the old set-up.

The EC stated in a letter to local election offices on March 9 that a change in the position of the booths would make it more convenient for voters in elections from the local to the national level.

Former PM Anand, who voted in Watthana district, said the new setting of the booths could allow ill-intentioned people to peek into the booths and know which candidates and party the voters voted for.

"I hope the EC will look into the matter," he said.

When Chamlong Srimuang, one of the PAD leaders, cast his ballot in the morning, television cameras clearly showed that Chamlong had cast a "no vote".

Wittaya Karndi, a voter in Bangkok's Bueng Kum district, reportedly refused to vote despite going to the polling station.

He said he had asked staff to change the position of the booths back to the old set-up, which would prevent other people from seeing who he voted for.

But none of them responded to his request, so he "sanctioned" himself, he said.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Monday 3 April 2006 :-

Thaksin 'willing to stand aside as premier'

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is ready to surrender the premiership after the election to pave the way for Com-merce Minister Dr Somkid Jatusri-pitak or another candidate to succeed him during this highly volatile period, political sources said.

One Thai Rak Thai source said several key members of the party held the view that the post-election political situation would be deadlocked and suggested that Thaksin not assume the premiership.

"The caretaker prime minister has agreed to this proposal," the source said.

Thaksin's agreeing not to take the premiership at this juncture would help defuse political tensions to a significant degree, because his enemies and protesters would have no further cause to hold rallies.

Besides, the new government, if it can be formed, would not have a significant policy agenda because it would assume a caretaker role while political reforms are carried out.

"Then Thaksin can make a comeback after the political reform process is completed and a new election is called," said a source in the military.

There are two options that Thai Rak Thai could use to reduce political tensions after the election. If the opposition and the People's Alliance for Democracy agreed to form a "national government", which would include members of those groups serving as ministers in the Cabinet, Thai Rak Thai would propose that Deputy Prime Minis-ter Surakiart Sathirathai become the next prime minister.

However, the national government proposal has received a lukewarm response.

Option two would see either Somkid or House Speaker Bhokin Bhalakula take over as prime minister instead in a Thai Rak Thai-led government.

"It is certain that Somkid will be appointed as prime minister to succeed Thaksin, because he has been under his wing all along. Bhokin has ties with General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, but Thaksin has more trust in Somkid than in Bhokin," the military source said.

Bhokin comes from a legal background, while Somkid is more oriented toward marketing and economic management. But another political source said Somkid has said on more than one occasion that he does not want to shoulder the premiership during this political crisis. Besides, he is facing health problems as he has just undergone heart treatment.

Thaksin said after casting his ballot yesterday that he expected a high voter turnout in the election.

Thaksin and his three children yesterday voted in Bang Plad district before he drove his wife, Pojaman, to another polling booth.

"I thank those who vote because they help uphold democracy," he said.

After voting, Thaksin attended a meeting at Thai Rak Thai headquarters with senior colleagues to monitor the election's outcome.

Thaksin cancelled plans to announce his political strategy, saying that he would like to wait for final election results, according to party executive Suranand Vejjajiva.

"We want to know the real outcome first before announcing [a political stance]. We don't want to predict the results," Suranand said.

"After carefully considering the election outcome, we can't rule out the possibility of including small parties and other factors into our calculations," he said.

After Suranand made these remarks in the press room, some reporters rushed outside and told others that the premier would step down, causing quite a commotion.

Reporters had hoped to interview Thaksin, but he managed to sneak out of the building.

Because the opposition parties have boycotted the election, it has been a one-party race that is essentially a referendum on Thaksin.

Banharn Silapa-archa, the leader of the Chart Thai Party, which refused to participate in the election, said political turmoil would continue after the election, predicting there would not be enough MPs elected to make a quorum and open the first session of Parliament.

In several constituencies, there will be candidates who fail to muster more than 20 per cent of the support from eligible voters, making it necessary to hold new elections, Banharn said.

"How long this will take, I don't know. But it should not go beyond April 25, which is the 60th day after the House dissolution," Banharn said.

Snoh Thienthong, former chief adviser to Thai Rak Thai, said that although Thai Rak Thai might win the election, it would eventually face defeat. "The situation is like the US war in Vietnam. They could not stay on and eventually had to pull out," Snoh said.

Banyat Bantadtan, the former Democrat leader, said he believes there will be several more rounds of elections in constituencies with only one candidate who failed to muster more than 20 per cent of the voters' support.

"When there are more elections, the turnout will fall steadily," he added.

Abhisit Vejjajiva, Democrat Party leader, said he would wait for the outcome of the election before he made any comments. But he expressed his concern over violence in the past four days, which he said had harmed Thailand's democracy.

Asked whether he is ready to hold talks with Thaksin, who has signalled his readiness for a political compromise, Abhisit said: "I am not sure what kind of conditions or proposals there are going to be. But everything must be based on the principle that the country must return to normalcy in accordance with the Constitution."

Sudarat Keyuraphan, a deputy leader of Thai Rak Thai, said she is confident that the political tension will be defused regardless of the election's outcome. "If the public wants Thaksin to continue to work, the protesters must stop their activity because [the election] is the voice of the people. We have to respect the people's voice," she said.


Political Desk
The Nation

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Monday 3 April 2006 :-

'Monarchy not a tool'

Privy Councillor General Surayud Chulanont yesterday called for a halt to any attempts to sway the monarchy for political gain.

"The Constitution clearly spells out the role of the monarchy and it is everyone's duty to study and understand this," he said.

The monarchy is a revered institution that Thai citizens can depend on,
remaining above and beyond politics, he said.

Because of the deep bond between the monarch and the people, it comes as no surprise that relevant parties often portray themselves as loyal to the monarchy but it is deemed inappropriate if they try to involve the King in politicking, he said.

In regard to controversial comments made by anti-Thaksin campaigner Sondhi Limthongkul, he said the legal proceedings relating to the matter will result in justice.

Supreme Commander General Ruengroj Mahasaranont said police were investigating the matter and the military would not interfere with the legal proceedings.

"Individual soldiers may air their views on Sondhi's comments but they should not [threaten to involve] their military units," he said.

He said he was worried about the social divide caused by the political crisis, urging street protests to stop following yesterday's election.