• 
• 

Published on January 14, 2008

There is a People Power Party (PPP) campaign under way in Buri Ram to have its supporters vote for the ballot numbers of its three disqualified candidates when it comes to Wednesday's by-election.

If voters do so, their ballot papers will be declared invalid. However, the campaign suggests the action will be a "slap in the face" for the Election Commission, which disqualified the party's winning candidates.

The winning candidates were Prakij Poldej, Pornchai Srisuriyanyothin and Rungroj Thongsri. They each polled between 67,000 and 80,000 votes.

It is expected the next three highest-polling candidates will succeed at the by-election. The by-election will have no effect on the party-list representatives.

Former member of Parliament Sophon Phet-sawang, of Puea Pandin, came fourth in the December vote with 64,000 votes. Somneuk Hengwanich, of Matchima Thipataya, received 60,000 votes, while Noodaeng Wanklangsai, of Puea Pandin, was next with 41,000.

Much depends on who supporters of former Thai Rak Thai MP Newin Chidchob vote for.

Matchima Thipataya and Puea Pandin, both allied to the PPP, should poll well. However, Sophon was a rival of Newin in the past.

This could see some support switch to Somneuk.

Nevertheless, veteran Sophon said directing support to a particular candidate was not straightforward and the protests against the commission disqualifications has "drawn attention".

"I don't think a transfer of votes from the PPP to a particular candidate or candidates is possible.

"Nobody can order people who to vote for without money being involved," he said. "But vote-buying this time will be difficult, as the rally in front of the provincial Election Commis-sion has drawn attention from all sides.

"Police and the commission have visited to inspect irregularities," Sophon said.

Hence the campaign to cast intentionally invalid ballots. It will be a form of revenge against the commission and cost less than running a whole new campaign to get the PPP support to others.

Commission member Prapun Naigowit warned voters not to break the law and added the situation could become worse if the by-election results had to be overturned.

The three disqualified candidates cannot run in the by-election.

Prakij denied any plan to get PPP support to other candidates, but admitted to the invalid balloting.

He said it was up to individuals as to how they expressed their support for the PPP.

"Reports of the PPP campaigning for Matchima Thipataya or Puea Pandin are not true. People can make their own decision who to vote for. Some voters still love People Power and are angry about how we were treated.

"They might find a way to express this. The by-election will tell us what they think," he said.

Abhisit Vejjajiva will campaign in the constituency on Tuesday, even though his party has a slim chance of success.

Nevertheless, Democrat candidate Phuchong Laoha-siriwong is confident, provided money is kept out of the mix. Phuchong received about 18,000 votes in the election. Abhisit's visit should help, he said.

"People thought it was over after December 23. The by-election means candidates must pay more money. It's a different round.

"What will be interesting is who People Power will support, or if their voters invalidate their ballot papers, which is more likely," he said.

Budsarakham    Sinlapalavan

The Nation