WTF!?!?! They showed the concession/acceptance speeches on TV, all but 5 minutes each, and immediately cut to the Royal news. Not showing the Q&A with PM Yingluck. Great timing. Had to switch to Al Jazeera.
I hope that the Malaysian government will realise the importance of having a free and fair election after observing the elections in Thailand. To rely on a fraudulent system to stay in power is detrimental to Malaysia in the long run.
[…] New Mandala reported at 6:50 p.m. that there had been 1.2 million “spoiled” ballots, asking why there had been so many. Was it due to protest or mistake, asked NM. […]
Abhisit has declared his party has lost the election and congratulated Yingluck as the next PM. However, his party will still oppose any amnesty to the former PM Thaksin as the opposition in the parliament!
Although the election law in 1999 had a section mentioning about the royals from Phra Ong Chao up being able to vote and how they should proceed if they don’t want to exercise this duty, there isn’t any royal voting in the Thai history. So, they don’t vote as a customary practice. The Constitutional Court also ruled in 2000 that the king including the royal family are above politics and exercise their power through legislative, judicial, and executive branches, they should not be obliged to vote as voting can lead to conflict and their neutrality in politics . The details about the Constitutional Court’s ruling can be found here: http://www.kodmhai.com/vinit/2543/6.html
Really does look as though something fishy is going on.
These “spoiled ballots” over 1 million look like the result of the Election Commission trying to rig the election by misrepresenting the PT logo. And now these bizarre low turn out figures in Red heartlland. Looks like trouble brewing.
From an interview on 16th May with Thaksin…(Tip: Speed read the handwringing and read the last ** paragraph)
Thaksin said forgiveness will be difficult, but necessary if the country is to move on from the political ructions of the past.
Thaksin said the party’s supporters, backed by the red shirt movement, will have to forgive and forget. The Abhisit government and the administration which supports it should have no reason to fear.
Those who have suffered from past turmoil, whether it be supporters of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party or its red shirt supporters, must let go of the past if reconciliation is to be achieved and Thailand return to a functional democracy where the rule of law is paramount, he said.
“If Pheu Thai Party forms the next government, both the party and the red shirts will have to swallow our pains and extend our hands to all parties to help bring peace to our country,” Thaksin said.
“It’s painful, but we need to forgive.”
**The real issue is justice. If my assets are returned, it can only come about through the system, not by some arbitrary law,” he said.
Intriguingly the report was filed by BKK Post journalists from Brunei but says the interview was recorded from Dubai. So I’d guess it was a Pheua Thai Junket. Lots of conciliatory squeaks from BKK Post this week.
Will Thanong choose to go down with his sinking ship?
JUST IN: Voter turnout in red heartland is lowest in the country: UdornThani (24.54%), Samutprakarn (25.36%), Kalasin (34.75%), NongBuaLampoo (34.42%) & Khon Kaen (36%).
Hmmm. The invalid vote count is creeping towards 10% of the total- not including “No” votes. There were 2-5% invalid votes in the 2007 elections. I personally saw a couple of misplaced PT selections on the infamous party-list ballot sheet during counting today, and a lot of blank ballots as well, but nothing on this scale.
Andrew D, I don’t see how getting a ‘full education’ is going to make someone ‘politically mature’. I’ve seen doctors & teachers who were disinterested in politics or believe in the hype of Abhisit. Doctors who believe in Spiritual ghost & Lecturers with multiple Phds who believed in Ajaarn Ghuu – The infamous conman.
Fact is, Thai education doesn’t boost your intellect, it boost your income & social standings. Political maturity? Not much, if at all.
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Thai Election: Updates
Mark got it wrong he congratulated the wrong person as once again concrete Banharn has come out the winner.
Thai Election: Updates
Of historical interest now… Here is the copy of the Suan Dusit exit poll.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra
WTF!?!?! They showed the concession/acceptance speeches on TV, all but 5 minutes each, and immediately cut to the Royal news. Not showing the Q&A with PM Yingluck. Great timing. Had to switch to Al Jazeera.
Thai Election: Updates
# 17
Near where I live in Nonthaburi, there was a cluster of five polling stations. The result was as follows (in percent).
Turnout: between 59.85 and 74.38
Invalid ballots constituency: 5.18 to 9.65
Invalid ballots party list: 2.14 to 2.92
No vote constituency: 4.08 to 8.86
No vote party list: 2.52 to 4.95
(There is a pattern both with the invalid and the no vote percentages.)
Pheua Thai constituency: 42.03 to 64.86
Pheua Thai party list: 39.16 to 50.22 (PPT wins 3 of the 5 polling stations)
Democrats constituency: 39.22 to 52.48
Democrats party list: 37.09 to 50.74
Chuwit party: between 4.73 and 9.90
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra
I hope that the Malaysian government will realise the importance of having a free and fair election after observing the elections in Thailand. To rely on a fraudulent system to stay in power is detrimental to Malaysia in the long run.
Thai Election: Updates
[…] New Mandala reported at 6:50 p.m. that there had been 1.2 million “spoiled” ballots, asking why there had been so many. Was it due to protest or mistake, asked NM. […]
Thai Election: Updates
If you happen to be online right now, you can even see Yingluck giving live interview to local and foreign journalists:
http://live.voicetv.co.th/
Thai Election: Updates
Abhisit has declared his party has lost the election and congratulated Yingluck as the next PM. However, his party will still oppose any amnesty to the former PM Thaksin as the opposition in the parliament!
Thai Election: Updates
Some Phuket Voters denied Ballot because of registration problems.
<>
http://phuketwan.com/tourism/phuket-voting-flaw-impact-whole-thai-election-14351/
Thai election: Where to begin?
Although the election law in 1999 had a section mentioning about the royals from Phra Ong Chao up being able to vote and how they should proceed if they don’t want to exercise this duty, there isn’t any royal voting in the Thai history. So, they don’t vote as a customary practice. The Constitutional Court also ruled in 2000 that the king including the royal family are above politics and exercise their power through legislative, judicial, and executive branches, they should not be obliged to vote as voting can lead to conflict and their neutrality in politics . The details about the Constitutional Court’s ruling can be found here: http://www.kodmhai.com/vinit/2543/6.html
Thai Election: Updates
Really does look as though something fishy is going on.
These “spoiled ballots” over 1 million look like the result of the Election Commission trying to rig the election by misrepresenting the PT logo. And now these bizarre low turn out figures in Red heartlland. Looks like trouble brewing.
Thai Election: Updates
Re: More Violence (Max Groemping)
tukky_nt reports on Twitter:
Unknown number of gunmen ambush car carrying ballot boxes in Narathiwat’s Srisakorn district; 2 persons wounded:MCOT #thaielection11
21 minutes ago
Thai election: Where to begin?
From an interview on 16th May with Thaksin…(Tip: Speed read the handwringing and read the last ** paragraph)
Thaksin said forgiveness will be difficult, but necessary if the country is to move on from the political ructions of the past.
Thaksin said the party’s supporters, backed by the red shirt movement, will have to forgive and forget. The Abhisit government and the administration which supports it should have no reason to fear.
Those who have suffered from past turmoil, whether it be supporters of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party or its red shirt supporters, must let go of the past if reconciliation is to be achieved and Thailand return to a functional democracy where the rule of law is paramount, he said.
“If Pheu Thai Party forms the next government, both the party and the red shirts will have to swallow our pains and extend our hands to all parties to help bring peace to our country,” Thaksin said.
“It’s painful, but we need to forgive.”
**The real issue is justice. If my assets are returned, it can only come about through the system, not by some arbitrary law,” he said.
Intriguingly the report was filed by BKK Post journalists from Brunei but says the interview was recorded from Dubai. So I’d guess it was a Pheua Thai Junket. Lots of conciliatory squeaks from BKK Post this week.
Will Thanong choose to go down with his sinking ship?
Thai Election: Updates
JUST IN: Voter turnout in red heartland is lowest in the country: UdornThani (24.54%), Samutprakarn (25.36%), Kalasin (34.75%), NongBuaLampoo (34.42%) & Khon Kaen (36%).
Thai Election: Updates
Since yesterday, we received 5 reports on violent events:
2-Jul-11
Mathupum candidate punched in face
Samut Prakan
http://www.thaielectionwatch.net/reports/view/186
3-Jul-11
Bomb attack on ballots being transported
Narathiwat
http://www.thaielectionwatch.net/reports/view/211
3-Jul
Voter threatened
Phichit
http://www.thaielectionwatch.net/reports/view/179
3-Jul-11
Election official killed by shotgun at 5am
Surath Thani
http://www.thaielectionwatch.net/reports/view/201
3-Jul-11
2 election workers injured by shooting Sri Sakhon
Narathiwat
http://www.thaielectionwatch.net/reports/view/212
Sure there are more, so please do report if you hear anything
Thai Election: Updates
VP,
I wonder if Apirak really means that the exits polls may be accurate, but won’t be the same as the announced results.
Thai Election: Updates
Hmmm. The invalid vote count is creeping towards 10% of the total- not including “No” votes. There were 2-5% invalid votes in the 2007 elections. I personally saw a couple of misplaced PT selections on the infamous party-list ballot sheet during counting today, and a lot of blank ballots as well, but nothing on this scale.
Andrew Marshall’s Thai Story
Hi NM commenters: let’s stick to updates and commentary on the election tonight. You can rake over the older issues another time. AW
Andrew Marshall’s Thai Story
LesAbbey,
Primarily in the media. If I recall correctly, Mingkwan was portrayed in political cartoons last year wearing a dress.
Andrew Marshall’s Thai Story
Andrew D, I don’t see how getting a ‘full education’ is going to make someone ‘politically mature’. I’ve seen doctors & teachers who were disinterested in politics or believe in the hype of Abhisit. Doctors who believe in Spiritual ghost & Lecturers with multiple Phds who believed in Ajaarn Ghuu – The infamous conman.
Fact is, Thai education doesn’t boost your intellect, it boost your income & social standings. Political maturity? Not much, if at all.