Here at New Mandala HQ, we expect that local results from across the country will start to dribble in from 7:45 pm Canberra time. Substantial national tallies may start to become available a few hours after that. Some of the Thai media has reported that major results won’t be known until much later in the evening but given the way ballots are being counted it seems likely that indicative results will become clear early on.
Thanks for asking…and sorry I can’t be more certain about it.
The trouble with the likes of Chaturon Chaisaeng in Thai politics is that they always head for the party with the most money. Essentially they are too lazy to build their own parties with real policies for local people. Thaksin treated Chaturon like shit in his last term, and Chaturon still wants to grayngjai the bastard. The unmistakable message – and forget all the folksy nice people pictures here – is that most Thai politicians almost completely lack the ability to act and think for themselves. They always head for the big finance and the fast fix- which always turns out to be a complete waste of time. Chaturon could be a half-decent politician if he could figure out a way to kick his terrible addiction to licking Thaksin’s arse.
I have visited four polling stations in Chachoengsao’s main municipality so far, starting at 9.00 hours. Voter turnout seemed to be somewhat modest, with no queues. At 11.00, some more voters seemed to have turned out to use their rights/do their duties. There even was a queue at one station.
Some elderly people seemed to have problems with the election system, especially the two ballots. In polling unit 12, I observed one elderly women explaining to two of her two friends for some time what the ballots were about, and how to mark them. In the same station, a man was advised by the chairperson of the polling station while he was in the polling booth. Finally, he left it, put one ballot into the box and gave the other to the chairperson, which left her baffled. He then left the polling station, had a look at the information board in front, re-entered the polling station, took the ballot from the chairperson, went into the voting booth, marked the ballot, and put in into the box. Obviously, this sort of procedure was not altogether legally acceptable.
A photo reporter showed me a picture that showed two ballot boxes that were not sealed by the plastic “lock”. He had asked the polling station officials what this meant, because it was obviously a serious violation of the ECT’s rules. They responded by saying that they simply “forgot” to seal the boxes and hurried to do it while he was still there.
Michael, thanks for that. The PEC websites are unfortunately all different, and just as cluttered with fancy graphics as the ECT website, and thus very difficult for the non-Thai reader to navigate. I have found a map of the Bangkok districts, which is a good start. In provinces where the amphoe are not divided between constituencies there is no problem, because I can construct maps from the list you provided in the second link above, using the amphoe maps at Wikipedia. Where the amphoe are divided I am stuck. For instance in Chachoengsao, amphoe Meung Chachoengsao is divided between constituencies 1 and 2, and I can’t find a map at the Chachoengsao PEC website. Perhaps if I produce a list of provinces where I have this problem, someone here who reads Thai can help me navigate the relevant PEC websites?
Polo: I’m not in Thailand so I am not witnessing anything.
From this distance, the impression I get is that the election is being fought on 2 different fronts:
1. For or against Thaksin
2. For or against the military (& royalists)
For simplicity, I would categorize the voters under 4 broad groups:
A. Bring Thaksin back – we love him
Many Thaksin lovers don’t seem to be bothered at all by his misdeeds (extra judicial killings, policy corruption & tax avoidance etc), so for them it is a simple choice on both fronts.
B. Democracy overrides everything
Others seem prepared to overlook any of Thaksin’s misdeeds (whether they liked his policies or not) because he was ‘democratically’ elected, and ‘democracy’ overrides everything else – their choice is also simple.
C. Hate Thaksin
The dislike of Thaksin overides all other considerations – they know who not to vote for.
D. Anti Thaksin and Anti Military
The choices are more difficult for those people that cannot overlook Thaksin’s misdeeds, but also don’t like military rule.
They are being forced to hold their nose and choose because a third force has not arisen, and it looks like the Democrats have been unable to distance themselves far enough from the military.
The result will depend on which group is the largest, however I think no matter what the result, we can look forward to another interesting year (or boring, as I expect it will be more of the same).
nganadeeleg: why don’t you do the tough work of sharing with us what you witness in the election, rather than sniping at others. I for one thank Mr. Nelson for bringing us his experiences and the photos, which as always speak a thousand words.
If Andrew Walker can vote, I am almost certain he will vote for PPP knowing Andrew’s softness to the Reds and his disdain of the yellows (which Andrew presumes to be everybody else’s). Fonzi, that ThailandJumpedtheShark, and, I suspect BangkokPundit (who had been giving his rah rah and more rahs for a PPP-ChartThai coalition) too, will vote Samak-Chalerm party.
Republican is definitely a hardcore Thaksin sympathizer and will vote for Chalerm. Who else . . . Teth and Srithanonchai, what are your sympathies sirs?
nganadeeleg: Since your question was neither about my post nor related to my research interests, I can join you in the festive samanachan mode and keep quiet. 🙂
I’ll tie a yellow ribbon at any Suvarnabhumi toilet if fugitive Thaksin returns to face all criminal allegations against him. Will Thaksin return if PPP is not in government??? I doubt it.
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New Mandala’s live Thai election coverage
There won’t be a “John Howard concedes” moment I guess 🙂
New Mandala’s live Thai election coverage
Adam,
Here at New Mandala HQ, we expect that local results from across the country will start to dribble in from 7:45 pm Canberra time. Substantial national tallies may start to become available a few hours after that. Some of the Thai media has reported that major results won’t be known until much later in the evening but given the way ballots are being counted it seems likely that indicative results will become clear early on.
Thanks for asking…and sorry I can’t be more certain about it.
Best wishes,
Nich
Chachoengsao: Chaturon Chaisaeng speaks again
The trouble with the likes of Chaturon Chaisaeng in Thai politics is that they always head for the party with the most money. Essentially they are too lazy to build their own parties with real policies for local people. Thaksin treated Chaturon like shit in his last term, and Chaturon still wants to grayngjai the bastard. The unmistakable message – and forget all the folksy nice people pictures here – is that most Thai politicians almost completely lack the ability to act and think for themselves. They always head for the big finance and the fast fix- which always turns out to be a complete waste of time. Chaturon could be a half-decent politician if he could figure out a way to kick his terrible addiction to licking Thaksin’s arse.
New Mandala’s live Thai election coverage
What time do you expect significant results to be known?
New Mandala’s live Thai election coverage
I love the side bars!
New Mandala’s live Thai election coverage
go dudes
Who will be Thaksin’s Valentine?
OK thanks. Someone should explain to Thai website designers that “simpler is better and quicker.”
New Mandala’s live Thai election coverage
I have visited four polling stations in Chachoengsao’s main municipality so far, starting at 9.00 hours. Voter turnout seemed to be somewhat modest, with no queues. At 11.00, some more voters seemed to have turned out to use their rights/do their duties. There even was a queue at one station.
Some elderly people seemed to have problems with the election system, especially the two ballots. In polling unit 12, I observed one elderly women explaining to two of her two friends for some time what the ballots were about, and how to mark them. In the same station, a man was advised by the chairperson of the polling station while he was in the polling booth. Finally, he left it, put one ballot into the box and gave the other to the chairperson, which left her baffled. He then left the polling station, had a look at the information board in front, re-entered the polling station, took the ballot from the chairperson, went into the voting booth, marked the ballot, and put in into the box. Obviously, this sort of procedure was not altogether legally acceptable.
A photo reporter showed me a picture that showed two ballot boxes that were not sealed by the plastic “lock”. He had asked the polling station officials what this meant, because it was obviously a serious violation of the ECT’s rules. They responded by saying that they simply “forgot” to seal the boxes and hurried to do it while he was still there.
Who will be Thaksin’s Valentine?
Adam: Will send you the map for Chachoengsao and respond on your after the election.
Who will be Thaksin’s Valentine?
Michael, thanks for that. The PEC websites are unfortunately all different, and just as cluttered with fancy graphics as the ECT website, and thus very difficult for the non-Thai reader to navigate. I have found a map of the Bangkok districts, which is a good start. In provinces where the amphoe are not divided between constituencies there is no problem, because I can construct maps from the list you provided in the second link above, using the amphoe maps at Wikipedia. Where the amphoe are divided I am stuck. For instance in Chachoengsao, amphoe Meung Chachoengsao is divided between constituencies 1 and 2, and I can’t find a map at the Chachoengsao PEC website. Perhaps if I produce a list of provinces where I have this problem, someone here who reads Thai can help me navigate the relevant PEC websites?
Accepting the result?
Has the king ever been interpreted as taking one side of an election so explicitly before?
Blog on HIV in Myanmar
Please visit the new Cbox at HIV Information for Myanmar [him] http://him.civiblog.org !
Chachoengsao: Provincial election commission advertises the election
Polo: I’m not in Thailand so I am not witnessing anything.
From this distance, the impression I get is that the election is being fought on 2 different fronts:
1. For or against Thaksin
2. For or against the military (& royalists)
For simplicity, I would categorize the voters under 4 broad groups:
A. Bring Thaksin back – we love him
Many Thaksin lovers don’t seem to be bothered at all by his misdeeds (extra judicial killings, policy corruption & tax avoidance etc), so for them it is a simple choice on both fronts.
B. Democracy overrides everything
Others seem prepared to overlook any of Thaksin’s misdeeds (whether they liked his policies or not) because he was ‘democratically’ elected, and ‘democracy’ overrides everything else – their choice is also simple.
C. Hate Thaksin
The dislike of Thaksin overides all other considerations – they know who not to vote for.
D. Anti Thaksin and Anti Military
The choices are more difficult for those people that cannot overlook Thaksin’s misdeeds, but also don’t like military rule.
They are being forced to hold their nose and choose because a third force has not arisen, and it looks like the Democrats have been unable to distance themselves far enough from the military.
The result will depend on which group is the largest, however I think no matter what the result, we can look forward to another interesting year (or boring, as I expect it will be more of the same).
Who will be Thaksin’s Valentine?
Col. Jeru -You’re letting them vote? Will you abide by the result?
Na-chua but Not The Nation
Had a quick look at it just then. Really well written and painfully accurate. The lifestyle section and the letter to the editor are pure gold.
Chachoengsao: Provincial election commission advertises the election
nganadeeleg: why don’t you do the tough work of sharing with us what you witness in the election, rather than sniping at others. I for one thank Mr. Nelson for bringing us his experiences and the photos, which as always speak a thousand words.
Who will be Thaksin’s Valentine?
If Andrew Walker can vote, I am almost certain he will vote for PPP knowing Andrew’s softness to the Reds and his disdain of the yellows (which Andrew presumes to be everybody else’s). Fonzi, that ThailandJumpedtheShark, and, I suspect BangkokPundit (who had been giving his rah rah and more rahs for a PPP-ChartThai coalition) too, will vote Samak-Chalerm party.
Republican is definitely a hardcore Thaksin sympathizer and will vote for Chalerm. Who else . . . Teth and Srithanonchai, what are your sympathies sirs?
Who will be Thaksin’s Valentine?
Adam: The maps should be available on the PECs’ web sites, which are accessible through the ECT site at http://www.ect.go.th/thai/service/links.html. For a list of the constituencies in Thai language see http://www.ect.go.th/thai/mp50/mp50_19.pdf
Note that districts have sometimes been devided to belong to different constituencies.
Chachoengsao: Provincial election commission advertises the election
nganadeeleg: Since your question was neither about my post nor related to my research interests, I can join you in the festive samanachan mode and keep quiet. 🙂
Who will be Thaksin’s Valentine?
I’ll tie a yellow ribbon at any Suvarnabhumi toilet if fugitive Thaksin returns to face all criminal allegations against him. Will Thaksin return if PPP is not in government??? I doubt it.