Democrats sweep South, win 50 seats

ELECTION 2007

Democrats sweep South, win 50 seats

Voters brave floods to go to polling booths

POST REPORTERS

The Democrat party swept nearly all 56 seats in the southern provinces, losing only six to the Chart Thai and Puea Pandin parties in the three restive border provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.

In Pattani's Muang district, voters braved chest-deep floods to reach their polling stations.

Pattani's Yarang, Nong Chik and Muang districts were still submerged late last night. In Muang district, which is the hardest hit, 39 polling stations were under water.

While heavy flooding kept many voters in Muang district away, 81-year-old Waesoo Jehdueramae and her 40-year-old daughter, Jehngorbor, waded through chest-deep waters from their home in Talubo village to reach the polling station on the 42nd highway.

Mrs Waesoo said she had never missed going to vote in any election.

"People here vote for the politicians who help us, no matter what party they belong to," said Ms Jehngorbor.

Voter Mae-aroh Arlueji, 70, from tambon Pakaharang, arrived at her polling station by a boat arranged by her local government office. Some of her neighbours joined her.

Khorbuesor Salae, 35, arrived with a rubber tyre tube.

She also said the water near her home was chest deep.

Mrs Khorbuesor's neighbour, Muhammad Norsi Samae, 45, was bitten on his left foot by a venomous pit viper snake three days ago. Yesterday, he covered his wound with a plastic bag and waded through the flood to the polling station.

No election candidates had visited his community during the floods, but he did not let that deter him.

In Yala province, voters crowded polling stations while authorities stepped up security to guard against insurgent attacks, after three leading members of a rebel group were shot dead on Friday during a clash with police.

In Narathiwat, more than 2000 men from the joint security task force in the province patrolled 817 polling stations in 13 districts from dawn.

Guards at polling stations in downtown areas said the voter turnout was higher than the April 2 election last year.

In Narathiwat, the election commission said about 80% of its 444,977 voters turned out.

More than 10,000 had cast their ballots in advance.