EC officeron a mission to stamp out vote buying

General News - Sunday December 23, 2007

RACE TO PARLIAMENT

EC officeron a mission to stamp out vote buying

Poems, music get message across

By Surasak Glahan

In an effort to curb vote buying and the influence of political canvassers, an election officer in Kanchanaburi has adopted a more unconventional approach to the problem. Choochart Krutjaikla, the Kanchanaburi election office's campaigning officer, has used a poem, music and eye-catching billboard designs to challenge voters to consider the impact of vote buying.

The Election Commission's standard campaign messages to urge people to vote stick to pat phrases such as ''vote for good people'' and ''go to vote on Dec 23''.

''We had communicated with people that way for years and it had never been effective,'' said Mr Choochart. ''I hope my poem with thought-provoking messages will help people here learn about the negative impact of vote buying and be inspired to not do it.''

Mr Choochart's main aim was to provoke discussion about the repercussions of electing politicians who buy votes and put their own interests before the country's.

The poem is printed on the back of the poll office's leaflet, which introduces candidates and provides information on the election.

Its messages, which are metrical and rhythmic in Thai, include lines like: ''You sell a vote for a hundred baht, they sell the nation for billions.''

A few large billboards with a black backdrop have been put up in Kanchanaburi town with the message: ''How much do you love this country? Do something for it in this election,'' plastered in large letters.

A musical version of the poem has also been made available for local radio stations to air, with the voice of Mr Choochart set to a musical background, which the poll officer hopes will help grab people's attention.

Jaturaporn Suk-im, a local radio broadcaster, said the poem and music made the message on the repercussions of selling your vote more interesting and appealing to people. He said he believed some listeners would take the points made by Mr Choochart to heart but that it might be more difficult for people in rural areas to convert the ideas into actions.

But Sirima Charoenma of Kanchanaburi Vocational College said the musical version of the poem had received a good response from community radio stations because it helped get the important message on vote buying across to listeners.

The anti-vote buying campaign reflects the political reality in this mountainous province where competition is fierce with many big-name candidates, many of whom are former army generals, running against each another.

Mrs Sirima, also a democracy advocate, said political canvassers are still the key method candidates use to influence voters here. Each candidate has maintained his own canvassers, she said.

Vote buying is also rampant in the province, which is worrying, she said, adding ballot-counting at polling stations could make it easier for vote buyers.

Bangkok Post