OVERSEAS THAIS EYE ELECTION

Perspective News - Sunday December 16, 2007

OVERSEAS THAIS EYE ELECTION

According to the Election Commission, 78,586 Thais living in 65 foreign countries have registered to vote in the Dec 23 general election. Ballots were sent to 88 consular offices in these countries, where voting closes today. According to recent random surveys by Perspective, there has been muted enthusiasm among Thais in the US state of Iowa and London regarding the election. They want to see real change, but are disheartened by the presence of old political faces.The following are reports by ERIKA FRY in Iowa and PATCHARIN WONGSATIEN-HAYES in London.

Over the past few months, Nittaya Burnham has met Bill Richardson and John Edwards. She's seen Obama, watched Chris Dodd stump and was left at least mildly impressed ("they were good") by a rally with America's political power couple, Hillary and Bill Clinton. While she's still hoping to catch Mike Huckabee and some of the Republicans, there's a decent chance she's already seen the next president of the United States.

Like others living in Iowa, where the US political season is in full swing and the nation's first presidential political caucus will take place on January 3, Nittaya has had plenty of opportunity to get up close and personal with America's presidential hopefuls.

Yet, for this 12-year Thai resident of Iowa and a native of Nakhon Pathom in Thailand, the next ballot she will cast will be in a Thai election and for parties that she has had considerably less exposure to.

She plans to vote in the December 23 general election, and though she regularly follows news coming out of Thailand through online sites and her Thai satellite TV and she's already been sent her ballot by the Chicago consulate, she's not yet sure how she is going to cast it.

Though unadulterated by whatever vote-buying antics that may be going down in their homeland, Nittaya and other Thais living in Iowa nonetheless struggle with their vote. It is an effort to sort out basic information about the choice of parties, potential prime ministers, and sometimes, even the voting process.

While she plans to turn to Internet research and friends back home for help, she notes that even her mother in Nakhon Pathom is struggling with information and a decision this election.

"It's hard, whether in Thailand or here, to know who is a good candidate. They all have similar messages, and after elections, you never hear anything again about what they do or if they've made any progress. You just see them on billboards," says Nittaya.

From what she has read, she's been most interested (if not entirely convinced they can win) by the Farmer Network of Thailand Party. "They are not highly educated, but their representation comes from the people. I think this is important. Lots of Thai people will look for qualities like good education and career and assume these will make good leaders - but this has not always worked out for us in the past."

When asked what qualities she wants in Thailand's next leader, she returns to the idea of change.

"Honestly, I want candidates who will get something done, and respect human rights and help poor people more. I don't want a party or a prime minister that will go in and commit corruption and lie to people as has happened in the past. We need someone that will look out for poor people."

While she identified fighting corruption and helping the poor as key issues, she also hopes the next leaders will improve the situation in the Deep South by promoting understanding from both sides, and also end the human rights abuses that she has heard go on in Thailand's refugee camps.

"I hope with our new election, we have new faces who will get more work done and move in the right direction," she added.

Nittaya is one of about 70 Thais that live in the area within Iowa City and Ames, Iowa's university cities, and so, likely home to the state's two largest Thai communities.

According to the Thai Embassy in Washington, DC, 6,745 Thais - out of 7,657 who registered - have sent in their ballots as of Dec 14. The highest number of ballots - 4,570 - were sent from Los Angeles.

Keeping informed

Though they say they don't often discuss Thai political developments together, a good number of Thais living in Iowa express interest in the upcoming election and almost everyone says they follow the news from home via Internet news sites and personal communication.

One of them is P, an Information Specialist at the Department of Transportation in Ames who recently earned a doctorate from Iowa State University and plans to move back to Thailand permanently next year.

He watches Thai TV, reads two Thai newspapers online each day, and has already voted.

While he says the choice of candidates could always be better, "none of the options will ever be perfect in real life."

He based his decision on party backgrounds and personal qualities, rather than their policy, which he says are rarely accomplished anyway. "Politicians just keep saying good things as they want to convince you," he added.

Even with such cynicism towards the parties, he believes this election is critical for he country: "It will determine our country's future. I don't want to see a war and hopefully it won't happen. I feel if the old government team comes back, there will be a number of people that strike and it will be a major cause of economic crisis."

Art Wattanavijitkul, who moved to Iowa City from Bangkok four months ago to be with his wife, who is pursuing a doctorate, also is "positive that this election is a turning point," and that economics are the main issue at stake.

"As a businessman, I know the economy is not good right now. If the election goes as scheduled and a cabinet is appointed, it will be a good sign for the country and business will pick up," he said.

With two children, he also commented that he hopes the next cabinet will prioritise education. "The issue needs to be addressed so the country can grow."

As to which party he wishes to see come to power, he is less certain. He says he has been puzzled by the developments with the People Power Party, which he termed "Thaksin's baby", and frustrated that there are not so many choices.

Though he is not sure whether he'll vote (at the time, he wasn't even sure how) he was leaning towards the Democrats, as the "rest of them are old wine in a new bottle."

The political recycling has not been lost on Janjira Intra, a pharmaceutical PhD student at the University of Iowa, either. "We have been stuck in a circle of old style politics. I think we need some changes, but it is very difficult. Politics have a lot of influence over the economy and image of the country, so if we want other countries to trust us we need to do some changes."

Others are less demanding, exhibiting a level of cynicism and low expectations that they seem to connect with Thai politics of the past.

"The election? I just want it to be fair and honest ... and less or no corruption would be nice," says Jittinan Aukayanagul, a PhD student in his 5th year at Iowa State.

Such sentiments might help explain why Thanapong Duangmanee, another Iowa State PhD student who is "very excited and interested" in the election, has noticed that most of his Thai friends "appear not interested."

He adds, "They feel that they are too insignificant, their votes mean nothing, and even if they vote it won't prevent bad politicians from coming to parliament. Thai politics are boring. That is what I think they feel."

Dilok Phanchantra-urai, a resident in the US for 12 years who works at Iowa State as an immigration adviser to international students, may qualify in this category.

Though he follows the major news coming out of Thailand by Internet, he admits he's not a "big fan of political issues."

"One of the many reasons I have lost interest in the Thai politics is because there is too much dishonesty among and within parties."

He doubts he will vote, because there is not enough information on how to do so. "I read online newspapers regularly. I somewhat know what is going on in Thailand. That doesn't mean I know the facts," he says, adding that he only knows the "old school candidates."

He says, instead, "my interest is on the US presidential candidates rather than the election in Thailand. This is probably because I'm curious about things that will impact me directly - a new US president - more than indirectly, like a new Thai prime minister."

For a couple more weeks, at least, he's in the right place.

Apathy in London

Only a fraction of Thais in the UK have registered to vote for a new government. According to the Thai Embassy in London, there are an estimated 36,000 Thais in the UK, of whom 1,585 have registered to exercise their right. The voting, carried out by post, closes today (Dec 16) and so far 1,268 have returned ballots.

Kitti Wasinondh, the ambassador, says the figure may seem low but taking into account some restrictions, he is satisfied. "The election is carried out under the new constitution and new election laws. Therefore, we have to start from scratch by registering voters again," he told Perspective. "We have only a month to do it and considering the number of registered voters who have already returned the ballots, which is around 81 percent, we're quite satisfied."

There are other reasons why the turnout is low, says Mr Kitti.

"Thai people here are scattered in different parts of the country and may not know that they can vote outside Thailand. Some may have known but have missed the registration deadline, which was set for 22 November," he explained.

"Furthermore, the timing is against us. A significant number who are students and restaurant staff have returned home (for the New Year)."

Ramida Vijitphan, editor of Amthai, a newspaper for Thais in the UK, says a major problem is that many are unaware of the voting system and the election timetable. "A lot of people I've talked to didn't even know the election date. That's why we decided to run a big headline on the front page of our first issue: THAI GENERAL ELECTION ON THE 23RD DECEMBER."

She also blames the lack of aspiring figures in Thai politics. "There are many new parties but not new faces. There is not even a single politician that captures people's imagination. We want to see more political stability because it means a better economy. But few believe there will be significant changes whichever parties take control of the government," said Ramida.

Luck Martindale, a caterer, agrees, saying she has no faith in Thai politicians: "I didn't vote because I can't be bothered. They are a bunch of same old faces that keep coming and going. They are all the same."

Luck's view is echoed by Tim, a student and waitress at a restaurant in Covent Garden in London, who says neither she nor her fellow waiting staff have voted. "We heard that we could vote here but we didn't know when or how. But even if we knew I guess we wouldn't have done it. We're busy with our work and studies. I myself don't know who to vote for."

Kampol Nirawan, who was a student activist during the Oct 6, 1976 uprising, says although he is disillusioned with Thai politics, he would vote for the Democrats because "for me there is no other choice. At least the Democrats are the lesser of all evils."

He believes that money politics still plagues Thai elections. "Thai politics is dominated by money and short-term gain. Candidates still dish out money to buy votes. I'd like to see the new government tackle poverty seriously and with a long-term outcome, not simply for short-term gain," Kampol elaborated.

"There is also a certain party whose leader acts like Adolf Hitler. If the election outcome, particularly in the North and Northeast is in favour of this party, it will show what kind of mentality those people have.

"Having said that, people get what they deserve. If they want to vote for the party with 'grey policy' (handing out big notes), they will learn how far the short-term gains take them."

However, there are some who believe their vote can make a difference. Kay, an MA student at Leicester University, says people's participation is important to the political system. "I voted firstly because I wanted to keep my rights. Secondly at least I have a say about who I choose to run the country."

Bangkok Post