Six women in Chiang Rai constituency race

General News - Wednesday December 19, 2007

RACE TO PARLIAMENT

Six women in Chiang Rai constituency race

PRADIT RUANGDIT

Chiang Rai _ Amid calls for increased participation by women in politics, voters in Chiang Rai's constituency 2 find there are six women candidates vying for their support on Sunday. There are 33 candidates for the three House seats in the constituency, which covers nine districts.

The six women are mostly first-time candidates in Chiang Rai, and their family backgrounds include farming, old wealth and political veterans.

The six are : Weerinthira Nathongborjaras and Chanya Sutthathanachot for the Chart Thai party, Wisaradi Techathirawat for the People Power party (PPP), Mirantee Bunkaew of the Democrats, Ananya Chaichana of Matchimathipataya and Phattarasaya Pekthanoo of the New Aspiration party.

Ms Weerinthira, 32, is the most familiar face for Chiang Rai voters. She ran for a House seat in 2005 under the Mahachon party's banner. She was also a TV news anchor under her former name of Inthira Nathongbor.

Born to a farming couple who have recently started a small retail business downtown Thoeng district, Ms Weerinthira said that she is one of the few candidates whose parents are not former politicians.

Recently, she changed her name from Inthira Nathongbor to Weerinthira Nathongborjaras, due to her astrological belief that the new name will bring good luck.

Her fellow female Chart Thai candidate Chanya Sutthathanachot, 29, has also changed her name _ from Sukhontharos Jongsutthamanee.

Ms Chanya's father is a former Chiang Rai MP who also changed his name, from Mongkhol Jongsutthamanee to Monthon Sutthathanachot.

For PPP candidate, Wisaradi Techathirawat, the daughter of a banned executive of the former Thai Rak Thai party, Wisarn, admitted most constituents view her as her father's nominee. They see voting for her as akin to voting for her father, but she dislikes the idea.

''I want them to see me as a professional politician in my own right,'' said Ms Wisaradi, who turns 26 on election day.

Another of the women, Mirantee Bunkaew of the Democrats, is a first-time candidate and says her parents are commoners in Chiang Khong district.

She said she cannot compete with other candidates in terms of looks or wealth, but she can show voters that as an earnest working woman who does her own housework she would be their accessible representative.

Bangkok Post