Vote buyers seen taking Lampang

General News - Tuesday December 11, 2007

Vote buyers seen taking Lampang

PRADIT RUANGDIT

Lampang _ Money politics are again expected to rule the day on Dec 23 when voters cast their ballots in this northern province. Banned Thai Rak Thai (TRT) executives and former Lampang MPs Pairoj Lohsunthorn, Pinij Chantharasurin and Boonchu Trithong are fielding their children and close aides in their places this time.

There are five seats at stake in this northern province's two constituencies.

Mr Pairoj is sending his two sons to stand in constituency 1 and Mr Pinij's two sons are running in constituency 2. All of them are seeking election under the People Power party (PPP)'s banner.

''With so many restrictions on campaign activities means a heavy injection of funds through canvassers, giving veteran politicians an edge over the new faces from small parties,'' said Jarus Maiyot, an adviser to the Northern Peasants Federation.

In constituency 1, which covers the upper part of the province, the PPP is pitting Thanakorn and Kittikorn Lohsunthorn and Wasit Payakkabutra.

At the request of grassroots politicians who wanted to counter the influence of the Lohsunthorn family, Mr Boonchu sent Booncherd Promsorn, a former provincial councillor and his close aide, under the Puea Pandin party.

''This is a political collusion between kamnans, village headmen and two influential political families,'' one kamnan said.

But observers said the PPP was not in a position to make a sweep of the three seats in this constituency, as evidenced from the activities of Sunee Sommee, chief of the provincial administration organisation, who is only campaigning for Mr Pairoj's sons.

Besides Mr Booncherd, the PPP candidates in constituency 1 are up against the Chart Thai party's Jinda Wongsawat and the Democrats' Matthayom Nipakasem. Chart Thai has banked its hopes on Mr Jinda, a former TRT MP, to help it break through in Lampang. But Mr Jinda's previous success was in a large part attributed to Mr Boonchu's and Mr Pairoj's backing.

Mr Matthayom has been very active in these areas over the past year. He has organised temple tours and raised public awareness on global warming.

Mr Kittikorn is also being tipped to win a seat. It should be a tight race between the Chart Thai, Puea Pandin and Democrat parties, with money likely to make a difference.

For the two seats available in constituency 2, Mr Pinij is putting up his sons Itthirat and Jaratrit for the PPP. Despite enjoying the backing of local politicians, teachers, health volunteers and housewives, Mr Pinij cannot rest assured because Puea Pandin's Tharnthong Thongsawat is no easy meat.

Ms Tharnthong was buoyed by her win in the senatorial race last year and has been riding high on the popularity of her late father and veteran Lampang MP Boontheng Thongsawat. She is confident in her ability to connect with voters, but fears power play and vote buying.

While the big parties are running high-profile campaigns, runners from small parties are left to fight an uphill battle because of budget shortages. The parties have not provided most of them with funding, leaflets, or campaign posters.

Col Dedduang na Lampang, contesting in constituency 1 for the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana party, said he found campaign trucks and posters unaffordable. The party only provided him with 650 leaflets. He and two other candidates have slept in cars ever since they hit the road to woo voters in villages.

Tassaporn Tanfun, also running in constituency 1 for the Prachamati party, said she had still not received the 60,000 baht her party had promised her.

''I have ordered 50 T-shirts and campaign trucks, but have no idea from where I will get the money to clear my debts,'' she said.

By : Bangkok Post