Dirty tricksters rule in voting 'twilight zone'

By JAMES EAST

Herald correspondent


BANGKOK - Political canvassers across Thailand are polishing their guns and cleaning out their wallets in readiness for a busy year of electioneering.

New anti-vote buying laws and tougher electioneering rules are having the unintended effect of making influential political families turn to henchmen canvassers to get them back into power.

With Senate, provincial and a general elections all due this year, the canvassers have been out and about in an open display of power politics.

Analysts say the 1997 constitutional laws are working their way through the system, but they are also driving dirty politicians to use increasingly desperate tactics while canvassers have been up to their old tricks.

Last week two men, a provincial candidate and his aide, were seriously injured in a shooting. The next day, a candidate was killed while returning from campaigning. In yet another incident, four others were wounded.

Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai immediately ordered officials to do more to keep the peace.

Political canvassers - a motley collection of gunmen, vote-buyers, village chiefs, teachers, police and local power brokers - are hailing 2000 as their year.

Senate, general and municipal polls must all take place in 2000, giving them ample opportunity to earn a healthy living from their political masters.

In March, Thailand will elect its first Senate, replacing the present crop of well-connected appointees with fresh blood. A general election will also see the introduction of single MP constituencies.

Manufacturers of bulletproof cars and vests say there has been a run on demand with MPs and candidates the biggest customers.

Up to 80 per cent of MPs are said to own bulletproof jackets. Many carry guns in their cars and live in terror of death threats.

They are right to be fearful. Democrat MP Panawat Liangpongphan survived a shooting in Bangkok last month.

He named the masterminds as a rival political family and told a court last week that: "If I had died, they wouldn't have to use so much money to win the next election."

Fellow provincial MP Pornthep Tejapaibul described the rural area as a "twilight zone" where local politicians and canvassers were killed as if no law existed.