General Election in Thailand - Part 2 The build up to voting

During the five years of post Thaksin politics there has been a pre-occupation of a battle for control of power.  There are so many interested parties: the 'red shirts' who are mainly the agricultural poor and pro Thaksin supporters, the 'yellow shirts' who are the middle classes and support anybody except Thaksin, the military who are supposed to be neutral but will state their position when they want to do so.  In addition, there is the powerful and respected influence of 83-year-old His Royal Highness the King of Thailand to consider.

The battle for control has led to the closure of Bangkok airport by the yellow shirts, the siege of the centre of Bangkok by the red shirts in which 90 people lost their lives and various skirmishes and postures between the antagonists.  Since the coup, the military have remained loyal to government.  However, they were instrumental in clearing the city of the red shirt siege in the city centre.  The King, who has served his country since 1950, is in poor health and denounces all violence.  His voice is powerful though and many Thai people look towards him for guidance.  He is a remarkable King, and we hope and pray for his health and long life.

After last year's siege, it was agreed that elections would take place in July 2011.  I arrived in Thailand ten days before polling day and the only evidence of an election I could see was several posters, identical except for the life size portrait of the candidate it was promoting and their election number, which appears on the voting form.  It was a massive difference from the expensive campaigning of American or British political battles.  There were several pick up trucks touring the towns and villages blaring out political messages, but it seemed the main rallying was reserved for the big cities, particularly Bangkok.

Sadly, I do not speak Thai so I could not find out what the main party messages are, but it does seem that in the latter stages, a smear campaign began on both sides.  No differences there then.

All I could establish was that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government had brought in improved roads and bridges to the village Thamuang where my wife lives.  This has significantly improved the village, and, perhaps helped them to decide which way to vote.

However, issues on the economy, education, transport, benefits and policing are insignificant to agricultural societies.  In these communities there is no money, transport is limited at best to a poorly maintained motor bike, there are zero benefits (no family income, no old age pension, no unemployment benefits) and policing is more or less left to the village leader (except major crimes like murder and drugs).  The people of the poor northeast would like consistency of the price of rice, compensation for flooding and greater medical facilities.  Unfortunately, I am not sure if the main parties engage in a national level discussion on these issues.

Nevertheless, there was a build up to the expectation of casting a vote, scheduled for Sunday 3 July 2011 between 8am and 3pm in the local temple.  This in itself is a big difference to the UK, where it is always a Thursday between 7am and 10pm.