Organization: Central Michigan University
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Mon, 14 Sep 1992 14:06:30 EDT
From:         Elliott Parker <3ZLUFUR@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Subject:      TH: NAP stays strong in Northeast

=======================  Forwarded  Message  ===========================
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 92 20:07:33+0700
From: htk@munnari.oz.au (Hugh Thaweesak Koanantakool)

NAP stays strong in Northeast
The Nation Monday September 14, 1992

THE Democrat Party, shrugging off the psychological loss of its
"northeastern knight", Prachuab Chaisarn, swept 17 seats in the
Northeast in its best poll showing in the poverty-stricken region in
years, according to unofficial results.

The party's key ally, the New Aspiration Party, remained the strongest
single party in the Northeast, unofficially winning 32 seats.  It won
40 seats in the region in the March poll.

The 128 seats at stake in Thailand's biggest region were evenly
divided between the so-called "angelic" and "evil" parties.

The Chat Pattana, Chat Thai and Social Action parties, which were at
the core of the doomed Suchinda administration and were dubbed
"satans" by the press, won 29, 20 and 14 seats respectively.

Chat Pattana's share in the Northeast was lower than initially
expected. The pary fielded several veteran northeastern politicians
and had Democrat defector Prachuab at the helm of its election
compaigns.

Former prime minister Chatichai Choonhavan, who formed Chat Pattana in
July in a much-heralded move, campaigned hard in the Northeast by
highlighting his previous projects for the underdeveloped region,
especially his "turning the Indochina war zone into a trade zone"
policy.

Chatichai and New Aspiration leader Chavalit Yongchaiyudh became
bitter rivals in their bid to dominate the Northeast.

While Chatichai climed his Indochina policy was paving the way for the
region to become a gateway to Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, Chavalit, a
former army chief, said this was made possible only because of his
military role that "helped bring peace" to Indochina.

Chatichai's three-man team won in Nakhon Ratchasima's Constituency I,
despite an initially fearsome challenge by palang Dharma candidate and
fam ous artist Visa Khanthap.

The loss of Prachuab had been thought a major setback to the Democrats
who won 12 seats in the Northeast in the March election.  Its surprise
sweep of 17 seats significantly contributed to the party's success in
yesterday's poll.

The Democrat Party's surprise was boosted by the fact that most of its
17 succesful northeastern candidates are new faces in Thai politics.

The Palang Dharma Party also successfully made inroads in the
Northeast, winning seven seats afteh emerging empty-handed from the
March poll.

The newly-formed Seritham Party of former House speaker Arthit Urairat
won five seats in the region. Two other esats surprisingly went to the
Muanchon Party.

Fierce competition in the Northeast was underscored by statements by all
prime ministerial hopefuls  - Democrat leader Chuan Leekpai, Chatichai,
Chavalit and Palang Dharma founder Chamlong Srimuang - that they were
determined to increase their stakes in the region where results are
crucial to their political futures.
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