From: fyta@chulkn.CHula.ac.TH (Dr. Yunyong Teng-amnuay)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Bangkok Post Saturday September 12, 1992
Date: 13 Sep 1992 03:08:10 +1000
Organization: Mail/News gateway

CHUAN 'READY TO BECOME PREMIER'

Democrat Party leader Chuan Leekpai yesterday declared the Democrats
would get more MP seats nationwide than in the previous election
and he is ready to take the premiership.

In a key-note campaign speech at the Royal Plaza, Mr. Chuan said
not only the Democrats but also all the other former opposition
parties would get more MPs tomorrow.

CHUAN SEEKS SOUTH'S BACKING FOR PM BID

Nakhon Si Thammarat - Democrat Party leader Chuan Leekpai has
told voters here that as a native of Trang Province he would be
the country's second prime minister from the South.

He is confident at least 30 Democrats from the region will get
through to Parliament in tomorrow's election.

Mr. Chuan campaigned extensively in various constituencies of
Songkhla and Nakhon Si Thammarat, and effort to stem the rise of
the Palang Dharma Party in the region where 45 seats are at
stake.

POLLWATCH INFORMANTS GET THREATS IN UTHAI THANI

Somjit Hinthaisong of Tambon Rabam in Lan Sak district of Uthai
Thani was going to join others in her village to "sell" their
votes.  but a few words from her 14-year-old son stopped her
cold.

She said her son berated her when he learned of her plan.

"He said, 'How could you do it when you're supposed to be a
democracy promoter?  Didn't you see what happened the last time?
They bought votes, they got into Parliament, and a whole bunch
of people died."

Mrs. Somjit, a mother of four in her 30s, is a PollWatch
volunteer.

The boy, Phaitoon, said he had learned about the events in May
from television.

He said he felt strongly that vote-buying  would destroy
democracy and possibly cause a repeat of the May tragedy.

The mother and son made their remarks on Thursday to a group of
visitors, who include the district officer, local police and
military representatives, and PollWatch officials from local
chapter and Bangkok headquarters.

They were there to give Mrs Somjit moral support after she
complained of threats against her fo informing the police of
vote-buying.

Her information led to the arrest of a suspect and the issue of
an arrest warrant for two more, all of whom were reportedly
canvassers for a Chart Thai candidate.

POLICE SENT TO NAKHON NAYOK

A 15-man police commando unit was sent to Nakhon Nayok on
Thursday at the request of the Interior Ministry's task force
centre for the suppression of "influential" people and gunmen.

Interior deputy permanent secretary Chaiwat Hutacharoen,
director of the centre, said the unit was sent to Nakhon Nayok
following reports that there would be heavy money-dumping in the
province before the election on Sunday.

CHAMLONG VOWS TO BOW OUT IF 'DIRTY FORCES' WIN

Palang Dharma Party de facto leader Chamlong Srimuang indicated
yesterday that he would wash his hands of politics if his party
was defeated by "dirty forces" and failed to be in the
government.

"This election will be my last chance.  If the PDP loses to
dirty forces again, I will retreat to become just an MP and to
perform my duty as an MP for just one term an d will then devote
myself to the making of a new generation of youth leaders who
have morals," he said in a had-written statement issued at the
party yesterday.