From: ssg9328@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Samart Srijumnong)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Election news - ThaiRath, 08/22/92
Keywords: Thai politics
Date: 7 Sep 92 21:26:35 GMT
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

Krukrit vs Chawalit
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Krukrit is prepared to defend against the "Presidium" case appealed
to the court by Chawalit. Due to Krukrit's column "SoiSuan+Pluu" in
his owned SiamRath newspaper, the issue of July 10, 1992, which
pointed that if Chawalit is to become the PM, he would turn
Thailand from Parliamentary system to the presidential system. To
the surprise of many, Krukrit went to the police station to give
himself in. Chatpatana party's spokesperson suggested that Chawalit
withdraw the case citing that some years ago when a group of
military unit under Chawalit's command went to storm Krukrit's
house, Krukrit did not take any legal action against him. Besides,
Chawalit himself always pays attention to Marxist stuffs which
might have led to the present image, he said.

(from ThaiRath, August 22, 1992)


Chawalit/Sanan listed in election misconduct
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chawalit said he would meet with the Poll Watch group concerning
his name was among the 146 MP candidates who have practiced illegal
strategies to win the upcoming election. Sanan, a Democrat
candicate expressed his upset to see his name also listed. He
warned the PollWatch not to loose its neutral position in its
mission. 

(from ThaiRath, August 22, 1992)


Poll Watch under attack
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the list of 145 candidates who were found to have violated
the election law was publicized, the Poll Watch's headquarter at
Ban Manangkasila was under extreme pressure. Many whose name were
listed telephoned to blast the group, claiming the group had been
abusing its power to favor certain parties. Kasem Suwannakul, the
group's president, called a meeting to resolve the problem. After
3 hours of meeting, Kasem went to meet the press claiming the group
had not released the list. It leaked to the public somehow, he
said. Kasem answered the a reporter's question about the PM's
attitude toward the case that the PM did not intervene. Jeera
Hongladarom, the group's spokersperson also said the listed
candidates were only found "guilty" by the Poll Watch representa-
tives. They did not necessarily violate the law, he added.
Concerning this matter, the Interior Ministry's Secretary General,
Anan Anantakul, said the Ministry will look into the accusation
made by the Poll Watch that at least 1,000 IM's officers had
exploited their authority in siding certain parties. He defended
Supanburi's governer whom was accused of wrong doing and the group
suggested the MoI to remove from the post. Anek Sittiprasat, a
deputy Minister of Interior did not believe the governer had done
anything wrong. Anek said the press which disclosed the list might
be sued to have cause personal damage. 

(from ThaiRath, August 22, 1992)


ThaiRath's editorial supports the Poll Watch's action
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ThaiRath's editorial said Thailand needs a monitoring group like
the Poll Watch to reflect to both the public and the government of
wrong doing. The group's report should help promote democracy in
Thailand and also helps improve the government's activities in the
long run.

(from ThaiRath, August 22, 1992)