TMCnet News
Doom and gloom after the election, says P-Net(The Nation (Thailand) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)The People's Network for Elections in Thailand (P-Net) yesterday predicted a worst-case scenario after the election with riots in more than 10 southern provinces and clashes between supporters and opponents of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Bangkok. With political strife continuing every day, P-Net forecast three scenarios for when the Election Commission (EC) announces the April 2 election results, coordinator Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said. The worst outcome, the agency said, was that Democrat Party supporters in southern constituencies would refuse to accept their local election results. They claim Thai Rak Thai candidates had won by fraud. An angry crowd besieges the local EC office, which might lead to a situation beyond police control. A riot in one of the 14 southern provinces spreads like wildfire. With Bangkok split into pro-Thaksin and anti-Thaksin camps, "hawkish figures" in the Thai Rak Thai Party exploit the tension to build hatred between the two sides, leading to clashes and violence in the capital. Thailand was given a taste of the worst-case scenario on Thursday when Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai were attacked by Thaksin supporters during a rally in Chiang Mai, causing fury among southern people, who traditionally support the Democrats. The party, along with Chat Thai and Mahachon, have boycotted the election, claiming Thaksin dissolved the House as a way to dissipate the anger over allegations of abuse of power to benefit his family's business. Looking on the bright side, P-Net's "dream scenario" is that all 500 House seats are filled in 30 days as the law requires. It would pave the way for the first House session, which would then select the House speaker and the prime minister. Thaksin would invite socially respected figures to join his new Cabinet. He would also head political reform, which could take shape in June. P-Net, however, is making a "realistic prediction" that Thaksin will become prime minister again even if his Thai Rak Thai Party gets less than 50 per cent of the voter turnout nationwide. He will reverse his promise that he will not accept the post if the votes for Thai Rak Thai party-list contenders are less than 50 per cent. The middle class in Bangkok and other cities cry foul over the outcome. The anti-Thaksin movement carries on its campaign to oust Thaksin through legal action, protests and the media. Amid the growing tension, P-Net suggests Thaksin should take a "political break" by deciding not to accept any political post as a way out of the trouble. He should welcome the appointment of an ad-hoc panel to scrutinise doubts involving himself and his family's business, which would clarify the truth to the public. Thaksin should, it says, take any possible means to ensure the public that the election tomorrow is fair and free from fraud. Meanwhile, Senator Kaewsan Atibhodi said an academic had vowed to tear up his ballot paper in front of the polling station where he is registered. This would be illegal, and Kaewsan said he was prepared to represent the academic if he was charged. Thirapat Serirangsan, president of the Political Science Association, believes the election result will lead to trouble and violence. "The nation's stability is now destroyed, while the people are fiercely divided," he said. "It'll take at least 10 years to recover." |