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134647
Sun, 07/25/2010 - 20:25
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http://m.oananews.org//node/134647
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Unofficial tally shows Democrat Panich winning Bangkok by-election
BANGKOK, July 25 – An unofficial vote tally has shown that Panich Vikitsreth of Thailand’s ruling Democrat Party has won Bangkok’s by-election in Constituency 6, beating his major rival Korkaew Pikulthong representing the primary opposition Puea Thai Party, according to the Election Commission (EC).
Mr Panich, former deputy minister for foreign affairs won 96,480 votes, 53.47 per cent while Korkaew, a core leader of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) received 81,776 votes. The EC reported voter turnout was around 50 per cent, lower than earlier expected at 60 percent.
Mr Korkaew is now imprisoned on charges of terrorism related to the recent mass rallies and turmoil in Bangkok.
The constituency has 63,724 eligible voters of which some 16,000 cast their ballots during two days of advance voting last weekend. The by-election was held to fill the seat left vacant by late Democrat MP Thiwa Ngernyuang who died of cancer on June 11.
At around 6pm, Mr Panich went to Democrat Party headquarters and thanked the prime minister, party executives and other MPs. He said that he would visit residents in Bangkok’s Constituency 6 to express his appreciation on Monday. The by-election symbolised that Thailand's democracy has returned to normal with reconciliation, Mr Panich said.
The Sunday by-election is the country's first parliamentary race after the mass protest of the red-shirted anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) in the capital, which left almost 90 people dead and nearly 1,900 injured during 10 weeks of disruption.
Puea Thai Bangkok MP Wicharn Meenchainant, heading the Puea Thai Party's campaign for the by-election, meanwhile, acknowledged Mr Korkeaw’s defeat. Mr Wicharn said he was satisfied with the number of votes cast for the Puea Thai candidate and would adjust strategies in the next campaign for members of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Council Office and Bangkok District Office, set to begin Monday.
UDD demonstrators protested from March to May against the government, demanding that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva leave his post unconditionally. The Red Shirt demonstrations ended May 19 when a military operation forced the Red Shirts to abandon their positions, during which the Red leaders surrendered and called off their rally. (MCOT online news)
Mr Panich, former deputy minister for foreign affairs won 96,480 votes, 53.47 per cent while Korkaew, a core leader of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) received 81,776 votes. The EC reported voter turnout was around 50 per cent, lower than earlier expected at 60 percent.
Mr Korkaew is now imprisoned on charges of terrorism related to the recent mass rallies and turmoil in Bangkok.
The constituency has 63,724 eligible voters of which some 16,000 cast their ballots during two days of advance voting last weekend. The by-election was held to fill the seat left vacant by late Democrat MP Thiwa Ngernyuang who died of cancer on June 11.
At around 6pm, Mr Panich went to Democrat Party headquarters and thanked the prime minister, party executives and other MPs. He said that he would visit residents in Bangkok’s Constituency 6 to express his appreciation on Monday. The by-election symbolised that Thailand's democracy has returned to normal with reconciliation, Mr Panich said.
The Sunday by-election is the country's first parliamentary race after the mass protest of the red-shirted anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) in the capital, which left almost 90 people dead and nearly 1,900 injured during 10 weeks of disruption.
Puea Thai Bangkok MP Wicharn Meenchainant, heading the Puea Thai Party's campaign for the by-election, meanwhile, acknowledged Mr Korkeaw’s defeat. Mr Wicharn said he was satisfied with the number of votes cast for the Puea Thai candidate and would adjust strategies in the next campaign for members of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Council Office and Bangkok District Office, set to begin Monday.
UDD demonstrators protested from March to May against the government, demanding that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva leave his post unconditionally. The Red Shirt demonstrations ended May 19 when a military operation forced the Red Shirts to abandon their positions, during which the Red leaders surrendered and called off their rally. (MCOT online news)
