The Bangkok Governor Campaign 2004

Where do you get your news? - August 31, 2004
2Bangkok.com was pleased to have the only English-language results from the election on the web (from 03:18 Monday morning) until about 24 hours after the polls closed. Both The Nation and Bangkok Post's website results were based on results at the time the newspapers went to print (probably around 19:00 Sunday night). Late Monday afternoon The Nation finally posted the final results. The Post did not have the final results until their Tuesday edition.

Election of new Bangkok governor is an anti-government protest vote - TNA, August 31, 2004
...Many eye-brows were raised when Mr. Chuwit joined the race for governor.
Although Mr. Chuwit received substantial media coverage when he exposed police corruption in his massage parlours last year, he was not someone the public was really familiar with.
''I think quite a good number of Bangkok voters were attracted to Chuwit because they are fed up with politicians. When unknown volunteers offer to
serve them, Bangkok voters don't care who he is and where he is from, as long as he is frank and honest with them,'' said the academic.
Pol Capt. Chalerm Yubamrung failed to win many votes even though he is known as an accomplished parliamentary debater.
''Time changes and people want someone with good policies, not just a sharp tongue,'' Professor Somchai said.
Another leading political critic from Thammasat, Somkid Lertpaithoon, believes the Democrat’s candidate was elected because the people of Bangkok want some freshness injected into Thai politics.
''Apirak is a new face and a young qualified man. He was chosen because Bangkok voters have had doubts about some of the ruling party's policies. The government has been criticised because of conflicts of interest and for its open ambition to win 400 seats in next general elections, which will give it absolute power in the house of the representatives. I don't think Bangkok people would like that,'' he said.

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

After the election - August 25, 2004

ANALYSIS: PM needs to take stock as voters back underdog - The Nation, August 30, 2004
...The city poll has traditionally reflected middle-class sentiment toward national politics. Chamlong won gubernatorial landslides twice by portraying himself as an underdog who needed "you folks' help", as the powers-that-be were getting too powerful for him to fight alone. And when Chamlong became a victim of his own success, acquiring the "mainstream" label, Bhichit Rattakul beat him in the 1996 city poll by using the same underdog tactic.
...And while it is fair to say that not all votes cast for Apirak were meant to be a snub to the prime minister, one factor that should definitely not be overlooked is the massive support for that highly controversial candidate, "massage king" Chuwit Kamolvisit.
Each vote for the tycoon - who everyone knew ran houses of prostitution, bribed police and was accused of hiring men in uniform to raze a strip of Sukhumvit beer bars that obstructed his grand scheme - was bad news for both the Democrats and Thaksin...

The Chuwit ‘phenomenon’: gone tomorrow? - The Nation, August 31, 2004
...Isn’t our Parliament full of such “brave” men already – ones who will exercise their “conscience” selectively and be motivated not by principles, but rather by vengeance or vested interests? What difference will Chuwit make? His clash with the police made him a hero in many people’s eyes. But didn’t Chalerm Yoobamrung do similar things when his sons got into trouble with the police? Chuwit may have guts, but I wouldn’t call it “courage”. While he may not try to “hide” from his past, which seems inescapable anyway, he may try to seek refuge in politics like many others before him...

EDITORIAL: Apirak is the city’s man of the hour - The Nation, August 31, 2004
Good exploration of many possible factors in Apirak's win. It is just the presence of this kind of analysis that separates The Nation from the Bangkok Post.

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

Update on votes - August 30, 2004 03:18 - The latest update on the official site shows: Apriak (#1) - 911,441 votes Pavenna (#7) - 619,039 votes Chuwit (#15) - 334,168 votes Chalerm (#3) - 165,761 votes Nitipoom (#21) - 135,369 votes And the winner is... Apirak - August 30, 2004 00:44 - It appears that Democrat candidate Apirak Kosayothin (#1 -website) has won the Bangkok Governor election. Official results are here. Results at this hour show: Apriak (#1) - 828,866 votes Pavenna (#7) - 552,947 votes Chuwit (#15) - 301,811 votes Chalerm (#3) - 150,205 votes Nitipoom (#21) - 122,113 votes Also: Bangkok Governor candidates

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Chuwit sees victory in 3rd place finish - The Nation, August 30, 2004
"These voters chose me for a feeling, not a reason. They knew that they had voted for reasons [before] and were let down all along," he said.
"Those [other] candidates were backed by political parties. In fact, [with the votes won] I think that I, an ordinary man with no political backing, beat them," he claimed.
Also: On their losses - The Nation, August 30, 2004
Also: Thaksin catches Pojaman with hand in her purse - The Nation, August 30, 2004
A small act of charity almost brought Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra in violation of election law yesterday when she began to give deaf children some money in front of the ballot box...
"Are you looking for money?" Thaksin asked his wife. She was speechless for a moment, as was the premier.
With a pensive appearance, he bent his head down to whisper into his wife's ear: "It's breaking the law to give money today ... it's an election day."...

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Front-runners close websites - August 29, 2004
Looks like both front runners--Apirak and Pavenna--are taking no chances of being disqualified by the unpredictable Election Commission. Both of their websites (here and here) were taken off-line today.

Apirak tipped to win race for Bangkok governor - The Nation, August 29, 2004 Apirak leading while Pavina trailing in The Nation's survey - The Nation, August 29, 2004 Election results coming on line - August 29, 2004 15:28 - If you can access the BMA election page, the charts for the election results are being loaded now. BMA site - August 29, 2004 14:45 - BMA's election coverage site is already crippled by overwhelming traffic (left). TNA later mentioned this at 18:29.

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)

Election day photos and late news - Sunday, August 29, 2004 Above: Polling station on Thahan Road, 9:45am Left: Ballot box Below: Suthisarn-area polling station, 9:10am Also: We added Waranchai Chokchan, Bangkok Governor candidate #2, to our page of candidate posters.

Last minute decision: No exit polls/Voters barred from telling anyone who they voted for - August 29, 2004

EC slaps ban on exit- polls for Bangkok votes - The Nation, August 29, 2004
In an eleventh-hour decision, the Election Commission (EC) yesterday banned exit polls for today's balloting for Bangkok governor on the grounds that it might influence the electoral outcome...
Suan Dusit pollster Sukhum Chaloeysap said he had already cancelled his plans to dispatch 5,000 students to conduct exit polls.
"My plans were ruined. I believe pollsters have been made a sacrificial lamb to share the blame for the EC's incompetence," he said.
Sukhum said the EC had been criticised for inept supervision of gubernatorial campaigns and it was trying to salvage its image by banning exit polls.
He said exit polls were deemed useful in the fight against vote-fixing.
"The survey can indicate the likely outcome and raises the alarm if there is any suspicious deviation in voting results," he said.
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University academic Theerapat Serirangsan said he agreed with the ban.
"Exit polls could influence the decision of voters who are about to cast their ballots," he said...

EC bans exit poll on Bangkok governor election - TNA , August 29, 2004
...As the election day draws near, a ban on voters is also enforced barring them from disclosing their choices to fellow votors or candidates until a final result, according to Pol. Maj. Gen. Ekachai.
''If votors do otherwise, they will face a jail term ranging from 1 to 10 years, and a heavy fine from 20,000 to 200,000 baht. And under the Thai election laws, culprits will be stripped of their voting right for 10 years,'' he said.
...The popular Dusit Poll, a public poll conductor in Bangkok, has also been told not to carry out its activity on the election day, while Thai newspapers and other media have been advised against publishing any opinion polls...

Last-minute ads - August 29, 2005
Bangkok governor ads in the Bangkok Post: Front runner Apirak's newspaper ads all mention a BRT system as the centerpiece of his campaign. Kobsak's ad shows his plan for fountains along the Skytrain lines. (Thanks to Conor and Suchada for pointing these out.)

New Bangkok governor known by Sunday midnight - TNA, August 28, 2004
The Bangkok municipal authorities expect the unofficial result of the election for governor to be announced by midnight on Sunday...
The combined count – although it would only be an unofficial election result -- will be announced on a massive electronic board in front of the City Hall by midnight, according to the BMA's Permanent Secretary, Khun Ying Nathanon Thavisin...
The first results are expected to come from the inner districts like Phra Nakhon, Sampanthawong and Pomprab Satrupai.
In the past, the outer districts, like Talingchan in the western outskirts of Bangkok, have been the last results to come in because of transport and communication problems...

Outgoing Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej - The Nation, August 29, 2005
..."For instance, I intended to extend the Skytrain from Sathorn to the Thon Buri side of Bangkok shortly after I took office [in 2000]. Initially, it seemed that the Thaksin government, which came to power in early 2001, would support the project. However, things changed later on when the government was fully in power and enjoyed a high degree of popularity in 2002-2003.
“Afterwards, it seemed that they wanted the Transport Ministry to consolidate all mass transit schemes. As a result, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration could not proceed with the Skytrain extension because we needed a budget contribution from the central government. For over three years, we could not invite bids for construction,” he says.
Beyond public transportation, the outgoing governor says that another big disappointment during his tenure was his inability to build a large-scale underground car-parking facility at Sanam Luang due to relentless opposition from environmentalists, who have argued that the scheme would negatively affect the protected Rattanakosin Island. However, Samak did manage to preside over the construction of a similar facility in front of Bangkok City Hall, which he claims as a success because it provides much-needed additional space for parking in the area surrounding the building.
...“Don’t forget that I had worked with eight administrations and prime ministers before I ran for the Bangkok governor post – from premier Thanin Kraivixien and General Prem Tinasulanonda to premier Banharn Silpa-archa and premier Chavalit Yongchaiyudh. During those years, I was a minister five times and a deputy premier three times. So I think my experience will still be useful if I run for the Senate,” he says.

Close race expected for Bangkok governor - AP, August 28, 6:41 PM
A candidate for the opposition Democrat Party is favored to become governor of Thailand's capital Sunday in an election seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his administration...
The governor's post is just a few notches above ceremonial, since the central government controls the pursestrings for most essential services in this city of 10 million people...
Election regulations make it illegal for pre-election polls to give the position of candidates, but local media have skirted the rules and have suggested that Democrat Apirak Kosayodhin holds a slight lead over independent Paveena Hongsakul.
Apirak, 43, resigned as CEO of a mobile phone service provider to enter the race. He has positioned himself as the candidate for those wishing to register a protest against Thaksin, whose autocratic ways have cost him popularity among the capital's relatively sophisticated electorate...
Paveena had been lawmaker from the Chat Pattana party, which recently agreed to merge itself into Thaksin's party, and is regarded as a proxy candidate for Thai Rak Thai, though both sides deny it...
Also expected to make a strong showing is Chuwit Kamolvisit, who owns half a dozen massage parlors in the capital which he willingly acknowledges are fronts for prostitution. He is running as a candidate for the First Thai Nation Party, which he founded.

TRT seeks to end Chalerm bid - The Nation, August 19, 2004
Party hopes to halt Pavena's poll slide by convincing veteran politician to back her.
The Bangkok governor election took a bizarre turn yesterday when the Thai Rak Thai Party began hatching plans to convince candidate Chalerm Yoobamrung to withdraw from the race and back Pavena Hongsakul, whose popularity is steadily sliding, a party source said...

Dr Bhijit's plan for the Phaseecharoen Canal tram - August 18, 2004
Wisarut reports: I've been to Victory Monument Station and seen the election campaign ads from Dr Bhijit who has rented the ad space from BTS. One of his ads is the tram along Phaseecharoen Canal:

Wat Nuan Noradit is along Bangkok Noy Canal, not Phaseecharoen Canal though this temple also is close to Phetkasem Road (Highway 4). I guess that Dr Bhijit is going to redirect the interchange with MRTA Subway (the Southern extension) from Bang Wah Station to Bang Phai Station since Bang Phai Station is the station near Bangkok Noy Canal and Wat Nuan Noradit. However, another likely option for Dr Bhijit is to keep the interchange with MRTA Subway at Bang Wah and then move the tram terminal to Wat Nuan Noradit which will interchange with the Subway at Bang Phai and change Phetkasem into an interchange station. This can be shown as follows:

The section from Saphan Taksin to Phetkasem must be strong enough to accept the heavy load of Skytrain rolling stock (axle load of at least 15 tons) for smooth service. The section from Wat Nuan Noradit (or Phetkasem to Kanchanaphisek) may be LRT which has a much lighter load (probably 10 tons axle load).
I expect the section from Saphan Taksin to Phetkasem to be approved since it follows the masterplan. However, the section from Wat Nuan Noradit to Kanchanaphisek Outer Ring Road is unlikely to get approval since that section is parallel with Phetkasem Road which Subway is heading to even though there are several people living along Phaseecharoen Canal and there is a long-tail boat service (running only from morning to evening).
It would be more economical to set up a permanent pier at either Phetkasem or Wutthakart to allow long tail boats along Bangkok Noy Canal and Phaseecharoen Canal to park and function as feeders.

Earlier: Dr. Bhijit proposes tram along Phaseecharoen Canal - Matichon, August 1, 2004
Earlier: The story of the Elevated Phaseecharoen elevated way and the stalled Skytrain extension

Who backs Pavena and who backs Chalerm - August 18, 2004
(from TRT to punish Pavena nonsupporters, The Nation, August 18, 2004) ...The ruling Thai Rak Thai party is threatening to blacklist any city councillor that fails to jump on the Pavena Hongsakul Bangkok governor bandwagon, according to Apichart Halamjeuk, a TRT Bangkok councillor.
Apichart said all 17 TRT city councillors had been warned to campaign for Pavena or risk losing the nomination for their posts in the next election. Brushing aside the threats all but one of the councillors planned to continue endorsing Muanchon Party leader Chalerm Yoobamrung for the capital’s top job...

Results from the poll of August 7-8 - August 17, 2004

Bangkok electors urged to vote and prevent vote-buying - TNA, August 15, 2004
...Vote-buying is expected to be rampant in the electoral districts of Bangsue, Yanawa, Saphan Soong and Chatujak, Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, the Director of the Human Resources Institute told TNA. And the best way to combat this, he says, is for as many electors as possible to cast their ballots in the election.
In the last election for Bangkok governor, less than sixty percent of Bangkok’s registered electors went to the polling booths. If over 70 percent of Bangkok residents turn up to cast their votes, the winner is more likely to be a true representative of the people, according to Mr. Somchai.
Four recent public opinions polls conducted by Thammasat University and The Nation newspaper show there is less than two percent separating the top four candidates
As the race for Bangkok governor is expected to be very close, vote-buying could play a significant role in determining the outcome. As much as 200 million baht (or 500 baht per head) is expected to be spent on votes-buying.

Hunting for promising talent on the campaign trail - The Nation, August 14, 2004
Several polls predict that the Bangkok governor election campaign will be a three-horse race, but it would be a pity if voters were eyeing only a small group of candidates when there is a pack of interesting personalities to cast a ballot for on August 29. Here is an assessment of each candidate’s possibilities...