Thai politic after Sunday (December 23, 2007) election

Thai politic after Sunday (December 23, 2007) election

It’s winter time in Thailand. The temperature is normally hovering between 18-28 °C (64.4-82.4 °F) this time of the year. But the weather this winter is unusually warm in Thailand or at lease in Bangkok. The temperature we have today is 33 °C (91.4 °F).

It is not only the warm weather, but the political scene in the country is also heating up. The general election will be held the day after tomorrow on Sunday (December 23, 2007). Politicians of all parties are canvassing in their last ditch for votes.

Just a few hours ago, a bomb hoax was found in one of the Chart-Thai (Thai Nation) Party candidate office. Yesterday, a real bomb exploded in one of the Plalang Prachachon (People Power) Party district office.  Last week, a candidate from another political party was killed by a woman.

Vote buying is also rife. Police arrested one candidate who had prepared tracts with Bank notes of 100 Baht (US$ 3), 500 Baht (US$ 15) and even 1000 Baths (US$ 30) attached and are ready to be handed out. Central bank of Thailand also detected millions of Bahts have been transferred from the Capital city of Bangkok to north east provinces suspected for vote buying activities.

But I have the same old feeling that the heat may has just begun. Academic polls like ABAC, Suan-Dusit and few respectful media polls like Nation News have all indicated that the former power group that was toppled by the Military coup will win the election. If this is the case, heat will certainly glow.

The army will certainly not be very happy with the old power they trashed out last November back again to power. Taksin Chinnawat, the former Thai Prime Minster now residing in Britain, promises to come back after his nominee party wins the election. He can certainly pin his hope on the winning since the polls are pointing to such direction.

He vows to fight all corruption cases now in the court for an alleged amount of 100,000,000,000.00 Bahts (30 billions US$). He is also at risk for a lengthy jail term if being found guilty. The stake is too high for him not to put up a fiercely fight.

Will the military allow that to happen? I do not think so. Already I can hear the army marching songs on television after some programs end. The songs are so familiar to my ears. I have heard them a dozen times before. And every time I heard it, it was a military coup’dẻtat.

I look at the thermometer again and it says 35 °C (95°F). It has gone up a few more degrees since I last looked at a while ago. I just hope the heat will not keep on rising after the election this weekend. After all, it is winter time now for Thailand.