Coss Posted July 2, 2011 Report Share Posted July 2, 2011 AUTHORITIES, EMBASSIES ON ALERT Link The unofficial results of today's general election are expected by 10pm. More than 180,000 police officers have been deployed at 90,800 polling stations nationwide to ensure the vote goes smoothly and peacefully. Candidates yesterday concluded their campaigns, while canvassing activities on social networks ceased, as online political messages are banned after 6pm the day before an election. Police stepped up efforts to crack down on vote-buying yesterday and arrested three people in Samut Prakan and Maha Sarakham provinces suspected of involvement in the practice. Somjai Uan-takhop, 55, a grocer in Samut Prakan's Muang district, was arrested for allegedly handing two 100 baht bank notes to Anusorn Thongkon, 51, and asking him to vote for a major political party, according to Samut Prakan police inspector Sonchai Empradit. In Maha Sarakham, special branch police arrested Thongphoon Sriyowong, who they said was found carrying 64 100 baht bank notes. Acting on information provided by the suspect, officers then seized a pickup truck containing about 4,000 100 baht bank notes, a pistol and a book with lists of canvassers' and voters' names, and leaflets profiling an MP candidate. Mrs Thongphoon, a resident of Muang district, allegedly confessed that she received the 6,400 baht cash from three men in a pickup truck. The police team later located the truck, but the three men escaped, said chief of Maha Sarakham special branch police, Pol Lt Col Chatchawan Mannok. Meanwhile, police found an MKII bomb in an abandoned building near polling stations in Lat Phrao district at around noon yesterday. District officials in charge of security at polling booths alerted police and the explosive ordnance disposal unit was called in to remove the device. The Australian and British embassies have issued travel advisories for Thailand due to concerns over the possibility of unrest and violence during and after the election and the formation of the next government. The Australian embassy in Bangkok advised its nationals in Thailand to exercise a high degree of caution. "There is a possibility of civil unrest and violence in the period surrounding the election and formation of a new government," said a message posted on the embassy's website yesterday. "The political situation remains unpredictable after the last April-May incident and further political unrest and violence cannot be ruled out in Bangkok and other provinces," it added. The British Embassy posted a travel advisory on its website on Friday regarding the "possibility of unrest in parts of Thailand during national elections". "The Election Commission has until Aug 2 to confirm the election result. There remains a risk that political developments may lead to violence," it said. Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree, the national police chief and the chief of the election peacekeeping centre, said the centre had assigned 183,129 police officers to enforce the election law. He said police were also in charge of gathering vote tallies from polling stations and forwarding them to the Election Commission (EC). EC secretary-general Suthiphon Taveechaiyagarn said the commission is working with three other agencies _ the Royal Thai Police, the Television Pool of Thailand, and the Electronic Government Agency _ in the ballot-counting and reporting of the poll results. The EC should know and be able to announce the unofficial results of the election by 10pm today, he said. To help voters get to the polls, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand will offer free subway services between 6am and 4pm today, said deputy MRTA governor Ronnachit Yaemsa-ard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted July 3, 2011 Report Share Posted July 3, 2011 The poll watchers in most districts should know as soon as they see their paid voters show up. The count is just a formality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted July 3, 2011 Report Share Posted July 3, 2011 The poll watchers in most districts should know as soon as they see their paid voters show up. The count is just a formality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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