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| Southeast Asia |
| Thailand ramps up security |
| 2009-01-11 |
| THAILAND raised security on Saturday for its largest by-elections, which will test support for the kingdom's new Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva. The authorities banned alcohol and deployed extra police officers in the 22 provinces voting on Sunday, when 29 lawmakers will be elected following a December court ruling that dissolved two political parties. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Like my dad taught me when I was a young boy: newspapers sell words, not news. Even if nothing happens, they still have a certain number of pages to fill! |
| Posted by: Scooter McGruder 2009-01-11 02:52 |
| #1 This article is mostly bullshit. The elections are not national/provincial - the election is only in Bangkok, and it is for the Bangkok Governor (effectively, the Mayor - but Bangkok is classified as its own state). This election is to pick a new Bangkok Governor, to replace the one who resigned last December, amid corruption charges (taking kickbacks on procurement of fire trucks). For at least the nine years that I have lived in Thailand, they have always banned alcohol sales the day prior to voting day, and on voting day. The ban is not generally enforced for restaurants - and enforcement this weekend was pretty lax in the ex-pat bar areas. I also think that the Thai Police have always been at full strength on election days - simply to keep order at polling places. Yesterday was also "Children's Day" in Thailand - and it was for nationwide events in support of that holiday that extra police were dispatched around the country - mainly to control traffic at special events. So - this "Thailand Ramps Up Security" article is pretty much making news out of nothing.. |
| Posted by: Lone Ranger 2009-01-11 00:24 |