ELECTION VIOLENCE
Democrat beaten at poll booth
Kitti Prasanwongwut, a Democrat candidate in the Bangkok council elections, shows wounds he said were sustained in an assault by three men after he filmed them urging voters to pick certain candidates near polling stations yesterday.
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Candidate assaulted after filming 'campaign workers' soliciting votes
A Democrat candidate in yesterday's city elections was attacked and beaten after filming alleged campaign workers soliciting votes outside a polling booth. Kitti Prasanwongwut claimed he was set upon by three men when they spotted him filming them at the Kularb Witthaya School polling station. He was left with facial cuts that required nine stitches at a nearby hospital. Kitti, a candidate in Samphanthawong district, alleged the men urged voters to cast ballots for certain candidates. At a news-media briefing at Democrat Party headquarters Kitti claimed he went to the polling station after receiving reports of rival candidates campaigning, which was illegal on election day. While he recorded the alleged vote solicitation, one of the men demanded he surrender the camera memory chip. He denied he had violated their rights and refused. Kitti claimed he was then attacked and his camera stolen as he fled into a beauty shop. Plubplachai police returned the camera when he reported the incident later. The camera had been given to police by bystanders. The memory chip had been removed, but a recording disc remained in the machine. Meanwhile, in another development, Thai Rak Thai Party deputy leader Sudarat Keyuraphan feared ballot boxes had been stuffed in yesterday's vote. She claimed some districts received too many ballot boxes, which remained at district offices. For example, she said, there were 10 extra boxes at Wang Thong Lang district and nine at Min Buri district. Sudarat claimed election officials gave contradicting explanations. Some said there should be no extra boxes while others said spares were prepared in case of damage. Bangkok city clerk Natthanon Thaweesin said the additional boxes were used for storing counted votes. This was standard procedure. There were no irregularities. Meanwhile, Election Commission chief for Bangkok, Pranot Nanthiyakul, yesterday reported 29 claims of election fraud, which would be investigated. The office received a total of 36 complaints.
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