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Published on December 22, 2007

"This election won't bring about stability," insisted 34 year-old Harvard-educated Sarinee Achavanuntakul, whose blog fringer.org was popular among anti-Thaksin Shinawatra forces prior to the coup.

"I'm really bored by politics and haven't decided yet; but I think I'll go and vote. There are many variables and it's depressing. No matter what we do, it's as if our voices won't be effective. The uncertainty in the next year or two is high and we may yet have another election," said Sarinee, a part-time lecturer at Thammasat University's Faculty of Accountancy.

Sarinee thinks people are still caught with either being pro- or anti-Thaksin, while court cases against Thaksin for alleged corruption are still in the early stages so people still don't know the definitive truth about his conduct.

Twenty-eight-year-old Arthit Suriyawongkul, who is known in cyberspace for his social and political blog at bact.blogspot.com, thinks perhaps it's time to stop prolonging what he sees as the inevitable social and political upheaval.

"Perhaps it's time that whatever will happen should happen," he said, referring to continued social division between conservative and progressive forces and classes that led to the coup last year.

He said facing political and ideological divisions head on right now might be better than sweeping the dirt under the carpet for another 10 years. "Let's have chaos now. Wouldn't it be better, so it can all be over?"

Arthit, who has a master's degree in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Edinburgh, said his vote would likely be a statement against the military junta who staged the coup. His choice will likely be People Power Party even though he's no fan of either Thaksin or the party's leader, Samak Sundaravej. "But I also fear what will happen if I vote for PPP. But in the end, what will be will be."

As for others, Arthit said they should vote for whichever party they like as long as "the military and any forces above the military" will not win.

"I don't think the military will return to barracks. The next government will be considerate to them," he said, adding that newly approved laws, such as the Internal Security Act that grants the Army chief more power and budget, would ensure that.

Jittat Fakcharoenphol, a 30-year-old UC Berkeley-trained computer scientist who runs woman.

exteen.com blog, is against both Thaksin and the coup.

"I don't like either the Democrat Party or the PPP. And to cast a 'no vote' might be a waste. But I may have to vote for PPP so Thaksin can return," he said, adding that people can then oust Thaksin properly without a coup. "But still I haven't decided."

He agrees with Arthit that the military will continue to cling to power through bills passed by the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly (NLA), although they're trying to make it look inconspicuous. But no matter who wins, all three admit that Thai-language blogging is still limited in its influence and reach and will not likely shape the political landscape anytime soon.

Internet penetration is still low compared to countries like South Korea and those reading blogs or blogging themselves are still limited to mostly the educated urban middle classes and above.

Arthit does not think his efforts are futile, as he considers blogging a path to active citizenry that also helps him to review his own thinking and encourages others to think too.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

 The Nation