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Published on February 25, 2008

Radio spots are now on air, featuring the voices of Hataya Ngaokrajang and Phisit Kiratikankun, who are attempting to attract people to the ballot. Like a chat between a brother and a sister, they attempt to give a brief idea of how important the election is: "Yeah, those senators will be the ones to screen the laws proposed by the Lower House."

Two television spots are also on air, capitalising on the popularity of two TVseries: "Phootsao Phraosaneh" (Charming Female Ghost) and "Chamloey Rak" (Defendant of Love). Principal characters from each of the series appear in the spots, dressed as if they are on the shooting scene, but the lines of conversation are about the coming Senate election. To fans of the series, the spots are good entertainment and should work well in encouraging people to go to the booths on election day.

On all streets nationwide, posters and banners of candidates are lined up to tempt voters.

Due to the new Constitution, each province can vote for only one senator, regardless of the number of people in the province. Ironically, in Bangkok where millions of people live, only one man can represent those millions in the Upper House. The ratio is the same as in Ranong, where the population is less than 1 million.

The Election Commission should be glad that many people plan to go to the polling booths on that day. A father in Pathum Thani was overheard telling his daughter that though he did not know who is who among the candidates in the province, he would put all the numbers on small pieces of paper in a hat and vote for the number drawn.

Along the streets of Bangkok, posters of candidates are everywhere. Three different ones belong to economist Anusorn Tamajai, a former activist who wants to make a difference to Thai society.

The one for Manit Wityatem, former justice of the Constitution Court, is also bright with a yellow background.

However, cheering up the mood of onlookers must be the one for Rosana Tositrakul, the woman who vows to fight for the rights of consumers. Rosana is seen flashing five fingers - her candidate number - in front of her broad smile.

Asked when she appeared in The Nation's office on Friday what the smile meant, she simply recited an adage invented to explain it: "Yim Wan Wan, Yommaban Riak Phee" (Sweet laughter that could turn away the Death Angel).

People must be curious about what she would get up to if she wins the votes to represent Bangkok in the upper house. Her agenda must be so daunting that even the Death Angel himself doesn't want to compete.

achara_d@nationgroup.com

The Nation