Governor's hands 'tied without power over the outskirts'

Those areas have virtually become part of the Bangkok metropolis.

"The governor alone can't do much, because the issues faced by Bangkok are also tied to Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani and elsewhere," said Chaiwat Thirapanthu, coordinator of Bangkok Forum.

"We need more research and understanding on greater Bangkok," said Chaiwat, whose middle-class civic group aims at reviving community spirit and culture in the capital.

He doubted whether the new governor could solve more than 30 per cent of the problem, because the rest required involving areas and factors beyond the authority of the governor.

Chaiwat refused to say whether the Bangkok governor should have a mandate over areas just outside the capital or not but stressed that issues such as flooding, traffic congestion and rubbish disposal could not be solved by the governor within Bangkok proper.

Not particularly impressed with any candidate and refusing to endorse any one in particular, Chaiwat urged Bangkokians to spend more time strengthening democracy in the capital by doing more voluntary or community work and not to believe that casting a vote once every four years would suffice.

"We shouldn't just pay attention on October 5," he said. "The daily aspect of democracy is more important. Perhaps we need to give one-fourth of our time for it."

When asked if the right to elect governors in other provinces was long overdue, Chaiwat said: "If the political condition remains as it is, there may be no guarantee that we would see good people elected [in other provinces]." He was referring to a common belief amongst the Bangkok middle class that provincial and rural politics are dominated by often corrupt or shady influential figures.