Pheu Thai candidate Kokaew can't distribute audio, video clips for Bangkok by-election campaign; he will need court nod to leave his cell to woo voters
The sometimes-violent political drama opens a new act today when a "terrorist" suspect from the red-shirt camp registers his by-election candidacy, possibly in prison garb, and launches the latest showdown with the Abhisit government.
The candidacy of Pheu Thai's Kokaew Pikultong is expected to reopen the still-fresh wounds, with campaigning and other election activities revolving around the bloodshed in April and May as well as the restrictions caused by the state of emergency and his status as a "terrorist" suspect.
Kokaew will not be allowed to record and distribute audio and video clips for his campaign because of his remand status, although the court has allowed him to register for the Bangkok by-election today.
That will not be the only controversy, as his red-shirt followers are also considering organising "concerts" around Bangkok to help him campaign against the Democrat Party's Panich Vikitsreth - events some fear could rekindle the sort of emotions and hostility that culminated in the bloody clashes in April and May.
Under the ruling of remand authorities, Kokaew will be dressed in civilian clothing during the candidacy registration although his party is pushing for him to appear in his prison uniform in order to win sympathy and send political messages.
"Kokaew should dress in appropriate attire because his candidacy registration is considered an honourable political activity," Chartchai Suthiklom, director-general of the Corrections Department, said yesterday.
Chartchai said he had already assigned a team of wardens to escort Kokaew from his remand cell and back and that depending on the circumstances, the wardens have the leeway to decide whether to shackle him.
In regard to the campaigning, he said Kokaew must remain in his cell unless he successfully petitions for court permission to be conditionally released from time to time to vie for votes.
For today's candidacy registration, which opens at 9am, Kokaew is expected to leave his cell around 6am, escorted by 10 wardens.
Kokaew's defence team will tomorrow seek to overturn the judicial ruling against his bail application. Should the appeal fail, the defence is expected to petition for temporary release under supervision to pave the way for him to join campaigning activities.
Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the main opposition party had completed all necessary preparations to field Kokaew for the July 25 by-election in Bangkok Constituency 6.
Party officials will be on hand at Khlong Sam Wa District Office to assist in registering Kokaew's candidacy, he said.
Commenting on the abrupt decision by the New Politics Party to withdraw from the race, he said he believed a ranking Democrat, identified by his initial "Ch", was responsible for lobbying aspiring NPP candidate Kittisak Rathprasert to pull out.
The main opposition party will tomorrow ask the Election Commission to investigate the alleged attempt to rig the voting involving the said Democrat, he added.
PM to Democrats:
Take extra precautions
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he had told fellow Democrats to take extra precautions not to involve any state mechanisms in their efforts to woo votes for the party's candidate, Panich.
"I have sent out a circular to Democrats, particularly office-holders, reminding them to strictly separate their campaigning from their official duties and responsibilities," he said.
Office-holders must not appear in campaign rallies during office hours nor rely on state facilities, he said.
Regarding the allegation of collusion between the NPP and the main ruling coalition party, he said the Democrats had no involvement in the NPP's decision not to contest the by-election.
The Pheu Thai Party had invoked so many initials in past allegations but none were proved true, he said, in reference to the Democrat with the initial "Ch".
Democrat MP Sathit Pitutecha said "moving forward" would be the Democrats' main theme in the campaign.
Sathit threatened to take legal action if the main opposition party tried to use the by-election as a pretext to agitate via the spreading of false information related to the unrest.
Should the opposition opt to frame the Democrats, including the prime minister, with groundless allegations such as Abhisit's involvement in killing people, the Democrats will petition for the removal of Kokaew from the race, he said.
PM's Office Minister Ong-art Klampaiboon voiced confidence that Panich would secure victory in the by-election.
As a former deputy Bangkok governor, Panich is well qualified to fill the House seat left vacant by his predecessor Tiva Ngernyuang, who passed away, he said.
He denied speculation that the Democrats used unfair tactics, such as lobbying the NPP to withdraw from the race and churning out relief measures to sway votes.
The NPP pulled out of the race of its own accord and the relief measures were in place for years without any link to the by-election, he said.