Guards wary as red shirt says choice between democracy and dictatorship
Red-shirt leader and "terrorist" suspect Kokaew Pikulthong yesterday filed his much-anticipated candidacy for Bangkok's Constituency 6 by-election dressed in "casual prison wear" - short pants, white T-shirt bearing the signatures of other detained red-shirt leaders and a pair of flip-flops.
Amid heavy security with 100 police deployed in the area, some wielding M16 assault rifles, Kokaew, who was restrained not by shackles but by four wardens flanking him at every move, said the choice facing voters on July 25 was between democracy and dictatorship.
"If the people accept what the government did [in April and May], then vote for the other party," said Kokaew, who was escorted out of Bangkok Special Prison by 10 remand officers and arrived at the district office for candidacy registration shortly before 7am.
The by-election for an MP seat is being watched widely as the first real election contest between the ruling Democrat Party and the opposition Pheu Thai Party since the May 19 military crackdown on red-shirt protesters.
A thousand-strong group of red-shirt supporters showed up at Bangkok's Khlong Sam Wa District Office to greet Kokaew. Red-shirt music played outside the building in what turned into a media circus and mini red-shirt rally.
"I fight for democracy, for every Thai, for my child, so Thailand will become democratic," Kokaew said, holding his 10-month-old daughter, from whom he has been separated for more than a month now.
"I must admit that I am at a disadvantage in every way," Kokaew told The Nation while waiting for his turn to file. He is under detention and his direct campaigning opportunity is in doubt due to his legal status although it is subject to future bail application. "I have no access to newspapers and my television viewing time is limited. It's difficult. But I shall fight."
SECURITY WARNING
Surrounded by an army of reporters and photographers, he said his prison outfit was incomplete as his shackles were removed by the Corrections Department to sanitise his appearance at the registration venue.
The remark prompted Vichao Samakthipa, one of the remand officers, to give a warning.
"Older brother Kokaew please don't talk about stuff in prison," said Vichao, who repeatedly cut short Kokaew's conversation with the media. The inmate is actually |not supposed to talk to the press, the warden said.
Panich Vikitsaet, the Democrat Party candidate who arrived just minutes before Kokaew, and won candidate No 1 as opposed to Kokaew's No 4, said the circumstances under which Kokaew is constrained by prison regulations were due to the Pheu Thai's decision to field him and not because of someone else's fault.
"The approach for me and the prime minister is to not mention [the fact that Kokaew is in prison], but if we are slandered [due to Kokaew's status] then we must retaliate," said Panich, who was neatly dressed in a light blue oxford shirt with English cut-away collar and the Democrat Party logo on the front pocket.
He also showed a black-and-white photo of his family to the media, saying it was given to him by one of his children as a gesture of support.
The Boston University alumnus, a former deputy Bangkok governor, admitted that in this race, it's hard to avoid national politics as it is the first match-up "after what we've been through".
Election Commissioner Praphan Naiyakowit was there to witness the submission of registration documents.
He said he had "inquired" with the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) and was told that imposing a state of emergency during an election was no obstacle.
A thousand people have already gathered, he said, referring to the issue of groups of five or more.
Praphan would not comment on whether Kokaew's status as suspect terrorist who is detained will hamper the environment of a free and fair election, saying only that everything is proceeding "in accordance with the law". He praised both rivals for keeping the situation civil.
Kokaew and Panich sat together and shook hands for a photo-op but Kokaew's time out of prison soon ran out.
Krisna Areechokchai, a local resident and supporter of Kokaew, said the race would be a close one but wondered how Kokaew will campaign from now on. "I don't know if he will do phone-ins or video links or what."
The No 4 candidate was quickly taken back to the prison van by 9.30am and many supporters who failed to hand him red roses due to the tight security threw some 30 roses on the rear of the van as it slowly made its way back to prison.
As the van left, the red-shirt song "Love Red-Shirt People", so popular during the protest, was played and other Pheu Thai members began campaigning on Kokaew's behalf as they departed in a small motorcade to stump around the neighbourhood.