Graft-buster eyes Bangkok seat

Published on November 05, 2005 - Former NCCC chief Klanarong Chantik, labour, health and education activists among contenders

The upcoming Senate race in Bangkok promises to be the largest ever, with leading politicians, activists and NGO operatives all in the battle for 18 available seats.

Among those expected to contest the Senate election are graft-busters Klanarong Chantik and Weera Somkwamkid, labour union chief Somsak Kosaisuk and education reformer Dr Kamolpan Chewapansri.

Klanarong became one of the nation’s best-known graft-busters when he presided over Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s assets-concealment case almost five years ago.

The former secretary-general of the NCCC campaigned with many different groups in Bangkok before putting his hat in the Senate ring.

Labour activist Somsak is thought to be interested in running, but said he has not yet made a final decision.

“I have been pondering the idea of joining the race after speaking to labour groups. They believe the Senate should have representatives who can speak for labour groups, but we first have to figure out if I have a chance of winning,’’ said the State Railway of Thailand labour-union chief.

He said he would make a final decision within the month.

“It is quite hard to appraise my chances because voters are not just labourers, they are the public in general,’’ he said.

Weera played a big role in the assets-concealment case of former Democrat Party secretary-general Sanan Kachornprasart, who was convicted and banned from politics for five years.

The secretary-general of the anti-corruption network has distributed over a thousand of the 25,000 leaflets he has had printed to introduce himself to the public .

“I decided to run when I realised that none of the other candidates had the same [anti-graft] philosophy as me.”

He said he would begin his campaign when the Election Commission announced the application day and he was allocated a polling number.

Kamolpan was persuaded to run by Senator Prateep Ungsomtham. The chairman of the Parents and Youth for Education Reform Network said she wanted to work as a senator in the field of education.

Her election-campaign leaflets also include information about preventing child suicides and cancer, but before printing them, she asked the EC if it was legal to include such details.

Neither Weera nor Kamolpan knows how big their political base will be, but they hope that if they are elected they will fulfil their potential.

Other candidates include former House Speaker Uthai Pimchaichon of the Thai Rak Thai Party, Wiroj na Bangchang, chairman of the Environment Council of Asia, and Rossana Tositrakul, secretary-general of the Thai Health Foundation.