wowpow
April 15th, 2006, 03:42
A Thai friend tells me that this is an election day so bars will be closed and shops not allowed to sell alcohol - can it be true? If so I forcast plenty of law breakers. Oh now I see it is a Public Holiday!!
The Nation
"Brisk turnout for Senate elections. Voters in constituencies across the kingdom turned out to exercise their right in advance for Senate election over the past two days. Acting Thai Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrue, who also cast his ballot in advance at a Bangkhen constituency in Bangkok on Friday, said he was pleased to know that a number of voters came out for the advanced poll, set on April 13-14.
"I myself has to cast my ballot in advance because next week I have to travel to the northeastern province of Chaiyaphum. I'm happy that voters are aware of the importance of the election for 200 new Thai senators for the Upper House," he told journalists. Mr. Suchaon said he was reported that voters turned out to cast their ballots in all provinces despite downpours of rain in some areas. "This shows that Thai people now understand and pay more attention to the country's political reform," he noted.
"Some voters who want to participate in the political reform, but did not turn out for the April 2 snap election, instead, turned out to cast their ballots in the advance Senate poll," he added. The Senate election was scheduled for next Wednesday (April 19) and the government announced it as a special public holiday.
Unlike appointed senators who in the past only helped scrutinize legislation, elected senators have added mandate of helping monitor government performance and state authority and can lodge petitions to impeach the country's prime minister, cabinet members and government officials who are alleged of corruption and misconduct, according to the acting Senate speaker.
Thai voters have the rights to sign impeachment petitions against any politicians and state authorities, as well as participate in political activities and processes, namely any political reform. Thailand's elected senators will each have a six-year term, while elected 500 members of the House of Representatives, 100 are party-listed elected MPs and the rest are constituency-based MPs, will each have a four- year term. - (TNA)
The Nation
"Brisk turnout for Senate elections. Voters in constituencies across the kingdom turned out to exercise their right in advance for Senate election over the past two days. Acting Thai Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrue, who also cast his ballot in advance at a Bangkhen constituency in Bangkok on Friday, said he was pleased to know that a number of voters came out for the advanced poll, set on April 13-14.
"I myself has to cast my ballot in advance because next week I have to travel to the northeastern province of Chaiyaphum. I'm happy that voters are aware of the importance of the election for 200 new Thai senators for the Upper House," he told journalists. Mr. Suchaon said he was reported that voters turned out to cast their ballots in all provinces despite downpours of rain in some areas. "This shows that Thai people now understand and pay more attention to the country's political reform," he noted.
"Some voters who want to participate in the political reform, but did not turn out for the April 2 snap election, instead, turned out to cast their ballots in the advance Senate poll," he added. The Senate election was scheduled for next Wednesday (April 19) and the government announced it as a special public holiday.
Unlike appointed senators who in the past only helped scrutinize legislation, elected senators have added mandate of helping monitor government performance and state authority and can lodge petitions to impeach the country's prime minister, cabinet members and government officials who are alleged of corruption and misconduct, according to the acting Senate speaker.
Thai voters have the rights to sign impeachment petitions against any politicians and state authorities, as well as participate in political activities and processes, namely any political reform. Thailand's elected senators will each have a six-year term, while elected 500 members of the House of Representatives, 100 are party-listed elected MPs and the rest are constituency-based MPs, will each have a four- year term. - (TNA)