Election Pre-Planning.....AKA fiddling while Rome burns

[bcrglobal]

I know it's still quite a bit early, but pre-planning is the key, and was hoping to get some thoughts from some of the longer-term residents on here..

The Election is planned for July 3rd. Obviously this is going to cause some party issues for myself and other Americans here, and was thinking how best to plan around the election so that we can still get our July 4th parties rocking.

Alcohol Bans: We know that Alcohol will be banned on the 3rd, what about before and after? Is the 2nd going to be a good party day, will they keep the clamp-down beyond to the 4th itself if the election is too close to call (Or if (OK, when not if) there are people unhappy with the outcome)?

Fireworks: Yes, we'll probably want to set off some bangers and shooters, and that would probably not be appreciated on the 3rd. What about on the 2nd or 4th? Have they banned the sale of these in the past as Election Day nears?

Travel: The wife is talking about wanting to head home to vote, is there another way for her to vote? During last year's problems, people from her province were banned from travelling to Bangkok, any chance of them coming up with a similar ban during or quickly following the election?

Are there normally any big "4th" bashes around here, maybe at the hotels?

Anything else we might think of when planning our own party (Or selecting another party to attend)

Thanks

[sandman67]

Too early to call yet - the local police and council are the ones who decide when the bars are open etc and they only do that at the last minute....maybe a week before the polls open.

Based on previous election no fun/bars all closed debacles I wouldnt be too optomistic about partying in a bar, although if you know a bar owner who can close down the shutters I expect you could possibly have a very quiet no music and no loud celebrating lock in.

The blanket bans are a complete joke, but the local plod love throwing their weight about at such times so bar owners are very cautious. The last major elections the bars had to stay closed even after the polls had closed.

All so around 900 local residents who dont ever frequent the town centre tourist facing bars can vote/cash in their 100bht payoff.

My advice...stock up on beers from a shop, head down to the beach and try not to piss off the police by celebrating too hard. If you are setting off fireworks do not do it down on the southern part of Ko Takiab beach as the local Marine beach night patrols wont take kindly to it at election time....they will be on high alert and might think its some idiot with a gun.

[PeteC]

If worse comes to worse celebrate on July 5, as that's the real July 4 back in the States.

As for absentee voting, yes, there was a program last election where people did not have to go back to their home provinces to vote, but it required pre-registration in the province where they were physically present. Have your wife check with the local government office as I'm sure they have more details about this. Pete

[lomuamart]

There something in today's BKK Post about advance voting:



* Published: 25/05/2011 at 05:35 PM
* Online news: Politics

The Election Commission has set June 13-17 for busy people to register for advance voting on June 26, ahead of the July 3 general election.

Prapan Naigowit, the election commissioner in charge of election administration, said on Wednesday that voters who will be busy with other engagements and not be able to vote on July 3 can register to vote on June 26 instead. They should register at a local registration office in their home constituency between June 13 and 17.

Advance voting has been set for June 26 between 8am and 3pm.

Those who want to cast their vote in advance outside their home constituency can also register their intention from now until June 2 at a registration office in their home constituency.

Democrat Party leader and caretaker Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva

Voters can obtain more information on advance voting by calling hotline No 1171.

[buksida]

When Thaksin gets back in British passport holders should start planning to change nationalities if they want to stay in Thailand.

The elephant never forgets.

[sandman67]

When Thaksin gets back in

That should read a big IF there Buksi mate.

Look, the return of Toxin WILL mean big trouble in the streets, chaos disrupting businesses, and the possibility of a military coup to sort out the mess. Thats why theres round a constant 50% undeclared in all the polls. PT are only pulling around 20-25% in those polls....hardly a landslide.

The smaller coalition parties know that. Toxin is bad for business. The PT amnesty will precipitate chaos.

They also remember how when in power PT grabbed all the plummy cabinet seats and posts for themselves and threw their partners the bare minimum of scraps, and then withdrew some of them after 6 months. After the "grand betrayal" as PT and Toxin have framed the coalition shift, they are also wary of Mr Vindictive and his pet PT puppet show.

So, while I suspect PT may win a small majority in numbers in the house, they will never get a solid majority and will need to form a coalition. Those smaller parties will, IMHO, not play along and only form a coalition with the Dems, who have treated them with slightly more respect and dont have any axes to grind. PT can only count on their current GOP coalition partners, and they get a handful of seats at best.

Then of course there will be the 20 or so seats that have to be refought for after the PT candidiates get disqualified for vote buying etc just like last time. Newins mob are already filming and taping the PT candidates in prep for challenges.

So what will happen is you get a Dem coalition with a bare minimum majority, and PT and the other two bit part player shills screaming unfair .... and probably more red kickoffs.

That will still be preferable to the business community than the return of Toxin.

Dont forget as well that Toxin has another 17 court cases pending against him for mostly non political matters.

Thats if the reds pack in harassing the Dems, which has been going on. If they dont theres always the chance the whole shebang gets cancelled.

Im not worried. I fully expect the military to be in charge by christmas.

[poosmate]

I fully expect the military to be in charge by christmas.

I thought they were now