Thais vote as opposition parties boycott general election

THAIS voted in large numbers yesterday as the embattled prime minister urged citizens to ignore an opposition boycott of parliamentary elections marred by three bombings and a small number of arrests.

The explosions at three polling stations in a Muslim-majority province in Thailand’s restive south, which injured at least two soldiers and a police officer, appeared unrelated to the political standoff between Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and critics who accuse him of corruption and abuse of power.

All three opposition parties in parliament boycotted the election, urging Thailand’s 45 million registered voters to cast ballots but tick a box indicating they abstain from choosing a candidate.

Early results from Bangkok showed the number of people abstaining running ahead of those voting for Mr Thaksin’s party in many areas.

Nationwide results are not expected before today.

Saritdet Bunsakun, a university student, said he considered the election a sham but cast his vote to support the opposition.

“This election is meaningless. I just wanted to exercise my right to vote.”

Mr Thaksin called the election three years early to reassert his mandate after weeks of persistent street protests against his government. He said the vote was crucial to ending the country’s deepening political stalemate amid demands for his resignation.

Mr Thaksin has promised to step down if his Thai Rak Thai party receives less than 50% of the vote, an outcome seen as highly unlikely given his strong support among the rural majority.

The opposition, however, hopes the boycott will make it impossible to fill all 500 legislative seats, which legal experts say could make it impossible to form a new government.

The boycott turned the election into a one-party race in 278 constituencies where Mr Thaksin’s party was running uncontested.

Election law requires that uncontested candidates garner at least 20% of votes - highly unlikely in districts where Mr Thaksin’s party has little support. Any seats left unfilled could lead to several rounds of by-elections before a prime minister is chosen.

The movement against Mr Thaksin gained mass support in January when the prime minister’s family announced it had sold its controlling stake in telecommunications company Shin Corporation to Singapore’s state-owned Temasek Holdings for a tax-free €1.6 billion.

Critics allege the sale involved insider trading and complain a key national asset is now in a foreign government’s hands.

Mr Thaksin is also accused of stifling the media and mishandling the Muslim insurgency.