January 28, 2005

Huge turnout expected in South
 WASSANA NANUAM

 More people are expected to vote in the restive deep South in this general election than last time around, to show their desire for change and an end to the violence.

 ''In the last election, the turnout in Narathiwat was 69%, the chairman of the Narathiwat election committee, Prateep Wuthirattanakowit, said yesterday.

 ''This time I believe the turnout could reach as high as 80%.''

 He expected a similar trend in the other Muslim-majority provinces, Yala and Pattani, did not predict which way people in the three provinces would vote.

 Worawit Baru, deputy rector of the Prince of Songkhla University's Pattani campus said, the people wanted change because they were not satisfied with the way the government was handling the situation in the South.

 However, he was unsure if they would show their strength to that effect because Thai Rak Thai's support base in the three provinces was very strong.

 The Democrat party's chance of winning in these provinces was still slim, especially after several local Democrat MPs defected to Thai Rak Thai and other parties.

 Former Democrat MPs running for Thai Rak Thai now include Pornpich Pattanakunlert in Narathiwat's constituency 1, Wairoj Pipitpakdee in Pattani's constituency 1, and Jeh Isma-ae Chemong in Pattani's constituency 2. Kuheng Yawohasan, also an ex-Democrat, is running for Chart Thai in Narathiwat's constituency 4.

 ''More people will vote for the Democrats, but I am not sure if they will be able to overcome the solid support for Thai Rak Thai's candidates,'' Mr Worawit said.

 ''But if the former Democrats now running for Thai Rak Thai are not elected, that would be an indication voters really want the Democrats instead.''

 Mrs Pornpich is running against Democrat candidate Che-aming Totayong in Narathiwat's constituency 1.

 In constituency 2, Najmuddin Umar of Thai Rak Thai is said to be neck-and-neck with Chart Thai's Mr Kuheng.

 In Pattani, Thai Rak Thai's Jeh Isma-ae Chemong and Wairoj Pipitpakdee had strong leads, he said. Mr Worawit said Prince of Songkhla University students will campaign Feb 1 to get people to vote.