Vote fraud mars TAO elections

       Tambon administration organisation elections held yesterday have been marred by widespread vote-buying allegations.
       Poll cheats are suspected of spending more money than ever in the elections which were held in 2,959 tambons across 74 provinces.
       The chair of the People's Network for Election Thailand (Pnet) in Ayutthaya,Chollada Boonkasem, said vote-buying was rampant in several tambons in the central province. Voters were offered as much as 1,000 baht to vote for candidates for the position of TAO chair, and 200 baht to 300 baht for TAO rank-and-file members.
       Most cash handouts were reported in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phachi,Uthai, Sena and Bang Sai districts, Ms Chollada said, as she was handing poll fraud evidence to the provincial election committee. There are 93 tambons in Ayutthaya.
       Mana Yaemchabok, an election committee member in Polkrang in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima,said poll supervisors and police were out in force looking for vote buyers on Saturday night. No violations were reported.
       Thawee Chunkor, director of the Buri Ram election commission, said the atmosphere in many tambons in the northeastern province was lively. He expected the voter turnout to top 70%.
       Mr Thawee said his panel had not received any complaints about poll violations.
       But an observer said a group of teenagers was seen handing out pre-paid mobile phone cards to voters in several areas. Cash handouts of about 300 baht to 500 baht were also made, he said.
       In the southern province of Ranong,voters flocked to the polls amid heavy rain.
       Kamol Wipadapisut, chairman of the Ranong provincial election office, said the office received a complaint that a village head in tambon Ngao had failed to maintain his neutrality by suggesting that voters support certain candidates.The committee was investigating.
       In the lower southern province of Trang, two election canvassers were arrested with cash they allegedly were using to buy votes.
       Sompong Buaban, chair of the provincial election commission, said three complaints had been lodged with the commission, including the one about two arrested canvassers in Natam Nua TAO in Muang district.
       The atmosphere in the three restive southern border provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani was quiet.
       In Yala, only a small number of voters showed up in tightly guarded Pron tambon in Muang district to cast their ballot.
       Election Commission secretarygeneral Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn said the turnout around the country was expected to be about 70%.
       Official results were expected to be declared by the EC this week, he said.