Campaign manager dies in publicity stunt
SURASAK GLAHAN
Bangkok governor candidate Leena Jangjanya has put her campaign on hold after her leading adviser drowned in Sam Wa canal when a publicity stunt went tragically wrong.
"I'll stop campaigning. I'm not in the mood for it now, but will focus instead on helping his family," she said in a telephone interview.
The dead team member was identified as campaign manager Teerasak Sitanont, 32.
He drowned in the Sam Wa canal where Ms Leena had met residents who complained they had no access to clean water and had to rely on the canal for daily activities such as bathing.
Ms Leena then said she would inspect the water in the canal. She and her team, including Mr Teerasak, decided to try bathing at a pier.
As she cannot swim, Ms Leena held on to a pier ladder while Mr Teerasak drifted out into the canal. No one saw him until he started waving his arms for help, she said.
Bystanders and others in her team were too afraid to swim out into the deep water for fear they too would drown.
Police and the Ruamkatanyu Foundation rushed to the pier to pull Mr Teerasak from the water, but failed to revive him.
Ms Leena said Mr Teerasak and the rest of her team had earlier told her they could swim, she said.
Ms Leena, who is standing as an independent, had hired Mr Teerasak to lead her campaign team. She said she would help his wife, who is seven months pregnant, and would give her a job.
The accident came one day after Ms Leena slipped and fell into Klong Saen Saep while campaigning on a boat to ask for support from residents living along the banks. Members of her team jumped in to rescue her.
Clearing up pollution in Bangkok's canals is a key policy for most of the candidates. The election for Bangkok governor takes place on Oct 5.
Ms Leena is not among the top four candidates in the latest surveys by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University's Suan Dusit Poll and Assumption University's Abac Poll.
Both polls put Democrat candidate and former governor Apirak Kosayodhin well ahead of the others. Next are independent Chuvit Komolwisit, Prapas Chongsa-nguan of the People Power party and Kriengsak Charoenwongsak, another independent.
Acting Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Jongrak Juthanont said initial investigations found Mr Teerasak had voluntarily jumped into the canal and no blame could be attached to Ms Leena.
The family of the dead campaigner, however, could file civil charges against her if it is found that they had a contractual arrangement.
Pol Gen Jongrak urged other candidates to avoid risky activities during the election campaign to prevent similar tragedies.
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