RACE TO PARLIAMENT

Following politics from the rice paddies

ANUCHA CHAROENPO

Over the top Riot police try to push back protesters attempting to storm the parliament compound yesterday. The protesters demanded that the National Legislative Assembly stop passing laws and leave the job to new lawmakers to be elected in Sunday's election. A similar protest took place last week when protesters managed to force their way into the parliament building.

Nakhon Ratchasima _ Farmer Somjai and his wife Khammoon Khamtha have been taking a radio with them to the rice fields each day for the last two months.

But they are not addicted to an entertainment show _ they are tuning in to keep up with political developments as the election draws ever closer.

Because the couple do not have enough time to read newspapers or watch the news on televisions at home, they tune into the radio every day to keep up with the latest political news. They leave home early in the morning to harvest the crop and return late at night every day during the annual rice harvesting season.

Community radio stations understand the situation for farmers like them and have seized the opportunity to capture a large audience by frequently broadcasting national and local political news.

The provincial Election Commission (EC) also uses community radio to try and urge people to vote on Sunday.

The provincial EC has spent about 120,000 baht hiring almost 80 community radio stations across 32 districts of Nakhon Ratchasima to run campaign spots promoting the election and to help educate people about poll regulations.

''Community radio helps me know everything about new poll regulations and problems that may occur while marking ballot papers,'' Mr Khammoon said while working at his rice fields in tambon Huay Yang of Bua Yai district.

''The community radio told us to mark only one party number for the proportional votes and to mark two candidates' numbers for constituency votes in my constituency,'' he said.

''The radio told us to memorise the numbers of the parties for the proportionate votes and the numbers of candidates before going to vote.''

Sayam Chotrotchana-anan, a 97MHz community radio station operator in the district, said the one-minute election campaign spots are broadcast every hour. The spots encourage people to cast their votes and not to sell their votes to anyone.

Asked about neutrality, Mr Sayam said the Council of Radio Society which governs all community stations in the province has kept a close watch on this matter.

''Alleged violators would be investigated and punished by the council board if found guilty,'' said Mr Sayam, who also sits on the board.

Matha Silaphan, Nakhon Ratchasima's EC director, said his agency also set up a panel to monitor the impartiality of the community radio stations.

''As of today, no irregularities have been found,'' he said.

 

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