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Cries of unfairness
- Published: 25 May 2011 at 09.24
- Online news: Easier Stuff
The election campaign has just begun and already complaints of unfairness are getting louder. Yesterday it was Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva’s turn.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has been warmly greeted by his supporters, but outside the rally sites, it hasn't always been so friendly. PATTAPA CHAIPREECHAPANICH
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Cries of unfairness
The election campaign has just begun and already complaints of unfairness are getting louder.
Yesterday it was Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva’s turn. He slammed the Election Commission for failing to take action against red shirt supporters who disrupted his party's election campaigning.
Mr Abhisit has had his public appearances disturbed by red shirt supporters several times. Some had tried to get to his car but were stopped by police.
Mr Abhisit said the red shirts were undermining the Democrats' campaign and it was not conducive to promoting fair democratic political activities.
Phue Thai, the party most closely associated with the red-shirts, is lodging complaints of its own against Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban.
Korkaew Pikulthong, a Pheu Thai Party list candidate and red-shirt leader, has threatened to sue Mr Suthep for allegedly calling his Pheu Thai colleagues "terrorists".
Don’t be surprised if Phue Thai soon files a complaint against a yellow-shirt group as well.
Capt Songklod Chuenchuphol , a former army captain who once trained the security guards of the People's Alliance for Democracy, says he hopes to be able to challenge every elected Pheu Thai MP after the July 3 election.
His "anonymous warriors" are shadowing their movements on the campaign trail hoping to gather enough” political ammunition” to disqualify the elected MPs for election law violations.
In today’s editorial, the Bangkok Post decries all such dirty tricks. “Shouting down candidates or tying them up with niggling or nonsensical legal charges flies in the face of democracy,” the editorial said.
Adapted from several stories in today’s Bangkok Post. For more election-related vocabulary, click here: http://bit.ly/jxSPGW
campaign – a planned series of activities designed to persuade voters to vote for a particular candidate or political party การรณรงค์หาสียง
complaint – when someone says that something is wrong or not satisfactory การร้องเรียน
turn – the time when somebody in a group of people should or is allowed to do something โอกาส
slammed – strongly criticised วิพากษ์วิจารณ์อย่างรุนแรง
Election Commission – the independent government agency that oversees elections คณะกรรมการเลือกตั้ง
disrupt – to interrupt something and prevent it from continuing by creating a problem ได้รับการกระทบกระเทือน ถูกทำให้หยุดชะงัก
public appearance – coming to a place where other people can see you การปรากฏตัว
disturb – to interrupt somebody or cause them to stop when they are trying to work, sleep, etc รบกวน
undermine – to make something or someone become gradually less effective or successful ทำให้อ่อนลง,ทำลายทีละน้อย,ทำลายอย่างลับ
conducive – creating a situation that helps something to happen ที่นำไปสู่, ที่ทำให้เกิดขึ้น
promote – to encourage or support something สนับสนุน
associated with – connected with in some way ที่เชื่อมโยงกัน
lodge – to formally make something such as a complaint or a claim ยื่นคำร้อง ยื่นฟ้องต่อ
party list (proportional representation system) – a system that gives each party in an election a number of seats in relation to the number of votes its candidates receive ระบบสัดส่วน, ระบบปาร์ตี้ลิสต์
candidate – a person who is trying to win an elected position ผู้สมัคร
threaten – to say that you might do something bad or harmful, especially in order to make someone do something ขู่เข็ญ คุกคาม ทำให้กลัว
sue – to take legal action against a person or organisation, especially by making a legal claim for money because of some harm that they have caused you ฟ้องร้อง
allegedly – claimed to have done something wrong, but not yet proven ที่กล่าวหา
colleague – someone who works in the same organisation or department as you do เพื่อนร่วมงาน
terrorist – of someone who uses violence in order to achieve political aims ผู้ก่อการร้าย
People’s Alliance for Democracy – the union of several groups protesting against the past government and which staged large protests against the Thaksin government as well พันธมิตรประชาชนเพื่อประชาธิปไตย
challenge – to question whether something is true, accurate, or legal คัดค้าน
anonymous – not named ไม่ระบุชื่อ
warrior – a soldier or fighter, especially in the past นักรบในสงคราม
shadow – to follow and watch somebody closely and often secretly ติดตามอย่างใกล้ชิด
campaign trail – the events and activities that are part of an election campaign กิจกรรมในการรณรงค์หาสียง
gather – to search for and find things that you need or want รวบรวม
ammunition – information that can be used against another person ข้อมูล
disqualify – to not allow someone to do something because they have committed an offence ทำให้หมดสภาพ
violation – an action that is against a law, agreement, principle, etc. การฝ่าฝืนกฎหมาย
editorial – a newspaper article in which the editor gives their opinion on an issue in the news บทบรรณาธิการ
decry – to strongly criticise somebody/something, especially publicly วิพากษ์วิจารณ์อย่างรุนแรง
niggling – not important; causing a slight feeling of worry or pain that does not go away ซึ่งไม่สำคัญ, จู้จี้
nonsensical – of ideas, behaviour, or statements that are not true or sensible ไม่มีสาระ, ไร้สาระ
legal – relating to the law or lawyers เกี่ยวกับกฎหมาย
charge – an official statement accusing someone of committing a crime ข้อหา
fly in the face of – to be the opposite of what is usual or accepted ตรงกันข้าม
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