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Thailand's election battle kicked into higher gear Thursday as a mass opposition rally, held to mourn protesters killed in a military crackdown a year ago, underscored simmering political tensions. The vote, set for July 3, is set for a close bout between Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's establishment-backed Democrats against allies of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup. Thousands of opposition "Red Shirts" gathered in Bangkok to mark the first anniversary of a deadly military operation to break up their two-month rally. More than 90 people died in a series of street clashes in April and May last year. Abhisit says he hopes the election will help heal Thailand's festering political wounds, but observers fear it could bring more unrest and maybe even another military coup should the opposition win a majority. Registrations for candidates under the proportional representation system began Thursday and the prime minister took two days' leave from his official duties to throw his hat in the ring to win a second term, and hit the campaign trail. His main rival in the lower house election race is Thaksin's youngest sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, who is the main opposition Puea Thai party's candidate for prime minister. Puea Thai won a psychological victory Thursday when it was allocated the top spot on the ballot paper, selecting number one in a lottery to decide how 26 parties contesting the vote would be ranked. Democrats selected number 10. AFP |
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