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Bangkok. January 2nd 2013.
Yingluck Shinawatra and the Pheua Thai Party get their election posters up on Phetchburi Road.
Broadly the poster means, "Stay with the rules of law that safeguard democracy. Respect the public's decisions."
However, the tactic pursued by Suthep's minority anti government protest group (who want to return Thailand to Military Rule Endorsed by Absolute Monarchy) / and the minority Democrat Party, is to disrupt the coming elections by creating a situation in as many southern constituencies as possible where there are no candidates or, at the least, no opposition candidates fielded. This would lead to one of the pre-requisites for a democratic election as defined by the Thai constitution being removed.
- - - - -
Elements of Elections
Prerequisites
Asia Pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development
For an election to represent the true wishes of the people it must meet certain conditions. Among the most important features of a democratic election are:
1. Diversity in political parties and candidates so that the choice before voters is real, not illusory. An election dominated by a single significant party is unlikely to generate different visions and plans for the country, let alone debate around these. Without such an exchange of ideas in the public sphere, voters will not be equipped to select parties or candidates in an informed manner. Further, a party that is elected more or less unopposed will have no real reason to listen to the people. Such a situation is contrary to the basic idea of democracy.
2. Competing political parties must have freedom to campaign in the run-up to the election. This means they must be free to hold meetings and to communicate with voters about their ideologies and proposed policies and programmes – through meetings, pamphlets, advertisements or any other legitimate means, including new information and communications technologies. Without such communication, voters will not be in a position to learn about the ideas and solutions offered by different parties and candidates, especially those who are not yet in power.
3. Rules to govern the election must not only be in place but they must be widely known and observed. A credible, respected individual or organisation (such as an election commissioner/commission) must be charged with administering the rules. Courts must have jurisdiction over both the rules and the administration of the election so that election-related complaints can be dealt with by the judicial system. The rules should include strong and effective legal procedures against electionrelated corruption and violence. Nobody should be able to dictate to voters who they should vote for. If citizens are not protected from such violations of their rights, the outcome of the election will be questionable and people will feel cheated. Members of the public who are unhappy with election results may express their dissatisfaction through protests; some may even take steps towards establishing a different kind of government. There is likely to be more public trust in the elected government if people perceive that the election was conducted in a free and fair manner.
4. Most importantly, the public must be aware of the importance of voting as well as the choices with regard to candidates and voting procedures. Voters must have the opportunity to become interested in and knowledgeable about the election through access to non-partisan information presented in a manner that is not only comprehensible but also clarifies the connection between politics and the lives of ordinary people. Without such knowledge they will be vulnerable to manipulation, if not deception, by special interests. The media have a key role to play in providing citizens with the relevant, balanced information they need to do justice to their vital role as voters.
Bangkok. January 2nd 2013.
Yingluck Shinawatra and the Pheua Thai Party get their election posters up on Phetchburi Road.
Broadly the poster means, "Stay with the rules of law that safeguard democracy. Respect the public's decisions."
However, the tactic pursued by Suthep's minority anti government protest group (who want to return Thailand to Military Rule Endorsed by Absolute Monarchy) / and the minority Democrat Party, is to disrupt the coming elections by creating a situation in as many southern constituencies as possible where there are no candidates or, at the least, no opposition candidates fielded. This would lead to one of the pre-requisites for a democratic election as defined by the Thai constitution being removed.
- - - - -
Elements of Elections
Prerequisites
Asia Pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development
For an election to represent the true wishes of the people it must meet certain conditions. Among the most important features of a democratic election are:
1. Diversity in political parties and candidates so that the choice before voters is real, not illusory. An election dominated by a single significant party is unlikely to generate different visions and plans for the country, let alone debate around these. Without such an exchange of ideas in the public sphere, voters will not be equipped to select parties or candidates in an informed manner. Further, a party that is elected more or less unopposed will have no real reason to listen to the people. Such a situation is contrary to the basic idea of democracy.
2. Competing political parties must have freedom to campaign in the run-up to the election. This means they must be free to hold meetings and to communicate with voters about their ideologies and proposed policies and programmes – through meetings, pamphlets, advertisements or any other legitimate means, including new information and communications technologies. Without such communication, voters will not be in a position to learn about the ideas and solutions offered by different parties and candidates, especially those who are not yet in power.
3. Rules to govern the election must not only be in place but they must be widely known and observed. A credible, respected individual or organisation (such as an election commissioner/commission) must be charged with administering the rules. Courts must have jurisdiction over both the rules and the administration of the election so that election-related complaints can be dealt with by the judicial system. The rules should include strong and effective legal procedures against electionrelated corruption and violence. Nobody should be able to dictate to voters who they should vote for. If citizens are not protected from such violations of their rights, the outcome of the election will be questionable and people will feel cheated. Members of the public who are unhappy with election results may express their dissatisfaction through protests; some may even take steps towards establishing a different kind of government. There is likely to be more public trust in the elected government if people perceive that the election was conducted in a free and fair manner.
4. Most importantly, the public must be aware of the importance of voting as well as the choices with regard to candidates and voting procedures. Voters must have the opportunity to become interested in and knowledgeable about the election through access to non-partisan information presented in a manner that is not only comprehensible but also clarifies the connection between politics and the lives of ordinary people. Without such knowledge they will be vulnerable to manipulation, if not deception, by special interests. The media have a key role to play in providing citizens with the relevant, balanced information they need to do justice to their vital role as voters.