Weekend Weapons Swoop to Prevent Usual Bloodshed in Thailand's By-Elections by Phairath Khampha 28 February 2002 In another example of the fact that there is a lack of any true democracy Thailand's authorities had to resort to raids in which large quantity of firearms were seized in raids aimed at preventing bloodshed during campaigning for the March 3, 2002 by-elections. Police swooped on residences of influential figures, local politicians and political canvassers over the February 16-17 weekend and impounded more than 100 guns of various types. The raids were authorised by the national police chief, Pol Gen Sant Sarutanont, to reduce the chance of violent clashes between rival camps. In a country that has only a thin veneer of a pseudo-democracy, violence is a usual means through which influential figures can ensure winning a seat in the country's parliament. Once having such a position they can then vastly enrich themselves through corrupt means. By-elections were being held in a total of 14 constituencies in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Sing Buri, Uthai Thani, Petchabun, Chanthaburi, Nakhon Panom, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Kalasin and Si Sa Ket. Electoral malpractice, including vote buying and ballot rigging and the assassination of candidates and their supporters, are common practice in Thailand's elections. Heavy-handed tactics employed by certain political canvassing groups to extend their influence always leads to often fatal campaign violence. Crime Suppression Division officers and a 300-strong force of commandos, aided by local police, infiltrated election localities recently in search of arms caches. Pol Maj-Gen Surasit Sangkapong, the CSD commander, said the combined force first obtained a court order to look through a house in Muang district, Lop Buri, owned by Chamrern Salacheep, 43, a kamnan (kamnan = sub-district head). They seized a 9mm automatic pistol with nine rounds of ammunition, a .38 revolver with seven rounds and five rifles. Checks would be run to establish if they were legal weapons. Kamol Jirapanvanich, the former Chart Thai MP for Lop Buri with reported close ties to Mr Chamrern, witnessed the search. He lost his House seat when he was suspended by the Election Commission on grounds of suspected campaign fraud. He was entitled to run again on March 3. The by-elections were made necessary by the disqualification and suspension of MPs the commission were linked to corrupt irregularities during the January 6, 2001, general election. Those suspended could stand for election again if fielded by political parties. The disqualified MPs, against whom the commission found evidence of blatant irregularities, were barred from seeking election for a year. In Chanthaburi and Rayong, police teams spread out in small groups to check on targeted areas dominated by political elements. They zeroed in on the residence of Itsiwut Tungkiat, deputy chairman of the Chanthaburi provincial administration organisation and a close aide of Prawat Utamote, a government MP. They impounded nine rifles, and seven pistols from his home in Pong Nam Ron district. The weapons were properly licensed but police took them away for barrel and ballistic tests. In their raids in Chanthaburi and Rayong police detained 17 suspects on charges connected to firearms and munitions possession. They confiscated four AK47 assault rifles, three hand grenades, 33 pistols, 27 rifles, 1,275 rounds of ammunition and one bullet-proof vest. In the Northeast, regional jurisdiction 4, police also descended on houses of influential figures. In Khon Kaen, 27 spots were searched including the home of Charoen Pattanadamrongjit, father of Thai Rak Thai MP Jakkarin, but nothing illegal was found. A former policeman was detained for background checks after police discovered 50 decks of playing cards hidden in his house in Khon Kaen's Muang district. In Thailand, it is illagal to own playing cards or to play cards. Gambling is a popular yet discreet method of manipulating votes by placing bets on a certain candidate. Thirty people were arrested and more than 20 firearms and 850 rounds of ammunition seized. Pol Lt-Gen Somchai Prapaspakdi, assistant police chief, said more raids were planned in the lead-up to the by-elections, especially in the upper northeastern provinces. There was another similar raid held during the last week of February. Weapons seized Police seized guns and grenades in raids on 49 targets in Ubon Ratchathani and Si Sa Ket in a bid to keep the March 3 by-elections clean. Pol Gen Amnuay Phetsiri, deputy national police chief, said more than 400 policemen took part in the raids on the night of february 23 targeting illegal firearms, explosives, influential people and drugs. Police teams searched 29 targets in Ubon Ratchathani and 20 in Si Sa Ket. They arrested 19 suspects. And who ever said that Thailand is a democracy and has clean elections. It is more a feudal set of fiefdoms won by corrupt warlords posing as politicians through violence.