BANGKOK — The internet was laughing Tuesday morning as a universal sign of bad luck scurried across the path of junta leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha at Government House.
Two days after Prayuth’s Phalang Pracharath Party won the popular vote at the general elections, videos emerged of the moment a black cat crossed his path as he walked between Government House buildings, much to the amusement of netizens.
“According to ancient wisdom, if a black cat crosses your path then you will receive disappointment and suffering within seven days. So I hope he won’t get to be the prime minister,” user Teerapong Satrawut wrote on Facebook.
It’s unclear if Prayuth noticed the animal, but the general is known to be superstitious and wears many amulets to protect himself from bad omens. Government House as well as state rituals are deeply steeped in superstitious forms of defense.
“If I were the cat, I wouldn’t cross his path. I’d leap into his face and give him a good kick,” user Suriyan Banpnet Meck commented on a Facebook news article about the black cat.
However, not all wished the general ill – user Tae Cung said it was a good sign.
“Cats have nine lives, so this is good luck…the cat walked in from his right side, so it’s good luck. It’s true, I checked the magic manual. It’s only bad luck if it’s a cobra, monitor lizard or other low animals,” he wrote.
In January 2017, auspicious lotus ponds installed to enhance the luck of Prayuth’s administration broke. A year later, red lanterns were hung around Government House, although a government spokesman denied they were a response to the bad mojo from the broken bowls.
Government House is a nexus of magic rites and superstition in the capital: government officials practice magic rituals torelieve drought and in 2014 anti-government protestors exorcised Redshirt curses there. Ghosts have been blamed for disrupting construction workand refusing to leave after rites to appease them.
Prayuth did not answer questions about Sunday’s general election, which has been criticized for its poor handling and apparent irregularities.
BANGKOK — The United Kingdom and the European Union on Tuesday called on Thai authorities to look into reports of irregularities related to the March 24 general election.
Their call came as the Election Commission was under fire for widespread errors and outright voting violations during Sunday’s polls. In statements posted online, the UK and EU said those allegations should be resolved swiftly.
“It is important that any reported irregularities are investigated swiftly, fairly and transparently, to ensure credibility and provide a clear result as soon as possible,” Mark Field, the UK’s Asia and the Pacific state minister, said in a statement.
“We look forward to the announcement of the election results as soon as possible. It is also important that any reported irregularities are resolved swiftly and transparently,” EU foreign affairs spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said.
The US Embassy in Thailand also released a Monday statement hoping to see the election results in the near future.
“Yesterday, the U.S. Mission witnessed tens of millions of Thailand’s citizens go to the polls to exercise their right to vote,” Charge d’Affaires Peter Haymond said. “We look forward, with the Thai people, to the Election Commission’s announcement of results as soon as possible.”
Reports of discrepancies spread on social media even before polls closed Sunday. Netizens shared tales of officials handing out ballots for wrong constituencies, staff calling out ballots for wrong parties and even a soldier taking a peek at how his fellow troopers were voting.
Those watching live feeds of the Election Commission’s vote-counting process were also baffled by the number of ballots that exceeded voters in some areas. An online petition calling on the Election Commissioners to resign had attracted at least 727,500 signatures by publication time. When a reporter asked the commissioners yesterday whether they would resign, one of them answered by clapping back.
An Ethiopian Boeing 737 Max 8 takes off in February from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. Photo: LLBG Spotter / Wikimedia Commons
NEW YORK — The Transportation Department says it’s creating a special panel of experts to review Federal Aviation Administration procedures for approving new planes including the Boeing jet involved in two deadly crashes.
The department said Monday the committee will be led by retired Air Force Gen. Darren McDew and Lee Moak, former president of the Air Line Pilots Association. Other members haven’t been named yet.
Boeing and the FAA are already the subject of investigations by the Justice Department, the Transportation Department’s inspector general, and congressional committees.
The FAA certified the Boeing 737 Max jet in 2017 and let it keep flying after a deadly crash in October in Indonesia that investigators believe may be related to a new flight-control system that pushed the plane’s nose down repeatedly. A second crash occurred this month in Ethiopia, leading regulators around the world to ground all Max jets.
Preliminary satellite data indicates that both doomed planes made erratic climbs and descents before crashing shortly after takeoff. It’s likely to be months before investigators in Indonesia and Ethiopia issue conclusions on what caused the accidents.
Denpasar police chief Ruddi Setiawan, center left, holds a two-year-old male orangutan as Russian Andrei Zhestkov, center right, stands during a Monday press conference in Bali, Indonesia. Photo: Firdia Lisnawati / Associated Press
DENPASAR, Indonesia — Indonesian police said Monday they also found geckos and chameleons in the luggage of a Russian tourist who was arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle a drugged orangutan out of Bali.
Andrei Zhestkov was detained late Friday at Bali’s international airport after security officers found a 2-year-old endangered male orangutan sleeping in a rattan basket in his luggage.
Police showed the suspect along with the lizards and other evidence at a news conference Monday. Zhestkov, wearing an orange detainee uniform, refused to comment.
Local police chief Ruddi Setiawan said Zhestkov had confessed that he bought the orangutan for USD$3,000 from a street market on Indonesia’s main island of Java. He said Zhestkov said he fed it allergy pills mixed with milk so it would lose consciousness for up to 10 hours on his planned flight back home to Vladivostok.
“We are still investigating his motive in attempting to smuggle the orangutan out of Indonesia,” Setiawan said. “We are also searching for the trader who sold the animals to the suspect.”
He said authorities found two geckos and four chameleons in his bags.
He said Zhestkov, if found guilty, faces up to five years in jail and $7,000 in fines for attempting to smuggle wildlife.
Orangutans are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Only around 13,400 Sumatran orangutans remain in the wild.
A 2018 comprehensive study of Borneo’s orangutans estimated their numbers have plummeted by more than 100,000 since 1999, as the palm oil and paper industries shrink their habitat and fatal conflicts with people increase.
BANGKOK — The Election Commission on Monday afternoon unveiled its preliminary results of the 2019 election.
Based on 95 percent of the votes counted, the results show how many popular votes and Constituency seats each party has. An official result, including information on Party List seats, will be announced by the Election Commission in May. (See graphs below)
Roundup of reactions from each major winner:
Sudarat Keyuraphan (Pheu Thai) says she will proceed to form a coalition, as her party won the most number of constituency seats.
Thanathorn Juangrungruangkit (Future Forward) says he’s willing to support Sudarat as the next prime minister.
Uttama Savanayana (Phalang Pracharath) says he will form his own coalition as well, citing his party’s command of the largest popular votes.
Anuthin Charnvirakul (Bhumjaithai) declines to comment on which side he will join.
Abhisit Vejjajiva (Democrats) declines to comment on which side his party will join.
Seripisut Temiyavet (Seri Ruam Thai) says he will join a “pro-democracy” coalition.
Election Commission deputy secretary general Nat Laoseesawakul speaks Monday at a press conference.
BANGKOK — The Election Commission said Monday afternoon the full official election result would be released in May, asking people to “wait a little longer.”
Election Commission deputy secretary general Nath Laoseesawakul said results would be released by May 9, while an “unofficial” vote count from 95 percent of the votes would be released at 4pm today.
Full vote counts, which are needed to determine the allocation of 150 other seats in the House of Representatives, will be available on Friday.
The commission also blamed the media for the inaccurate numbers broadcast Sunday night. Nath said the commission provides news agencies raw information, who are then responsible for making the figures public.
“I don’t know what happened with the reports of each television station. I want an explanation on how they calculated the numbers,” said Nath at a Monday press conference.
The commission said it would announce the winners in each of the 350 constituency seats today, but would not release the numbers and party-list MPs to prove it. Nath said the commission had to review complaints against candidates, which might affect the tally if someone is disqualified. Currently 110 complaints about parties were being reviewed by the commission.
“People have been waiting but I’d like to ask you to wait a little longer,” Nath said, citing that they need to be “careful” with their work.
A Khaosod English reporteraskedthe commission today why they failed to release 95 percent of the votes Sunday night as customary. Nath said the delay is due to the complex computation between constituency-based MPs and that of party-list MPs.
The commission’s secretary-general Charungvith Phumma said those who believe there’s any irregularity can file complaints to his agency.
Nath refused to answer a reporter’s question about an online petitioning to impeach the commission members.
Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai Party on Monday.
By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee and Asaree Thaitrakulpanich
Yesterday’s elections were a seat-gripping saga with twists and turns at every stage, resulting in surprising political gains for new and smaller parties, while some stalwarts were left red-faced after their political movements underperformed.
While results have not been counted 100 percent, they gave a solid idea of who were the winners and losers of Election Day. Here are the highlights of those who, against all odds, achieved remarkable results at the polls and those who aimed high but left a lot to desire.
The Snubs
The Democrat Party: Thailand’s oldest political party and longtime Bangkok stronghold, suffered a blinding defeat resulting in the resignation of party leader and former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. As the counting drew to a close Sunday night, Abhisit announced his resignation.
Abhisit Vejjajiva resigns as Democrat Party leader Sunday night.
Warong Dechgitvigrom, a Democrat who lost to Abhisit’s prime minister candidate bid, compared Abhisit’s leadership to a “ship navigating in the wrong direction.”
The media and the online public have been describing the Democrats’ loss with the term, “Extinct Democrats.”
Democrat Party supporters react after Abhisit’s resignation.
Veteran politician Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the Action Coalition for Thailand Party, lost in his hometown Surat Thani to the Democrat Party, who won all six districts in the southern province. Suthep was a leader of a movement that usher in the 2014 coup.
The People’s Reform Party, which pledged to support Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha’s prime minister bid and festooned the streets with controversial Buddhism-related campaign posters, won only a little over 40,000 votes nationwide and no seats in parliament.
Paiboon Nititawan’s election results are set to the tune of soft-rock band Mild’s ballad “Unlovable” in this meme. “I know…I mean nothing,” the lyrics read.
Phalang Pracharath turncoat Suphon “Rambo Isaan” Attawong lost in his own hometown of Korat. In 2014, the longtime Redshirt leader left the faction and pledged never to enter politics again. He eventually joined the pro-junta party in 2018, much to the chagrin of his former comrades. Suphon was defeated by a Bhumijaithai candidate by 22,601 votes.
The power of the gray vote pushed the pro-junta Phalang Pracharath ahead of other parties in the popular vote, despite anti-Prayuth sentiment being strong online among the younger population. But the party’s wide grab of seats may not come as a surprise to some, due to suspicion of widespread foul play.
Kobsak Pootrakul holds a bouquet of hydrangeas, carnations and roses at the Phalang Pracharat headquarters on Monday.
Bhumjaithai Party did exceedingly well at the polls, making it to the Top Five and almost beating out the Democrats on the popular vote. Leader Anutin Charnvirakul had gone all-in on championing popular policies such as the legalization of weed and ride-hailing services.
Political newbies and first-time voter darlings Future Forward Party surprisingly received the third-most votes, behind political machine Pheu Thai and junta-backed Phalang Phracharath. During the past campaign months, the party has been supported with fangirling hashtags while being buffeted with legal complaints.
Photo: Taopiphop Limjittrakorn / Facebook
From a man who was arrested for brewing beer in his own home to a man of politics, Taopiphop Limjittrakorn of Future Forward Party won in his district of Khlong San. Even Taopiphop himself said he couldn’t believe it, “A political miracle has happened!” he tweeted. Taopiphop formerly ran a vaporwave cafe serving craft beer in Lat Phrao area which was closed last year.
By presenting realistic economic policies, Mingkwan Sangsuwan led his newly-formed New Economics Party to six seats in the house.
Mingkwan Sangsuwan.
Single-issue Thai Forest Conservation Party won one seat, taken by Damrong Phidej. He’s promised to help decrease plastic use and increase green spaces.
BANGKOK — Accusations of fraud and irregularities exploded across the internet Monday as the nation awaits the results of the much-anticipated general election, the first in five years since the military seized power in a coup.
Inconsistent ballot counting, late delivery of overseas ballots and the Election Commission’s decision to postpone the announcement of results as pro-junta Phalang Pracharath Party was in the lead, led netizens to unleash their fury over the handling of the polls already in doubt.
On Twitter, #ECBusted and #ElectionFraud were Thailand’s top two trending hashtags Monday morning. Fourth was #ECHasNoCalculator, in reference to the head commissioner’s statement last night, who half jokingly said the announcement of results had to be postponed because they “have no calculator.”
“Thailand’s dirtiest election was said to be in the era of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, now it’s about to change to Gen. Prayuth. You should be proud to become another record in Thai history,” @roronorsoloooo wrote.
“I saw some people voting for Prayuth’s party started bitching … that they are the power of the silent majority,” @Eneryoq wrote. “I believe in the power of silent majority and I would accept the results … but I just can’t take the power of exceeding ballot numbers and missing ballots. Vulgar. Dirty. Brazen.”
The tweet referred to the many times the commission provided real-time results showing the numbers of ballots counted to be inconsistent, sometimes exceeding the numbers of cast ballots.
Twitter user @cgureeporn pointed out that with 83 percent of ballots counted, results said more than 22 million ballots had been accounted for five parties, but the number of voter turnout was at a little over 20 million.
“Did you resurrect dead people to vote,” the user wrote in the accompanying tweet.
Many showed outrage over the revelation that more than 1,500 ballots from New Zealand were delivered too late, which the commission said would be voided.
The Thai Embassy in Wellington released a statement explaining the procedure and expressing its own disappointment over what had happened.
According to the embassy, elections were held periodically in New Zealand in the advance voting period, with the last one held on March 16. The ballots were shipped March 18 out of Wellington, and scheduled to arrive in Thailand the next day. The commission blamed flight delays for preventing them from arriving after polls closed at 5pm Sunday.
“The embassy understands the feeling of all voters, and is very disappointed and sorry that our votes in New Zealand might not be counted in this election, although all officials and volunteers had worked hard to hold the election together for over two months,” the statement read.
Meme-makers were also busy. One on popular Facebook page Basement Karaoke shows the inconsistent numbers of ballots counted and voter turnout with the caption “Teachers, teachers, I have some questions for you.” The post had been shared more than 5,000 times as of Monday morning.
Kai Maew, a well-known satirist comic, posted a cartoon showing a soldier in a voting booth, with another officer peeking from above. It referred to a widely shared news clipthat caught a military officer inside the polling area in the capital’s Phaya Thai district checking on how his subordinates voted.
Not all were angry about last night’s incomplete and confusing results. On several posts of pro-junta satirist page Huay Toon, many users expressed their relief.
“Many of us were scared to express our opinions that are different from those who claimed to be on democracy’s side. Every time we said something, we were berated, accused of supporting dictatorship, although we have facts to show them,” user Simon Jrock wrote. “Today, the election results have shown that ‘democracy’ doesn’t belong to only one group of people. Votes for Phalang Pracharath came from the silent majority such as us.”
Future Forward leaders speak at a news conference Monday.
The arts of horse-trading, lobbying and cajoling are in full swing as each of the two largest winners is battling to form its own coalition. Meanwhile, the Election Commission did little to placate growing skepticism over the vote counting procedures. Find all of our election coverage at KhaosodEnglish.com.
6:00pm
Democrat Party official Korn Chatikavanij said it was “impossible” for his party to join a coalition with Pheu Thai Party. He spoke after Prachachart news site cited a source saying Pheu Thai officials were in contact with Democrats to explore the possibility of forming a coalition together.
The Democrats Party is currently without a leader, after Abhisit Vejjajiva resigned from the party top job last night.
5:40pm
Phalang Pracharath leader Uttama Saovanayana said his party received a total of 7,939,937 votes, winning the popular vote. The party announced it would attempt to form a coalition and had already “started talks” with some other parties. He would not say which or how many, even after a reporter asked specifically about Bhumjaithai and Democrat parties.
“We have always supported Gen. Prayuth in becoming prime minister. We have been trusted with a majority of 7.9 million votes because our citizens trust him,” party co-founder Sontirat Sontijirawong said. “We have conducted ourselves according to the Constitution.”
Phalang Pracharath leaders speak at a news conference Monday.
Sontirat would not comment on the Election Commission’s election management.
“We have done our job,” Sontirat said.
Meanwhile, Pheu Thai member Pokin Polkul said that even though Phalang Pracharath won the popular vote, it does not mean it will get to form the next government. He cited the example of Donald Trump losing the popular vote and becoming president in the 2016 U.S. election.
5:20pm
Thai Airways International president Sumet Damrongchaitham said his company delivered the ballots from New Zealand on time. According to Sumet, more than 1,500 ballots were shipped March 22 from Auckland, New Zealand and arrived in Bangkok at 8:50pm on March 23. He said airline staff contacted the Foreign Affairs Ministry to retrieve the ballots between 10pm to 10:30pm on March 23, but that they were picked up the next day on Election Day at 7:30pm – after the polls already closed at 5pm.
Correction: An earlier version of this entry incorrectly said the ballots were voided. In fact, their validity was still being reviewed by the Election Commission.
4:44pm
Future Forward Party sets conditions for joining a coalition, says it will file protests to the Election Commission.
These are the key points spoken by party sec-gen Piyabutr Saengkanokkol:
The Future Forward will only join a coalition that pledges to rewrite the current constitution, remove the junta’s powers from the charter, and bring the armed forces under civilian control.
The party calls upon the Election Commission to disclose all information concerning voting procedures, including number of ballot papers printed, how many of them were distributed, and how many people voted in each polling station.
Piyabutr will visit the Election Commission tomorrow to file the complaints in person.
LIVE: The Future Forward Party holds a press conference at the headquarters in Bangkok
Who will get to lead Thailand’s next government? Many observers believe it will now depend on which side Bhumjaithai swings to, as it is currently the largest “neutral” party that has not thrown its support to either Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha or Sudarat Keyuraphan so far.
First scenario: If Bhumjaithai sides with Sudarat, she will command at least 300 seats in the parliament, winning a simple majority of votes to become the new prime minister.
Second scenario: If Bhumjaithai sides with Phalang Pracharath, the parliament will be evenly divided between two factions, and Sudarat will have just the bare minimum of 251 seats to win the top job.
Third scenario: 250 Senators appointed by Gen. Prayuth decides to intervene and grant him the majority he needed to win another term.
2:58pm
Pheu Thai Party leader Sudarat Keyuraphan said she will now invite other parties to form a coalition government with her. Sudarat said her party should be the one leading the government since it’s projected to win the most number of seats in the parliament.
The age-old craft of horse-trading is now set to begin, as Phalang Pracharath has announced its own intention to form a coalition just an hour ago.
2:21pm
Election Commission sec-gen Charungvith Phumma said those who believe there’s any irregularity can file complaints to his agency.
He said there are many factors behind the discrepancies in vote count numbers, including “human error.”
Deputy sec-gen Nath Laosisawakul said a full election result will not be available until May 9, citing the need to be careful in counting and verifying the votes. He declined to answer whether political parties can now start discussing coalition.
“I’m in charge of organizing the election, not government,” Nath said.
He dismissed complaints from social media that the vote-counting procedure is taking longer than expected.
“The public has been waiting for a long time already. Can’t they wait some more?” the official said.
LIVE: The Election Commission explains results delay, inconsistent vote counts
The Election Commission defends stopping the vote counting at 95 percent of ballots received, saying the limit is written in the laws. The commission also said the counting might take longer than previous elections because of the new voting systems, which transfers Constituency votes to Party List as well.
2:13pm
The Election Commission is now speaking at a news conference. The agency said it has now received the 1,500 overseas ballots from New Zealand. Decisions will be made whether to count them as valid ballots.
The ballots left New Zealand days ago, but the commission blamed series of delays and miscommunication for their failure to arrive by the time polls close Sunday.
Let the game begin: Phalang Pracharath spokesman Kobsak Pootrakool said his party is now discussing the issue of coalition.
Kobsak Pootrakul holds a bouquet of hydrangeas, carnations and roses at the Phalang Pracharat headquarters on Monday.
1:13pm
Bhumjaithai leader Anuthin Charnvirakul said he hasn’t yet discussed government coalition with any party. The surprise dark horse of 2019 election said it will not make any statement about forming or joining a coalition until the election results are formally endorsed by the Election Commission.
Because Anuthin has been on the fence since the start of the election season, many analysts expect him to side with whoever holds the most seats.
1pm
An independent poll monitor group slams yesterday’s voting and faulted the organizers for their incompetence.
P-NET vice president Laddawan Tantivitayapitak said the election failed to meet a free and fair standard. Laddawan also said the Election Commission, who was appointed only months before the Election Day, lacks the experience and capability to hold an efficient election.
Seri Ruam Thai says it’s willing to join a coalition with Pheu Thai Party. Whether the bloc will be large enough to thwart off Prayuth Chan-ocha’s ambition to secure another term in office is yet to be seen.
12:28pm
Former Democrat MP Warong Dechgitvigrom appeared to take a jab at his former boss for the party’s abysmal performance at the poll. Without naming anyone Warong compared Democrat Party to a doomed ship piloted by an incompetent captain.
“The ship was navigated in a wrong direction. Instead of fighting an old enemy, it ended up declaring war on a new enemy, even though we should have them as allies,” Warong wrote online.
Abhisit Vejjajiva announces his resignation as Democrat Party chairman on Sunday night.
Many Democrats expressed dismay when Abhisit announced he will not support junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha as the next prime minister. Abhisit has since come under allegations from the hardliners among his faction that he was seeking a compromise with their enemies, the Pheu Thai Party.
Abhisit resigned from the party chairmanship last night after early returns show Democrats trailing behind three other parties, and losing nearly all stronghold in its traditional heartland of Bangkok.
“Although the captain and his crew made it out alive, their survival is paid in many of their friends’ political careers. As we stand in our shipwreck, it is truly time that we stop greng jai one another,” wrote Warong, whose bid to lead Democrat Party was defeated by Abhisit last year.
12:12pm
Junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha arrives for work at Government House without commenting on the election results. If the early returns are verified by the Election Commission, the party that nominates him will come out as the top winner and Prayuth’s another term in office will be most likely secured.
12:00pm
Here’s a look at the Big Five, the top parties with the most number of votes. Note that these are popular votes, and the actual number of seats will be announced by the Election Commission later.
In this Saturday, March 23, 2019, photo released by Natural Resources Conservation Agency of Bali (BKSDA Bali), a sedated two-year-old orangutan rests inside rattan basket following the arrest of a Russian national Andrei Zhestkov who allegedly tried to smuggle the ape out of the resort island at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, Indonesia. Authorities say the 27-year-old Russian tourist was captured late Friday at the airport after an X-ray found the 2-year-old male orangutan in a rattan basket inside his luggage. (BKSDA Bali via AP)
DENPASAR, Indonesia — Indonesian authorities have arrested a Russian tourist who was attempting to smuggle a drugged orangutan out of the resort island of Bali, a conservation official said Sunday.
Andrei Zhestkov, 27, was arrested late Friday at Bali’s international airport after customs officers found a 2-year-old male orangutan sleeping in a rattan basket placed in his luggage, said Ketut Catur Marbawa, an official with Bali’s conservation agency.
Marbawa, whose agency is part of the environment and forestry ministry, said customs officers also found allergy pills wrapped in plastic, two geckos and five lizards in Zhestkov’s suitcase. All the animals were alive.
He said Zhestkov told authorities he fed the orangutan allergy pills mixed with milk, causing the animal to lose consciousness for up to three hours.
He said Zhestkov also told officials he bought the orangutan for $3,000 from a market on Indonesia’s main island of Java after being told by a friend that he could bring it home as a pet.
Marbawa said Zhestkov had yet to be charged because police were still investigating to see if there were links to international syndicates involved in wildlife trafficking.
Marbawa did not know whether Zhestkov had a lawyer. He said the Russian mission in Bali had been informed about the case.
Orangutans are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Only around 13,400 Sumatran orangutans remain in the wild.
A 2018 comprehensive study of Borneo’s orangutans estimates their numbers have plummeted by more than 100,000 since 1999, as the palm oil and paper industries shrink their habitat and fatal conflicts with people increase.
