EC:Re-election in five Thai provinces goes on smoothly

BANGKOK, March 3 (TNA) - The Election Commission of Thailand (EC) has reported that a re-election for members of the House of Representatives (MPs) in constituencies of five provinces went on smoothly despite a low voters' turnout. EC Chairman Supachai Somcharoen told journalists on Monday morning that the EC considers the rescheduled election in the five provinces, including Phetchaburi, Rayong, Phetchabun, Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkhram, held on March 2 satisfactory although combined voters' turnout was only about 10 per cent. Supachai acknowledged that the five provinces are the stronghold of the Democrat Party, which bans the general election, and local voters, thus, seemed not to be happy to turn out to exercise their right. Sunday's re-election was held in the five provinces after the February 2 general election there was blocked and disrupted by anti-government protesters.(TNA)