People urge Thai politicians to "change themselves" before election

BANGKOK, October 16 (TNA) - Most people call on Thai politicians to undergo their "self reform" before the country's new general election, expected to be held by 2018. Dr. Noppadon Kannika, Managing Director of SUPER POLL, told journalists on October 15 that a recent survey found 73.4 per cent of a total of 1,208 respondents from all walks of life wanted the "self reform" from Thai politicians prior to the new general election, set in late 2018 by the incumbent military government. Dr. Noppadon said most of the respondents reasoned that the proposed "self-reform" will ensure voters of honest and transparent Thai politicians during their electoral campaigns and after the new general election in order to sustain the country's democratic politics with steady economic growth and national development. Dr. Noppadon conceded that most of the respondents, or 75.9 per cent, from the latest survey, conducted during October 5-14, viewed no "self-reform" from Thai politicians so far and 68.9 per cent of them foresaw a return of corruption in the domestic politics after the new general election, with only 10.9 per cent of them foreseeing a decline in corruption. Besides, 56.3 per cent of the respondents feared there might be a return of political violence in the post-election period, with 27.3 per cent of them anticipating more serious political violence but 15.9 per cent of them foreseeing the less serious political situation. (TNA)