Thai PM urges all parties to observe electoral laws

BANGKOK, February 15 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has asked everyone to abide by electoral laws and assured that her government is not interfering with the upcoming Bangkok gubernatorial election, set on March 3, 2013, as candidates are actively campaigning for votes in the capital. Yingluck insisted on Friday that the March 3 gubernatorial election is to be fair and police are to work for public safety. The prime minister dismissed the opposition Democrat Party's accusation that her Pheu Thai Party-led coalition government is interfering with the forthcoming gubernatorial election by transferring police chiefs in districts where the candidate of the ruling Puea Thai Party is an underdog. Meanwhile, the Pheu Thai Party's candidate, Police General Pongsapat Pongcharoen, joined a debate at Bangkok-based University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, promising to make Bangkok safe and free of narcotics and crime and to have surveillance cameras and lights installed at all danger-prone locations. At the same debate, the main opposition Democrat Party's candidate, M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, promised to develop Bangkok into a center of trade, investment and tourism, link government and private surveillance cameras to ensure public safety and expand the capacities of electric trains to solve traffic congestion in the capital. Independent candidate Kosit Suvinitjit continued to promote his idea on around-the-clock businesses of Bangkok, pointing out that Thai people are outstanding in arts, cultures and entertainment businesses; so they should use the excellence for commercial purposes. He also promised to improve health services in all 50 districts in Bangkok. Suharit Siamwalla, another independent candidate, promised to apply modern technologies to expand green areas in the Thai capital, like what happen in Sydney, encouraging eligible voters, especially those who are active in social networks, to cast their votes in the March 3 gubernatorial election. (TNA)