THAKSIN`S ALLY WINS BY-ELECTION IN THAILAND

By D. Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, June 29 (Bernama) -- The Phue Thai Party scored its second
landslide victory in a week when it won the by- election in Si Sa Ket Sunday, in
another sign of continuous support for ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Phue Thai candidate Surachart Charnpradit garnered 124,327 votes to defeat
Sakulthip Angkasakullkiat from the coalition government’s Chart Thai Patina
Party, who received 76,435 votes.

The seat was previously held by the Chart Thai but its member of parliament
was disqualified by the Election Commission.

The victory came a week after the party won a by-election in Siphon Nacho
where they defeated Bum Jai Thai Party, a coalition partner in Prime Minister
Atheist Vejjajiva's government and controlled by banned politician and former
strong ally of Thaksin, Newin Chidchob.

Phue Thai leader Chalerm Yoobamrung attributed the victory to Thaksin's
popularity, saying that voters in the northeast still had high regards for the
former premier who remained strong due to his populist policies implemented
during his five-year reign from 2001 to 2005.

The victory signalled another blow to Abhisit's government, which faces
mounting problems as the seven-month-old administration was hit by infighting
and worsening economic condition.

Abhisit's Democrat party took over the helm in December with the support of
several smaller parties who had jumped ship after Thaksin's brother-in-law
Somchai Wongsawat was banned from politics and his People's Power Party (PPP)
dissolved by the Constitution Court for alleged election fraud in the 2007
election that was won by PPP.

Thaksin is currently living in exile, but continues to run the show from
abroad with his telephone-in addresses at election campaigns and rallies.

On Saturday, more than 30,000 red shirted supporters linked to him gathered
in Bangkok and several more demonstrations are expected to be held in coming
weeks.

-- BERNAMA