- Title: THAILAND: FIRST MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN BANGKOK.
- Date: 3rd September 1968
- Summary: 1. MLV BANGKOK - CHAO PHYA RIVER 0.06 2. MV VOTERS ON WAY TO POLLING STATIONS 0.11 3. CU ELECTION POSTER 0.16 4. MV VOTERS AT POLLING STATION 0.20 5. CU ANOTHER ELECTION POSTER 0.24 6. CU OFFICIAL HANDS OUT BALLOT PAPERS TO VOTERS 0.28 7. CU VOTING CONTINUES 0.32 8. CU PREMIER THANOM VOTING AND AWAY (4 SHOTS) 0.48 9. MLV VOTERS QUEUEING OUTSIDE BOOTH (2 SHOTS) 0.52 10. MV THAI SOLDIERS QUEUEING OUTSIDE ANOTHER BOOTH 0.57 Initials GS/VS/AS/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 18th September 1968 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BANGKOK, THAILAND
- Country: Thailand
- Reuters ID: LVAEZ27K3LABK6H4I8N1NLMXSJA2
- Story Text: THAILAND TOOK ANOTHER TENTATIVE STEP TOWARDS DEMOCRACY TODAY (MONDAY) WHEN THE PEOPLE OF BANGKOK WENT TO THE POLLS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 10 YEARS.
THE POLLING HAS RESULTED IN THE OUSTING OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT AND THE ELECTION OF AN ADMINISTRATION DRAWN ALMOST ENTIRELY FROM THE OPPOSITION DEMOCRATIC PARTY. THE VOTING WAS KEEN, AND 374 CANDIDATES STOOD FOR 24 SEATS. THE ELECTION WAS THE FIRST SINCE OCTOBER 20, 1958, WHEN FIELD MARSHAL SARIT THANARAT SEIZED POWER AND BANNED ALL POLITICAL PARTIES AND POWER UNIONS.
THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN WAS FOUGHT OVER SUCH PURELY LOCAL ISSUES AS A RECENT INCREASE IN BUS FARES. BUT OBSERVERS SAID THE OUTCOME HAD CONSIDERABLE SIGNIFICANCE FOR THAILAND AS A WHOLE. IT IS EXPECTED, HOWEVER, THAT THE OPPOSITION WILL FACE A FAR MORE DIFFICULT TASK WHEN IT TRIES TO CONVERT ITS VICTORY INTO A NATIONWIDE TRIUMPH.
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