Election campaigns, Thai style

A typical campaign poster

Is this election still a happening thing? Thais go the polls on Dec 23.

It's not far off, but judging by the amount of campaign activity where I live, interest is waning.

Campaign trucks pass through the market. A week ago, the candidate and three or four party workers were perched on the back.

Then, the candidate disappeared, leaving just one or two party workers on the back, covering their ears from loudspeakers blaring out party campaign songs.

Now, all the candidates and party workers have gone. The trucks still go up and down, music and recorded messages blaring, but other than the driver, there's no one on board.

Two weeks ago, if I was not up by 8am, then I could rely on party campaign trucks to wake me, as they ran up and down small streets around here, exhorting voters to do the right thing.

Now, I can sleep in until 10 without fear of being woken by the sound of the coming election, because fewer trucks are plying the streets.

Thais like pick-up trucks, so no surprise if political parties should have adapted pick-up trucks to spread the word.

On the sides, they attach large campaign posters bearing the pictures, names and numbers of local candidates.

Most would be happy if voters just remembered their candidate number - policies and names are for fusspots.

'Who are you voting for?' a Thai voter might ask his neighbour.

'Number three.'

'Ah!' he will reply. He knows who he means, even if he may not know the man's name.

Candidates' numbers are selected in a draw. Everyone hopes for a lucky number, or at least one which voters will remember easily.

A large campaign billboard opposite my condo carries the photographs of three candidates standing for one party. They are numbered three, four and five. 'Please choose all three numbers,' the billboard says.

Don't worry about the policies, candidates' names, or their history. They appear, too, but aren't the main focus of attention.

In party pick-up trucks, campaign workers sit with their legs hanging over the back. A candidate usually stands facing over the driver's cabin, giving a regal-looking wave. Most look embarrassed to be there.

Occasionally the candidate speaks through a megaphone, but in most cases, the truck will have its own recording of someone promising life will get better if voters choose that party.

'The economy is flat. Life getting you down? Want cheaper health care? Vote for us,' it says.

The people who make the recordings sound like hammy voice-dubbing artists from the Pantamit team, who provide the soundtracks for movies and TV shows.

Political parties, keenly attune to voters' needs, know that some would rather just hear music. Thais like to have fun, so why should elections be any different?

If you click on this Manager newspaper article (link harvested - it died), you can hear a selection of campaign tunes used by the main parties. The Manager has spliced four or five together, for the Democrats, Mahachon, Chart Thai, People Power, and Matchima parties.

Party campaign tunes tend to be racy, with a country music, Esan-style flavour. They are supposed to excite voters, and are played in incongruous settings such as on the back of trucks and at noisy party meetings.

No surprise, then, if the recording artist of choice for many parties is upbeat song-for-life performer Ad Carabao.

Ad Carabao

Ad has recorded songs for the Democrat and Mahachon parties among others, and made so many party campaign tunes over the years that fans like to ask him just which party he supports.

One of the most intriguing entries this year is the first song on the music video, a melodic tune with a chorus called the 'Democrat promise' which sounds like an easy-listening club song from the 50s. The lyrics are just as dreamy...'We have passed through the hot and cold times for too long, confronted challenges...'

It is what Thais call 'string' music, and sounds very different from Ad Carabao's upbeat numbers which follow.

Ad Carabao says he has made campaign songs for the last six years. He regards it as just another way of making money.

Some candidates, however, appear reluctant to get into the spirit of fun which hitting the Thai campaign trial is supposed to represent.

In Chatuchak today, 'Leenajang' Leena Jangjanya (ลีนา จังจรรยา), a candidate for Paendin Thai Party, was handing out campaign leaflets when a man started abusing her. 'I can't stand looking at you on TV, you're crazy, I don't believe you,' he said.

Leena

She warned him that she was a lawyer, but he would not shut up, so she called police. Leena has also been engaged in a running battle with Matchima Thipataya Party, whom she claims broke a promise to field her as a candidate.

She went to a police station to press charges against the man who abused her, and is also vowing to file a civil suit claiming damages for B10 million, to protect her honour as a woman.

Others create their own fun. One party has erected a large billboard across a narrow footpath close to my place, so big that pedestrians must hop off the footpath and onto the road to carry on. The sign is made of some tough plastic or acrylic substance, and wired to the post, so is not easy to dislodge.

Undeterred, someone has now solved the problem, Thai style. He has cut a hole in the sign big enough for people to pass through, so footpath access is restored once more.