BANGKOK – Given
a bit of a superstitious streak in Thailand, it’s no wonder that Thai political
parties might have been hoping for “lucky” numbers in a draw last week to
determine their order on the Feb. 2 election ballot.
The favorite ballot place is definitely No. 1, because
that stands for being the first. That number went to the Chart Pattana
(National Development) Party, a coalition member of Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra’s government.
Another desired number is nine, which in Thai is the
same as the word meaning “step forward.” That number went to the Pheu Santi
(For Peace) Party, a small and newly formed political group.
A less-lucky and somewhat less-desirable number is
six, which sounds like “falling” in Thai. It went to the Bhumjaithai (Thai
Pride) Party, which has been a part of the opposition coalition.
The upcoming election, called after Ms. Yingluck
dissolved the Lower House on Dec. 9, will determine who will control Thailand’s
500-member House of Representatives.
Traditionally, parties wishing to end up with “lucky”
numbers would want to register in the morning of the first day of the
registration. Thirty of them managed to register, but none got to draw before
Thursday because of antigovernment demonstrations.
Another 23 political parties, who did not report to
the independent Election Commission by the morning of the first day of
registration, have automatically been assigned numbers from 31 to 53.
The ruling Pheu Thai Party drew the number 15. The number
has no significance in Thailand. But
some superstitious Thais might read it to mean the party wasn’t especially
lucky because it won’t won’t be among the top-listed choices for voters.
In the last polls in 2011, Ms. Yingluck’s Pheu Thai
Party won in a landslide after it drew the lucky No. 1.
A couple of years ago, the opposition Democrat Party
drew number 10. The number has no significance in terms of superstition. But it
left the party lower on the list of voter choices. To improve its chances, it took
the label “The Conqueror of Ten Directions” from one of the country’s fictional
heroes to make its number more memorable.
The opposition Democrat Party is boycotting the
upcoming elections, so it didn’t draw a number.
In addition to the air of superstition around some
specific numbers, political parties want to be high on the ballot to get more
voter attention. Which raises another
form of superstition — was a party lucky in the draw, given its position on the
ballot?
The ballot drawing has traditionally been a colorful
and exciting event. Parties and supporters packed into a stadium and responded
to their draw with thunderous applause — even if it wasn’t the best number.
But this time, the ongoing antigovernment protests to
oust Ms. Yingluck and her Pheu Thai Party overshadowed the drawing. Two people
— a policeman and a protester– were killed during a clash last Thursday.
Will the Feb. 2 election show there is luck behind
certain numbers? Some Thais surely will believe so.
Nopparat Chaichalearmmongkol
Business & Investment Opportunities
Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd (SBC) is incorporated
in Singapore since 1994.
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