A recent poll has revealed that nearly a quarter of Thais are unaware of the upcoming senatorial elections, and an astonishing 70% do not understand the new election system.

As the nation gears up for elections scheduled from June 9 to 26, where thousands of candidates will vote among themselves to elect 200 senators, this revelation highlights a significant gap in public awareness and understanding.

The poll, conducted by King Prajadhipok’s Institute on May 7 and 18, surveyed 1,620 Thais over the age of 18. The results, published today, indicate a worrying lack of knowledge about the elections.

The findings show that 76.5% of respondents are aware of the election, leaving 23.5% uninformed. However, only 28.5% correctly understand that candidates will vote among themselves in the election process.

“There’s a significant knowledge gap. 21.5% of people mistakenly believe the election involves candidates from different occupation groups, and 15.5% think the public will cast votes directly,” the report noted.

A concerning 34.7% admitted they have no idea how the new voting system operates. Age and education significantly influence these misconceptions. About 30% of those over 60 answered correctly, whereas 73.9% of individuals aged 18 to 25 were either clueless or misunderstood the process.

Moreover, 79.3% of respondents with only an elementary education were unaware of how the election works, compared to 35.4% of those with a Bachelor’s degree or higher who answered correctly.

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The upcoming election will have candidates voting at three levels: district on June 9, provincial on June 16, and national on June 26. This new 200-member Senate will replace the current 250-member Senate, appointed by the junta after the 2014 coup, whose tenure ended on May 10. These appointed senators continue to serve in a caretaker role until the new Senate is elected, reported The Nation.

As the elections approach, the poll underscores the urgent need for better public education on the electoral process to ensure a well-informed electorate.

In related news, former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat made a surprise appearance at the Chiang Mai district office at 9am on Tuesday, May 21, marking the opening of senatorial candidate registrations.

Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has been approached by provincial authorities in Nakhon Ratchasima to consider Converting Air Force Base into Commercial Airport. The appeal was made during a meeting yesterday, March 24, to foster business growth and encourage tourism in the province, according to deputy spokesperson Kenika Ounjit.

During the meeting, provincial authorities proposed the conversion of the local air force base into a commercial airport to facilitate business expansion and boost tourism in Nakhon Ratchasima.

The request specifically targets Wing 1 of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to be utilized by the private sector for commercial flights.

In response, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has tasked Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit with evaluating the feasibility of this proposal before reaching a final decision.

It’s noteworthy that between 1986 and 1997, the old airport situated within Wing 1 operated commercial flights.

However, the region now relies on Nakhon Ratchasima Airport, managed by the Department of Airports, for its air travel needs, even though commercial flights are currently unavailable there.

Previously, Nok Air operated flights connecting Bangkok and Chiang Mai to Nakhon Ratchasima province. Unfortunately, the service was discontinued due to profitability concerns.

However, there are reports indicating that the budget airline is keen on reintroducing flights to Nakhon Ratchasima, particularly if they are permitted to utilize the old airport at Wing 1.

Nakhon Ratchasima Airport is situated approximately 25 kilometers away from the city center in the Chalerm Phrakiat district. In contrast, Wing 1, located in the Mueang district, offers much closer proximity to the city.

Presently, the nearest operational airport to Nakhon Ratchasima is in Buriram. If this proposal to utilize Wing 1 as a commercial airport is approved, it could significantly benefit the local economy and tourism sector.

In other developments, there are plans in motion for the construction of a new airport in Phayao, a province in northern Thailand. This project, estimated to cost around 2 billion baht, forms part of a broader strategy to elevate Phayao into a prominent tourist destination.

Thailand Prime Minister Srettha, accompanied by his delegation, recently surveyed potential sites within the regions of tambon Don Si Chum and tambon Baan Tham in the Dok Kham Tai district.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, in response to the 44 insurgent fires that ravaged Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Songkhla, has assured aid and assistance for the affected victims. The Thai Government pledges support following the aftermath of these incidents in the Southern Region.

To ensure justice prevails, Prime Minister Srettha has delegated the investigation of these fires to acting national police chief, Kittirat Phanphet.

Additionally, discussions were held with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, given Malaysia’s crucial role in mediating peace talks between the Thai government and southern rebel groups. Notably, some insurgents are reported to possess dual Thai-Malaysian citizenship.

Prime Minister Srettha suggested that the perpetrators behind Friday’s attacks might have sought to demonstrate their influence following the relaxation of security measures in the southern region. However, he stressed the need for further information to fully grasp the motives behind this recent surge in aggression.

The coordinated incendiary attacks targeted over 40 locations, aiming to disrupt peace during the holy month of Ramadan.

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According to the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4 Forward Command, these assaults occurred across 44 different locations in the four provinces between 1 am and 1:45 pm on Friday. Pattani bore the brunt with 23 locations affected, followed by Yala with 12, Narathiwat with 7, and Songkhla with 2.

In the aftermath of the tragic events following the outbreak of 44 insurgent fires in the Southern Region, a devastating incident claimed the life of a female construction worker from Myanmar at a gas station in Pattani.
The Thai Government assures assistance to address the aftermath of these events in the region.

The worker’s rest was abruptly shattered by shrapnel injuries, underscoring the severity of the situation. Furthermore, authorities discovered a gas cylinder filled with explosives at the gas station in Tambon Koh Jan.

Swift action was taken as the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit was summoned to neutralize the threat, ensuring the safety of the area.

Meanwhile, efforts to mitigate the impact of the incidents are underway, with the establishment of a joint compensation center in Mueang and Bannang Sata districts of Yala province, as announced by Deputy Governor Anan Bunsamran.

This center aims to evaluate property damage and assess the repercussions on residents, laying the groundwork for compensatory measures.

However, a definitive timeline for this assessment remains pending, as reported by Bangkok Post.

In a separate development, Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin disclosed that the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) has secured additional funding from the World Bank.

This funding infusion ensures the continuation of a vital project aimed at providing remedial assistance to residents in the far south, furthering the government’s commitment to addressing the aftermath of the 44 insurgent fires in the region.