Abhisit to take part in debate

Prime Minister and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has accepted an invitation from the People's Network for Elections in Thailand (Pnet) to participate in a debate involving the leaders of six political parties on June 23, Prime Minister's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva

Prime Minister and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has accepted an invitation from the People's Network for Elections in Thailand (Pnet) to participate in a debate involving the leaders of six political parties on June 23, Prime Minister's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey said on Tuesday.

Mr Sathit said the six political parties whose leaders have been invited to the June 23 debate are expected to play a crucial role in the formation of the next government after the July 3 election.

He did not name the five other parties.

Mr Abhisit has also accepted Pnet's invitation to take part in a debate with the Pheu Thai Party's contender for the prime ministership, on June 24.

However, Pheu Thai's No.1 party list candidate Yingluck Shinawatra has so far not accepted the invitation.

Pnet will give her until June 17 to reply, Mr Sathit said.

Democrat list candidate Nipon Boonyamanee, who supervises the party's election campaign in the far South, said his party was confident that it will win at least nine of the 11 seats up for grabs in the southernmost provinces in the July 3 polls.
Mr Nipon said the Democrat candidates contesting the 11 constituencies in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces were being warmly received by local residents.

Many voters in the far South would vote for the Democrats as they wanted Mr Abhisit to win a second term as prime minister so he would continue his policies to douse the southern fire, said Mr Nopon, citing the latest opinion poll results in the region.
Key party figures would take part in the election campaign to boost its candidates' chances of a clean sweep, said Mr Nipon.

"Many residents still have faith and confidence in the Democrat Party and party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai as the Democrats are determined to tackle the unrest in the deep South.

"As soon as Mr Chuan completes his task in the North, he will visit the three southernmost provinces and four districts in Songkhla by the end of this month," said Mr Nipon.

Pheu Thai's No.1 party list candidate Yingluck Shinawatra

Ms Yingluck said while campaigning in the South today that she wanted the three southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat to be made a special administrative zone if the Pheu Thai forms the next government.

"If Pheu Thai becomes the government, we will push for a special administrative zone.

"We'll have more discussion with relevant state agencies and the local people in the three southern provinces," said former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's youngest sister.

She said the process of becoming a special administrative zone would be gradual and people in the area would be involved in governing themselves.

"Even if we don't target to win seats in the deep South, we will not ignore our brothers and sisters here because we are all Thais and this is Thailand," Ms Yingluck said.

She said Pheu Thai, if elected, would also improve diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia to promote bilateral trade and make it easier for Thai Muslims to make the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

However, Pheu Thai would not touch the old Saudi cases.

"We must focus on the mutual benefits for the two countries," Ms Yingluck said.