The infamous Thai election "canvassers"
What do they actually do?
By Jon Fernquest[Introduction|Vocabulary|Article]
[Reading Questions|Answers]
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What goes on at the local village level in Thai politics is largely invisible to city folk (as opposed to rural folk or in Thai "chao baan").
Today's article gives the reader a little peek into this hidden world.
Whether it is more or less frightening than people claim is for you to decide.
canvasser - work in a local area to increase the votes for a political party or candidate
infamous - famous in a bad way (like a famous bank robber)
folk - people
a peek - take a brief look at
Reading Questions
Here are some questions to guide your reading (See answers at end):1. Why is so much media attention focussed on canvassers as elections draw near?
2. In which areas of the country of Thailand are vote canvassers most important?
3. What are some of the vote-getting strategies employed by canvassers?
4. What kinds of things do canvassers remind voters about?
5. Where do canvassers get their ideas about how to promote political candidates from?
6. How could "pyramid" or "network" marketing increase a candidate's votes?
(Use inference and your imagination)
7. What sort of proof is used to verify that recruits have actually been made?
8. What contribution to policy can canvassers make?
(Use inference)
9. What opportunities do canvassers use to introduce candidates to the people?
10. Can government officials make a lot of money participating in vote canvassing activities? Why or why not?
11. What kinds of government officials are employed as vote canvassers in the North?
12. What conflicts of interest could result from local government officials doubling as vote canvassers for a political party?
(Express your opinion)
13. Should local government officials be allowed to participate in elections as vote canvassers?
(Express your opinion)
14. How could you enforce a law against vote canvassing by government officials?
(Express your opinion)
Bangkok Post Article October 31, 2007
CANVASSERS USE THEIR CLOUT
Politicians would find it tough to succeed without their diverse, often cunning vote-capturing strategiesCHEEWIN SATTHA
THEERAWAT KHAMTHITA
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Canvassers play a crucial role in mobilising votes, especially among rural voters, and that's why they are always in the spotlight when elections draw near.
Their sole function is to make sure the political party they work for gets as many votes as possible, and they employ diverse, often cunning, strategies to set the local political pulse racing.
clout - impact
diverse - many different kinds, a variety
cunning - using tricks, achieving goals in a clever fashion (often using tricks and deceit)
vote-capturing - getting votes
crucial - very important and essential
a role - a special function or position of a person in a society or an organisation
mobilising votes - getting people to go and vote
in the spotlight - getting public attention (through the media, for instance)
draw near -
- approach, wll happen in a short time
employ -
- use
set the pulse racing - made blood move fast throgh the body from excitement
In Udon Thani province, singing contests have been organised in several villages in the run-up to the Dec 23 general election.
During the intervals in the contests, a canvasser will take the stage and remind the audience of "populist policies" that once contributed to their prosperity and well-being.
"With village funds gone, now you know the economy is in bad shape," a canvasser told the audience during a recent event.
The canvasser, who asked not to be named, said a series of training programmes were also held for community leaders and members of local groups to find out out how capable they were of mobilising support.
"In each training session, they will get free meals and free yellow T-shirts," the canvasser said. Free jaunts are also arranged, taking them on pleasure tours to other parts of the country.
These trips are paid for by local organisations, and by politicians operating through their canvassers.
in the run-up to - in the period before an event happens
intervals - periods of time between other events
prosperity - gaining wealth and a decent income
well-being - life is confortable without many problems
economy is in bad shape - economy activity has slowed down, business is bad, and many people do not have work
mobilising support - getting people to join or vote for the political party
training session - a class where practical skills are taught
jaunts - short fun trips (for pleasure, not work)
The role of the canvassers is vital for politicians standing for election at both local an national levels. Without them, candidates find it difficult to succeed in the political arena.
A former MP for a northern province organises meetings of canvassers every Saturday and Sunday. At each meeting, experts provide tips on how to woo voters.
Direct-sale marketing methods, such as multi-level networking, are also used to recruit members. Each canvasser is rewarded for recruiting 10 other canvassers.
"A cash reward of 5,000-20,000 baht will be paid to those who can produce the name and address on an identity card as proof," a canvasser in the northern province said.
Canvassers also survey the needs of local people so candidates can make use of the information and promise to provide them what they need if elected.
Canvassers are tasked with arranging meetings between new candidates and local people. They also represent those candidates at social functions such as birthday parties, weddings and funeral ceremonies.
a role - a special function or position of a person in a society or an organisation
vital - very important, necessary
standing for election - compete with other candidates to get elected to public office in the government
tips - short helpful advice
woo - try hard to convince a woman to marry you
Direct-sale marketing methods - techniques of promoting and selling a product with direct customer contact (through mail, telephone, email internet, face-to-face on the street or at home, not via newspapers, tv, or other indirect media0
recruit (verb) - selecting and persuading people to join an organisation
survey - ask people in a group to find out how the group feels about some issues
Inwan Bang-ngern, head of a group of tambon and village heads of 17 provinces in the North, said canvassers in northern provinces, particularly Chiang Rai, had developed a closely connected network with the financial support provided by political parties.
Those who work as canvassers in Chiang Rai can make a lot of money and at the same accrue political clout in their areas.
The credentials of canvassers in Chiang Rai are attested to by the large crowd they managed to bring to a recent election rally by the People Power party in the stadium of Rajabhat Chiang Rai University. More than 200 buses were needed to transport them to the venue.
"Villagers were paid 100 baht each while bus drivers received 500 baht for fuel costs," said a village head who also doubles as a canvasser.
For canvassers and locals alike, the run-up to the general election is a great period that can really make their day.
closely connected network - people in different areas who work together and share information
accrue - accumulate, build up, get more of
political clout - political power
credentials - things (especially official documents) that show your qualifications to do a job
attested to - proven by, shown by
a rally - a large public meeting to generate support for a person, organisation, or idea
a venue - a place where an event is held
doubles as... - serves an additional role as..., works in another job as...
run-up to the general election -
make their day - provide them great satisfaction, make them very happy
Prasert Kayachai, who heads a group of heads of tambon administration organisations in Chiang Rai, said many chiefs of the grassroots organisations are wearing two hats, working as government officials and representing politicians.
He does not see this as being good for the country. "Their involvement in politics could hurt the system of local organisations," Mr Prasert said.
Tambon Administration Organisations (TAO) - district level local government in Thailand
wearing two hats - doing two very different jobs at the same time
Answer Key:
1. Why is so much media attention focussed on canvassers as elections draw near?
They play an important (perhaps the most important) role in getting election votes for political parties.
2. In which areas of the country of Thailand are vote canvassers most important?
Rural areas.
3. What are some of the vote-getting strategies employed by canvassers?
a. Singing contests.
b. Training programmes for community leaders
c. Free meals.
d. Free t-shirts
e. Free pleasure trips, not for work ("jaunts")
4. What kinds of things do canvassers remind voters about?
a. No more populist policy goodies.
b. No more village fund money.
5. Where do canvassers get their ideas about how to promote political candidates from?
Techniques from marketing, marketing products made by businesses, especially "direct marketing" techniques
that emphasize direct contact with customers and promoting and selling products directly to customers wither face to face, over the telephone, throught the mail, or over the internet.
6. How could "pyramid" or "network" marketing increase a candidate's votes?
(Use inference and your imagination)
Each canvasser is rewarded for how many new canvassers he or she can recruit. Then each new canvasser is rewarded for their recruits, and so on. So first, you have 10 canvasser recruits, then after each of these new recuits recruits ten, you have 100, then 1000, then 10,000...etc.
7. What sort of proof is used to verify that recruits have actually been made?
The recruit's name and address on their id card [Thai: bat prachachon]. Then the person supervising the recruitment drive can do spot checks to find out if people are faking it or lieing about their recruits.
8. What contribution to policy can canvassers make?
(Use inference)
Canvassers survey the needs of local people so this information can affect what policies polticians choose to pursue.
("They Canvassers also survey the needs of local people so candidates can make use of the information and promise to provide them what they need if elected.")
9. What opportunities do canvassers use to introduce candidates to the people?
Canvassers arrange meetings at social functions such as birthday parties, weddings and funeral ceremonies.
Financial support at these often expensive events is no doubt welcomed.
10. Can government officials make a lot of money participating in vote canvassing activities? Why or why not?
Yes, government officials can make a lot of money by participating in vote canvassing. The local authority they have as a government official allows them access to and control over the people in their locality.
11. What kinds of government officials are employed as vote canvassers in the North?
Village headmen and local Tambon officials.
12. What conflicts of interest could result from local government officials doubling as vote canvassers for a political party?
(Express your opinion)
13. Should local government officials be allowed to participate in elections as vote canvassers?
(Express your opinion)
14. How could you enforce a law against vote canvassing by government officials?
(Express your opinion)
