SMS messages remind Bangkok resident to vote BANGKOK, Aug 6 (TNA)  The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to use SMS messages to remind the citys residents to vote in the forthcoming elections for the Bangkok governor.
Mobile phones operators will send various SMS messages to remind their customers about the schedule of election-related activities.
The messages will also inform voters on how to cast their ballots.
These reminder messages will be sent with increased frequency as the election day  29th August --gets closer.
The scheme aims to raise the political awareness of Bangkoks residents and persuade them to vote.
The Bangkok authorities have pledged to get more electors to vote in this years poll, than voted in the last election for the governor, four years ago.
The SMS reminder scheme is being supported by Thailands leading telecommunications companies, including Advance Info Service (AIS), Total Access Communications (TAC), Asia Wireless Communications, TA Orange, and Hutchison CAT Wireless Multimedia.
So far there are twenty-two candidates contesting the election.
The final list of approved candidates will be posted at all district administration offices, BMA city clerk, Khun Ying Nathanon Thavisin, told TNA on Thursday.(TNA)--E113
Last Update : 2004-08-06 / 14:00:22 (GMT+7:00)
Deliberations by Thailand's Constitution Tribunal have begun to decide the fate of the former ruling party, Thai Rak Thai, and the main opposition Democrat Party. With authorities expecting supporters of the two parties to cause disturbances, security forces in the capital Bangkok are on high alert, with 15,000 troops at the ready to keep order.

Nine judges began their deliberations at around 1 p.m. local time (1800 GMT), and are expected to announce their decision on Wednesday. Both Thai Rak Thai and the Democrat Party are accused of legal violations in connection with general elections on April 2, 2006, and could be dissolved.

Thai Rak Thai was formerly led by Thaksin Shinawatra, the ex-prime minister who was ousted in a coup d'état last year. The Democrat Party, the ruling party before Thaksin was elected premier in 2001, is the main opposition. Since the coup on September 19, 2006, the military-led Council for National Security has banned political activity, but has promised to hold a referendum on a new constitution ahead of planned elections by December.

Analysts  have warned that the dissolution of the country's two main parties could cause chaos, and that the junta could resort to an emergency decree.

Small units of unarmed Royal Thai Army soldiers were posted at television stations and other strategic locations. In total, some 15,000 troops are on alert in their barracks, ready to deploy if the security situation warrants.

Foreign embassies warned their citizens to use caution, urging them to avoid demonstrations, political rallies and military personnel.

Last week, King Bhumibol Adulyadej made a rare televised address as he granted an audience to the judges, urging them to use care in their verdict.

Both parties deny rallying their supporters and say they are innocent.

"There is no legal basis to prosecute and punish us. We challenge the authority of the tribunal," acting Thai Rak Thai leader Chaturon Chaiseng said, pointing out that since the coup, the 1997 Constitution that was the basis for law had been abolished.

Along with the dissolution of the parties, party leaders could be banned from politics for five years, possibly sidelining up to 160 of the country's top politicians.

"To have every politician banned as a result would be seen by everybody as being too draconian," said Korn Chatikavanij, Democrat Party deputy secretary general.