OrBorJor chief to run for Parliament

PHUKET TOWN: Dr Prasit Koeysiripong, President of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), is expected to stand at the next parliamentary election as a Thai Rak Thai (TRT) government candidate in Phuket, a province traditionally regarded as a stronghold for the opposition Democrat Party. While his declaration at this stage is still not official, it was confirmed by Dr Yada Palimapan, Chairman of the TRT Coordination Center in Phuket, who said she wanted to put an end to rumors. “We will support Dr Prasit as the candidate of Thai Rak Thai for District 2 in Phuket but we will have to wait until the Thai Rak Thai Party announces it officially,” she said. She said five people had sought Thai Rak Thai candidature for that district but party chiefs in Bangkok decided that Dr Prasit should run in the election, due in 2005. Dr Prasit was not immediately available for comment. District 1 takes in most of Phuket Town while District 2 covers the rest of the island.