Thais voted in by-elections yesterday amid tight security in the restive Muslim south where militants killed one man and clashed with security forces before polls opened.

The 40 polls, mostly in southern strongholds of the Democrat Party that led two other opposition parties to boycott April 2 general elections, will leave some parliamentary seats empty, meaning no quick end to a constitutional crisis that has forced Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to cede day-to-day power.

Fear and fatigue loomed large in the south where a two-year separatist insurgency has killed more than 1,100, despite declarations from the Buddhist-dominated government in Bangkok that it is winning against the militants. ?There will be no violence like there was on April 19 because we have taken all preventive measures,? Acting Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya said in Bangkok on Friday, referring to gun and bomb attacks during Senate elections last week. But early yesterday before voting began, unknown gunmen riding on a motorcycle killed one man and wounded a woman near a polling station in the province of Narathiwat.

On Saturday night, militants blew up a bus shelter in the province of Yala and clashed with police and soldiers. A policeman was badly wounded. Last week five people were killed and 30 wounded in the region comprising the three Muslim-dominated Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani. Among the dead were three election officials killed when their truck carrying ballot boxes was blown up.

?Under these circumstances, I suppose you can?t call anywhere in Narathiwat, Pattani or Yala a safe zone,? Narathiwat election chief Prateep Wuttirattanakowit told Reuters. The government stepped up security after intelligence reports suggested there would be more attacks yesterday, and double or triple the number of police and troops have been deployed at 466 polling stations in Narathiwat alone.

Armed patrols

Armed with M-16 rifles, police on trucks and soldiers in Humvee armoured vehicles and on motorcycles patrolled remote highways and areas around polling stations in the region. Some election volunteers feared the heavy security would only draw attacks from militants targeting police and soldiers. ?You have a 50-50 chance of surviving a militant attack when you travel alone, but your risk is greater with an escort from police or troops,? said Ning, a village chief.

Even if violence does not disrupt voting in the by-elections, a solution to the constitutional deadlock is not imminent. Around half the 40 seats at stake are contested only by Prime Minister Thaksin?s Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party and a candidate has to get 20 percent of the eligible vote to win in a region where the government is very unpopular.

Unless all its seats are filled, parliament cannot convene, no new prime minister can be elected to replace Thaksin and no new government can be formed. Thaksin has handed over day-to-day power to Chidchai and says he will not seek the job.

The Election Commission says it might hold another round of by-elections, possibly before the May 2 constitutional deadline for parliament to meet within 30 days of a general election. But some analysts say they cannot see unopposed TRT candidates winning no matter how many by-elections are held in the Muslim south where Thaksin?s government is accused of failing to deal with separatist violence.

A large number of voters are expected to abstain. ?I will tick the ?no vote? box again because I don?t like Thaksin and the way his government handles the Muslim south,? said a Muslim man who owns a rubber wood factory in Narathiwat.

The violence has deterred campaign rallies while Thaksin?s unpopularity has prompted TRT candidates to avoid using the party logo. Election officials are expecting a low turnout for the country?s third poll in a month. ?To be honest, people are tired of elections, both organisers and voters,?said Padoongyot Duangmala, chairman of the election committee in neighbouring Pattani province.

Nopporn WONG-ANAN