Public sceptical of junta fight against graft: watchdog

By WASAMON AUDJARINT 
THE NATION

 

Mana Nimitmongkol

 

WHILE THE junta continued to claim that fighting corruption was on its agenda over the past year, the state-centric approach brought into question whether junta leaders were truly serious about dealing with graft – or were instead using the issue for their own benefit or to attack particular parties, an anti-graft watchdog has said.

“This especially creates an uncomfortable air when it comes to examining those in uniform,” Mana Nimitmongkol, secretary-general of the Anti-corruption Organisation of Thailand, said during an interview with The Nation. 

 

“This centralising policy collides with the fact that wealth is scattered among a small proportion of Thai people,” he said. “It will only give the public an impression of benefiting some particular people.”

 

Examples of the military government’s centralising approach includes the National Council for Peace and Order’s (NCPO) establishment of several anti-corruption bodies, whether directly or via its appointments. 

 

For instance, the current board of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) was appointed by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), whose members were handpicked by the junta.

 

Mana said this apparent connection between the anti-graft agency and the NCPO actually was causing a backlash that hurt the credibility of the junta.

 

The case of Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan’s luxury watches, for instance, has caught the public’s attention, not only over what appears to be a case of one of the junta’s most powerful figures seemingly having unusual wealth, but also in terms of the how NACC president Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, who once worked closely with Prawit, will deal with the investigation.

 

The NLA’s decision not to reset the constitutionally independent NACC board under the upcoming NACC bill, while choosing to reset other independent organisation such as the Election Commission, could also reinforce the public’s belief that there were unhealthy connections between anti-graft officials and the powers-that-be in the junta, he said.

 

That also justified questions of whether the NCPO was capable of efficiently and directly addressing related problems, he said.

 

The NCPO chief, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, has also repeatedly used his absolute powers under Article 44 to swiftly shift, suspend or sack officials from their posts. 

 

Under current circumstances, the most that people could do to combat graft was to remain vigilant, Mana said. While activist Srisuwan Janya was keen to file petitions against alleged probes committed by state officials, the general public should also keep their eyes and ears tuned to state conduct, he added.

 

“It is also crucial to support freedom of the media so they can freely investigate any irregularities and inform society about their findings.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30335184

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-01-02

2 minutes ago, webfact said:

Public sceptical of junta fight against graft: watchdog

The evidence of their eyes would explain that scepticism. 

Edited January 1, 20188 yr by Bluespunk

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

The case of Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan’s luxury watches, for instance, has caught the public’s attention, not only over what appears to be a case of one of the junta’s most powerful figures seemingly having unusual wealth, but also in terms of the how NACC president Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, who once worked closely with Prawit, will deal with the investigation.

Definitely need a watchdog to watch the Watch Dog who has too many watches! 

Anyone with even a rudimentary comprehension of Thai history would need to be brain dead to of believed that the military would ever want to curb corruption. I dont believe they did, but it really makes you wonder about the mental capabilities of the self anointed 'educated' PDRC supporters if they actually believed that nonsense.

There are so many problems with the current NACC that it is hard to know where to begin.

 

Too many cronies

Too much power

Too little accountability

Too little transparency

Too little responsibility

Too much political baggage 

Too little neutrality

Too much selectivity

 

I could go on and on and on and on and on and on, but the point is made.

 

Fire all the current members immediately and re-examine all the powers and processes associated with the NACC.

 

Thailand needs an effective anti-corruption body. However, the current NACC isn't it.

26 minutes ago, smutcakes said:

Anyone with even a rudimentary comprehension of Thai history would need to be brain dead to of believed that the military would ever want to curb corruption. I dont believe they did, but it really makes you wonder about the mental capabilities of the self anointed 'educated' PDRC supporters if they actually believed that nonsense.

 

I was working with the RTA & RTAF several years ago & the Army facilities were rather grubby to say the least.

 

I walked in the Air Force facility (these were workshops) & our Thai agent said "The Air Force place is much nicer. The Air Force chief doesn't take as much money for himself as the Army chief".

 

Guess who was the Army chief at the time? I won't mention any names.

 

I'll just say he wears a Seiko.

Edited January 1, 20188 yr by jaywalker

It's only corruption when your rivals are involved everything else is just business.

Watchdog, that would be a fitting name for one of the offenders.

Everyone is fixated on Prawit's watches; I want to know how he has increased his wealth by 30 million in the last six years on a stipend of 200,000 pa.

13 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Everyone is fixated on Prawit's watches; I want to know how he has increased his wealth by 30 million in the last six years on a stipend of 200,000 pa.

He has a couple of money trees in his back garden,and the crops have

been excellent the last two years,also a watch bush.

regards Worgeordie

Edited January 2, 20188 yr by worgeordie
add on

4 hours ago, webfact said:

or were instead using the issue for their own benefit or to attack particular parties,

too many "or"s

The Thai public should be skeptical of the junta period                           

It does seem as if the people in charge of running Thailand are much better at managing their own finances than they are of running the country's  affairs.  Had the country's wealth increased at the same rate as that of most of the officials, Thailand would be doing rather well!

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

Everyone is fixated on Prawit's watches; I want to know how he has increased his wealth by 30 million in the last six years on a stipend of 200,000 pa.

 

I'd be more curious about where they're stashing the billions.  30 million is chump change to these guys.

 

59 minutes ago, chainarong said:

The Thai public should be skeptical of the junta period                        

 

As opposed to all the elected governments who answered to the same paymasters under their "silver or lead" incentive programs?

 

2 hours ago, worgeordie said:

He has a couple of money trees in his back garden,and the crops have

been excellent the last two years,also a watch bush.

regards Worgeordie

Sure it wasn't a ham bush?

Just how stupid were these PDRC supporters?  Useful fools for the elites.  And the tsunami lies told at the time!  Like: "foreigners cannot possibly understand Thai politics."   Only a complete moron could not see the naked power grab that was obvious by December 2013.

I guess taking over a government is much like winning a lottery......a really BIG lottery. 

Watchdog or lapdog?  Considerably more the latter, I'd say.

 

Those in authority have taken many steps to effectively neuter any independent, impartial oversight of their shenanigans.

 

The Thai government remains pretty much like a grand buffet restaurant -- help yourself to as much as you want, and indulge your gluttony.

 

 

The problem is endemic.

You would need to fire the complete police force from top to bottom before you even started.

& that is not going to happen in my lifetime anyway.

It is a bit like drink driving,,,, they think is is a right

Hi.  If you wondering where the billions from high end corruption is?

Try going to the LOA gambling casinos in the VIP suite and watch the money laundering going on. Baht in and any currency you like back at the end. The gambling is just a ruse.

I have been in Thailand for over 20 years and can't currently see how graft can be curbed as civil servants are involved from top to bottom, those at top are far too powerful to dislodge. How many billions do they need? 

17 hours ago, webfact said:

junta fight against graft

what in the world is that? is white black  is black white ?

13 hours ago, mikebell said:

Everyone is fixated on Prawit's watches; I want to know how he has increased his wealth by 30 million in the last six years on a stipend of 200,000 pa.

Sorry 'mikebell' but 30 million in 6 years is rather 5 million p.a., not 200,000...

8 hours ago, bangrak said:

Sorry 'mikebell' but 30 million in 6 years is rather 5 million p.a., not 200,000...

I think you've misunderstood my (cryptic) point.  His personal fortune has increased by 5 million a year yet his pay/pension/official income amounts to less than 200K per annum.  The figures do not compute.  Even if he bought no watches and guzzled on free airline food his total income for six years would be under 1.2 million yet he managed to save 30!