Prayut amends anti-graft law, not everybody required to declare assets

[webfact]

Prayut amends anti-graft law, not everybody required to declare assets

By THE NATION

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha

 

THE JUNTA has decided to make crucial changes to the latest anti-corruption law after many members of state university councils and heath organisation boards decided to quit their posts en masse.
 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capacity as junta chief, signed an order amending Article 4, so it is no longer mandatory for top executives or board members at some state organisations to declare their assets/liabilities to the anti-graft agency. 

 

The order, published in the Royal Gazette yesterday, became effective immediately.

 

Under this order, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will have the authority to decide exactly who should declare their assets. 

 

Before this, the NACC refused to relax its asset-declaration requirements despite loud protests from state universities’ council members. The agency claimed the new anti-graft law required holders of important posts at all state organisations to declare their assets. 

 

The NACC also insisted that the scope of persons required to declare their assets extended far beyond political office holders, such as Cabinet members, senators, MPs, local administrative bodies’ executives, Bangkok governor, the attorney-general and presidents of the Constitutional, Supreme and Supreme Administrative courts. 

 

It also claimed that presidents of state universities, their council members, as well as top executives of public organisations and state funds, as well as chiefs of the Armed Forces, including the police, had to declare their assets. 

 

At the height of the protests, Prayut assigned his deputy, Wissanu Krea-ngam, to unofficially look for solutions with the NACC. 

 

Meechai Ruchuphan, former chair of the Constitution Drafting Committee, is one of the many high-profile figures who have signalled their intention to quit their post. Meechai is planning to leave the Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University’s Council.

 

Meanwhile, at least four members of National Health Security Office (NHSO) board have quit, while many members of the National Institute for Emergency Medicine, the Health Systems Research Institute and the Healthcare Accreditation Institute boards have said they will follow suit. Dr Jiruth Sriratanaban, a medical lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, said he has decided to quit the board of HAI because he does not want his finances to become public knowledge. 

 

After listening to complaints and discussing the matter with Wissanu, NACC wrote to the government, saying that getting asset-declarations exactly in line with the new anti-graft law was causing problems. Hence, the NACC suggested that it be allowed to decide who should be required to declare their assets and liabilities. 

 

It was in response to this letter that the junta chief decided to exercise his special powers to amend the law. 

 

The amendment does not affect the requirement that the permanent secretary for Defence, the chief of the Armed Forces, chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as the head of the Royal Thai Police declare their assets to the NACC. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30360207

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-12-12

[Thaiwrath]

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

it is no longer mandatory for top executives or board members at some state organisations to declare their assets/liabilities to the anti-graft agency. 

 

Pretty sickening really.

And he says he's trying to eradicate corruption !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[yellowboat]

More animal farm:  Some animals are more equal than others.  It is amazing how any sort of logic, reasoning and philosophy, east or west, is powerless is in Thailand.  It just shows people at the top have something to hide, or the laws are just so poorly written they don't work.  Either way it is a bad reflection on the general and his junta.

[SoilSpoil]

If it quacks like a duck, walks like a duck, looks like one, its probably a duck.

[stud858]

I shall declare and let it be known that I'm one poor sob with no car and a crappy phone. Chance of getting into politics to help society is none. 

Those with lots get full steam ahead.  

Choo choooooo

[dinsdale]

An anti-corruption law that supports corruption. Says it all about Thailand really.????

[Lungstib]

"I am against corruption by some, but not by others" My word what a slippery snake!

[YetAnother]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

not everybody required

thailand's version of 'law'

[Oziex1]

So why on earth did they bother in the first place,  nobody with wealth acquired it honestly. 

[mikebell]

Corruption wins again. Fancy a bunch of clerics beating the mighty Thai army!  The educationalists haven't a gun between 'em.  The pen really is mightier than the sword.

[BobbyL]

Incredible. I really hope they lose convincingly. 

[madmitch]

Prayut's done more u-turns than a lost Thai driver and this is one of the worst, especially after his anti-corruption rant just last week. The guy is a hypocrite.

[DM07]

Oooooh...the champion of the good people is at it again!

Great to see, how all the whistling and shutting down Bangkok, really worked for democracy and against corruption!

Thanksin bad- Prayut good!

Oh, isn't it great, how simple life is in Thailand!?

????

[connda]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

THE JUNTA has decided to make crucial changes to the latest anti-corruption law after many members of state university councils and heath organisation boards decided to quit their posts en masse.

This shows there is a corruption problem.
 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capacity as junta chief, signed an order amending Article 4, so it is no longer mandatory for top executives or board members at some state organisations to declare their assets/liabilities to the anti-graft agency.

This shows that the wealthy can influence the government to ignore the corruption problem. 

Simple as that.

[mok199]

Disgusting,dispicable,defiant ...

[jessebkk1]

What a nice way to fight corruption. Hijack the government of the day, give all the juiciest top positions to your boys. Wait four years so that they would have accumulated enough and stashed everything acquired illegally, then start a campaign to fight corruption just a few weeks before the general election. Everybody existing in this pace must be really dumb or close - that's what they've supposed.

[dcnx]

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

An anti-corruption law that supports corruption. Says it all about Thailand really.????

Says everything.

[connda]

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

An anti-corruption law that supports corruption. Says it all about Thailand really.????

This has been evident to the average Somchai on the street for quite awhile now. Just look at your 'rulers' to see how the game works. Nothing different here.

"Corruption" legislation is not for the wealthy friends and associates of the regime.  If the wealthy feel uncomfortable by the 'corruption laws', then the regime simply changes the laws so they are no longer effected.  Which is tantamount to institutionalized c_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (fill in the blanks).

[klauskunkel]

selective corruption legalized

 

[thaiguzzi]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

because he does not want his finances to become public knowledge. 

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

It also claimed that presidents of state universities, their council members, as well as top executives of public organisations and state funds, as well as chiefs of the Armed Forces, including the police, had to declare their assets. 

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Meechai Ruchuphan, former chair of the Constitution Drafting Committee, is one of the many high-profile figures who have signalled their intention to quit their post.

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

at least four members of National Health Security Office (NHSO) board have quit, while many members of the National Institute for Emergency Medicine, the Health Systems Research Institute and the Healthcare Accreditation Institute boards have said they will follow suit.

Got something to hide?

Patently obvious to anybody remotely intelligent that all these people have been siphoning state funds for their own enrichment.

Patently obvious that their trough feeding will be found out.

Disgusting and Sickening.

[robblok]

Quite sickening, i was hoping Prayut finally would do something good but no just like all the others he is protecting the rich. He should have had the balls and go on but no he did not dare to stand up to them and expose their corruption.

[Valentine]

41 minutes ago, connda said:

This shows there is a corruption problem.
 

This shows that the wealthy can influence the government to ignore the corruption problem. 

Simple as that.

I would say the wealthy have been been pulling the strings of every govt both elected or non elected & not only true for Thailand

[Artisi]

1 hour ago, madmitch said:

Prayut's done more u-turns than a lost Thai driver and this is one of the worst, especially after his anti-corruption rant just last week. The guy is a hypocrite.

hypocrite, that's putting it mildly …..

[Artisi]

5 minutes ago, robblok said:

Quite sickening, i was hoping Prayut finally would do something good but no just like all the others he is protecting the rich. He should have had the balls and go on but no he did not dare to stand up to them and expose their corruption.

maybe he sings castrato ….

 Yep - no balls Prayut.

 

"Hitler, he only had one ball,

Goering, he had two but very small,

Himmler had something simmler,

But poor old Prayut has no balls at all"

 

[Eric Loh]

This is the exact reason why the military stage coups for the elites and their corporate sponsors to remain corrupted and protected. There are fools here that still believe that corruption has declined under junta rule. 

[seajae]

this simply shows how entrenched corruption and graft is within thai society and govt offices, it this govt was serious about graft and corruption they would now investigate all those that refused to take part as they obviously have something to hide. Also have to wonder if this is also being done to protect the govt(themselves) as well

Edited December 12, 2018 by seajae

[sweatalot]

If this does not show clearly the intentions of this government and their interest in removing corruption - what would? The clockman? Unfortunately the taksin pack is even worse

[Krataiboy]

many members of state university councils and heath organisation boards decided to quit their posts en masse.

 

For some inexplicable reason, the words "rats" and "sinking ship" come to mind.

[worgeordie]

Those that resigned should be the first to be probed,really deeply,

as without doubt they have something to hide.

I supposed now the requirement to be checked has been rescinded,

they will all want their jobs back,and will get them!

 

regards Worgeordie

 

[HalfLight]

And he's definitely not required to explain how he accumulated 100+ million baht on a soldier's salary. Or his friends. Or his family.

 

Which is what's really behind the announcement.

 

He's a bit blatant - no?