National Counter Corruption Commission - Only 13 Candidates Approved

[Jai Dee]

Only 13 candidates have been approved to run for NCCC, and new applications will be accepted for the remaining 5 candidates

The meeting of the NCCC selection committee, after 10 rounds of voting, allows passage to only 13 candidates to vie for the National Counter Corruption Commission whereas a total of 18 candidates are required to be sent to Parliament for final selection, prompting the opening for new applications between March 22-28.

In yesterday's meeting, the selection committee, chaired by Supreme Court Chairman Charnchai Likhitjittha (ชาญชัย ลิขิตจิตถะ), engaged in a 4-hour session. Suraphol Nitikraiphot (สุรพล นิติไกรพจน์), the spokesman for the selection committee, annouced that Land Transport Department Chief Preecha Auprasert's (ปรีชา ออประเสริฐ) pulled out from the run for NCCC members leaving 39 candidates for the selection, after which the selection committee toned down to 13 by the 10 rounds of evaluation of eligible candidates.

As the selection committee had to stop evaluation after 10 rounds of voting, the process had to stop in order to prevent a prolonged voting process. The selection committee has designated March 22-28 as the period to accept new applications for the remaining 5 candidates. Those who did not receive approval over the past 10 rounds will not be disqualified from applying again. The selection process is expected to resume on April 17th.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 March 2006

[sriracha john]

Missing from the above report is information about two of the candidates that were not approved:

One was Naengnoi na Ranong, former deputy secretary-general to the prime minister whose elder sister is the accountant of Khunying Potjaman Shinawatra, wife of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and the other was Surapol Ekyokhaya, former senior Civil Court judge, who is the elder brother of Vichit Plangsrisakul, a legal expert of the Thai Rak Thai party.

- BP

[stoneman]

I think this says something when the committee can not find 18 people out of a population of over 20 million that can pass the test of honesty to serve on this commission..

Maybe they are looking in the wrong place...

[PREM-R]

I think this says something when the committee can not find 18 people out of a population of over 20 million that can pass the test of honesty to serve on this commission..

Maybe they are looking in the wrong place...

I find it quite surprising that they could find as many as they did!!!!!!

[ratcatcher]

I think this says something when the committee can not find 18 people out of a population of over 20 million that can pass the test of honesty to serve on this commission..

Maybe they are looking in the wrong place...

I find it quite surprising that they could find as many as they did!!!!!!

It's a bit like trying to find a monkey that won't eat bananas

[Plus]

They should outsource NCCC to foreigners, like mega projects.

[astral]

Is it that hard to find honest people in Thailand.............?

What a sad state of affairs.

[billd766]

Is it that hard to find honest people in Thailand.............?

What a sad state of affairs.

It is not hard to find honest people in Thailand at all.

Just go around any of the villages in the country and you will find that the majority of people are honest. Unfortunately they either lack the proper qualifications or they have no "friends" in high places.

[boppia]

There are plenty of objective honest people in Thailand but they are not looking for those types.

as for the Thai judicial system, it seems connections and money rule there too at least that's what I've heard from some aspiring judges. "This town needs an enema!" Jack Nicholas said that in one of the Batman movies.

[Jai Dee]

The selection process for the NCCC can continue despite the expiration of the Senate term.

Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Krua-ngarm (วิษณุ เครืองาม) insisted that the selection process for the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) can continue according to the constitution, although the senate term has expired.

Mr. Wisanu said that the selection process of the NCCC has to be restarted after the selection panel has selected only 13 candidates from the required 18 candidates. He said that the application process and the selection can continue although the senate term has expired, adding that there should not be any problems.

Senate speaker Suchon Chaleekrua (สุชน ชาลีเครือ) said that the selection panel has extended the period of the selection process. He said the application for the remaining five candidates will be opened and the process will be concluded within April 17. He said that after the panel can select all 18 candidates and send the name list to the Senate, the Senate will cut the list down to 9 candidates. He said that the acting senate can continue with the process, as it is allowed by the law. However, he said that when the new senate has been elected, the new senators will be responsible for the selection.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 22 March 2006

[Plus]

It is not hard to find honest people in Thailand at all.

Just go around any of the villages in the country and you will find that the majority of people are honest.

Are they the same villagers who accept money for votes? Or the same people who say they don't care how much Taksin steals as long as he's good to them?

It's stretching definition of honesty by a mile. Then everybody fits.

[sriracha john]

The selection process for the NCCC can continue despite the expiration of the Senate term.

Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Krua-ngarm (วิษณุ เครืองาม) insisted that the selection process for the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) can continue according to the constitution, although the senate term has expired.

Mr. Wisanu said that the selection process of the NCCC has to be restarted after the selection panel has selected only 13 candidates from the required 18 candidates. He said that the application process and the selection can continue although the senate term has expired, adding that there should not be any problems.

Senate speaker Suchon Chaleekrua (สุชน ชาลีเครือ) said that the selection panel has extended the period of the selection process. He said the application for the remaining five candidates will be opened and the process will be concluded within April 17. He said that after the panel can select all 18 candidates and send the name list to the Senate, the Senate will cut the list down to 9 candidates. He said that the acting senate can continue with the process, as it is allowed by the law. However, he said that when the new senate has been elected, the new senators will be responsible for the selection.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 22 March 2006

*phew* God, I love Thailand...

I enjoy reading the timing of this new ongoing selection process... so they'll meet and meet and then conclude with a list on April 17th. Two days later when the election of new Senators occurs and they convene and the whole process starts all over again because the new Senate will find the old Senate's list unacceptable...

We'll have a new National Counter Corruption Commission set up when Thailand achieves its "poverty-free, drug-free" status as a nation in the PM's deadline of 2008.

Edited March 22, 2006 by sriracha john

[lomatopo]

This is also a big deal because members serve a nine year term.

[Thaising]

Paymaster always has the rights to pick whoever he likes to sit onboard NCCC. Any complains against the corrupts politician will always be thrash.

[boppia]

Thai lawyers and judges fit the international stereotype as being greedy but here I'd say they're ready to be corrupt from their early training.

If you want to succeed in Law in Thailand you must accept that paying your way up to the top is the way it is. It makes me sick.