Easier access to Watch Dog Organizations requested in new constitution

TRAT, 19 January 2015 (NNT) - "The new constitution should make it easier for the public to access the five "Watch Dog Organizations" in order to enhance their participation in Thailand's system of checks and balances", several officials related to the constitutional drafting process said.

The consensus was reached at an academic seminar on “The Roles of Watch Dog Organizations in the New Constitution” which was participated by previous and current members of the Office of Ombudsman Thailand, as well as members of the National Legislative Assembly.

Surachai Liengboonlertchai, First Vice-President of the National Legislative Assembly, said that the watch dog organizations should play both active and passive roles. While they are waiting for any complaints to come up, they should take progressive action by studying public complaints made through the media. Working in such a parallel manner, he said the control of malpractice in the government sector would be curbed.

The Office of the Ombudsman Thailand is one of the five watch dogs under the constitution. Prof. Siracha Vongs-arayankura, as an ombudsman, stressed that even though members of the watch dogs are selected with a very high standard of ethics, they should be subjected to impeachment by the new constitution.

Meanwhile, Pichet Sunthornpipit, a former Ombudsman, said that the ombudsman should have more power to prosecute government agencies if they fail to follow the ombudsman’s suggestions within designated timeframe. The new constitution is expected to change the ombudsman from being just a paper tiger to a powerful mechanism with a tight grip on malpractice.


-- NNT 2015-01-19

Making access to such organisations easier isn't a guarantee that they will be any more efficient, will do their job properly or be allowed to so the whole thing becomes a paper exercise which is probably the intention anyway.

Just make an app for it.

"Watchdog" another new word for Thailand along

with Hub,Probe,etc.without meaning and no teeth.

regards Worgeordie

How about kicking derriere at the Consumer Affairs Bureau. People need some help to battle small issues (shonky repairs to a water heater, in my case, recently), but just have no one to turn to.

The organizations must have the appropriate powers and processes to be effective.

It's no good, for example, if the Ombudsman repeatedly asks the PM and another senior minister, a question, which they simply ignore.

In USA, money gives "access". Would be nice if they posted going rates for access.....

Accountability is always good if it is done properly. With the right framework, support and the correct legalities then it can work in principle. at the moment it is hypocritical as you can't question those in power or criticise them. So again I think it is all hot air and no substance.

Before I get out the whistles and balloons lets see what happens first. if past actions are to go on and that's all we have really, nothing will change. So I am not getting excited just yet.

Not to seem pedantic, but this is the second article that doesn't seem to appreciate that watchdog is one word.