Trump chickens out again.

[webfact]

CONSTITUTION WATCH
CDC move to tighten govt asset, tax declarations
KRIS BHROMSUTHI
THE NATION

KEY INDEPENDENT AGENCIES TARGETED AGAIN

BANGKOK: -- THE CONSTITUTION Drafting Committee (CDC) yesterday inserted an article that requires commissioners of independent organisation to reveal their assets publicly.

The commissioners would be required to submit all relevant documents and evidence revealing their assets and tax payments to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and publicise them under the new constitution. They had not been under such a legal obligation in previous charters.

Independent organisations include the Constitutional Court, the Election Commission, the NACC itself, and others.

Public-office holders required to submit their asset documents and evidence for tax payment are the prime minister, cabinet members, independent organisations' commissioners, members of Parliament, senators, other government officials and government office holders, members of local administrations and other public servants as stated by law.

However, only the prime minister, cabinet members, independent-organisation commissioners and MPs would be obligated to declare their assets publicly immediately. Other public-office holders such as local-administration members would only have to reveal their assets where the declaration would be useful information for the court's consideration and demanded by the court, or stakeholders, or the Office of the Auditor-General or other organisations as stated by the law.

The powerful independent organisations have been targeted previously for reform by the CDC. In past weeks, charter drafters agreed to redesign the selection framework of the committees charged with appointing these organisations' members. They also shuffled some of their key responsibilities. For example, the power to deliberate and rule over electoral-fraud cases has been shifted from the Election Commission to the Court of Appeals.

After agreeing on the asset declaration in the morning session, charter drafters then began discussing the next article on activities of public-office holders risking conflicts of interest.

Most parts under this article were largely based on the 1997 and 2007 Constitutions, with only slight modification and alterations.

The article stated that public-office holders and government officials must not act in a manner that might lead to any conflict of interest between themselves and the public.

Those acts include, first, designing policy or proposing bills that would benefit businesses in which officials themselves, their spouses, children or parents hold an interest; second, giving preferential treatment to those with whom they have personal relationships, in such a manner that they benefit from it.

Charter drafters also inserted a clause that specifically referred to the code of conduct of the prime minister and cabinet members under this section.

It stated that the PM and cabinet members must not hold positions within any firms, state enterprises, or profit-oriented organisations. They also must not hold any positions in other public organisations, or receive any benefits from the organisations stated above.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/CDC-move-to-tighten-govt-asset-tax-declarations-30252693.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-27

[chotthee]

Waiver for soldiers as they are not politician or civil servants. Most import of all, soldier serve with their heart, and will never cheat the country and its ruler.

[smutcakes]

This looks positive, if it gets the final nod. I am not sure i am just very cynical, but whenever i read good ideas like this, i automatically start thinking of the likely loop holes which will be left for selected people to jump through.

[halloween]

This looks positive, if it gets the final nod. I am not sure i am just very cynical, but whenever i read good ideas like this, i automatically start thinking of the likely loop holes which will be left for selected people to jump through.

Such as "honest mistake"?

[rickirs]

This looks positive, if it gets the final nod. I am not sure i am just very cynical, but whenever i read good ideas like this, i automatically start thinking of the likely loop holes which will be left for selected people to jump through.

Wealthy people can make "honest" mistakes. It's not like they can be responsible to do their own asset declarations accurately.

Case in point is Gen. Prauth's brother, assistant army commander General Preecha Chan-o-cha and his wife, who declared their bank accounts in his capacity as a member of the National Legislative Assembly having 42 million baht when it should have been 80 million baht.

Edited January 27, 2015 by rickirs

[rubl]

This looks positive, if it gets the final nod. I am not sure i am just very cynical, but whenever i read good ideas like this, i automatically start thinking of the likely loop holes which will be left for selected people to jump through.

Wealthy people can make "honest" mistakes. It's not like they can be responsible to do their own asset declarations accurately.

Case in point is Gen. Prauth's brother, assistant army commander General Preecha Chan-o-cha and his wife, who declared their bank accounts in his capacity as a member of the National Legislative Assembly having 42 million baht when it should have been 80 million baht.

Preecha1A.jpg Preecha2A.jpg

It would help if you also post links rather than just pictures. With your constant negative attitude towards the NCPO, and Gen Prayut c.s. specifically one may be excused to wonder about the authenticity of the pictures.

BTW real Amply Rich people let their drivers and maids take care of the moneys and manage the odd crocodile tear when imploring to have made an honest mistake.

Edited January 28, 2015 by rubl

[billd766]

It is a good start but it needs to be extended to the top 4 or 5 layers of the civil service, police and military also and should be done on an annual basis for all persons subjected to it.

If they have nothing to hide then they have nothing to fear.

I do my annual tax return for the UK online in about 30 minutes.

The first return is always the hardest and after that it is only changes that have to be updated.

Who knows, the government could gain a lot of extra tax money from it.