Ombudsmen complete ethics code for court, independent organizations

 

 

BANGKOK, 12 December 2016 (NNT) – The Office of the Ombudsman has completed the draft of the ethical standards for judges of the constitutional court and persons holding positions in independent organizations, before revision with related agencies prior to submitting the draft to the assembly. 

The Acting Chief of the Office of the Ombudsman Gen Viddhavat Rajatanun has revealed the drafting process of the ethical standards for judges of constitutional court and persons holding positions in independent organizations has been completed. 

The new ethical standards will apply judges of constitutional court, persons holding positions in independent organizations which include the auditor-general, and heads of the constitution court and independent organizations’ financial department, while persons holding political positions must also comply with the ethical code. 

The new code also includes an amendment on the clause “uphold the democratic system with monarch as the head of state” to “loyal to the nation, religion, the monarchy, and uphold the democratic system with the monarch as head of state.” 

The ombudsmen will hold an additional meeting with the related agencies to review the new code. The code, once approved from internal review, will be further submitted for the consideration of the parliament and the Cabinet.

 

-- nnt 2016-12-12

Interesting semantic shift. We are discussing notes from an office above the judiciary. Relevant to current PM much? 

 

Thinks so/

 

“uphold the democratic system with monarch as the head of state” to “loyal to the nation, religion, the monarchy, and uphold the democratic system with the monarch as head of state.” 
 

"...Ombudsmen complete ethics code for court, independent organizations..."

 

It is interesting that the Office of the Ombudsman says that it has completed the draft of ethical standards for judges of the constitutional court and persons holding positions in independent organizations (now termed Constitutional Organizations in the "people's" Constitution).

 

This is especially so, as Section 219 of the Constitution tells us that the Constitutional Court and the Constitutional Organizations shall jointly develop the ethical standard for application with the Judges of the Constitutional Court and the position holders in the Constitutional Organizations including the Ombudsman and heads of administration in the Constitutional Court and the Constitutional Organizations.

 

Just as well (as reported elsewhere) so few Thais have bothered to read their Constitution !!!

Since the military isn't an ' independent ' organization nothing applies to them so does this mean they can hold coups whenever it suits and then grant themselves immunity for from everything ranging from holding the coup to exemption from corruption investigations ?

4 hours ago, webfact said:

“loyal to the nation, religion, the monarchy, and uphold the democratic system with the monarch as head of state.” 

There's a lot of conflicts bewteen these elements already for anyone to expect such amendment is practical.

 

Furthermore, the amendment contradicts all previous and new constitutions that require oaths of loyalty only to the monarch. There is also no state-recognized national religion (buddhism) in those constitutions that recognizes diversity of religious belief.

So the amendment would be massively unconstitutional.

Ethics and Thailand just don't go together well do they !

Surapong Tovichukchaikul, a former Pheu Thai MP who served as foreign minister in the previous government, also expressed concern that the party’s leader could end up being severely punished after the new law comes into effect.

 

Will the Ombudsman have teeth or will Surapong have to answer for distributing passports to all his criminal relatives? Not much sense having an Ombudsman if he can be ignored with impunity.