Ombudsman’s office to set up committee to probe submarine deal
By Chanikarn Phumhiran
The Nation

 

file photo : Gen Withawat Rachatanan

 

BANGKOK: -- The Office of the Ombudsman will soon set up a committee to investigate if there were any irregularities in the Bt13.5-billion submarine deal signed earlier this month by the Thai Navy and a Chinese state-owned company.

 

The acting Ombudsman, president General Withawat Rachatanan, said on Sunday that the committee would comprise not only the Office’s probe team but also outside experts who would be capable of evaluating the submarine’s worthiness based on potential threats.

 

Withawat said the main questions in the probe would be whether the maritime hardware had been included in the military’s 10-year strategy, and how national threats were evaluated prior to the strategy drafting.

 

The move by the Ombudsman follows a petition from activist Srisuwan Janya last Monday. Srisuwan questioned the Cabinet’s approval for the multi-billion-baht procurement, saying it might have violated the budget procedure bill as well as the new charter, which requires any agreement involving national security issues to be brought before Parliament.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30315205

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-05-15

ombudsmans office to set up committee to probe submarine purchase.

Well thats a total waste of time, decision already made, and nobody will stop us.

Edited May 14, 20179 yr by colinneil

I think the only thing this whole exercise will prove is how ineffective, toothless, and unfit for purpose the ombudsman is. Where the military is calling the shots, I can see how things are not going to be stacked in their favour, but we all know this is an exercise in futility and stupidity largely

Thais are big on setting up committees and study groups for everything

under the sun, the horses have bolted, and now they rush in to close

the barn's doors, the contract have been sign and funds will be transfer

shortly, this is a done deal......

I dunno, may need a super committee for this one. 

There can't be many Thais not on a committee of some sort.

 Ombudsman General Withawat Rachatanan

It's already a done deal ! I suppose it will keep a few employed doing some probeing unfortunatly with no outcome suspence as we all know the end result !

The only two options on the Thai menu:

 

1.) Use Article 44

 

2.) Form a committee

 

 

what 'national threats ' ?! and the probe will be headed by a general , perfect

Only threat I can see is down south,

and election coming up 

do you need a sub to sort those issues out?

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The Office of the Ombudsman will soon set up a committee to investigate if there were any irregularities in the Bt13.5-billion submarine deal

Might he also add the purchase of 200 tanks, 8 frigates and 2 ships that are apparently part of Prayut's package of military purchases from the Chinese?

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/983115-chavalit-defends-submarine-purchase-says-it-will-boost-navy’s-capabilities/?utm_source=newsletter-20170515-0637&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news

Or is the sub purchase just a deflection from many other military purchases?

Off to the paint store to buy some whitewash. 

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

Might he also add the purchase of 200 tanks, 8 frigates and 2 ships that are apparently part of Prayut's package of military purchases from the Chinese?

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/983115-chavalit-defends-submarine-purchase-says-it-will-boost-navy’s-capabilities/?utm_source=newsletter-20170515-0637&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news

Or is the sub purchase just a deflection from many other military purchases?

Alternate truth and deflection of truth are the norm today. Thailand did not invent this. 

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

Might he also add the purchase of 200 tanks, 8 frigates and 2 ships that are apparently part of Prayut's package of military purchases from the Chinese?

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/983115-chavalit-defends-submarine-purchase-says-it-will-boost-navy’s-capabilities/?utm_source=newsletter-20170515-0637&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news

Or is the sub purchase just a deflection from many other military purchases?

Are you having trouble reading?  The article clearly stated that the tanks, frigates and ships were a planned purchase from many years ago, not part of a current military procurement exercise.

3 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

 Ombudsman General Withawat Rachatanan

Yes every time that word crops up a fair shake is doubtful. As I said its a trip to the paint store for whitewash. To advance here a general must follow a certain pecking order. Acting Ombudsman hmm a general filling in??

3 hours ago, leeneeds said:

Only threat I can see is down south,

and election coming up 

do you need a sub to sort those issues out?

wheels were optional. 

Whats the name of that song I learned as a child? "Here We Go Around The Mulberry Bush"

3 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

The only two options on the Thai menu:

 

1.) Use Article 44

 

2.) Form a committee

 

 

referendum would be a better idea. think the general public would pretty quickly agree the money should be spent on bankrupt public hospitals and under funded schools first.

1 hour ago, saminoz said:

not part of a current military procurement exercise

So the military won't be purchasing the 200 tanks and ships?

But the current military did recently announced purchase of the Chinese tanks that would be consistent with its covert procurement exercise to purchase subs. No one will know the extent of additional junta approved purchases until the junta decides to reveal them. But it appears that its procurement agenda is already set.

 

Prior years' discussions about planning these purchases is meaningless - a wish list. But it is the current Prayut government that is actually funding the purchases. That makes the junta government responsible for the alleged transparency and justification that the junta touts as a cornerstone of its reforms.