Opposition to pressure govt on graft claims, performance

“The government has yet to investigate and inform the public about these graft allegations,” he said.
Thaweesak said opposition lawmakers had provided clear leads in terms of projects and individuals involved.
He said he wanted to see action taken against graft violations in connection with the rice-pledging scheme and the post-flooding spending projects, particularly those for road repairs in the Northeast.
In another development, opposition chief whip Jurin Laksanavisit said the government was obliged to deliver its first-year performance report to Parliament.
The report was delayed without justification and the government should rectify this by sponsoring a motion for the performance debate within the current legislative session, Jurin said.
He said the opposition would follow up on the censure debate by monitoring the progress of graft probes.
The opposition would focus on alleged graft violations linked to the rice-pledging scheme, the Bt120 billion spending on post-flooding reconstruction and the abuse of power related to the appointment of the Defence permanent secretary, he said.
Jurin said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra should face impeachment proceedings due to her failure to overhaul the bidding process as per provisions of the anti-graft law.
During the current House session, the Democrats will file 27 motions to query the government on a number of hot issues, he said.
The opposition Bhum Jai Thai Party plans to file 6 motions and the Rak Prathet Thai Party will lodge one motion.
The Democrats will this week query two issues – the details of the government-to-government rice sale, and the physical assault against Democrat legal adviser Ramet Rattanachaweng.
In regard to the probe into the Bt40 billion rice sale involving the previous government, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has tasked its two divisions to take charge of the case.
Lead DSI investigator Prawuth Wongsinil said the probe was an ongoing process to look into alleged irregularities involving officials and ministers under the Abhisit Vejjajiva government.
The DSI completed the initial probe and forwarded its report to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, Prawuth said. The case involved political office holders, and fell under the NACC’s jurisdiction.
Last week the ruling Pheu Thai Party filed a complaint citing fresh evidence to reopen the case.
The DSI would examine the evidence and take statements from individuals named before concluding its report, Prawuth said.
The report would subsequently be submitted to the NACC, he added.