Banning media from spending probe 'irregular'

The committee, led by Pheu Thai MP Pol Lt-General Viroj Pao-in, yesterday summoned the House secretariat’s director of Bureau of General Affairs Administration, Chanpen Anamvat, to clarify the House’s spending, especially on payments for allowances to members of the ad hoc panels.

Viroj said he found that many committees had been set up which were not relevant to House affairs, including committees on rambutans and longans. Meanwhile, many committees had been dissolved in the last few days without any explanation.

Viroj then called on Chanpen to submit records on the appointment of members to the committees and subcommittees. However, Chanpen said she would need permission from House secretary-general Suwichag Nakwatcharachai before handing the records over to the House committee.

Vilas said he had requested documents and reports of House spending from Suwichag on a number of occasions, but had so far received no response. Suwichag earlier called him on the phone and promised to provide such documents. If Suwichag did not turn up for the committee’s investigations next week, he would take action in accordance with the law.

Vilas said House staff had received a verbal order to prevent the media from covering the committee’s investigations, claiming that no conclusion had been drawn. However, he said the committee was obliged to allow the media to report on proceedings for the sake of transparency. The House had the right to sue the media if it believed that coverage was falsely reported, he added.

Reporting to the anti-graft committee, Chanpen said there were currently 68 active committees, including 46 appointed by House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont and 22 appointed by Suwichag. She said payment of committee allowances was in accordance with regulations.