Impeaching corrupt politicians is the first major step toward national reform: NACC

The NACC made this point as it delivered its final statement against former Parliament president Somsak Kiatsuranon and his deputy Nikom Wairatpanich. The NLA is set to vote tomorrow on whether or not it should impeach the two.
“The impeachment process is the first step towards national reform that must be demonstrated to the public and make them realise clearly that all high-ranking officials or politicians should have high integrity and morality,” NACC representative Wicha Mahakhun said yesterday.
Earlier yesterday, both sides had asked the NLA for documents to use as a guideline to put their case forward. However, NLA president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai denied this request, reasoning that all sides take to the floor and present their case verbally.
The NACC found both Somsak and Nikom guilty of violating the 2007 Constitution by trying to push through an amendment to change the Senate’s makeup.
In his closing statement, Wicha pointed out that the NACC was authorised by the current anti-graft act and the provisional charter to take the case to the NLA, even though the accused say the accusations are no longer valid as the 2007 charter had been torn up by the coup-makers.
“Somsak and Nikom violated the charter, and their actions are perceived as having violated Article 3 Section 2 and Article 291 of the [2007] charter,” the NACC representative insisted.
Wicha added that the former Parliament president and his deputy failed to uphold their integrity, morality and had all intentions to abuse their authority and amend the charter for personal benefit.
By changing the make-up of the Senate and ensuring it is only comprised of elected senators, Nikom would have directly benefited, because he could have stayed in his position longer even though his term had come to an end.
“Even if the charter is defunct, the guilt still remains,” Wicha pointed out.
However, Nikom defended himself by saying that he had come to address the NLA to protect the legislative branch and rule of law, not himself.
“I have come [to participate] in the [impeachment] process to seek justice for the legislative branch and the NLA, not myself. Therefore, I am asking that justice be served towards the system by not letting other agencies such as the NACC intervene with other organisations’ affairs,” Nikom said.
The former Parliament vice president said in his opening statement on January 8 and the question-and-answer session on January 15 that his actions were in keeping with Parliament’s meeting regulations all along.
After Nikom’s closing statement, the NACC shifted its focus on the case against former Parliament president Somsak, who the NACC is holding responsible for highly unlawful actions.
“Somsak forged the draft of then-MP Udomdej Rattanasatien’s proposal on changing the composition of the Senate and took it to a Parliament meeting for scrutiny – that is against the code of morality,” Wicha concluded.
Somsak did not show up yesterday to deliver his closing statement, which prompted deputy NLA chief Surachai Liengboonlertchai to question his absence.