Anti-corruption court needed to boost fight against graft: Prem
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PRIVY COUNCIL President General Prem Tinsulanonda called yesterday for the establishment of a new court designed to effectively and exclusively battle corruption by reducing court procedures and fast-tracking corruption cases.
Prem suggested lawmakers should strictly impose laws against corrupt people with the same motto cavalry officers uphold: “Fast, severe and resolute”.
“A sarcastic commentator says, ‘Thailand has everything good except Thai people’,” he said.
“It is shameful. It is the corrupt people that make us feel ashamed. I cannot tolerate it and I will not.’’
Prem said rich and corrupt people jeopardised the country’s future and brought shame on the country, opening it up to insults and condemnation.
“They are the country’s number one enemy that we must put a tag on and exterminate from our land,’’ he said.
Prem spoke on the 60th anniversary of the National Defence College.
He wondered if the college had courses that instill in students the need to pay back the motherland with good deeds.
“The defence college may be teaching or analysing complex defence strategies but this [giving back] is a simple value that amounts to a significant strategy that helps bring about national security and stability,’’ he said.
To pay back the country, Prem urged people to help combat poverty and corruption.
“Make it a duty of everyone to fight graft. Corruption statistics show that Thais are indifferent to corruption,” he said.
“They believe it is none of their business. They say ‘Why would they create enemies?’ and waste their time when those people do not cheat them. This is sad.
“Do not respect people who are corrupt, no matter how much clout they have. Detest and keep a distance from people who cheat the country.’’
