Investigation of Prawit must be quick, transparent
Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwon has written to the National Anti-Corruption Commission about how he came to wear at least one of perhaps 10 ultra-expensive watches and a flashy diamond ring not listed in his assets declaration.
NACC Deputy Secretary-General Worawit Sookboon asks that we trust in the NACC’s work ethic and professionalism to unearth any whiff of corruption and hold the culprits, if any, accountable.
It’s fine to ask for our trust, Khun Worawit, but trust must be earned – especially in Thailand, where, for example, two ex-PMs are still on the run for corruption-related charges, and we taxpayers paid Bt1 million each for many G2000 bomb detectors that were much less accurate than flipping a coin – and no general’s even been charged. Also, NACC’s executives serve at the pleasure of the prime minister, and heads might roll for politically incorrect decisions.
To earn the public’s trust, the NACC should follow Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda’s advice to PM Prayut a few days ago: each person should act as a role model by displaying traditional Thai virtues – for example, honesty, respect for the law and strength against greed (virtues 2, 8 and 11 of PM Prayut’s 12 Virtues, respectively).
Thus, the NACC should investigate the case swiftly and transparently, including inviting outside independent parties to appraise the items in question, audit the paper trails, etc, to make sure that the investigative process and conclusions show that their provenance was lawful and honest, and not quid pro quo for anything.
The NACC should also make all evidence available to the media afterwards so that we can see that justice has, indeed, been done and that nobody is above the law. NACC, rigorously follow General Prem’s advice to earn our trust in the NACC and this government.
Burin Kantabutra
