NACC asked to clarify testimony deadline for Thailand's Caretaker PM

BANGKOK, March 29 (TNA) - The ruling Pheu Thai Party has reiterated its demand that the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) clarify why it does not extend the deadline for Caretaker Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to explain on the alleged irregularities in her government-sponsored rice-pledging scheme. Pheu Thai Party Deputy Spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard charged the NACC on Saturday of practicing double standard, after the independent graftbuster agency refused to extend the deadline for another 45 days for Yingluck to clarify the case. Yingluck, thus, needs to either appear in the court in person or submit her written statement defending the charges on March 31, 2014. Anusorn pointed out that the NACC has given another 280 pages of documents relating to corruption in the rice-pledging programme to Yingluck, only three days before the deadline and the time was insufficient. The NACC said it had earlier extended the deadline by 15 days and Yingluck would be allowed to provide more evidence or documents during the questioning process, standing firm that the deadline cannot be extended anymore. Meanwhile, Caretaker Labour Minister Police Captain Chalerm Yubumrung , who is also chief of the caretaker government-run Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), told reporters that authorities have been able to arrest those who allegedly fired M79 grenade launchers at the NACC headquarters recently, insisting that the caretaker government did not involve in the attacks. (TNA)