ID :
12575
Tue, 07/15/2008 - 16:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/12575
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Protestors petition graft-busters to punish Preah Vihear-implicated officials
BANGKOK, July 15 (TNA) - Five core leaders of a protest coalition dedicated to bringing down the Samak government petitioned the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) to take criminal action against 42 people, including the entire cabinet as well as ousted prime minister ThaksinShinawatra over the ancient Preah Vihear temple case.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), has been demonstrating against the government continuously since May 25 demanding the ouster of PrimeMinister Samak Sundaravej.
Five core leaders who are the public 'faces' of the PAD signed the letter petitioning the NCCC to take action against the 42 persons they charge had violated Criminal Law article 157 and also were negligent in their duties,which had caused Thailand to lose sovereignty at Preah Vihear.
It alleged that the accused were guilty of acting to benefit foreignersand should face life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Named in the letter were the entire 35-member Cabinet, senior foreign ministry officials and former premier Thaksin, whose government wasousted in a coup in September 2006.
The PAD core leaders charged in their communique that Mr. Thaksin was behind the signing of the Thai-Cambodian joint communique on June 18 backing Cambodia's bid to list the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritagesite.
On July 7, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee approved Cambodia'sapplication and listed the 11th century temple as a World Heritage Site.
The PAD charged in their petition that Mr. Thaksin was behind the plot because he planned to invest in an entertainment complex, the energy sector,and to lease Koh Kong island in Cambodia for 99 years.
The NCCC secretary-general received the PAD letter of complaint and told the group's core leaders that he would forward the letter to the NCCC committee as soon as possible. It is expected that the complaint would bediscussed during the next NCCC board meeting.
Meanwhile, Senators Rossana Torsitakul and Somchai Sawaengkarn also submitted a letter of complaint to the secretary-general of the NCCC, urging the independent agency to investigate as well as charging the cabinet and those involved in the signing of the joint communique on June18 under Article 157 of the Criminal Law.
Stressing that they were acting on their own, the two senators also urged the government to immediately revoke the joint communique charging that the listing of Preah Vihear temple by UNESCO as the World Heritage Site on July 7 also covered staircases leading to the temple with a total distanceof 800 metres, now being contested by the two neighbouring countries.
They also charged that an appointment a seven-nation International Coordinating committee would eventually lead to preparing the twocountries' permanent map in 2010.
"The (Thai) government should disclose the joint communique signed with Cambodia because no details were even given to the public," Rossana said, adding that she would travel with journalists and inspect the 11th centurytemple next week.
With or without intention in signing the joint communique, the government must take responsibility, she said. If the government is not able to revoke the joint communique, then "a new government must be set up to solve the problem." Although Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama who signed the joint communique on behalf of the Thai government resigned his post following the temple row, the problem remains and the government must be heldresponsible, she added.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), has been demonstrating against the government continuously since May 25 demanding the ouster of PrimeMinister Samak Sundaravej.
Five core leaders who are the public 'faces' of the PAD signed the letter petitioning the NCCC to take action against the 42 persons they charge had violated Criminal Law article 157 and also were negligent in their duties,which had caused Thailand to lose sovereignty at Preah Vihear.
It alleged that the accused were guilty of acting to benefit foreignersand should face life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Named in the letter were the entire 35-member Cabinet, senior foreign ministry officials and former premier Thaksin, whose government wasousted in a coup in September 2006.
The PAD core leaders charged in their communique that Mr. Thaksin was behind the signing of the Thai-Cambodian joint communique on June 18 backing Cambodia's bid to list the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritagesite.
On July 7, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee approved Cambodia'sapplication and listed the 11th century temple as a World Heritage Site.
The PAD charged in their petition that Mr. Thaksin was behind the plot because he planned to invest in an entertainment complex, the energy sector,and to lease Koh Kong island in Cambodia for 99 years.
The NCCC secretary-general received the PAD letter of complaint and told the group's core leaders that he would forward the letter to the NCCC committee as soon as possible. It is expected that the complaint would bediscussed during the next NCCC board meeting.
Meanwhile, Senators Rossana Torsitakul and Somchai Sawaengkarn also submitted a letter of complaint to the secretary-general of the NCCC, urging the independent agency to investigate as well as charging the cabinet and those involved in the signing of the joint communique on June18 under Article 157 of the Criminal Law.
Stressing that they were acting on their own, the two senators also urged the government to immediately revoke the joint communique charging that the listing of Preah Vihear temple by UNESCO as the World Heritage Site on July 7 also covered staircases leading to the temple with a total distanceof 800 metres, now being contested by the two neighbouring countries.
They also charged that an appointment a seven-nation International Coordinating committee would eventually lead to preparing the twocountries' permanent map in 2010.
"The (Thai) government should disclose the joint communique signed with Cambodia because no details were even given to the public," Rossana said, adding that she would travel with journalists and inspect the 11th centurytemple next week.
With or without intention in signing the joint communique, the government must take responsibility, she said. If the government is not able to revoke the joint communique, then "a new government must be set up to solve the problem." Although Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama who signed the joint communique on behalf of the Thai government resigned his post following the temple row, the problem remains and the government must be heldresponsible, she added.
