PREAH VIHEAR
MANOP THIP-OSOD
The National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) has taken the unusual step of appointing its commissioners, and not a sub-panel, to investigate the Samak Sundaravej administration's alleged breach of the constitution in its handling of the Preah Vihear controversy.
The decision came after seven groups lodged separate complaints with the graft agency asking it to press criminal charges against the cabinet for violating Article 190 of the charter by allowing then-foreign minister Noppadon Pattama to sign the joint Thai-Cambodian communique supporting the listing of the Preah Vihear Hindu temple as a World Heritage site on June 18.
Counter corruption commissioner and spokesman Klanarong Chanthik said yesterday the agency decided to look into the seven complaints at the same time and has asked all its commissioners to work as investigators, and assigned commissioner Somluck Jadkrabuanpol to compile the investigation report as well.
Article 190 requires the government to seek parliamentary approval before signing any international agreements.
Senator Rosana Tositrakul, appointed Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn and the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) are among the seven groups that have filed complaints against the government on this issue.
Opposition Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva urged Prime Minister Samak to quickly appoint a new foreign minister to handle the simmering Preah Vihear dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.
The People Power party-led government plans to announce a major cabinet reshuffle at the end of the month.
Mr Abhisit said with the Preah Vihear border row heating up, the appointment of a new foreign minister on July 28 may come too late.
The prime minister should quickly reshuffle the cabinet, so that the new foreign minister could attend to the diplomatic problems related to the disputed border area around the temple immediately, Mr Abhisit said.
The Democrat party leader expected border tensions would ease after the general election in Cambodia on Sunday.
The Cambodian government was trying to project a position which would gain it most favour with Cambodian voters, he said.
Mr Noppadon resigned on July 10 after the Constitution Court ruled that the joint communique was akin to an international treaty and should have gone to the parliament for approval.
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