POLITICS
POST REPORTERS
A member of the People Power party (PPP) yesterday lodged a petition with the House committee in charge of overseeing constitution-related independent agencies, demanding an investigation of the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC). The petition accuses the graft fighters of overlooking the shareholdings of MPs and senators in media firms and state concessions.
Supachai Jaisamut, deputy spokesman of the PPP, said the shareholdings by the senators and MPs were constitutionally unacceptable, and the National Counter Corruption Commission's failure to delve into the allegations was considered negligence of duty.
The PPP deputy spokesman earlier petitioned the Election Commission to investigate the shareholdings of MPs and senators in media firms and state concessions _ a practice prohibited under the constitution.
Suthin Klangsaeng, the panel's chairman, said the committee will look into all the three allegations made against the NCCC and summon the NCCC secretary-general for questioning tomorrow. Besides the accusation of negligence of duty, the NCCC also faces an impeachment bid.
A group of activists, led by Prateep Ungsongtham Hata, filed an impeachment petition against the eight NCCC members with the Senate yesterday.
The group claimed the NCCC was an unlawful body because it was set up by the coup leaders after the Sept 19, 2006 putsch and should have been dissolved when the coup-makers stepped down to make way for the new government.
Klanarong Chanthik, an NCCC member, said the agency was aware members of the public had the right to demand such an inquiry and welcomed the call to scrutinise the agency's work.
However, he insisted the NCCC was a legally appointed body as confirmed by the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary.
He said the Supreme Court's previous rulings also confirmed that the NCCC was a legally established agency and its status is recognised by both the interim constitution and the current constitution.
According to Mr Klanarong, the NCCC will not ask the Constitution Court to rule on its status.
Prime Minister's Office Minister Chusak Sirinil yesterday dismissed criticism that the impeachment bid against the NCCC was just an attempt to discredit the agency.
He said while the legality of the anti-graft agency was unclear, the fact that it continued to function after the promulgation of the 2007 charter without royal endorsement was unacceptable.
Meanwhile, around 100 protesters rallied at the NCCC office yesterday, demanding the eight commissioners resign.
One protester was seriously injured when he and the others set fire to a mock coffin. Thiang Pakdirat, 45, suffered burns on his right arm, torso and right thigh when his clothes caught fire.
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