NACC breaks another vow

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has reached a crucial fork in the road. Soon, it will have to provide the public with the facts it has uncovered in the probe of the undocumented luxury watches worn by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon. Alternatively, it will continue to stonewall. This choice will inform the public that the NACC is a weak organisation, completely unwilling to speak truth to power and lacking the fortitude even to bring about the promise that brought Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to the premiership.

When he seized power from an elected regime in 2014, then-army chief Gen Prayut made several promises. All but one were indefinable -- returning happiness to the people, for example, or bringing about national reconciliation. The exception was a forceful vow to pursue the corrupt. He specifically vowed to prove his determination by indicting, convicting and bringing to justice and hopefully prison high ranking officials. Until now, he is still short of that stated goal.

This is not for lack of opportunity. One of the first high-ranking people to be accused of corruption was a four-star army general. But Gen Preecha Chan-o-cha was never prosecuted. Former army chief and former deputy defence minister, Gen Udomdej Sitabutr, was responsible for the construction of the extremely controversial Rajabhakti Park but there were no consequences.