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MAY 12, 2000 VOL. 26 NO. 18 | SEARCH ASIAWEEK 'We're just doing our job' A talk with Thailand's corruption buster Politicians take note. Thailand's new National Counter-Corruption Commission (NCCC) has teeth. It recently took on interior minister Sanan Kachornprasart, the secretary-general of the ruling Democrat Party and second-most powerful man in the country. He is accused of falsifying documents concerning a $1.2 million loan. Asiaweek's Julian Gearing recently talked to NCCC chairman Opas Arunin, 65, about how his organization is cleaning up Thai politics. The charges against Sanan are an important milestone. What happens next? There will be an investigation. We have to verify the accuracy and existence of the assets. The final decision will be in the hands of the Constitutional Court, and the whole process will probably take about two months. A politician found guilty would probably be removed from office. He would not be permitted to hold public office for five years. How are corruption charges brought? For civil servants, we can begin an investigation without waiting for somebody to file a complaint if we have grounds for suspicion. For politicians, we need to have a petition signed by 50,000 people or by a quarter of the members of parliament. Could Sanan or others be criminally prosecuted? There are some criminal offenses concerning submitting false statements. But in this particular case, we cannot pursue a criminal case because he submitted the documents before the law was enacted. What other cases have you brought? We brought one successful case against Sen. Sukhum Cherdchuen and three other political advisers and secretaries. The Constitutional Court ruled that Sukhum intentionally failed to submit his statement of assets to us. So he must be removed from office and cannot hold office for five years. Will we see more cases against current ministers and politicians? It depends on whether they did anything wrong. Those appointed must give a routine statement to us, and we must examine it to find out if it is correct or not. If everything is consistent, then it is okay. But if not, he must be in trouble. Has anyone threatened you? You mean are we being threatened, instead of threatening other people? [laughter] We're just doing our job according to the law. We don't try to frame anybody. Our job gives us power, so we don't feel somebody will threaten us. Are we finally going to see the end to corruption? It takes time. We're trying to diminish corruption, and we're watching the statistics to see whether it is going up or down according to international standards. If you say we should end corruption entirely, that is very difficult. We can minimize it, but not end it entirely. It is too entrenched. Write to Asiaweek at mail@web.asiaweek.com
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