IN BRIEF
Report cards :Surayud orders mid-term assessment to inform people of progress
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday assigned all ministries to prepare reports on their achievements including graft probes so the government can explain to the people what it has done to solve the problems that incited the military coup.
The Justice Ministry would update the status of lese majeste cases during the last government.
Constitution :Selection of drafters to go ahead Despite allegations of an unfair election for the 200 nominees of the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA), the Council for National Security (CNS) will continue to pick 100 by the end of the year. After a meeting of the CNS, spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the CNS realised there were concerns over the election process but denied it was improper. According to the interim charter, the CNS could not do anything but pick 100 members from the 200-strong shortlist, he said. The CNS will submit the list for royal endorsement by the end of this year and next month the CDA could hold its first meeting. However, the CNS agreed to find new criteria in selecting 100 members.
Graft :'Irregularities' in rubber scheme The Banjerd Singkhaneti panel has uncovered evidence of irregularities relating to the bid to supply 900 million rubber saplings to north-eastern farmers involving the ousted government, a source said yesterday. The Banjerd panel appointed by the Assets Examination Committee was poised to conclude its report recommending graft proceedings against a winning bidder and a group of agriculture officials responsible for the saplings project. According to the source, the winning bidder, a company affiliated with the Charoen Pokphand Group, had equity stakes in rival companies through nominees, indicating bid collusion.
Coup :Call to probe payments to officersThe Saturday Opposition Group against the Coup has asked the Auditor General's Office (OAG) to check reports that the Council for National Security (CNS) paid Bt1.5 billion to Army officers who joined the September 19 seizure of power. The group leader Sudchai Bunchai proposed that Auditor General Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka examine state accounts to see if the reports were true. Sudchai said, according to the rumour, Bt500 million was given as a bonus to officers who participated in the coup. He said spending of up to Bt1 billion was not explained in the budget.
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