Govt says AEC needs graft-act amendment
The government will ask the National Legislative Assembly to consider the urgent amendment of the Anti-Corruption Act next week to facilitate the work of the Assets Examination Committee (AEC), deputy secretary-general to the prime minister Veerachai Veerametheekul said yesterday.
He was speaking after a meeting between the AEC members and Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont at Government House. The Council of State is considering an amendment but only of Article 66, which requires aggrieved parties to file complaints in cases against holders of political positions. The AEC, whose authority is based on the Anti-Corruption Act, has been complaining about the reluctance of aggrieved government agencies to file complaints against officials in the Thaksin Shinawatra government, which has hampered the AEC's investigations into corruption. AEC member Klanarong Chantik said he and his colleagues had discussed the promotion of "corruption suppression" as a national priority. Government officials are to make a "vow of honesty" at Government House on April 6, Chakri Memorial Day. Klanarong said the meeting had not discussed the extension of the AEC's term. This was for one year to September. Surayud said he would cooperate with the AEC and help it solve "working problems" related to government agencies.
Piyanart Srivalo, Budsarakham Sinlapalavan The Nation
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