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Published on October 16, 2007

The irregularities over the Army's Bt4 billion purchase of armoured personnel carriers (APCs) from Ukraine provides virtually all the ingredients for a full-blown corruption scandal. The Defence Ministry has a duty to thoroughly investigate the case, publicise its findings and punish wrongdoers. Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas did the right thing in suspending the controversial deal to buy 96 APCs pending investigation to determine whether the procurement agreement was made in compliance with rules and regulations, and whether the vehicles meet the criteria set by the Army.

Boonrawd was about to sign the deal as recommended by an Army procurement committee and approved by the Cabinet, but decided to put it on hold after members of the National Legislative Assembly cautioned against it on several occasions, including last week's censure debate against the interim Surayud government.

The Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) has scrutinised the procurement agreement and found irregularities, including the fact that the Ukrainian company NGV did not submit a tender within the deadline but still won the deal. According to the OAG report released to the media after Boonrawd ordered the suspension of the deal, NGV may have been given preferential treatment at the expense of other companies that participated in the bidding.

The OAG report also mentioned the dubious quality of Ukrainian-made vehicles that would affect their performance in combat situations. The issues include armour plating that is too thin to withstand rocket-propelled grenades, and rubber tyres that are not bullet-proof. The report also noted that the request by NGV to submit its tender after the May 16, 2007 deadline was addressed to then-Army commander-in-chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin. The Army HQ also did not officially acknowledge receipt of the request, but somehow NGV was allowed to participate in the bidding.

It is interesting to note that the controversy over the deal led to a confrontation between Sonthi and Admiral Banawit Kengrien of the Navy. Banawit, the most outspoken critic of the deal, was recently moved to an inactive post.

In the meantime, Banawit who, for the past two years has been in charge of the Battery Organisation (a state enterprise under the Defence Ministry), has also been under attack for alleged poor performance. This is because the state firm, engaged in the manufacture of vehicle and industrial batteries, has failed to make a profit.

The defence minister has ordered an investigation into the loss-making Battery Organisation to determine the causes of its poor performance. The move was in response to remarks made by NLA member Gen Somjet Boonthanom, who is closely associated with Gen Sonthi. The tit-for-tat between Banawit and Sonthi looks more like politicking than a principled debate to safeguard the public interest. The defence minister owes the whole truth to the public.

The question is whether Defence Minister Boonrawd has got what it takes to do his job without fear or favour. All too often, investigation committees assigned to look into irregularities or alleged corruption in arms deals come up empty handed, or simply whitewash the whole affair. That is because the corruption-prone patronage system is so deeply rooted in the armed forces and is very much part of the corporate culture. It is virtually impossible for anyone in the Defence Ministry to enforce high standards of honesty, good governance and transparency in decision-making without hurting superiors, peers or junior colleagues. Faced with such a dilemma, even honest military officers who make it to the top are reluctant to take action against corrupt elements in the rank and file. They invariably turn a blind eye to corruption.

For as long as anyone can remember, the military's self-portrayal as a force for good and a promoter of democracy has never really been challenged. Now is the time for the public to put pressure on the Defence Ministry to pursue cases at hand in a straightforward manner. The public has a right to know who was at fault and who cheated, if that was, in fact, the case. The military that staged the coup last September  purportedly to clean up dirty politics  must demonstrate beyond doubt that it has the will and courage to put its own house in order by undertaking to clean up corruption in its hierarchy.

The Nation