Lotteries legal, says Varathep

The Thaksin government followed the law when it decided to launch the two- and three-digit lotteries, former deputy finance minister Varathep Ratanakorn told the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) yesterday.

Varathep said the Government Lottery Office proposed the project to Cabinet through the finance minister and his deputy. The purpose of the project was to solve social problems caused by influential people, who organised the underground lottery.

"We insist we did everything according to the law, without any intention to cause damage to the country. And today, we can say we didn't cause any damage," he said.

He said the lotteries were launched based on many laws. The project was discussed for over a year and had a public hearing. Moreover, the law did not prohibit such lotteries - it just didn't specifically allow it.

He said if the lotteries had been illegal, the Council of State could have protested any time over the past three years.

Udom Fuangfung, head of the AEC panel investigating the case, said it would summon former permanent secretary of finance Somchainuk Engtrakul and current permanent secretary Suparut Kawatkul for further information.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said yesterday the government and the Social Development and Human Security Ministry were discussing what to do with the two- and three-digit lotteries.

The government had not just dropped and ignored the issue, and, more than just wanting

to make it legal it, wanted to reduce the number of people gambling, Surayud said in a meeting with the National Economic and Social Development Board.

The withdrawal of a bill to legalise the two- and three-digit lotteries from the National Legislative Assembly was not a loss of face - the government wanted to hear opinions from various parties, he said.

While the AEC is investigating possible irregularities or corruption in the lotteries, the bill legalising the project was considered controversial by groups strongly opposed to gambling. The interim government then opted to withdraw the bill last month, saying it would resubmit it at a later date.

Budsarakham Sinlapalavan

The Nation
Friday January 12, 2007