POLITICS / LOTTERY CORRUPTION INQUIRY, WRITING THE CONSTITUTION, POLICY PLATFORM

CDC plans stricter controls on politicians, kin

MONGKOL BANGPRAPA

The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) plans to impose stricter controls on politicians and their families after the controversies surrounding the previous government.

The charter writers also proposed to make it more difficult for politicians to maintain conflicts of interest and dodge paying taxes.

Meeting yesterday in Chon Buri province, the CDC discussed sections of the charter which involve the scrutiny of elected politicians.

The committee proposed making the new charter stricter than the 1997 constitution in regard to assets examination.

Members suggested staff of political office holders, unregistered or divorced spouses and nominees also be required to declare assets.

The 1997 charter only required office holders, their spouses and children under the age of consent to do so.

The CDC will also require the National Counter Corruption Commission to compare the assets which politicians declare to those recorded on personal tax forms.

If an irregularity is found, tax records would be examined retroactively for 10 years.

If found guilty of tax evasion, they would lose their current political position, and be banned from holding any post in government or in a political party for 10 years.

To curb conflicts of interest, the draft constitution will ban MPs, senators and their nominees from taking a position in a state agency or business in which the state holds a majority share, or influencing any attempt to win a concession in it.

Many drafters thought the absence of such a clause in past charters was a loophole that allowed politicians in office to pursue vested interests.

Yet to be decided is whether the new charter will prevent spouses and children of office holders from holding significant portions of shares.

CDC member Charan Pakdithanakul opposed the revisions, saying only divorced or single politicians with no business interests would be qualified to take office if the restriction went into effect.

But Dej-udom Kairit said the change was to cope with sophisticated politicians and their advisers.

He cited cases of a politician's child who cashed in by buying credit card debts after securing inside information, another politician's child abusing connections to win a billboard concession and a politician's husband brokering a state concession.

The CDC debate focused on controversies which occurred during the ousted Thaksin Shinawatra government. Constitution drafters admitted yesterday that such issues were driving many anti-corruption clauses in the new charter.

The CDC will decide on the proposed restrictions in a secret vote today. The vote will also settle 25 other issues.

CDC secretary Somkid Lertpaithoon said pending issues include a mechanism to break political deadlocks, the mandatory qualifications and numbers of MPs and senators, qualifications of the premier, the make-up of a caretaker cabinet and years of free and compulsory education.

Another issue to be decided is whether participating in public referendums should be required under law.

Bangkok Post

Last Updated : Tuesday April 10, 2007