Banharn wants AEC term extended
Chat Thai Party leader Banharn Silapa-archa urged the government yesterday to extend the one-year term of the Assets Examination Committee (AEC), which is probing numerous cases of alleged corruption by the deposed administration.
Banharn said the AEC had made good progress, referring to the recent ruling that Watana Muangsook, the former minister of social development and human security, and 40 others face indictments for Bt82 million in alleged bribes stemming from the Ua Athorn housing project.The Surayud Chulanont government should support the AEC by extending its term so it can complete investigations into 10 pending graft cases, Banharn said. On Tuesday, the CNS, plus the government and key state agencies, held a press conference, six months since they seized power last year to detail their achievements. Banharn said the CNS had "not failed the exam". However, it should have better co-operation with the government as the latter had not responded well to directions. Recent moves against the CNS were caused by the AEC's success in pinning down corrupt people, so they had to counter-attack, he said. Meanwhile, Thai Rak Thai Party executive Chamlong Krutkhuntod, said the government had only tried to protect its image during Tuesday's press conference rather than telling the truth about the real situation. Chamlong said the government spokesman had insisted the national economy was stable. However, what the people perceived was that the country was plunging into a disaster, he claimed. - The Nation
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