Cabinet 'has leeway on advisers'

Pornthip was attempting to dispel doubts relating to the status of the newly appointed advisory panel head¬ed by Dr Virabongsa Ramangkura.

"It is up to the Cabinet to decide who can attend its meetings and indi¬vidual ministers who summon out¬siders will be responsible for their access to official documents and how to act on their recommendations," Pornthip said.

The Cabinet on Tuesday appointed the government's economic advisers, headed by former finance minister Virabongsa.

The others are Narongchai Akrasanee, chairman of the ExportImport Bank of Thailand; Kanit Sangsubhan, director of the Fiscal Policy Office's Policy Research Institute; and Porametee Vimolsiri, senior adviser of the National Economic and Social Development Board.

Pressure has mounted on Virabongsa in particular to resign from all his privatesector positions to avoid conflicts of interest.

Banharn Silapaarcha, leader of the Chart Thai Party, yesterday joined a chorus of critics.

"Virabongsa is a capable person and has his own ideas. As chief adviser, he can sit in on Cabinet meetings, but in practice he should resign from all his advisory roles in the private sector in order to improve the image of the government," Banharn said.

However, Pornthip stressed that even though the four advisers still hold business positions, they are not going to violate any law because the enforcement of provisions on conflict of interest is confined to ministers and MPs.

Outsiders attending the Cabinet meetings are obliged to comply with laws on confidential information and will be penalised for abusing any official documents they have access to, she said.

Their superior, the prime minister, is expected to assume responsibility for the conduct of the economic advisers, she added.