Lawyer tackles graft, nepotism in junta-ruled Thailand

By Max Constant

BANGKOK (AA) - A prominent Thai lawyer renowned for challenging officials suspected of corruption and nepotism has stressed the need for “many” watchdogs if the country seeks to seriously tackle abuses by people in positions of power.

“Thailand has many laws, but the main problem is corruption, because it allows officials to go around the law,” Srisuwan Janya told Anadolu Agency in an interview Wednesday.

Janya -- who some Thai media have nicknamed “the gadfly” due to the numerous cases and petitions he has filed against government members and high-ranking officials -- disputed the ruling junta’s claim to be combatting the widespread problem since a 2014 coup.

“When you listen to the junta, it seems that they are waging a war against corruption. But as soon as a case concerns the military, it becomes very different,” he said.

“They don’t want to recognize corruption or nepotism within their ranks and, of course, this does not escape the attention of the citizens”.

In a recent case, Janya filed a complaint with the president of the junta-appointed National Assembly after it was revealed that a member had participated in few meetings but received his full monthly salary -- of around $3,240 -- over a six-month period.

The legislature member in question is Preecha Chan-ocha -- the brother of junta leader-cum-Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha -- who has still to provide an explanation about the matter.

“The chairman of the National Assembly could not explain why Preecha Chan-ocha continued to enjoy the full benefits of an active assembly member,” said Janya.

“But this money is coming from the taxpayers and the assembly’s chairman and all members swore to His Majesty the King to exercise their duties with honesty, so it is a very serious matter,” he underlined.

The son of a peasant family in northern Phitsanuloke province, Janya’s involvement in the fight for justice began as a student leader.

He later created an NGO, called Stop Global Warming, and successfully won a court case that compelled 72 large companies to suspend their activities in an industrial estate in eastern Thailand because they had not conducted proper environmental impact studies.

In another case this month, Janya filed a petition with the Ombudsman’s office against Bangkok’s police chief, Police Gen. Sanit Mahathavorn, because records provided by the officer to the National Assembly showed him receiving a monthly salary from Thailand’s largest beer and liquor producer.

Since the production and sale of alcoholic beverages are strictly controlled by a series of laws, the fact that the capital’s police chief would serve as “adviser” to Thai Beverage raised many eyebrows.

On Tuesday, Mahathavorn assured that he had never received a monthly income from the company and that the salary mentioned in his own records was just “a mistake” made by his staff.

“This is just a pretext,” Janya said Wednesday. “The records were signed by him before he gave them to the National Assembly. I hope the case will go forward.”

His relentless commitment to ensure justice for the weakest is not without danger.

“I received quite a few threatening phone calls, and sometimes I see that cars are following me. I have to be careful all the time,” he said while insisting that he doesn’t want a bodyguard.

“There should be many watchdogs, many ‘Srisuwan’ if we wish to really resist corruption,” Janya underlined.