Probe panel ‘to clear army of park graft’
Civil society slams social media arrests
Armed forces personnel are expected to be spared from any findings of wrongdoing when the probe into the Rajabhakti Park scandal is released, according to a source close to the probe.
The Defence Ministry committee is led by the deputy permanent secretary for Defence Gen Chaicharn Changmongkol. The panel questioned six foundry owners contracted to cast statues of past Thai kings at the park in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Hua Hin district.
Some foundries earlier complained an amulet trader had asked for commission fees from them, citing people in positions of authority.
The foundry owners said their money was taken as a donation for the project. They provided as evidence receipts and money transfers which suggested they had voluntarily donated the money to the park, the source said.
“The amulet trader invited the foundry owners to donate to the project,” said the source. As the owners have all given similar accounts, it is clear the army and Deputy Defence Minister Udomdej Sitabutr, former chairman of the Rajabhakti Park Foundation, had nothing to do with the graft, the source said.
The investigation panel will conclude the findings next week and inform Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon of the results of the probe.
Gen Prawit said the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will conduct another probe if the public still has doubts.
Meanwhile, the Thai Netizen Network has opposed a move by authorities to prosecute people who click “Like” on Facebook posts deemed to contain unlawful content.
Police earlier brought charges of lese majeste, inciting disorder and computer crimes against 27-year-old Thanakorn Siriphaibun in relation to the park scandal.
The suspect allegedly clicked “Like” on a Facebook picture seen to insult the monarchy, copied and shared a photo of the King’s dog in a sarcastic way and shared an infographic on the alleged web of corruption at Rajabhakti Park.
The network said clicking “Like” is not tantamount to disseminating or supporting the content, which could be seen as a violation of Section 116 of the Criminal Code for inciting disorder, or Section 112 on lese majeste, according to Arthit Suriyawongkul, a member of the Foundation for Internet and Civic Culture.
Supinya Klangnarong, of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, said the prosecutions could worsen the political climate.
“The government risks being viewed by the international community as excessively limiting people’s rights and freedom,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Court yesterday rejected a second plea by Democracy Studies group leader Sirawith Seritiwat for the release of activist Thanet Anantawong, 25, over alleged lese majeste.