Corruption watchdog issues warning in conjunction with People's Party
In a move that has raised questions and concerns, the opposition party has decided to back the Bhumjaithai Party to form a government, while continuing to operate as the opposition. This political maneuver has sparked debates about potential breaches of constitutional principles.
A separate group of reserve senators has called for closer oversight of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), alleging that unnamed powerful figures have blocked DSI officers from questioning approximately 1,200 witnesses related to alleged collusion in the 2024 Senate election.
The Khao Kradong land dispute, reminiscent of the case of Pareena Kraikupt, a former MP disqualified for encroaching on protected forest land, has been compared by activists. They demand equal treatment under the law for all parties involved in similar disputes.
The current Prime Minister of Thailand is Anutin Charnvirakul, who was elected after the removal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra. However, there are no indications that Anutin Charnvirakul is accused of using his position to influence or obstruct investigations related to corruption allegations in the Senate election process.
The Department of Land, part of the Interior Ministry, refused to comply with a court ruling when the ministry was controlled by Bhumjaithai in the previous government. Now, the Bhumjaithai Party is preparing to take back control of the Interior Ministry when the new government is formed.
The group voices concern over the increasingly chaotic political situation, fearing that the government's formation could deepen public mistrust. In response, the Prime Minister has pledged to work with civil society and ensure parliamentary mechanisms are used to hold wrongdoers accountable.
The Anti-Corruption People's Network of Four Regions has submitted a petition to People's Party MPs, urging them to investigate and ensure wrongdoers are brought to justice under the law regarding the alleged electoral fraud in the Senate. Pheu Thai list-MP Anusorn Iamsa-ard has pledged to pursue the matter, describing Senate collusion as a "national-level process" that has drawn widespread concern.
The petitioners claim that corruption in the Senate selection process represents the largest case of electoral fraud in Thai history, implicating 229 people, including 138 current senators, and individuals linked to Bhumjaithai. Over 200 rai of the land in the Khao Kradong case, which involves a Supreme Court ruling ordering the return of over 5,000 rai of land to the State Railway of Thailand, are held by individuals and entities linked to the family of Newin Chidchob, the patriarch of the Bhumjaithai Party.
The petition urges action regarding the Khao Kradong land dispute in Buri Ram and the alleged collusion in the Senate election. The public will be closely watching as the situation unfolds, hoping for a resolution that upholds the principles of justice and transparency.
