BANGKOK, 20 April 2012 – A watchdog formed by the private sector has asked the government to clarify the 120-billion-baht flood-relief budget to the public, after many people are unable to access official information to check the transparency of the project.
Pramon Sutivong, chairman of the Anti-Corruption Network (ACN) said the network has asked the government to show details of the budget disbursement for a while, but the government only gives a website, which needs a password to enter. The ACN is, therefore, asking the government to show sincerity and transparency in disbursing the fund.
In the meantime, Mr Pramon reported that the network also held a watchdog training session last month to alert community members to suspicious corrupt practices in the government sector. Another session will be held on May 12-13, during which participants will be trained to use social media such as facebook and twitter, and the GPS tracking system in watching over corruption activities.
The ACN chairman added that the ACN committee agreed to establish September 6 of every year Anti-Corruption Day in remembrance of Dusit Nontanakorn, a former Thai Chamber of Commerce Chairman and founder of the ACN, who died on September 6, 2011.
