Stung by accusations of high-level graft, Thailand's government yesterday promised to carry out a crackdown on rampant corruption, but opposition lawmakers said the move was a publicity stunt ahead of elections early next year.
The announcement comes after an anti-graft campaigner last week claimed that politicians, state officials and others had made 1.2 trillion baht (US$24.3 billion) through bribes, embezzlement and kickbacks in the past three years.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, one of the country's richest men, chaired a special Cabinet meeting yesterday to discuss the anti-corruption campaign, said Deputy Prime Minister Visanu Krue-ngarm.
"Among the issues we discussed today was a strategy to fight corruption," Visanu said, without elaborating.
The launch of the campaign has been brought forward from Oct. 3 to Sept. 30 because Thaksin "told us to hurry up and he wants to hear various measures from each ministry."
Anti-graft campaigner Sumet Tantivejkul said last week that King Bhumibol Adulyadej is very concerned about corruption and wants the public to help fight it.
"Corruption cannot be swept out from this country unless the government is serious about crack-ing down at all levels," Justice Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana told reporters earlier.
Opposition Democrat Party lawmaker Nakron Nachim said even though past graft probes have exposed officials at low levels, top judges and powerful lawmakers have been left untouched.
Earlier this month, a London-based tycoon claimed that about 30 ruling party politicians, including ministers, manipulated a local bank's stocks for personal gains.
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