Surayd: Khao Yai Thieng

Prasong attacks PM's 'land grab'; NLA members tour Surayud's property
11 October 2007
Bangkok Post

National Legislative Assembly member Prasong Soonsiri demanded full accountability from Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont over the alleged Khao Yai Thieng land grab and insisted he should repent for his wrongdoing. During the ethics debate yesterday in the assembly, Sqn Ldr Prasong drew on the example of Marion Jones, the US sprint star who admitted she took steroids and will return the five medals, three of them gold, which she won at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Sqn Ldr Prasong said if a woman could come to terms with her wrongdoing, a man could take a leaf from her book. "A little woman has shown us the way. She's the shining example which a man should follow," he said, referring to Gen Surayud.

Sqn Ldr Prasong said Gen Surayud had announced ethics as a key policy of his government, so Gen Surayud should keep his word and lead by example. The NLA member added politicians' ethics were defined in the regulations of the Prime Minister's Office and are explicitly emphasised in the 2007 constitution. Failure to observe ethics could be deemed a blatant act of contravening the constitution, he said. Sqn Ldr Prasong urged Gen Surayud to read those ethics regulations and he went on to criticise the prime minister for sealing last April the controversial Thai-Japanese free trade agreement, formally known as the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA). Sqn Ldr Prasong said the government should have sought approval from the NLA before signing it. The Foreign Affairs Ministry had written to warn Gen Surayud's cabinet of the NLA obligation. The prime minister, however, disregarded the letter, Sqn Ldr Prasong said.

Chumpol Sangthong, a close aide of Sqn Ldr Prasong, took reporters to inspect Gen Surayud's property on Khao Yai Thieng mountain yesterday. The delegation found the property to be well protected by security guards. Also, men who looked similar to soldiers followed the delegation around and took note of its activities, Mr Chumpol said, adding that the men had repeatedly reminded them not to do anything to break the law. Mr Chumpol said the field trip was conducted on behalf of the justice and police sub-committee working under the NLA ethics committee. Mr Chumpol is head of the sub-committee. At the end of the trip, Mr Chumpol concluded Gen Surayud's property encroached on the forest.