NACC expedites probe into separatist remarks made by ministers

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BANGKOK, 18 March 2014  The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has agreed to investigate the case against the Prime Minister and two Cabinet ministers over their recent statements which are believed to have been made to incite social divisiveness. 

At the request of the Democrat Party’s legal team, NACC Secretary-General Sansern Poljiak announced that the commission had accepted into consideration the case concerning inappropriate speeches made during the rally of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) in Nakhon Ratchasima province on February 23. All NACC commissioners were appointed as members of the investigative team.

The individuals facing probes by the NACC in the case consist of Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Interior Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan, Deputy Commerce Minister Nattawut Saikua and 10 other UDD core leaders. The Democrats claimed that Mr Jarupong and Mr Nattawut had committed malfeasance by provoking violence, threatening independent agencies and judicial institutions and promoting the concept of separatism during their appearances on the UDD stage.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck is alleged of negligence of duty. Despite her capacity as the Defense Minister, the Democrats pointed out that the premier had shown indifference towards the wrongdoing of her subordinates and had taken no action to protect the nation from the separatist movement.