Thai junta announces fresh purge of 6,000 ‘influential people’ as it struggles to crack down on corruption
The junta assumed control of the country amid anti-government protests in May 2014 vowing to end 10 years of political turmoil.
Thailand’s military junta ordered a fresh sweep of 6,000 corrupt “influential people” on Wednesday, the latest move by a regime that has touted a tough anti-graft stance, but with limited success.
The kingdom is known for its nexus of graft-tainted officials, underground mafia and shady patronage networks, something the ruling junta has vowed to tackle, even though the military has long been tarred by such allegations.
Intelligence officers across the country have now compiled a list of some 6,000 “influential people” – a Thai phrase used to describe mafia bosses and other powerful figures dealing in illegal trades.
The blacklisted, which include government and security officials, are suspected of aiding a variety of crime syndicates, deputy prime minister General Prawit Wongsuwon told reporters on Wednesday, without elaborating on the nature of the crimes.
“There 6,000 people in these networks, some are government officials,” he said, adding that the crackdown would be wrapped up in the next two months.
There 6,000 people in these networks, some are government officials
The generals that grabbed power in a 2014 coup have sought to burnish a reputation as crimebusters, trumpeting periodic – and often short-lived – crackdowns on everything from gambling rings to drunk drivers.