Protesters Accuse Government of Corruption in Thailand

(14 July 08 - RV) Protesters marched on the offices of Thailand’s graftbusting agency today to press for criminal charges against the government for its role in a dispute over an ancient temple on the Thai-Cambodian border.

The 500 marchers led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) handed over a petition accusing the cabinet of agreeing to cede land to Cambodia in return for business concessions for ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The charge has been denied by Thaksin and the government in Cambodia, where the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple was approved as a World Heritage site this month.

Meanwhile,

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, whose government faces corruption allegations and a series of lawsuits, vowed yesterday to rewrite the army-designed constitution despite strong political opposition.

The embattled premier blamed the current crisis on the 2007 constitution, which gives judges more oversight powers in the political arena.

We spoke with the Secretary of the Oxford University Asia-Pacific Society, Charles Monthienvichienchai, who told us the Prime Minister’s announcement will most likely intensify the street protests to oust him.