On May 17, Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga launched his ‘Volunteers to Protect Justice’ initiative to organize and train people to inform the authorities on corruption and lèse majesté cases.  Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva presided over the event and was registered as the first volunteer.

Abhisit told an audience of about 2,000 at the Thai Army Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road that it was government policy to protect and worship the monarchy, prevent and suppress corruption, and encourage the people to check state authority.  And he had always championed the rule of law to reign in this country.

He said the initiative provided a good opportunity for people to be active in upholding justice and the nation’s essential institution, and it should expand to the provinces as well.

After the PM led volunteers in taking a vow of loyalty to the monarchy, the Justice Minister gave him a membership card, as member number 1.

Pirapan said that since he took office, he had received a number of complaints from people about all sorts of abuses and violations, but they had no proper channels to go to.  Some were illegally abused, or were treated unfairly by the state, but when they complained, they got no response from the authorities.  Or when they saw that some pubs and bars operated after hours, or sold drugs, they did not dare to inform the authorities for fear of danger.  So the ministry decided to launch this scheme to have volunteers to contact an information centre, so that the authorities could look into the cases and act according to the law.

Volunteers are supposed to inform the authorities on the issues of lèse majesté, drugs, money laundering, chit funds, financial scams, national security, environmental and natural resource destruction, tax evasion, corruption, violations of the rights and freedoms of the people, and other illegal acts.

Volunteers must be 15 years old or older, have a clean record, and importantly have a volunteer spirit to participate in activities to be held by the ministry, including training on the law and rights in the judicial process as well as meetings to share information and experience among volunteers.

‘Volunteers must not expect money in return.  However, under certain laws like the narcotics law, for example, those who give information that leads to arrests will get a reward.  I want volunteers to come and work of their own free will.  The other main duty is to protect and worship the monarchy,’ said the minister.

The ministry’s Service Link will serve as the node to receive volunteer applications and complaints.  Volunteers will receive identification numbers, with their names kept confidential for their own safety.

‘Volunteers work as spies [or agents] for the Justice Ministry.  But the task must not be burdensome to their own work.  Just live an ordinary life, and know that they can turn to the Justice Ministry when they come upon illegal acts,’ said Pirapan.

He believed that people were motivated to become ‘spies’ for the ministry because of their own grievances.  The scheme starts in Bangkok, with the expectation of about 50,000 applicants, and will expand to the whole country.

Those who are interested can get more information at the Justice Ministry’s Service Link, Justice Ministry Building 22^nd floor, Changwatthana Road, Pak Kred, Nonthaburi 11120, Tel 0-2502-6500, or at  www.moj.go.th.