Ombudsman “works for all’

PHUKET TOWN: Anyone in Thailand – including foreigners living here or visiting the country – may take complaints of malfeasance by government officials to the Ombudsman, a seminar was told today. Pramote Chotimongkol, General Secretary to the Ombudsman, said, “Whenever action or inaction by government employees causes harm, damage or injustice to an individual or to the general public, the person who has suffered loss or damage may complain direct to the Ombudsman.” Transparency in government services – especially in bringing to heel law-breakers or those who exceed their powers – would benefit Thais and foreigners, he told about 500 people on the final day of a three-day seminar on rights and the law at the Royal Phuket City Hotel. Representatives of the Constitutional Court, the National Human Rights Commission, the Election Commission and the National Counter-Corruption Commission also spoke at the conference. Thailand currently has two Ombudsmen, Pichet Soontornpipit and Poonsup Piya-Anant. People wishing to report abuses may contact the Office of the Ombudsman at Tel: 02-2990400 or Fax 02-2990485, or visit the website at https://www.ombudsman.go.th .