The Cabinet met on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at Command Building1, Government House. Some of the resolutions are as follows:
Title: Recommendations on use of e-Government in public services for prevention of corruption
The Cabinet resolved to acknowledge the recommendations made by National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) regarding the use of e-Government system in public services to prevent corruption. The use of such system is for the purpose of improving performance of official duties or formulating action plans for projects of Government agencies, state enterprises or other state agencies in an endeavor to control corruption and the commission of an offense of malfeasance in office or malfeasance in judicial office as stated under Section 19 (11) of the Organic Act on Counter Corruption B.E. 2542, amended by the Organic Act on Counter Corruption (No. 2) B.E. 2554. The recommendations were proposed by the NACC.
Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC) and Ministry of Finance are appointed as key agencies to jointly study the NACC recommendations along with Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Industry, Bureau of the Budget, Office of the Council of State, Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board, the Monitoring and Auditing Committee on Fiscal Expenditures, and relevant agencies in order to respond to anti-corruption measures and Government policies. OPDC and Ministry of Finance must put together a report on outcome of study or outcome of operation regarding the issue to be submitted to the Cabinet within 30 days from the day of notice.
Gist of the matter
OPDC reported that there was an urgent need to implement e-Government in public sector services. OPDC is currently integrating Government systems to boost efficiency and to solve public service problems by adopting information technology in attempt to upgrade service facilitation, minimize burden on people and business sectors, and reduce unnecessary people-to-people contact, which will create transparency and reduce chances of corruption. Major services are planned to be provided within three years (FY2015-2017) through e-Government website and mobile phone. The services will benefit the country, especially by preventing and reducing chances of corruption and by facilitating the public and the business sector, reducing costs, streamlining operation, and creating competition opportunities. The measures recommended to the Government are as follows:
1. Urgent measure: The Government should support OPCD’s project on Government Systems Integration for Efficiency, and provide a budget in support of the project. Import-export transactions should be piloted (especially those relevant to exports that affect GDP, i.e. rubber, rice, jasmine rice, frozen seafood, auto parts, and coolers and freezers) before the realization of AEC in December 2015.; and
2. Long-term measure: The Government should provide financial support for the adoption of e-Government, especially the e-Payment system, for the purpose of improving public services to increase efficiency and facilitate the people. E-Government adoption will also provide another channel for service monitoring and inspection, and help reduce chances of corruption.
Title: Resolution of Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on Thailand’s Revised National Ivory Action Plan (NIAP)
The Cabinet resolved to acknowledge resolution of Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on Thailand’s Revised National Ivory Action Plan (NIAP) as proposed by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The Cabinet also appointed relevant agencies to proceed with operation as proposed by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
Gist of the matter
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment reported as follows:
1. The Standing Committee of CITES has taken Thailand’s NIAP into consideration, and agreed that Thailand has significantly achieved progress in all three concerned areas according to the resolution of the 65th meeting of the Standing Committee (SC 65). The Standing Committee evaluated that Thailand’s implementation was satisfactory, which resulted in Thailand not being nominated to be restrained from trade of wild fauna and flora in accordance with CITES. However, Thailand shall remain a country of ‘primary concern’ and is required to continue implementing the NIAP and submitting a report on implementation progress by September 15, 2015 to the CITES Secretariat for consideration at the 66th meeting of the CITES Standing Committee (SC 66) to be held during January 11-15, 2016.
2. The CITES Standing Committee requests further explanations in the report on Thailand’s NIAP implementation progress to be submitted by September 15, 2015, i.e. 1) explanation on penalties in case of possession and trade of African elephant’s ivories; 2) explanation on the age of domestic elephants required for legal registration; and 3) explanation on inspection of domestic elephant’s ivory possession report.
3. To provide the explanations to the CITES Standing Committee, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has assigned the following implementations to the relevant agencies:
3.1 Department of Provincial Administration is appointed to impose a legal measure requiring formal registration for domestic elephants from infancy to the age of three months, and to enforce strict and concise measures on prevention of false registration of illegal domestic elephants as well as regulation and control of ivory removal in domestic elephants.
3.2 Department of Natural Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is appointed to impose strict and concise measures on inspection of ivory possession to prevent possession of African elephant’s ivories being falsely reported as possession of domestic elephant’s ivories. Strict measures must also be implemented to ensure regulation and control on ivory retail stores. Those found to be committing offence must be strictly prosecuted.
Title: Draft Joint Statement of ASEAN Plus Three Health Ministers’ Special VDO Conference on the Threat of MERS-CoV in the Region
The Cabinet granted an agreement and approval on the proposal made by Ministry of Public Health as follows:
1. Agreement on the Draft Joint Statement of ASEAN Plus Three Health Ministers’ Special VDO Conference on the Threat of MERS-CoV in the Region. For any amendment of the Joint Statement where essence of the Joint Statement is not affected, Ministry of Public Health can proceed without obtaining another Cabinet consideration; and
2. Approval on the appointment of Minister of Public Health or his representative to endorse the Joint Statement.
Gist of the Draft Joint Statement
1. The Draft Joint Statement of ASEAN Plus Three Health Ministers’ Special VDO Conference on the Threat of MERS-CoV in the Region expresses an intention of the ASEAN Plus Three countries to cooperate in addressing an outbreak of MERS-CoV. Gist of the Joint Statement is to underline a continued implementation from the Joint Statement of ASEAN Plus Three Health Minister's Special Meeting on Ebola Preparedness and Response endorsed by the Cabinet on December 9, 2014.
2. The Draft Joint Statement of ASEAN Plus Three Health Ministers’ Special VDO Conference on the Threat of MERS-CoV in the Region does not contain words that establish an obligation under international law.
Title: Approval on implementation of Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on Visa Exemption for Ordinary Passport Holders
The Cabinet granted an agreement and approval on the proposal made by Ministry of Foreign Affairs as follows:
1. Agreement on the Draft Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on Visa Exemption for Ordinary Passport Holders. For any amendment of the Draft Agreement where the essence is not affected in keeping with Thailand’s benefits and policies, Ministry of Foreign Affairs can proceed without seeking another Cabinet consideration; and
2. Approval on the appointment of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs as signatory of the Agreement.
--Cabinet Meeting (Prayut Chan-o-cha) July 21, 2015--