“ASEAN Anti-Corruption Youth Camp”

Welcoming Remark

by

Prof. Vicha Mahakhun

Commissioner, National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)

At the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission,

Nonthaburi, Thailand

1 May 2013

Mr. Panthep Klanarongran, NACC President,

Commissioners,

Prof. Dr. Chira Hongladarom,

Distinguished Guests,

Resource Persons,

Participants,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Morning,

Today, I deem it a great honor to make this welcoming remark at the start of the “ASEAN Anti-Corruption Youth Camp” this morning. I welcome you as NACC Commissioner who takes care of Sanya Dharmasakti Anti-Corruption Institute (SDI). The NACC is the promoter and guardian of justice in Thailand with the main purpose of fighting against corruption. Our duty is to promote transparency and integrity, and to balance the twin elements of impartiality and fairness - a task we take with great responsibility, duty, and pride. On behalf of Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission and SDI, may I wish you all a very warm welcome, not only to Thailand but also to the opening of this Youth Camp. Many of you have traveled from afar, and come to share great ideas and experiences, all in the single purpose of fighting corruption.

Before going any further, I would like to express the NACC’s gratitude to Foundation for International Human Resource Development (FIHRD) who joins with Sanya Dharmasakti Anti-Corruption Institute (SDI) for providing the technical support to this project, and delegates from ASEAN countries, who are here to share their experience.

Across the region, there are already many examples of youth who have worked together to make a difference for their communities and countries. The former participants of the ship for Southeast Asia Youth Program are good examples. Many of them have been contacting and working together in organizing useful activities up to the present. For youth participants in this Youth Camp, you are young ambassadors of your countries. All of you will eventually be the ASEAN leaders of tomorrow. I believe you can be a positive force for change and make a difference in your countries and this region. From the very outset, I views this Youth Camp as the first of the series, as a foundation to be built upon in the future. I am certain that this Camp will not only provide participants with the opportunity to discuss and share ideas of mutual interest, but will also allow participants to interact with one another. Through such interactions, all participants will have new friends, gain fresh perspective as well as display commitment to closer cooperation to promote the anti-corruption efforts of the region in the years to come.

The corruption is the important problem that has effect on the whole society and country. It is dangerous not only for the human being but also young generation of our community and cause destruction of society. The new NACC Organic Act encompasses comprehensive revisions and additions add more “enforcement mechanisms” to the NACC’s anti-corruption mandate. Today, NACC is implementing many anti-corruption programs and projects so as to deploy those enforcement mechanisms. But this Camp is one of NACC’s flagship projects.

Over the next nine days I shall follow the Camp with great interest as all participants are going to share with each other their experiences. I also hope to learn much from the presentations to be given by resource persons who are academia and practitioner in the field of anti-corruption.

Ladies and gentlemen,

There is a great wealth of experience in the room here this morning. I would like to sincerely thank all delegates for travelling from your countries to be here – I feel that this is itself is a clear indication of the significance and importance of this event.

So without taking up any more of our valuable time it is my great pleasure that I wish you a fruitful gathering, as well as memorable, engaging and enjoyable experience over the next nine days, and also express the hope that you will find a little time to rest and enjoy your stay in this Land of Smiles.

Thank you for your kind attention and Sawasdee Krub.