The Ministry of Justice has established a monitoring body to examine the judiciary’s performance in drug, traffic and civil registration cases.

The new team aims to support the ministry’s current campaigns to expedite the resolution of cases, as well as to investigate and resolve irregularities.

According to a January 29 ministry notification, the body has 24 members, and is led by ministry secretary of state Kim Santepheap.

The notification explained that the oversight committee will monitor the courts at all stages of relevant cases, noting that this includes court prosecutors.

The committee is also responsible for reviewing, advising and proposing measures to deal with any irregularities discovered in cases involving drugs, fatal road accidents and civil registration.

Ministry spokesman Chin Malin confirmed on January 30 that the establishment of `the committee is intended to boost the efficiency of the ministry’s current efficiency campaigns.

“To ensure the effectiveness of the work, there needs to be monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in place, and this committee is an important part of that,” he explained.

Soeng Sen Karuna, spokesman for rights group ADHOC, said that in the past he had called for the establishment of an oversight committee that would monitor sub-national authorities and examine irregularities.

“Of course, I support the ministry’s initiative, and I hope it identifies and resolves any instances where a person [of authority] abuses their power or challenges the independence of the courts,” he said.

He believes that if anyone was discovered flouting the law or practising corruption or partisanship, the monitoring body should take the appropriate action, whether this means dismissing an official, or even laying criminal charges.

Sen Karuna said it is crucial that the committee remain independent and have the courage to take action in support of the seventh-mandate government’s reforms.