How Prawit has succeeded where Prayut has failed

[webfact]

OPINION:

How Prawit has succeeded where Prayut has failed

By Tulsathit Taptim 
The Nation

 

Of all people, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan shouldn’t have been surprised by the public uproar over the latter’s luxury wristwatches. In politics, transparency has to do with doubts as much as facts. You can’t keep governing effectively when you are the centre of suspicion, whether you’re innocent or not.
 

Probably it’s not fair, but Prayut staged a coup against the Yingluck government first and put the former prime minister and some of her Cabinet members on trial for alleged corruption later. 

 

The same “principle” should apply where Prawit is concerned. Once serious doubts mount, the man first has to go, and then he can start trying to prove his innocence.

 

Since his controversial rise to power, Prayut has prioritised a campaign against corruption. 

 

To be successful, he must first realise that the problem is not just about crooks receiving bribes or awarding lucrative projects to their own networks. There are the same people everywhere, but it is particularly hard in Thailand to tackle the issue exactly because of the kind of pro-Prawit attitudes on the government side.

 

Thailand’s vicious cycle goes like this: Powerful politicians start by declaring war on corruption, and anyone except their own people are punished.

 

Once those in power face graft accusations themselves, they decry a “conspiracy”, saying the charges were cooked up in order to bring them down. 

 

The powerful politicians then will collapse under the weight of massive scandals, giving way for a new bunch to come in and declare a fresh war on corruption. On and on it has been going.

 

If fighting corruption is all about finding out what your enemies do or did and penalising them, anyone can conquer graft, because that is super easy. The hard part is how to deal with corruption among your own people, or even doubts concerning your own people. This is a problem facing every democratically elected government, and it’s now seriously threatening the Prayut regime.

 

Thais are well aware of this problem, judging from the campaigns against Prawit, which are organised regardless of political ideology. In protecting Prawit, Prayut gave mainstream politicians solid ammunition with which to attack his coup and anti-graft agenda. 

 

The prime minister denounces some of those attacking Prawit as being politically motivated, but the prime minister has no one to blame but himself for the politicisation of the wristwatch affair.

 

In a way, Prawit has succeeded where Prayut has failed. The deputy prime minister has dissolved all the political colours, at least where he is concerned. Many people who had never been united before are now joining hands in an attempt to force him out of the Cabinet. More importantly, Prawit has brought attention to the real reason why corruption is so hard to eradicate in Thailand.

 

By refusing to leave the Cabinet, Prawit has typified Thai politicians’ basic response to corruption charges or doubts. In this country, nobody quits because of mere suspicion. Resignations can make those who appoint them lose face, but failures to resign have led to greater losses. Thailand has seen protests against corruption turn ugly simply because the accused wouldn’t budge, but a bigger price of nepotism is the invincibility of corruption.

 

Fighting graft is about setting a high standard. Low standards include those conspiracy claims, which allow the accused to stay on in their posts, demand legal or parliamentary convictions, which are all but impossible, or have their bosses transfer them to other positions.

 

Prayut and Prawit are contributing to a low standard. They may think they are doing the right thing, but they actually are feeding the fundamentally wrong attitude that’s plagued this country for a very long time. Whether they know it or not, the two are not helping make matters more transparent and they are mocking all the TV ads that seek to make people ashamed of nepotism or bribes.

 

Luxury watches may sound trivial, but the big uproar over them means Thais know how small, unattended cases can lead to bigger, more damaging ones. In fact, the political crisis rocking this country has one root in tolerance of “friendly” corruption. It entails the accused politicians’ reliance on conspiracy claims instead of being ashamed of their deeds, the belief that resignation constitutes guilt, and the public attitude that graft on one side is more acceptable than graft on the other.

 

Prayut has proclaimed a noble agenda. Some have lauded it while others have mocked it, and both views have been understandable. Now the mocking side is expanding, and that is understandable too. In Thailand, graft has been part of a political game rather than considered a perilous national scourge. If things go on like this, there is only one eventual winner – the corruption itself.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30338145

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-07

[CelticBhoy]

"In a way, Prawit has succeeded where Prayut has failed."

 

Of course he has. He has more time on his hands  . . . . .   

[Samui Bodoh]

57 minutes ago, webfact said:

The prime minister denounces some of those attacking Prawit as being politically motivated, but the prime minister has no one to blame but himself for the politicisation of the wristwatch affair.

Good article, and it is true that Prayut has no one to blame but himself.

 

The key point here, and the reason that Prayut (and the corrupt before him) is a failure, isn't as much what they stole but rather the damage they did to the bodies responsible for fighting corruption. Simply put, when a leader uses the anti-corruption bodies corruptly, then they themselves lose all credibility when they are accused. Prayut used the NACC to ensure that Yingluck was 'convicted' while ignoring many other cases (what exactly happened to the nepotism charges against the members of the first 'NLA'?), and thus there is no possible way that the NACC could clear Prawit.

 

Once again Thailand is in a position whereby it does not have a credible anti-corruption body, unless one is sooooooo brain-dead to believe that the NACC is accountable, responsible, transparent, politically neutral and legitimate.

 

Anyone?

 

The circle needs to begin anew. Disband the current NACC (it is beyond redemption) and establish another body; hopefully the next one will maintain a bit of credibility for a while...

 

Sigh.

[mok199]

in my humble opinion,average people accept corruption at high levels of govt.but some things need to be changed. this insane police check stop overkill , the beaches are destroyed and tour buses are causing chaos,when I see an education system so primitive and corrupt I worry about my 3 yr old boy,crumbling sewage and power infustructure so poor that clean rain water becomes dangerous sewage , lawlessness on the roads ,this country needs a complete make over.and.. I read headlines about some old shamless politican with an expensive watch .. the old man club will protect each other until hell freezes.show the average thai and forienger that life in Thailand can be good and affordable again....

Edited February 7, 2018 by mok199
s

[Ossy]

The Junta behave as if the peoples' feelings are unimportant; almost as if the people are asleep and, in many respects, they appear to be. Unless the Thai people wake up and make some noise about the shameful shuffling about of nit-wits at Government House, they will end up with Prayut on the big chair and with Prawit purring at his feet. And, when Prayut goes on about his quest for Thaidness, what he really means is tiredness, since that is what he wants from the masses who he hopes will accept his smiley face to head their nation.

 

Come on, Thailand . . . don't be such a Tiredland and make some bloody noise for your and your next generation's sake, before it's too late.

Edited February 7, 2018 by Ossy
omisson

[yellowboat]

Watching these buffoons just gets more mind numbing by the day.   They just do not have the integrity or the intelligence to be where they are. 

[mtls2005]

3 hours ago, CelticBhoy said:

Of course he has. He has more time on his hands  . . . . . 

 

He's got a bum ticker, assume this is one reason (among several) he's being allowed to stay on? And given his "lifestyle choices" can't seem him outliving Prayuth.

 

Plus he knows where all the bodies are buried.

[spidermike007]

Both of these men are incredibly greedy, and will stop at nothing to amass giant fortunes. Of course they do not want elections. Give up such a lucrative franchise? Lets collect a few billion more dollars before we move on. Besides, who is going to stop us? We are above the law. Any and all laws. And other than a few hundred protestors here and there, nobody is really resisted our despotic reign, anyway. Why not stay on?

 

Little P. - Moving Thailand backwards at an astonishing and alarming pace.

[The Deerhunter]

8 hours ago, CelticBhoy said:

"In a way, Prawit has succeeded where Prayut has failed."

 

Of course he has. He has more time on his hands  . . . . .   

"More time on his hands"  Good one. 555

[Stargeezr]

If Prawit has a bad ticker, it is only borrowed time that he has left, as he claims,

the watches were borrowed as well.

Geezer

[YouYouYou]

Oh blimey, poor Prawit in the media several times a day for like two or more months already. Guess the other 4 million or so corrupt civil servants are lovin it as the heat is off of them. Really whats new? Corruption is endemic from the cadet bobby up to a man like this in his position and everyone in between ...its a pyramid of kickbacks, always has been and will remain so for many years to come regardless. Yep as to who is in power at any given time can then wag their finger at the others and so on, but it still doesnt  make themselves less corrupt ...and so on, and so on.

 

My new neighbour is a top ________________ but the newly refurbed  3 mill+ baht house is not in his name, wonder why? Lovely too to see the daily deliveries of boxes and envelopes but not by Thailand post. Love to tell you more but I'd probably dissapear eh at the hands of one of those in the middle pyramid 'cough' civil servants. 

 

 

 

[joecoolfrog]

10 hours ago, mok199 said:

in my humble opinion,average people accept corruption at high levels of govt.but some things need to be changed. this insane police check stop overkill , the beaches are destroyed and tour buses are causing chaos,when I see an education system so primitive and corrupt I worry about my 3 yr old boy,crumbling sewage and power infustructure so poor that clean rain water becomes dangerous sewage , lawlessness on the roads ,this country needs a complete make over.and.. I read headlines about some old shamless politican with an expensive watch .. the old man club will protect each other until hell freezes.show the average thai and forienger that life in Thailand can be good and affordable again....

To expand upon your first point ;

I think high end corruption is accepted providing the masses see some benefit to themselves .

If the economy is stalling , freedom of speech eroded , democratic elections suspended , political expression banned , then the people may well yearn again for the corrupt governance they once knew.

Edited February 7, 2018 by joecoolfrog

[William C F Pierce]

A very good comment from "The Nation" & "Thai Visa", but it would be better if they both understood English. The word GRAFT is an English word that means to WORK HARD. Does the

ANTI-GRAFT of Thailand really mean ANTI-WORKING HARD? Therefore is it any wonder that the country is always in a mess, because they never understand what or know what they are talking about. They do talk about their level of education, but there is a big difference between education and intelligence.

[Chongalulu]

17 hours ago, William C F Pierce said:

A very good comment from "The Nation" & "Thai Visa", but it would be better if they both understood English. The word GRAFT is an English word that means to WORK HARD. Does the

ANTI-GRAFT of Thailand really mean ANTI-WORKING HARD? Therefore is it any wonder that the country is always in a mess, because they never understand what or know what they are talking about. They do talk about their level of education, but there is a big difference between education and intelligence.

You’d think they’d take the time to find out it was 'Grift' they meant,but as that means only small scale swindling even that is inaccurate. 

I know the education system lets them down but I sometimes wonder if the raw material is also lacking when I see some of the appalling lack of common sense shown in so many aspects.

[canuckamuck]

 

 

Hate to defend the educations of The Nation's editors but

Quote

Graft, as understood in American English, is a form of political corruption, being the unscrupulous use of a politician's authority for personal gain. The term has its origins in the medical procedure whereby tissue is removed from one location and attached to another for which it was not originally intended. Similarly, political graft occurs when funds intended for public projects are intentionally misdirected in order to maximize the benefits to private interests.  Link wiki

 

Edited February 9, 2018 by canuckamuck

[Ossy]

20 hours ago, William C F Pierce said:

A very good comment from "The Nation" & "Thai Visa", but it would be better if they both understood English. The word GRAFT is an English word that means to WORK HARD. Does the

ANTI-GRAFT of Thailand really mean ANTI-WORKING HARD? Therefore is it any wonder that the country is always in a mess, because they never understand what or know what they are talking about. They do talk about their level of education, but there is a big difference between education and intelligence.

Not sure whether you're serious, here, WCFP, with your 'bad English' criticism of those two fine news media, but 'graft', a term originating in US, has even made it to the 'posh' English dictionaries; here's the Cambridge deftn:

graft noun (INFLUENCE)

› [ U ] mainly US the act of getting money or advantage through the dishonest use of political power and influence:

The whole government was riddled with graft, bribery, and corruption.

 

Given the tone of your post, though, I think you'll be happy to add this modern meaning of graft to those more deeply rooted in your dictionary.

Personally, I, too, put some of the blame for Thailand's susceptibility to graft on its dreadfully passive education, whereby, from what I read, kids are mostly encouraged to rote learn old dogmas, rather than to be lectured in the pros and cons of life and decision-making and the difference, from a humanity perspective, between lying and honesty and giving and taking.

I spent a sickening half-hour, earlier, reading about Thailand's international standing on its perceived corruption rating and, more worryingly, the depth that the Junta is directly involved in corruption . . . and graft. Just pop these key words - the diplomat thai junta corruption - into Google and prepare to be enraged  "Junta out, Junta out, Junta out" will soon be the cry.

 

[William C F Pierce]

On 09/02/2018 at 2:14 AM, canuckamuck said:

 

 

Hate to defend the educations of The Nation's editors but

 

Wrong the origins of the word graft goes back beyond the medical use. Its use proceeds this in its use in farming as with grafting trees. Hence the meaning deriving to work hard. Quoting it as American English to mean corruption is in itself a corruption of the English Language.

[William C F Pierce]

On 09/02/2018 at 4:59 AM, Ossy said:

Not sure whether you're serious, here, WCFP, with your 'bad English' criticism of those two fine news media, but 'graft', a term originating in US, has even made it to the 'posh' English dictionaries; here's the Cambridge deftn:

graft noun (INFLUENCE)

› [ U ] mainly US the act of getting money or advantage through the dishonest use of political power and influence:

The whole government was riddled with graft, bribery, and corruption.

 

Given the tone of your post, though, I think you'll be happy to add this modern meaning of graft to those more deeply rooted in your dictionary.

Personally, I, too, put some of the blame for Thailand's susceptibility to graft on its dreadfully passive education, whereby, from what I read, kids are mostly encouraged to rote learn old dogmas, rather than to be lectured in the pros and cons of life and decision-making and the difference, from a humanity perspective, between lying and honesty and giving and taking.

I spent a sickening half-hour, earlier, reading about Thailand's international standing on its perceived corruption rating and, more worryingly, the depth that the Junta is directly involved in corruption . . . and graft. Just pop these key words - the diplomat thai junta corruption - into Google and prepare to be enraged  "Junta out, Junta out, Junta out" will soon be the cry.

 

"The UK ENglish is hard graft" "A grafter is someone who works hard" "Originally grafting was digging massive defensive earthworks" which takes it  well back into English History. The earliest dates being mid 19Th Century.

 

a grafter | WordReference Forum

[Odysseus123]

36 minutes ago, William C F Pierce said:

"The UK ENglish is hard graft" "A grafter is someone who works hard" "Originally grafting was digging massive defensive earthworks" which takes it  well back into English History. The earliest dates being mid 19Th Century.

 

a grafter | WordReference Forum

Hence Winston Churchill's famous study..

 

 "History of the Quite Close to English Speaking  Peoples."

 

Back to graft and mess'rs Prayuth and Prawit-altho' just as to why their names should be associated with graft is quite bewildering.Really.

Edited March 4, 2018 by Odysseus123

[canuckamuck]

3 hours ago, William C F Pierce said:

Wrong the origins of the word graft goes back beyond the medical use. Its use proceeds this in its use in farming as with grafting trees. Hence the meaning deriving to work hard. Quoting it as American English to mean corruption is in itself a corruption of the English Language.

I always found that using the term graft to mean hard work also sounds a bit weird also. Grafting might be hard, but not as hard shoveling coal or a thousand other laborious tasks. To my ear it is almost as strange as the phrase 'taking the piss'. A very unappealing image is evoked which can not be related to the intended usage. But perhaps I misunderstand. It is possible, I suppose, that The British have a fondness for urine that North Americans have failed to embrace.

[seminomadic]

On 2/8/2018 at 3:53 PM, William C F Pierce said:

A very good comment from "The Nation" & "Thai Visa", but it would be better if they both understood English. The word GRAFT is an English word that means to WORK HARD. Does the

ANTI-GRAFT of Thailand really mean ANTI-WORKING HARD? Therefore is it any wonder that the country is always in a mess, because they never understand what or know what they are talking about. They do talk about their level of education, but there is a big difference between education and intelligence.

 

Whatever your esoteric interpretation of the word, the writers are, in fact, using the word correctly. We're in the 21st century. The word means the same as bribes but with gifts rather than money. It's you who needs the English lessons, DA.

 

Check yourself before you criticize.

[JAG]

The above discussion on the current meaning of "graft" is a fascinating vignette on the dynamics of how languages change. However it does not touch upon the critical question which underlies the whole business.

 

Does Mickey Mouse wear a General Prawit watch?

[robblok]

Thailand’s vicious cycle goes like this: Powerful politicians start by declaring war on corruption, and anyone except their own people are punished.

 

Once those in power face graft accusations themselves, they decry a “conspiracy”, saying the charges were cooked up in order to bring them down.

 

This is exactly how i see it, and if you want corruption of a current government investigated you wil have to wait till it finally loses its power. Sad actually as it means people have so much time to hide all evidence and they will do all they can to stay in power so their crimes cannot be prosecuted. 

[ratcatcher]

2 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

I always found that using the term graft to mean hard work also sounds a bit weird also. Grafting might be hard, but not as hard shoveling coal or a thousand other laborious tasks. To my ear it is almost as strange as the phrase 'taking the piss'. A very unappealing image is evoked which can not be related to the intended usage. But perhaps I misunderstand. It is possible, I suppose, that The British have a fondness for urine that North Americans have failed to embrace.

Well, seeing as urine a humorous mood, the piss taking British may well be pissed off with that comment, but North Americans, are merely pissed when offended.

[greenchair]

Prawit is one of the few higher ups that is allowed to be scrutinised, therefore , he is taking all the heat. He is a great sideshow to keep the public focused, in order to divert attention from more serious issues. 

 Some people very near to the pm, or even the pm himself, are considered untouchable in regards to scrutiny of assets and graft and cronyism .

They are so untouchable, no newspaper, fb page, or even foreign media or government dare to mention names. 

If Prawit is removed. 

Where do you think all that frustration and attention will be focused next? ?

Poor Prawit, his watches are but a drop in the ocean .

[Artisi]

On ‎8‎/‎02‎/‎2018 at 3:53 PM, William C F Pierce said:

A very good comment from "The Nation" & "Thai Visa", but it would be better if they both understood English. The word GRAFT is an English word that means to WORK HARD. Does the

ANTI-GRAFT of Thailand really mean ANTI-WORKING HARD? Therefore is it any wonder that the country is always in a mess, because they never understand what or know what they are talking about. They do talk about their level of education, but there is a big difference between education and intelligence.

Guess you need to do a little more research on the understanding of draft yourself. "Graft" in English English , is slang for work (usually hard work),  whereas " graft" is being used here as slang for corruption which the majority of intelligent people understand although the educated ones may not. 

[ratcatcher]

8 minutes ago, greenchair said:

Prawit is one of the few higher ups that is allowed to be scrutinised, therefore , he is taking all the heat. He is a great sideshow to keep the public focused, in order to divert attention from more serious issues. 

 Some people very near to the pm, or even the pm himself, are considered untouchable in regards to scrutiny of assets and graft and cronyism .

They are so untouchable, no newspaper, fb page, or even foreign media or government dare to mention names. 

If Prawit is removed. 

Where do you think all that frustration and attention will be focused next? ?

Poor Prawit, his watches are but a drop in the ocean .

I agree with your comment about Prawit, the "Jolly General" ,every government needs a sort of court jester. In fact many of us remember the antics of Thaksin's sidekick , one Chalerm Yubamrung who along with a couple of his rowdy sons kept us entertained over the years with his fondness for "ear medicine".

Edited March 5, 2018 by ratcatcher

[Artisi]

5 minutes ago, ratcatcher said:

I agree with your comment about Prawit, every government needs a sort of court jester. In fact many of us remember the antics of Thaksin's sidekick , one Chalerm Yubamrung who along with a couple of his rowdy sons kept us entertained over the years with his fondness for "ear medicine".

good call, although the criminal off-spring certainly weren't entertaining , stand-over tactics, murder, and who knows what else --  is another story.

[ratcatcher]

2 minutes ago, Artisi said:

good call, although the criminal off-spring certainly weren't entertaining , stand-over tactics, murder, and who knows what else --  is another story.

Well, I see your point, to a point, but I considered that the fact that  Duangchalerm, a murderer of a police officer went on to become an officer in the RTP, because he "was skilled at using a pistol",  and the other Wanchalerm went on to lesser fame as Minister of Clean Toilets to be entertaining in a dark, Thailand sort of humour..

[greenchair]

29 minutes ago, ratcatcher said:

I agree with your comment about Prawit, the "Jolly General" ,every government needs a sort of court jester. In fact many of us remember the antics of Thaksin's sidekick , one Chalerm Yubamrung who along with a couple of his rowdy sons kept us entertained over the years with his fondness for "ear medicine".

That sums it up nicely.

He's the court jester. 

He's probably the least corrupt of them all.