Police Shame Thailand

[john b good]

How police shame our country

By: Sanitsuda Ekachai

Published: 5/02/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

It is a big slap in the face. And if the police insist they are not mad at the Justice Ministry for going public with the videotape evidence in the Santika Club inferno which contradicts the police's findings, they are simply lying.

Last week, the police bigwigs held a big press conference to announce that they had arrested and charged Saravuth Ariya, the lead singer of the rock band Burn, for causing the New Year fire which killed 66 people and injured hundreds of party-goers.

Two days later, Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga showed video footage which suggested the police had arrested a scapegoat.

[neverdie]

To answer your initial question, I would say, "No".

Thanks for the article jbg

[Mobi]

Well, as a couple of recent threads have told us, even the UN considers the Thai Police to be organised criminals, so this story comes as absolutely no surprise to me.

Anyone who defends the Thai Police is truly deluded.

I recently met up with a couple of farangs who were arrested in Pattaya and spent a few days in a police cell. They told me that while they were treated quite well, the Thai prisoners in the adjacent cell were constantly screaming and yelling out as they were being beaten by the police to extract confessions.

I have no doubt that it is true.

[wasabi]

I do think the Thai police are as the article says but leaders of the US financial industry are starting to seem even more corrupt to me with their flagrant abuse of the bailout funds. Both situations make our respective countries develop slower than they should and limits opportunities for the average citizen.

[justanothercybertosser]

Well, as a couple of recent threads have told us, even the UN considers the Thai Police to be organised criminals, so this story comes as absolutely no surprise to me.

Anyone who defends the Thai Police is truly deluded.

I recently met up with a couple of farangs who were arrested in Pattaya and spent a few days in a police cell. They told me that while they were treated quite well, the Thai prisoners in the adjacent cell were constantly screaming and yelling out as they were being beaten by the police to extract confessions.

I have no doubt that it is true.

I am one of those truly deluded ones.

The problems of Thai police is not entirely the fault of the police, but has to be seen in context.

It is easy to accuse police of corruption, because we see it every day. But, what we do not see is that the police budgets are a joke. To be able to perform investigations, officers often do have to pay from their own pocket petrol and/or hotels. They have to buy their own computers, or surveillance equipment. If they want internet, they have to pay themselves for the connections. They have to buy their own weapons and uniform.

Police stations get budgets for basics like electricity and such. The remainder the stations have to organize themselves in order to be able to operate.

The article mentioned the competition with army. Army constantly interferes in police turf, and forces the police to compete. What we do not see is that army is at least equally corrupt, but has, especially since the military coup, much larger budgets to play with. Police is now, since the Democrat takeover, under intense political pressure after having been almost dismantled by the co-conspirators of that power grab.

Anybody is allowed now to blame the police for anything, almost a free for all. The police though is only a symptom of a completely dysfunctional system, a presently politically convenient scapegoat that allows far more harmful corruption of the system to pass almost unnoticed.

The justice ministry? Have you read some of the recent interviews and statements of the justice minister? Some of what that man plans has very little to do with justice under an aspiring democratic system, and is more at home in a dictatorship.

[Shotime]

I do think the Thai police are as the article says but leaders of the US financial industry are starting to seem even more corrupt to me with their flagrant abuse of the bailout funds. Both situations make our respective countries develop slower than they should and limits opportunities for the average citizen.

I couldn't agree more. This, here in Thailand, is small scale corruption. I'm not in that serious of a mood to really spew some venom, but it's all pretty fuc_ked up. I still don't understand (In other words, I'm still one of those that cannot comprehend the human condition) why those bankers are not publicly hung.

[Sabum]

Sorry buy MONEY is not as important as murder and torture! How can you compare people stealing money to a large powerful organised crime syndicate that can murder, torture and wrongfully imprison with impunity. Id rather have my money stolen then lose an arm or my life thanks!

As to the comments leaning towards sympathy towards the police because their budget is low and they have to "compete" with the military.... for the love of god who cares? They dont need to compete with another corrupt organisation that moves in on their "turf" and takes some of their easily earned illegal money. They NEED to uphold the law and help Thai citizens instead of terrorise them and take from them! Low beudget does not excuse theft and extortion and crime from the very people that are supposed to protect the country from those very things.

Incredible....

[Shotime]

You don't think murder/torture were involved with the banks stealing all that money? It's nice to compartmentalize things, but, a wise man, once said, murder is the logical consequence of business.

Quick edit to add that many people are now homeless, a few have killed themselves, and a few others will probably get killed.

This was about the terrible tragedy at the nightclub. I'm not sure this was murder/torture. More like a very tragic event, and, yes, I still think the parties involved with the bank scandal are more "important." Whatever that means.

Edited February 5, 2009 by Shotime

[Mobi]

<br />Sorry buy MONEY is not as important as murder and torture! How can you compare people stealing money to a large powerful organised crime syndicate that can murder, torture and wrongfully imprison with impunity. Id rather have my money stolen then lose an arm or my life thanks!<br /><br />As to the comments leaning towards sympathy towards the police because their budget is low and they have to "compete" with the military.... for the love of god who cares? They dont need to compete with another corrupt organisation that moves in on their "turf" and takes some of their easily earned illegal money. They NEED to uphold the law and help Thai citizens instead of terrorise them and take from them! Low beudget does not excuse theft and extortion and crime from the very people that are supposed to protect the country from those very things.<br /><br />Incredible....<br />

I agree.

It makes me very sad to read these apologists trying to make excuses for a bunch or murdering, thieving, evil murders, who invariably pick on the most disadvantaged and poor, and those who are unable to defend themselves. If you read the UN report you will find that the since conception of the Thai Police Force back in the early fifties,it has been a vehicle primarily to profit from organised crime.

We are not talking about traffic police supplementing their low salaries with minor back handers at road blocks, we are talking about murder and robbery on a major scale, and total failure to investigate major crimes - be it fires, contract killings, illegal casinos etc, as the BIB are in the pay of influential people, and are often partners in the crimes themselves.

Sanitsuda Ekachai is a highly respected, brave Thai journalist, who is never afraid to speak out on major issues and who knows more about what goes on in this country than all of us farangs put together.

The apologists would do well to read again what she has written.

Edited February 5, 2009 by Mobi

[Sabum]

You don't think murder/torture were involved with the banks stealing all that money? It's nice to compartmentalize things, but, a wise man, once said, murder is the logical consequence of business.

Quick edit to add that many people are now homeless, a few have killed themselves, and a few others will probably get killed.

This was about the terrible tragedy at the nightclub. I'm not sure this was murder/torture. More like a very tragic event, and, yes, I still think the parties involved with the bank scandal are more "important." Whatever that means.

No Im not comparing the money stealers to just Zantica... but rather the police and their criminal behaviour as a whole in Thailand including Zantica which is just another example out of thousands. You probably havent a clue what Im talking about... I still dont understand how falangs living in this country can isolate themselves so well that they dont even read or hear about the horrible things going on around them daily.

[justanothercybertosser]

The apologists would do well to read again what she has written.

The problem here is that the police would not be able to even pay for the most basic necessities, such as crime investigations, if they would not supplement the completely insufficient budget from profits of illegal businesses. Such a system is a breeding ground for corruption and crime.

Political interference and constant problems over jurisdiction with the far more powerful (and at least equally corrupt) military do their part as well.

Yes, there are a lot of completely dirty police officers, but there also many good and honest officers trying to do the best they can. You can't just stereotype every officer as a criminal.

Again - this has to be seen in context with the whole society. Otherwise this just ends up another unintelligent barfly rant.

Look at the army, please, in comparison. Nobody controls the army except the army. The army has much larger funds to syphon off from. The army owns directly two TV stations, and several radio stations. They have massive budgets of arms procurement to syphon off from. The after the 2006 coup revamped ISOC gives them huge powers over all security matters (the PM is only the nominal head, while military runs the day to day procedures).

The army has been accused of systematic torture in the South by several international watchdogs, the Rohinya story is still fresh.

Most here have very little idea about police corruption and budgets. People read one snippet or the other in the paper, and believe they know what it is about. You are mistaken. What you should know you rarely read, unfortunately.

What are the most important crimes police benefits from? It's not drugs and murder, as you imply. The basic moneys come from local protection of motorcycle taxi stands, casinos, underground lottery, and similar. A police station would not function without that. WHy did the army in 2006 (and still ongoing) got major improvements, while police got nothing. It's easy to blame police for everything, but when no government sees the necessity to grant police budgets they can actually work with, police reform will stay empty talk.

Murder and drugs is very much an army business as well. Best gunmen and bodyguards - you hire them from the army. Control of cross border drug trade - army.

Thailand has a policeforce it deserves, nothing more, nothing less - a corrupt police that suits a corrupt system.

[spencerdharmagrafix]

The apologists would do well to read again what she has written.

The problem here is that the police would not be able to even pay for the most basic necessities, such as crime investigations, if they would not supplement the completely insufficient budget from profits of illegal businesses. Such a system is a breeding ground for corruption and crime.

Political interference and constant problems over jurisdiction with the far more powerful (and at least equally corrupt) military do their part as well.

Yes, there are a lot of completely dirty police officers, but there also many good and honest officers trying to do the best they can. You can't just stereotype every officer as a criminal.

Again - this has to be seen in context with the whole society. Otherwise this just ends up another unintelligent barfly rant.

Look at the army, please, in comparison. Nobody controls the army except the army. The army has much larger funds to syphon off from. The army owns directly two TV stations, and several radio stations. They have massive budgets of arms procurement to syphon off from. The after the 2006 coup revamped ISOC gives them huge powers over all security matters (the PM is only the nominal head, while military runs the day to day procedures).

The army has been accused of systematic torture in the South by several international watchdogs, the Rohinya story is still fresh.

Most here have very little idea about police corruption and budgets. People read one snippet or the other in the paper, and believe they know what it is about. You are mistaken. What you should know you rarely read, unfortunately.

What are the most important crimes police benefits from? It's not drugs and murder, as you imply. The basic moneys come from local protection of motorcycle taxi stands, casinos, underground lottery, and similar. A police station would not function without that. WHy did the army in 2006 (and still ongoing) got major improvements, while police got nothing. It's easy to blame police for everything, but when no government sees the necessity to grant police budgets they can actually work with, police reform will stay empty talk.

Murder and drugs is very much an army business as well. Best gunmen and bodyguards - you hire them from the army. Control of cross border drug trade - army.

Thailand has a policeforce it deserves, nothing more, nothing less - a corrupt police that suits a corrupt system.

Totally! - ap[rat from the corruption though i must say they are also uneducated and stupid. I have worked with Thai cops and once had one as a company partner - and to see how psychologically immature some of them were and think they are given loaded guns to play with. I mean i remember once going to restaurant with a cop and halfway through the meal (and beer) he started showing off his italian gucci shoulder holster with the 38 revolver saying "suay mai?" (is it pretty?) - we have seen several cops lose their tempers and klill farang dead for no reason on several occasions, so it is obvious that half the officers are not apt to be trusted with weapons. (maybe 89%)

[BigSnake]

They were looking for a Scapegoat to please their boss, sad but it happen oh so often with high profile cases

[spencerdharmagrafix]

The apologists would do well to read again what she has written.

The problem here is that the police would not be able to even pay for the most basic necessities, such as crime investigations, if they would not supplement the completely insufficient budget from profits of illegal businesses. Such a system is a breeding ground for corruption and crime.

Political interference and constant problems over jurisdiction with the far more powerful (and at least equally corrupt) military do their part as well.

Yes, there are a lot of completely dirty police officers, but there also many good and honest officers trying to do the best they can. You can't just stereotype every officer as a criminal.

Again - this has to be seen in context with the whole society. Otherwise this just ends up another unintelligent barfly rant.

Look at the army, please, in comparison. Nobody controls the army except the army. The army has much larger funds to syphon off from. The army owns directly two TV stations, and several radio stations. They have massive budgets of arms procurement to syphon off from. The after the 2006 coup revamped ISOC gives them huge powers over all security matters (the PM is only the nominal head, while military runs the day to day procedures).

The army has been accused of systematic torture in the South by several international watchdogs, the Rohinya story is still fresh.

Most here have very little idea about police corruption and budgets. People read one snippet or the other in the paper, and believe they know what it is about. You are mistaken. What you should know you rarely read, unfortunately.

What are the most important crimes police benefits from? It's not drugs and murder, as you imply. The basic moneys come from local protection of motorcycle taxi stands, casinos, underground lottery, and similar. A police station would not function without that. WHy did the army in 2006 (and still ongoing) got major improvements, while police got nothing. It's easy to blame police for everything, but when no government sees the necessity to grant police budgets they can actually work with, police reform will stay empty talk.

Murder and drugs is very much an army business as well. Best gunmen and bodyguards - you hire them from the army. Control of cross border drug trade - army.

Thailand has a policeforce it deserves, nothing more, nothing less - a corrupt police that suits a corrupt system.

Totally! - ap[rat from the corruption though i must say they are also uneducated and stupid. I have worked with Thai cops and once had one as a company partner - and to see how psychologically immature some of them were and think they are given loaded guns to play with. I mean i remember once going to restaurant with a cop and halfway through the meal (and beer) he started showing off his italian gucci shoulder holster with the 38 revolver saying "suay mai?" (is it pretty?) - we have seen several cops lose their tempers and klill farang dead for no reason on several occasions, so it is obvious that half the officers are not apt to be trusted with weapons. (maybe 89%)

I met also an army guy who was with a ministry raising foreign funds (*charity) which was then moved into gold - the fellow was trying to find a buyer for 50 tons of gold that he and his fellow officers were going to sell and steal from the national treasury. as well as raise funds for fake charites and steal all the money from foreign bleeding heart organisations and us foreign aid funds.

shame i lost his contact as i was going to report him - anyway thats what goes on in the army. remember the 20 million bahrt stolen from donations for the HP Tuad statue in hua hin? or the 2 milion baht stiolen from an ampher office from donations to help tsunami victims?

well ... welcome to Amazing Thailand

[misterman21]

I think this is a little unfair. If you were all a little more observent you would have seen the article featured in the BKK Post just a few days ago showing a picture of smiling BIB, following the new justice ministers ingenious proposal, dancing to 'funky' music. This is a genuine incentive in order to improve the mental health of the police.

I couldn't make this stuff up

Edited February 5, 2009 by misterman21

[misterman21]

The apologists would do well to read again what she has written.

The problem here is that the police would not be able to even pay for the most basic necessities, such as crime investigations, if they would not supplement the completely insufficient budget from profits of illegal businesses. Such a system is a breeding ground for corruption and crime.

Political interference and constant problems over jurisdiction with the far more powerful (and at least equally corrupt) military do their part as well.

Yes, there are a lot of completely dirty police officers, but there also many good and honest officers trying to do the best they can. You can't just stereotype every officer as a criminal.

Again - this has to be seen in context with the whole society. Otherwise this just ends up another unintelligent barfly rant.

Look at the army, please, in comparison. Nobody controls the army except the army. The army has much larger funds to syphon off from. The army owns directly two TV stations, and several radio stations. They have massive budgets of arms procurement to syphon off from. The after the 2006 coup revamped ISOC gives them huge powers over all security matters (the PM is only the nominal head, while military runs the day to day procedures).

The army has been accused of systematic torture in the South by several international watchdogs, the Rohinya story is still fresh.

Most here have very little idea about police corruption and budgets. People read one snippet or the other in the paper, and believe they know what it is about. You are mistaken. What you should know you rarely read, unfortunately.

What are the most important crimes police benefits from? It's not drugs and murder, as you imply. The basic moneys come from local protection of motorcycle taxi stands, casinos, underground lottery, and similar. A police station would not function without that. WHy did the army in 2006 (and still ongoing) got major improvements, while police got nothing. It's easy to blame police for everything, but when no government sees the necessity to grant police budgets they can actually work with, police reform will stay empty talk.

Murder and drugs is very much an army business as well. Best gunmen and bodyguards - you hire them from the army. Control of cross border drug trade - army.

Thailand has a policeforce it deserves, nothing more, nothing less - a corrupt police that suits a corrupt system.

Totally! - ap[rat from the corruption though i must say they are also uneducated and stupid. I have worked with Thai cops and once had one as a company partner - and to see how psychologically immature some of them were and think they are given loaded guns to play with. I mean i remember once going to restaurant with a cop and halfway through the meal (and beer) he started showing off his italian gucci shoulder holster with the 38 revolver saying "suay mai?" (is it pretty?) - we have seen several cops lose their tempers and klill farang dead for no reason on several occasions, so it is obvious that half the officers are not apt to be trusted with weapons. (maybe 89%)

I met also an army guy who was with a ministry raising foreign funds (*charity) which was then moved into gold - the fellow was trying to find a buyer for 50 tons of gold that he and his fellow officers were going to sell and steal from the national treasury. as well as raise funds for fake charites and steal all the money from foreign bleeding heart organisations and us foreign aid funds.

shame i lost his contact as i was going to report him - anyway thats what goes on in the army. remember the 20 million bahrt stolen from donations for the HP Tuad statue in hua hin? or the 2 milion baht stiolen from an ampher office from donations to help tsunami victims?

well ... welcome to Amazing Thailand

Does anyone recall the reported 400 billion or so baht left in the will of an army general (7 to 10 years ago). His salary was approx. 40k per month - but he was an avid saver

[Boater]

Does anyone recall the reported 400 billion or so baht left in the will of an army general (7 to 10 years ago). His salary was approx. 40k per month - but he was an avid saver

There is also another Army General in BKK now with a Diamond worth 8 Billion THB ....... hmmmmmmmm

[henryalleman]

The apologists would do well to read again what she has written.

The problem here is that the police would not be able to even pay for the most basic necessities, such as crime investigations, if they would not supplement the completely insufficient budget from profits of illegal businesses. Such a system is a breeding ground for corruption and crime.

Political interference and constant problems over jurisdiction with the far more powerful (and at least equally corrupt) military do their part as well.

Yes, there are a lot of completely dirty police officers, but there also many good and honest officers trying to do the best they can. You can't just stereotype every officer as a criminal.

Again - this has to be seen in context with the whole society. Otherwise this just ends up another unintelligent barfly rant.

Look at the army, please, in comparison. Nobody controls the army except the army. The army has much larger funds to syphon off from. The army owns directly two TV stations, and several radio stations. They have massive budgets of arms procurement to syphon off from. The after the 2006 coup revamped ISOC gives them huge powers over all security matters (the PM is only the nominal head, while military runs the day to day procedures).

The army has been accused of systematic torture in the South by several international watchdogs, the Rohinya story is still fresh.

Most here have very little idea about police corruption and budgets. People read one snippet or the other in the paper, and believe they know what it is about. You are mistaken. What you should know you rarely read, unfortunately.

What are the most important crimes police benefits from? It's not drugs and murder, as you imply. The basic moneys come from local protection of motorcycle taxi stands, casinos, underground lottery, and similar. A police station would not function without that. WHy did the army in 2006 (and still ongoing) got major improvements, while police got nothing. It's easy to blame police for everything, but when no government sees the necessity to grant police budgets they can actually work with, police reform will stay empty talk.

Murder and drugs is very much an army business as well. Best gunmen and bodyguards - you hire them from the army. Control of cross border drug trade - army.

Thailand has a policeforce it deserves, nothing more, nothing less - a corrupt police that suits a corrupt system.

Totally! - ap[rat from the corruption though i must say they are also uneducated and stupid. I have worked with Thai cops and once had one as a company partner - and to see how psychologically immature some of them were and think they are given loaded guns to play with. I mean i remember once going to restaurant with a cop and halfway through the meal (and beer) he started showing off his italian gucci shoulder holster with the 38 revolver saying "suay mai?" (is it pretty?) - we have seen several cops lose their tempers and klill farang dead for no reason on several occasions, so it is obvious that half the officers are not apt to be trusted with weapons. (maybe 89%)

I met also an army guy who was with a ministry raising foreign funds (*charity) which was then moved into gold - the fellow was trying to find a buyer for 50 tons of gold that he and his fellow officers were going to sell and steal from the national treasury. as well as raise funds for fake charites and steal all the money from foreign bleeding heart organisations and us foreign aid funds.

shame i lost his contact as i was going to report him - anyway thats what goes on in the army. remember the 20 million bahrt stolen from donations for the HP Tuad statue in hua hin? or the 2 milion baht stiolen from an ampher office from donations to help tsunami victims?

well ... welcome to Amazing Thailand

And then you not yet mention the extortion of semi government companies. Where some generals demanded several millions of Baht. That even one moment the staff was worried it would jeopardise the payment of their salary.

For privacy reasons I can't give company names.

NOTHING WILL CHANGE IN THAILAND FOR THE BETTER, AS LONG THAT THE POWER OF THE ARMY IS NOT BROKEN.

The only real power in Thailand is the army, regardless who win the elections or is PM. In reality Thailand was-is and will remain a military dictatorship. Because nothing can and will happening without their permission.

Its a shame we can not discuss this in detail because its against the forum rules.

In this light you must also see the fact that Thailand have an corrupt police force. because what can you expect from heavily underpaid policemen. Do you realy think a policeman can make ends meet withouth his extras. This is in no way defending corruption, I despise it. But I understand the reason why. You simply can't demand high performance from underpaid people.

And a corrupt police force is in the benefit of the army because its drive the attention away from the real bandits.

[Seneque]

I do think the Thai police are as the article says but leaders of the US financial industry are starting to seem even more corrupt to me with their flagrant abuse of the bailout funds. Both situations make our respective countries develop slower than they should and limits opportunities for the average citizen.

I could not agree more ... and it is rather disturbing to see all that happen shamelessly.

[Miserere]

The police are partly responsible for Thailand loosing its face and respect in the eyes of the world.

Oh no wait.....

[sassienie]

To answer your initial question, I would say, "No".

Thanks for the article jbg

Agreed.

Old habits, die hard.

[UncleFrank]

My information says the Lumpini Police chief pays 35,000 a day to keep his position.

Big money in Police work.

[dynabob]

at least they exspose it.now take ireland ,fiddleing overtime,planting drugs,gun's,exsploives assault,murder ,alcoholics,wife beaters and guess who investagates any complaint made against them they do .even after many proven overtime frauds they still sign themselves in and out of work .amnesty international has condemmed them many times.they promote themselves as one of the most highly trained forces in the world.a true story about 4years ago after a tip off about a bank hold up by a dublin based gang the garda(irish police) decided to ambush and murder the gang.they set up survailence the gang pulled up outside bank and one of the most highly trained police forces in the world surrounded the car and opened fire with their uzi's and shot at each other 3 garda dead several wounded and the bank robbers got out of car and walked away.i kid you not

[cookyboy]

Well, as a couple of recent threads have told us, even the UN considers the Thai Police to be organised criminals, so this story comes as absolutely no surprise to me.

Anyone who defends the Thai Police is truly deluded.

I recently met up with a couple of farangs who were arrested in Pattaya and spent a few days in a police cell. They told me that while they were treated quite well, the Thai prisoners in the adjacent cell were constantly screaming and yelling out as they were being beaten by the police to extract confessions.

I have no doubt that it is true.

I am one of those truly deluded ones.

The problems of Thai police is not entirely the fault of the police, but has to be seen in context.

It is easy to accuse police of corruption, because we see it every day. But, what we do not see is that the police budgets are a joke. To be able to perform investigations, officers often do have to pay from their own pocket petrol and/or hotels. They have to buy their own computers, or surveillance equipment. If they want internet, they have to pay themselves for the connections. They have to buy their own weapons and uniform.

Police stations get budgets for basics like electricity and such. The remainder the stations have to organize themselves in order to be able to operate.

The article mentioned the competition with army. Army constantly interferes in police turf, and forces the police to compete. What we do not see is that army is at least equally corrupt, but has, especially since the military coup, much larger budgets to play with. Police is now, since the Democrat takeover, under intense political pressure after having been almost dismantled by the co-conspirators of that power grab.

Anybody is allowed now to blame the police for anything, almost a free for all. The police though is only a symptom of a completely dysfunctional system, a presently politically convenient scapegoat that allows far more harmful corruption of the system to pass almost unnoticed.

The justice ministry? Have you read some of the recent interviews and statements of the justice minister? Some of what that man plans has very little to do with justice under an aspiring democratic system, and is more at home in a dictatorship.

yes that may be true, but the only reason most of these police put up with this is because they know just how many bennefits come with the job, and the money they can extort from the the weaker people who are just to scared to do anything, so the highs out way the lows, and why not blame them as they are just as responsible, and we do blame the goverment, but how often does people like the pm stop you in your car, or on the street, the money may be shitty, so is rubbish truck job, but they still put up with it, and to finnish off we all knew about this country befor we came or settled here so why do we still moan about it,

[Hawkup2000]

To all you guys how have been here 20+ years:

How was the police corruption in the 1980's and earlier?

Have you seen any changes (for better or worse) in the last couple of years?

[tig28]

NOTHING WILL CHANGE IN THAILAND FOR THE BETTER, AS LONG THAT THE POWER OF THE ARMY IS NOT BROKEN.

The only real power in Thailand is the army, regardless who win the elections or is PM. In reality Thailand was-is and will remain a military dictatorship. Because nothing can and will happening without their permission.

Hi Henry ---- sadly you are very right. SBPAC has been an embarrassment for years --- allegations of corruption abound ---- the new government decide that enough was enough ---- but unfortunately it is not to be. The real boss of these matters decided otherwise.

New agency to take over from SBPAC

By: POST REPORTERS

Published: 23/12/2008 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

The Democrat-led government plans to establish a new agency to replace the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC), which carries out non-military work related to the southern insurgency.

The new agency would be directly supervised by the prime minister or his deputy, said deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of national security issues.

Army demands protest-free summit

By: BangkokPost.com

Published: 7/01/2009 at 03:28 PM

Commenting on the plan to dissolve the Southern Border Province Administration Centre (SBPAC), he (Army chief Anupong Paojinda} said he had discussed this with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban and they agreed that the centre will not be disbanded.

At least Gen Anupong Paojinda discussed it with them before deciding what shall be done.

[Johpa]

There is also another Army General in BKK now with a Diamond worth 8 Billion THB ....... hmmmmmmmm

And some of us here have been around to remember the Saudi gem scandal although going into details would ruffle feathers.

So in answer to a following comment, as one who has been observing the scene for decades, no I have not seen any changes whatsoever. That being said, I do have friends who are local constables who are good people and I have seen them do good police work locally without asking for compensation. On an individual level, if you treat them with respect they will return the favor. But business is business and if you open up some sort of local business be prepared to pay some tea money.

[Spee]

My information says the Lumpini Police chief pays 35,000 a day to keep his position.

Big money in Police work.

Not hard to imagine. Sort of like the capo-regime structure of the mob. 50-something underlings cough up 1k per day, leaving 15k per day profit, or possibly more. The important question is to whom does the 35k get paid? And then so on up the food chain.

I tend to agree with the views of the "cybertosser" in that these are inbred problems arising from the political infrastructure, and that nothing is likely to change anytime soon. I think it's one of those things as expat guests we have little if any ability to impact the situation, but need to be aware of how to function within such a structure without getting our goolies in a vise.

[yumidesign]

the writer of this article has got balls. i hope that she has good body guards as well

[roffe2009]

when I read inside this forum I just dont understand why they still live and want to stay in Thailand when it is so bad for someone. I have no problem with the Police and the system Im a guest in this country and I have to behave as a guest, if not I have to go home to my own country. And if I want to find corruption I just can go to europe, america and all of the other countries and find it.