Honor and Dignity of Thai Government Officials

April 1 marks the Civil Servants Day, a special occasion for all personnel in the government sector or the civil servants, which also highlights great expectations of all Thai citizens who hope to see Thai government officials on a proper direction of development as well as welcome changes in the Thai bureaucratic system.

The values of government officials play role in dictating their behaviors, and they are the important mechanisms to implement policies of Governments at all times, including during the democratic reformation period. If government officials possess values impeding the nation’s development; for example, the trend to abuse their authority or to protect their personal interests, some government officials would behave wrongfully and work not in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand. Therefore, an initiative was launched on the establishment of good government officials groups, as a way to stem inefficient officials and unethical politicians. This is to maintain the honor and dignity as servants of His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej and not to bow to any interventions by politicians.

Interior Ministry Chief Inspector Jadul Apichatabutra, as the Chair of Thailand Civil Service Association revealed to the National News Bureau of Thailand that the idea was based on civil rights from article 271 of the 2007 Constitution. The law indicates that 20,000 people can submit their names with a petition to unseat a politician from his/her position in case that he/she misuses the authority or attempts to corrupt. Since government officials’ operation has been intervened by politicians for the past ten years, it is now time for government officials to use their rights according to the Constitution to protect and shield themselves. The number of 20,000 people is for government officials to collect names among themselves nationwide.

The format of setting up the good official group will emphasize on selecting people with good understanding of moral standards from representatives of government officials selected from all sectors to serve as the operational committee. This is to increase the confidence that officials under the well supported merit system will be protected from fear that their careers will be under threats.

With 1.4 million officials under the Office of Civil Servant Commission, it is possible to move forward to the goal with the power of unity. That is, to safeguard morals, support the merit system for all government officials to use their knowledge and abilities in the interest of the nation as public servants with the utmost pride. The process is expected to commence within the end of this year (2009) after the issue of the decree on establishing the government officials group by the Office of Civil Servants Commission.

Besides, the neutrality of officials working for government’s media is very essential more than any other professions since it is indeed already difficult to create understanding and keep people nationwide informed in the same and right direction. If government’s media is intervened by political power or the media itself overlook the righteousness and convey wrong information to people, the nation will be greatly damaged. Therefore, officials working in government’s media must be firm with explicit standpoints.

The purpose of organizing activities for the Civil Servants’ Day is to make people understand the roles and duties of government officials in offering services, sacrifice and devote their time for public interests. An the same time, the day is to make government officials realize their honor, duties, unity and honesty, the qualifications of being civil servants, which can change people’s attitudes towards government officials. Civil servants are also obliged to publicize achievements of the public sector related to services for people, and to support government officials with outstanding behavior and achievement. Finally, they are obliged to promote the prestige of good government officials to the public, which then will boost their morale to perform good deeds accordingly.

Importantly, the overall purpose of activities for the Civil Servants’ Day is to make the day memorable and accepted among civil servants and people in general, suiting with the aim of this year’s motto, ‘For the Country and the People, We Muddle Through with the Sufficiency Economy Principles’.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 28 March 2009

Now before anyone starts taking potshots at the translation into English of the motto, please consider that there may be some better way to translate this from the original Thai wording.

Just consider, before responding.

They've picked a great day for it! In the UK we have another name for that particular day.

They've picked a great day for it! In the UK we have another name for that particular day.

Right on Joskydive, for the people of not having a clue of what day that is: it's April Fools Day, a day full of jokes, and pranks. Is this one of these?

They've picked a great day for it! In the UK we have another name for that particular day.

Good one Joskydive The question is who is the fool here. The civil "servants" or the public?

Why not make it 1 May which is Labor Day, in Thailand as it is in most of the world. Just a thought.

The french call it 'Poisons de Avril' or Apiril Fish day

That fits in with sudfficency day

Throw them a fish.

Honor and Dignity of Thai Government Officials

April 1 marks the Civil Servants Day, a special occasion for all personnel in the government sector or the civil servants, which also highlights great expectations of all Thai citizens who hope to see Thai government officials on a proper direction of development as well as welcome changes in the Thai bureaucratic system.

The values of government officials play role in dictating their behaviors, and they are the important mechanisms to implement policies of Governments at all times, including during the democratic reformation period. If government officials possess values impeding the nation’s development; for example, the trend to abuse their authority or to protect their personal interests, some government officials would behave wrongfully and work not in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand. Therefore, an initiative was launched on the establishment of good government officials groups, as a way to stem inefficient officials and unethical politicians. This is to maintain the honor and dignity as servants of His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej and not to bow to any interventions by politicians.

Interior Ministry Chief Inspector Jadul Apichatabutra, as the Chair of Thailand Civil Service Association revealed to the National News Bureau of Thailand that the idea was based on civil rights from article 271 of the 2007 Constitution. The law indicates that 20,000 people can submit their names with a petition to unseat a politician from his/her position in case that he/she misuses the authority or attempts to corrupt. Since government officials’ operation has been intervened by politicians for the past ten years, it is now time for government officials to use their rights according to the Constitution to protect and shield themselves. The number of 20,000 people is for government officials to collect names among themselves nationwide.

The format of setting up the good official group will emphasize on selecting people with good understanding of moral standards from representatives of government officials selected from all sectors to serve as the operational committee. This is to increase the confidence that officials under the well supported merit system will be protected from fear that their careers will be under threats.

With 1.4 million officials under the Office of Civil Servant Commission, it is possible to move forward to the goal with the power of unity. That is, to safeguard morals, support the merit system for all government officials to use their knowledge and abilities in the interest of the nation as public servants with the utmost pride. The process is expected to commence within the end of this year (2009) after the issue of the decree on establishing the government officials group by the Office of Civil Servants Commission.

Besides, the neutrality of officials working for government’s media is very essential more than any other professions since it is indeed already difficult to create understanding and keep people nationwide informed in the same and right direction. If government’s media is intervened by political power or the media itself overlook the righteousness and convey wrong information to people, the nation will be greatly damaged. Therefore, officials working in government’s media must be firm with explicit standpoints.

The purpose of organizing activities for the Civil Servants’ Day is to make people understand the roles and duties of government officials in offering services, sacrifice and devote their time for public interests. An the same time, the day is to make government officials realize their honor, duties, unity and honesty, the qualifications of being civil servants, which can change people’s attitudes towards government officials. Civil servants are also obliged to publicize achievements of the public sector related to services for people, and to support government officials with outstanding behavior and achievement. Finally, they are obliged to promote the prestige of good government officials to the public, which then will boost their morale to perform good deeds accordingly.

Importantly, the overall purpose of activities for the Civil Servants’ Day is to make the day memorable and accepted among civil servants and people in general, suiting with the aim of this year’s motto, ‘For the Country and the People, We Muddle Through with the Sufficiency Economy Principles’.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 28 March 2009

LMFAO

[thai language deleted]

so many jokes, so many jokes, cant take it...overload,overload...........

so many jokes, so many jokes, cant take it...overload,overload...........

Could have been worse - they could have chosen 'red nose' day. Ha ha

With 1.4 million officials under the Office of Civil Servant Commission ????????

Seems alot of officials for 60,000,000. Good idea to have this many if you are using them as a buffer to prevent the 'great unwashed' getting near the 'establishment'.

All these 'paper shufflers' accepting false status in society in return for a pittance pay. I can imagine the phone call between two new starters to the government ranks.

Starter1 rings starter2 to ask " Which uniform/t shirt do we wear to day. I want to make sure the 'the great unwashed' Wai me frequently and dont question what I say'

And the status quo is maintained

Can anyone confirm if Kuhn Simon Burrowes will be special international guest speaker at the Civil Servant's Day celebrations to be held in Phuket?

They've picked a great day for it! In the UK we have another name for that particular day.

Right on Joskydive, for the people of not having a clue of what day that is: it's April Fools Day, a day full of jokes, and pranks. Is this one of these?

In belgium also. So I think they find the appropriate day to celebrate them.

So we can all pay homage to the thousands of paid people in inactive posts?

So we can pay homage to those thousands of employees in inactive posts?

I think we can all agree that speaking to a Thai civil servant is always a memorable moment.

So any of you who have omitted to bung your local civil servant this past year, there's now an official 'bung day' on the calendar and you can go do the needful. Black Label and Hennessey prices will probably ratchet up this weekend so get yours early.

Go ahead. You KNOW it's right.

Can anyone confirm if Kuhn Simon Burrowes will be special international guest speaker at the Civil Servant's Day celebrations to be held in Phuket?

Nein

It'll be the Jerman ambassador he's queuing up already toavoid dishappointment

If you check wrds

civil and servant you realise that these laundered loungers in their air con boxes with stamps paper clips etc are merely sad bureaucrats most of them would not be employable in a dynamic free market and realise their life is dribling away shuffling paper but with the nce status pension and tea money better than picking rice.

Does this mean a holiday as well,like Immigration,Banks,etc will be shut for the day???

The french call it 'Poisons de Avril' or Apiril Fish day

That fits in with sudfficency day

Throw them a fish.

Just a small correction

''Poisson d'avril''

Poison in french is the same as in english ...

the tradition is (was?) to hang a paper fish (fortunately not a real one!) at the back of people's shirt without them being aware of it ...

It just goes to show someone has a sense of humour.

I hope it means that on April 1 they will be civil.