Thaksin Goes After Crooked Officials

[george]

Thaksin goes after crooked officials

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has told state agencies to take legal action against state officials aiding investors who encroach upon forest and public land.

Speaking on his weekly radio programme, the prime minister said there was no doubt that certain state officials were in league with encroachers and they should be punished.

He was reacting to Bangkok Post news reports of encroachment and illegal acquisition of land following the government's ambitious plan to turn the island into a world-class tourist destination.

Mr Thaksin said the government would not spare anyone found at fault.

--Bangkok Post 2005-06-05

[penzman]

Island? Which one?

[ovenman]

Island? Which one?

The Bangkok Post has run a series of articles this past week about land encroachment on Ko Chang. I suppose the same is probably true for any resort area in Thailand though...

[Ajarn]

Just more of the same nonsense 'reports' about tackling corruption. 4 1/2 years, and what has he actually done after talking?

Nothing. Nada. Zero...

In fact, more like just the opposite...

[snoophound]

Oh Well

At least hes going after them,hopefuly their will be some high profile busts announced.

Thailand has come down in the rankings of corrupt countries over last 5 years or so.

Just more of the same nonsense 'reports' about tackling corruption. 4 1/2 years, and what has he actually done after talking?

Nothing. Nada. Zero...

In fact, more like just the opposite...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[snoophound]

Four Asian Countries Considered to Be Among the Most Corrupt

Oct 21, 2004 Hong Kong

Four developing Asian countries have ranked among the most corrupt in the world. A global corruption watchdog group says corruption is undermining the fight against poverty in the developing world.

The Berlin-based corruption watchdog organization Transparency International says Pakistan, Indonesia, Burma and Bangladesh ranked worst among the 15 countries perceived to be most corrupt.

These Asian countries scored less than three points in the global survey of businessmen, where 10 points mean a country is highly clean and zero, highly corrupt.

Bangladesh, together with the Caribbean nation of Haiti, placed at the bottom of the 146-country survey.

Corruption is among Bangladesh's biggest problems and this is not the first time the country has ranked at the bottom of this yearly survey. Bangladesh has been trying to correct the negative perception. Parliament passed a law earlier this year forming an independent anti-corruption agency.

Transparency International's Asia-Pacific Director Peter Rooke says it is still too early to see the agency's impact.

"It's a positive step forward but it needs to have real teeth, real independence and in particular, it needs the financial resources that would enable its job effectively because obviously it's a huge task."

Transparency International says corruption impedes efforts to reduce poverty in developing Asia, where millions of people earn less than a dollar a day.

The group notes that oil-exporting nations, including Indonesia, have low scores, reflecting the level of fraud plaguing the oil industry.

The Asia Development Bank, a non-profit lender and financial advisory body, says corruption can cut a country's gross domestic product by as much as one-sixth.

On the brighter side, surveyed businessmen ranked New Zealand as the world's second cleanest country. Singapore also ranks among the top 10 cleanest nations in the survey.

Oh Well

At least hes going after them,hopefuly their will be some high profile busts announced.

Thailand has come down in the rankings of corrupt countries over last 5 years or so.

Just more of the same nonsense 'reports' about tackling corruption. 4 1/2 years, and what has he actually done after talking?

Nothing. Nada. Zero...

In fact, more like just the opposite...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Ajarn]

Oh Well

At least hes going after them,hopefuly their will be some high profile busts announced.

Thailand has come down in the rankings of corrupt countries over last 5 years or so

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And some say I wear rose-colored glasses.

In my experiences, I'd say there is more corruption now than ever before, and there is absolutely no sign of change in the future, that I can see.

Those 'rankings' are just 'perceptions', and not based on any particular set of facts, as far as I can determine... There might be some slight variations from year to year, but nothing shows that there is any real improvement in the corruption issue in Thailand. If you have some evidence otherwise, please show it.

[penzman]

Thaksin Goes After Crooked Officials

This topic title somehow reminds me of my dog chasing it's own tail.

[sonthaya]

Thaksin Goes After Crooked Officials

This topic title somehow reminds me of my dog chasing it's own tail.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Very true

[Artisi]

Thaksin goes after crooked officials

Sure - I also believe in the tooth fairy

[Pink Mist]

can we get a flying pig smilie G, I reckon we could use it everytime toxin talks about tackling corruption

[eljeque]

""These Asian countries scored less than three points in the global survey of businessmen, ""

So, this is how corrupt the countires were in their dealings with foreign businesmen. This is not how corrupt the countries are in relation to the dealings of the small number of wealthy-and connected Thais who are milking everything out of the country that they can.

[opothai]

Thaksin gaes after crooked oficials

[ovenman]

Mr Thaksin said the government would not spare anyone found at fault.

That won't present a problem. The government simply won't find anybody at fault. Nobody to spare or to not spare.