Mafia In Uniform Still Beyond Reach

[george]

Mafia in uniform still beyond reach

Govt's war on dark influence spluttering

BANGKOK: -- The government's highly publicised war against the mafia and influential people is purely cosmetic with little, if anything, done to rid the country of these people, particularly those in uniform, critics say.

When first taking office four years ago, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra put the war against the mafia at the top of his list of priorities. The government set up a mafia suppression centre, under the Interior Ministry, to tackle the problem. The centre categorised 15 types of mafia-related crime.

According to the centre's report, 700 offenders were prosecuted. Warrants were issued for about another 200 offenders who are still on the run, and 2,100 people suspected of being involved in mafia gangs are on the watchlist.

While the figures might look impressive, those prosecuted were only subordinates. Not a single ``big boss'' has ever been brought to justice.

Chartchai Suthiklom, deputy secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board and secretary of the centre's panel on mafia suppression, said lack of solid evidence and witnesses prevents the authorities from taking legal action against these gangsters.

However, he insisted the centre is closely monitoring the movements of influential people and is ready to nail them _ should adequate evidence and willing witnesses ever come along.

Veeraphong Boonyopas, director of Chulalongkorn University's Economic Crimes and Money Laundering Centre, part of the law faculty, said the war against mafia influence cannot be successful as long as real mafia bosses escape the hand of the law. He accused the government of limiting law enforcement to action against minor offenders, leaving the big fish on the loose.

``It appears our government's leader [the prime minister] has arrived at a compromise with these mafia chiefs, knowing well who they are.''

The academics charged that Mr Thaksin has no serious intention of getting tough with these influential people, particularly those in politics. ``Certain mafia groups still have power over the government and they are people Prime Minister Thaksin can use and rely on,'' Mr Veeraphong said.

In Thailand, the structure of the mafia operation is different from that in countries such as Japan, the US and Italy. There the gangs tend to be highly organised, having been established a long time, with a large group of active members who are loyal to a few influential families.

Gangsters like the yakuza in Japan use more devious tactics. In extortion, for instance, gangsters will be sent to stand in front of a newly-opened food shop for days on end. Those who fail to respond to this silent threat face death.

Most Thai mafia are more nak leng, or obvious. Each group is independent and will not interfere with the others as long as the benefits are shared equally. They tend to use more physical means, assaulting people and property. Death is rare in cases of extortion.

Mr Veeraphong divides the Thai mafia into four main groups: national politicians; local politicians; state officials including soldiers and police; and businessmen.

``They are not well organised and their working styles are different,'' he said.

Whenever there is a chance, local politicians enter national politics in search of more power.

Soldiers, police and senior state officials who set up mafia-like gangs use their power and influence as well as violating the law. Businessmen, meanwhile, get close to politicians and state officials, with the aim of getting a share in state projects. Some are waiting for a chance to enter politics themselves.

``There are people who act like mafia in Thailand, most of them are godfathers and godmothers [national politicians] in parliament today,'' he said. These mafia are mainly involved with serious crime. For example, some senior military officers are known to be involved in extortion, sending their subordinates to collect protection money from shops and night entertainment spots. These targets usually succumb to their demands to avoid problems, which range from harassment to being beaten up.

Others are known to set up security companies and exert their influence to win construction contracts.

Police mafia, meanwhile, tend to target operators of underground businesses such as gambling dens, brothels, smuggling, and the underground lottery. Drivers of passenger vans and taxi motorcyclists are convenient targets.

Politicians and businessmen are mostly behind the exploitation of natural resources, including public and forest land encroachment. Politicians also use their influence to run and benefit from business in their areas.

Pol Maj-Gen Jarumporn Suramanee, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, who is in charge of mafia suppression at Bo Bae market and other commercial areas, said it was next to impossible to nail politicians, police, soldiers and senior state officials in the absence of evidence and cooperative witnesses.

He raised the Bo Bae case as an example, saying police know well who are behind the rackets there but cannot do anything about it. Suspects dare not refer to their ``bosses'' for fear of their own safety.

``We will use every effort to get further evidence and witnesses so we can arrest those bosses,'' Pol Maj-Gen Jarumporn said.

There were local politicians, senior soldiers and state officials involved in the high-profile case.

--Bangkok Post 2005-07-04

[mnoorsapl]

Mafia in uniform still beyond reach

Govt's war on dark influence spluttering

BANGKOK: -- The government's highly publicised war against the mafia and influential people is purely cosmetic with little, if anything, done to rid the country of these people, particularly those in uniform, critics say.

--Bangkok Post 2005-07-04

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

May be they need help from the Justice League and Superfriends...

just curious who is monitoring the mafia suppression centre, under the Interior Ministry..

[thaibebop]

Wow! This guys got balls of steel.

[johnh101]

Very hard hitting for the normally relatively placid Bangkok Post.

I wonder how long he will hold on to those "Balls of Steel"

[stumonster]

A very good summary of the situation - though a few of those groups to get involed in activities outside of what is stated , it depends on their location and sphere of influence.