Corruption In Thailand Near Epidemic Levels

[george]

GOOD GOVERNANCE BODY: Corruption near epidemic levels: panel

BANGKOK: -- NESAC chairman Tortrakul warns of social unrest if graft leads to an economic crisis

Government corruption is endemic and reaching epidemic proportions, anti-graft crusader has said.

“[Corruption] is spreading fast like an epidemic,” said Tortrakul Yomnak, chair of the Working Committee to Study Corruption and Good Governance at the National Economic and Social Advisory Council (NESAC), an independent body established under the 1997 Constitution.

Tortrakul’s made his comments at a press conference after his committee wound up its three-year term.

He based his damning conclusion that graft permeates all levels of government on a nearly year-long study of select ministries. He also cited findings by the World Bank to back up his claims.

Tortrakul said Thailand was falling behind many of its more transparent neighbours, such as Malaysia and South Korea, both of which grappled with pervasive corruption in the past.

Thailand, Tortrakul said, was ahead only of the Philippines when it came to the rule of law and the effectiveness of judiciary systems. “Perhaps this is the last resort of hope for Thailand,” he stressed. “But we don’t know how long it will remain so.”

Tortrakul said corruption includes:

lThe awarding of tsunami reconstruction projects to companies close to relatives of influential politicians;

lPoliticians buying up privatised state enterprises at highly reduced prices; the government buying ads in newspapers to win media support;

lSelectively awarding work on mega-projects to favoured contractors.

“People know [ahead of time] who will win the contracts,” he said. When a new government comes to power, “there will be nothing left. Any future government will be in trouble because all state resources will already have been sold.”

Tortrakul said social unrest could follow if corrupt government practices precipitate an economic crisis. He cited recent upheavals in countries like Argentina as a warning.

He said good, responsible governance would have no shelf life in Thailand as long as politicians and bureaucrats flout the law. He cited the recent scandal over bribery allegations in the procurement of bomb-detection scanners for the new airport.

Anti-corruption activist Veera Somkwamkit agreed that good governance existed only on paper in Thailand.

“It works only in the books,” he charged. “Corruption is at an increase and is being generated by people close to the prime minister. So why should we even bother talking about good governance? It doesn’t exist, no matter how much officials may protest [that it does].”

And, the CTX scandal “was a big slap in the face to the whole nation”, he said. “Yet Thai people simply bowed down and accepted it. But how long will they be able to bear it?”

Tortrakul added that the recently concluded election of new NESAC members saw a defeat of honest people representing the public, thereby rendering the body ineffectual. “I didn’t know it was going to be this bad. The people’s representatives are out.”

--The Nation 2005-07-13

[mnoorsapl]

GOOD GOVERNANCE BODY: Corruption near epidemic levels: panel

Tortrakul’s made his comments at a press conference after his committee wound up its three-year term.

--The Nation 2005-07-13

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

it feel good to let off the steam Mr.Tortrakul, but isn't to late?.

[The_Moog]

http://www.thecornerhouse.org.uk/item.shtml?x=51987

Follow this link to a well-written study about how corruption is done in Thailand.

[jayenram]

They rabbit on about it over and over again but no-one appears prepared to point the finger!

[charles]

Don't know if it has appeared on this website but there was an interesting article by "Chang Noi" in The Nation earlier this week on this subject.

Attempted to draw parallels with the experience of some Latin American countries and what could be coming in Thailand. Said something like there are currently 13 countries in that region with former leaders in prison or up in court.

The rather general formulas were:

Economic growth + corruption = the populace will live with it

Economic decline/crisis + blatant corruption = leaders can find themselves in the slammer.

It may seem that Thaksin has been building up a huge power empire encompassing business, police, military, provincial mafia etc but it's possible that the rug could be pulled from under him easier and quicker than many would have imagined if the economy tanks.

[stumonster]

and on the horizon is the 1.5 trillion baht mega projects touted by mr 't' as the stimulus thailand needs to boost its flagging economic outlook - quick , snavel a mercedes dealership

[thaibebop]

I am just glad there is a Thai person who is anrgy about these issues. I don't think such words or actions ever come too late.

Anger is a gift- Rage

[Sphere]

Economic decline/crisis + blatant corruption = leaders can find themselves in the slammer.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't think that it is ever going to happen in the LOS - the slammer part, I mean!

[COBBER]

They rabbit on about it over and over again but no-one appears prepared to point the finger!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Corruption crackdowns are only a tool to get rid of your pollitical opponents.

[Backpack_thailand]

Corruption near epidemic levels!

Not exactly a "new shocking" disclosure is it...?

It's just how the system works here!

[alex100]

It may only be a matter of time before the Army thinks it needs to help out again. At least when Mr Mai Pen Rai and his mate Suchinda were swapping blows the bars stayed open till 4 am and you coulds get a beer in a 7 Eleven at any time, and the young thugs were under control. Well thats democracy for you.

[Jai Dee]

The Corruption in Thailand has a brighter prospect

The Chairman of the Foundation for a Clean and Transparent Thailand, Dr. Sumeth Tantivejjakul (สุเมธ ตันติเวชกุล), has expressed his opinion on the corruption problem in Thailand at the opening ceremony of Her Majesty the Queen’s work exhibitions, to mark Her birthday, held jointly by FaCT and the civil Service Commission’s Office. He indicated that the problem has been going through an upward trend, even though it has not yet reached the international standards.

Dr. Sumeth said that if we consider the corruption problem in Thailand according to international standards, it has shown indication of a little improvement, with a score at 3.3, which fails to reach the required standard. The standard score must be 5 out of 10. The good indicators should be both from outsiders and foreign countries. In his own opinion, the success comes from various factors, especially from close monitoring of the private sectors and the media.

Concerning the continual corruption in the government, the Chairman of FaCT said that he has no comments, as it is a matter for the government and the agencies to check. However, having found clues of corruption makes some people more cautious, discouraging them from committing wrong doings.

Source: thaisnews.com

/Edit - typo fixed.

Edited August 29, 2005 by Jai Dee

[Plus+]

Thailand has never seen a popular uprising - it was always the elite who took to the streets. Who's going to demonstrate now? Students? Middle class wives from Lad Prao? If the country goes to dogs it's the elite's duty to establish order, unfortunately the power slipping out of hands people like Dr. Sumeth and Thai Rak Thai won't go down without a fight - they have general masses on their side.

[womble]

Thailand has never seen a popular uprising - it was always the elite who took to the streets. Who's going to demonstrate now? Students? Middle class wives from Lad Prao? If the country goes to dogs it's the elite's duty to establish order, unfortunately the power slipping out of hands people like Dr. Sumeth and Thai Rak Thai won't go down without a fight - they have general masses on their side.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I disagree, it doesn't have to be the elite, if they loose the support of the grass roots people, they will quickly tumble, they can only take so many false promises. There's so many promises that arn't being kept, the cows became semen, the saplings were seeds, and the 30 baht health care, well............

They can keep coming up with populist ideas and policys, but if they don't fulfil the promises, people will start to see the truth. The only way they can keep up with these policys in this economic climate is with spending huge amounts of money which they don't have, basically bankrupting Thailand.

[opothai]

i find this situation very frustrating, we are on the outside loking in and can see what is happening. but the majority of people that live in the country can not see or understand what their government is doing.

this i am afraid goes back to the same old story why the ###### don't they educate the masses, [ because the government do not want an educated population].

in korat where my extended family live, all they hear is what some one has read in the papers and the rumours start i.e:- we are having a new airport built at the cost of xxxx billions, now the people in the towns and villages think great the country is getting ready for more business and that is good for us, then the train link from bangkok to korat, the general population do not stop to think where the funding is coming from. this government has got to be one of the greatest cons of the modern era, and who are the poor souls that are going to suffer in the long run

a very sad situation indeed