Forum Wants Urgent Action Against Corruption In Thailand

[webfact]

Forum wants urgent action against corruption

By The Nation

Promoting transparency should be put high on the national agenda by the next government, as widespread bureaucratic corruption costs the country about Bt200 billion, a Bangkok seminar heard yesterday.

"Corruption is a colossal problem that needs to be addressed seriously and tackled at the earliest," Ombudsman Sriracha Jaroenphanich said.

He was a key speaker at the seminar, which also announced a forum to be hosted by the Culture Ministry at Muang Thong Thani from July 21-23.

The National Forum of Ethics will bring together 20 independent agencies to highlight the harmful effects of corruption and push for the advancement of transparency as a national agenda item by the next prime minister after the July 3 poll.

The event, which is being organised by the Centre for the Promotion of National Strength on Moral Ethics and Values, will serve as a platform for brainstorming solutions to tackling graft for further implementation.

Six groups of people will be represented - religious, bureaucratic and political, educational, business, community and media.

Some Bt200 billion was lost each year to corruption within the bureaucratic and political sectors, mostly through bid rigging and collusion on procurement contracts, he said.

The ministry and the centre's fight against fraud was partly prompted by Thailand's ranking of 78 in an international index on corruption. In the 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index released by Transparency International, Thailand scored 3.5 points out of a possible 10.

Within Asia, Thailand was listed as 10th among 24 countries with the same score of 3.5, while Singapore was tops for transparency at 9.3.

-- The Nation 2011-06-30

[landofthefree]

Thailand finally has its hub, the hub of corruption! That makes a lot more sense than all those other stupid hubs that have been suggested.

[Nisa]

If you are going to eliminate corruption you need to have non-corrupt law enforcement. If you want to get rid of corruption in law enforcement at the highest levels then you need to start at the bottom level and prevent those in law enforcement from being corrupt the moment they enter the police ranks. The only way to keep police honest from day one, while attracting the best candidates, is to pay them more than a start salary of 7k a month (typical in BKK, maybe less elsewhere in Thailand). However, I believe they can live free in the barracks but doesn't help much for those looking to raise and support a family.

If you look around the globe, I think you'll find where there is honest police, you'll find they are taken care of by their government. I believe the current starting pay for a police officer in the US averages $45k a year but this doesn't include over time and other perks or that some officers in bigger cities end up making more than $100k a year. No doubt their are corrupt cops in the USA but I think it would be near impossible to find one willing to take a $3 (let alone $100) bribe to avoid a ticket during a traffic stop. It just wouldn't make sense to lose their job, pension or benefits to do so .... especially after going through what is requires to be a police officer.

Mexico is similar to Thailand in having corrupt police and why military intervention is often needed for what would normally be law enforcement activities in other countries.

Thailand is a developing nation and things like low pay and corruption are the norm for such a state in a countries history .. especially in a country such as Thailand with such a very low unemployment rate. They need to address issues like corruption but it is going to take time and a series of small steps that have already been ongoing for a while now.

Edited June 30, 2011 by Nisa

[bangkokburning]

Ultimately you need a strong and honest judiciary.

Thailand's corruption is very high. It ranks in with Peru (think of all the narco problems) and many African nations. It is endemic and the only thing that will come out of this conference is people are going to be fed well.

Holding conferences on things that will never change, maybe that is also a form of corruption? Certainly appears to be a waste of money.

Edited June 30, 2011 by bangkokburning

[bushwacker]

Hmmm .... Maybe this is why BKK has been selected as the World Book Capital for 2013!

[Pib]

Maybe these Thailand-related acronyms when thinking about the bureaucratic and political sectors really mean: LOS = Land Of Scandals. TIT = Thailand In Turmoil.

Corruption is definitely wide spread and deep seated in Thailand....and it seems most Thai's just seem to think, "Well, that's just the way it has always been...I can't do nothing about it as I'm just a Little Noodle among the Big Noodles." And the Little Noodles are pretty much right; until the Big Noodles get serious about stopping corruption nothing much will really change. Thailand has plenty of laws to fight corruption; it's just the laws are minimally and selectively enforced. It's a shame.

[Thai at Heart]

Hmmm .... Maybe this is why BKK has been selected as the World Book Capital for 2013!

I think the most widely read book in the country is "Dual Book Accounting for small business", the second is "How to manage the tax man Thai style". Both come packaged in brown envelopes.

Edited June 30, 2011 by Thai at Heart

[webfact]

Anti-Corruption Network Urges Next Govt to Stamp Out Corruption

The Anti-Corruption Network said Thailand's corruption index for this month has revealed worsening status.

It urges the next government to stamp out corruption as promised.

The Federation of Thai Industries Chairman Payungsak Chartsutipol said after attending the Anti-Corruption Network meeting that Thai Chamber of Commerce Chairman Dusit Nontanakorn has been elected as the head of the Anti-Corruption Network or ACN.

Dusit said ACN will monitor the next government to make sure they cooperate in keeping a corruption-free environment.

He said if the next government does not take the corruption issue seriously, it will not accept the government's administrations.

Meanwhile, the Thai Chamber of Commerce has revealed their CSI Index for corruption, saying the index for this month has reduced to 3.4, with 10 meaning no corruption in society.

The number is lower than that of December last year, which was at 3.5.

They said their poll observation shows that 70 percent of the people think the corruption situation in Thailand will worsen in the future.

Polls revealed that 70 percent of respondents said they would report corruption if they came across it, 43 percent thinks the current government is unable to handle the corruption issue.

The poll also asked if respondents are confident in particular institutes.

Independent entities scored 5.7 out of 10 , the Thai Chamber of Commerce scored 5.67, the mass media scored 5.75, and the enterprises scored 5.4.

The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce Economic and Business Forecasting Center Director Thanawat Phonwichai said that although corruption is not declining, the private sector still has high hopes for improvement after the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Network.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-30

[ginjag]

If you are going to eliminate corruption you need to have non-corrupt law enforcement. If you want to get rid of corruption in law enforcement at the highest levels then you need to start at the bottom level and prevent those in law enforcement from being corrupt the moment they enter the police ranks. The only way to keep police honest from day one, while attracting the best candidates, is to pay them more than a start salary of 7k a month (typical in BKK, maybe less elsewhere in Thailand). However, I believe they can live free in the barracks but doesn't help much for those looking to raise and support a family.

If you look around the globe, I think you'll find where there is honest police, you'll find they are taken care of by their government. I believe the current starting pay for a police officer in the US averages $45k a year but this doesn't include over time and other perks or that some officers in bigger cities end up making more than $100k a year. No doubt their are corrupt cops in the USA but I think it would be near impossible to find one willing to take a $3 (let alone $100) bribe to avoid a ticket during a traffic stop. It just wouldn't make sense to lose their job, pension or benefits to do so .... especially after going through what is requires to be a police officer.

Mexico is similar to Thailand in having corrupt police and why military intervention is often needed for what would normally be law enforcement activities in other countries.

Thailand is a developing nation and things like low pay and corruption are the norm for such a state in a countries history .. especially in a country such as Thailand with such a very low unemployment rate. They need to address issues like corruption but it is going to take time and a series of small steps that have already been ongoing for a while now.

My Idea is that it is at the top you should start to frighten the ringleaders, others will be afraid to act. prosecute no wholes barred. Demand the police to act accordingly and later reward, as a wage rise without conditions would not stop police corruption.

Agree that recruits should have good training upon starting.

The reason I would not agree Nisa is that if you did start at the bottom, how long would it be before it worked--and also the corrupt above the new would bribe and blackmail, with no promotion in sight until they conform. The same idea with drugs-hit the top people -stop the imports-it will stop the buying and using. I know easier said than done. YES pay more but prove how good you are first-as in government departments.

[mahtin]

The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce Economic and Business Forecasting Center Director Thanawat Phonwichai said that although corruption is not declining, the private sector still has high hopes for improvement after the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Network.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-30

My stepson is in his final year studying Economics at UTCC.

Good to know where the money's going.

[DP25]

Considering that the party supposedly leading in the polls has as their primary platform to pardon a criminal convicted of corruption, I don't see much hope of it getting better and likely it will become far worse than it ever was.

[Bakseedaa]

Considering that the party supposedly leading in the polls has as their primary platform to pardon a criminal convicted of corruption, I don't see much hope of it getting better and likely it will become far worse than it ever was.

Yes, I have to agree completely with this statement.. A military coup will be good for this country , let the military pick uncorrupt people to run this country for 5 or 6 years, no coalition ... and heavy jail terms for any government official found guilty of crimes against the peoples.. No bail while trials wait... and swift court cases.. weed the bad guys out.. make people accountable for all the moneys and things they own... But , where to start..!!

Edited June 30, 2011 by soundman
Fixed quote tags.

[Thai at Heart]

Considering that the party supposedly leading in the polls has as their primary platform to pardon a criminal convicted of corruption, I don't see much hope of it getting better and likely it will become far worse than it ever was.

The reason he is so pissed off about being caught, is because they are all at it. I reckon I could count on one hand the amount of Thai politicians that are completely clean.

This doesn't in any way make what Thaksin did right, but it simply serves to highlight very well one of the root causes of the problem. If you are big enough and powerful enough in this country, you can literally get away with murder, not paying your taxes is normally very easy. A lot of very powerful people like it that way in this country, so until they understand that complying with the law is not something that is optional, the corruption will continue.

[evanson]

Considering that the party supposedly leading in the polls has as their primary platform to pardon a criminal convicted of corruption, I don't see much hope of it getting better and likely it will become far worse than it ever was.

Yes, I have to agree completely with this statement.. A military coup will be good for this country , let the military pick uncorrupt people to run this country for 5 or 6 years, no coalition ... and heavy jail terms for any government official found guilty of crimes against the peoples.. No bail while trials wait... and swift court cases.. weed the bad guys out.. make people accountable for all the moneys and things they own... But , where to start..!!

Hahaha! You're kidding, right? This Country has not recovered from the LAST military coup, and if you believe the military to not be corrupt you are mistaken, and delusional. Suthep, for one, immediately started locking stable doors after the bolting of the Taksin horse by clamping down on 'foreign' nominees, thus plunging this backwoods into a housing slump from which it will never recover. He then went on to illegally procure a sizeable plot in Kao Yai NATIONAL park on which to build himself a house. And that's just for starters.

Yingluck, hmmmm ...

Edited June 30, 2011 by metisdead
Do not modify someone else's post in your quoted reply, either with font or color changes.

[Nisa]

If you are going to eliminate corruption you need to have non-corrupt law enforcement. If you want to get rid of corruption in law enforcement at the highest levels then you need to start at the bottom level and prevent those in law enforcement from being corrupt the moment they enter the police ranks. The only way to keep police honest from day one, while attracting the best candidates, is to pay them more than a start salary of 7k a month (typical in BKK, maybe less elsewhere in Thailand). However, I believe they can live free in the barracks but doesn't help much for those looking to raise and support a family.

If you look around the globe, I think you'll find where there is honest police, you'll find they are taken care of by their government. I believe the current starting pay for a police officer in the US averages $45k a year but this doesn't include over time and other perks or that some officers in bigger cities end up making more than $100k a year. No doubt their are corrupt cops in the USA but I think it would be near impossible to find one willing to take a $3 (let alone $100) bribe to avoid a ticket during a traffic stop. It just wouldn't make sense to lose their job, pension or benefits to do so .... especially after going through what is requires to be a police officer.

Mexico is similar to Thailand in having corrupt police and why military intervention is often needed for what would normally be law enforcement activities in other countries.

Thailand is a developing nation and things like low pay and corruption are the norm for such a state in a countries history .. especially in a country such as Thailand with such a very low unemployment rate. They need to address issues like corruption but it is going to take time and a series of small steps that have already been ongoing for a while now.

My Idea is that it is at the top you should start to frighten the ringleaders, others will be afraid to act. prosecute no wholes barred. Demand the police to act accordingly and later reward, as a wage rise without conditions would not stop police corruption.

Agree that recruits should have good training upon starting.

The reason I would not agree Nisa is that if you did start at the bottom, how long would it be before it worked--and also the corrupt above the new would bribe and blackmail, with no promotion in sight until they conform. The same idea with drugs-hit the top people -stop the imports-it will stop the buying and using. I know easier said than done. YES pay more but prove how good you are first-as in government departments.

You need people to replace those at the top and right now pretty much the entire police department is corrupt to a certain level. Plus you are not likely going to change anybody who has spent their entire career corrupt. You need to let the senior people retire and leave while charging those that are caught in extreme corruption. Bottom line is this is not an issue that will change in a few years as corruption in general will not significantly change quickly ... it will take at least a generation to see serious change.

[bino]

An overhaul of the defamation laws along with complete freedom of the press would be useful in stopping corruption also. If the truth could be told and the dirty b**tards could be "outed" on National TV, it would serve to educate the populace as to how bad they are being screwed and deter people from participating in corrupt activities in the first place.

[saraburioz]

The people in these corruption forums are all stinking rich - as if they got there without any corruption - laughable.

I was at one once, as my wife was on the board, and saw one guy arrive in a Rolls Royce and another a brand new Jaguar.

Edited June 30, 2011 by saraburioz

[Buchholz]

.

Start consistently handing out 30 year prison sentences for corruption and see what happens to it.

.

[evanson]

.

Start consistently handing out 30 year prison sentences for corruption and see what happens to it.

.

Yes. That would help. BUT WHO'S GOING TO DO THE 'HANDING OUT'? Duh.

[manarak]

Maybe if tea money is paid to the right people they will act against corruption

Depends how much is paid though.

[Buchholz]

.

Start consistently handing out 30 year prison sentences for corruption and see what happens to it.

.

Yes. That would help. BUT WHO'S GOING TO DO THE 'HANDING OUT'?

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders

http://www.thaiembassy.sg/announcements/fact-sheet-on-the-supreme-courts-criminal-division-for-political-office-holders

[Crushdepth]

Hmmm .... Maybe this is why BKK has been selected as the World Book Capital for 2013!

Apparently they won the 'science fiction and fantasy' category.

[craigt3365]

One post removed. Please remember forum rules:

8) Not to post extremely negative views of Thailand or derogatory comments directed towards all Thais.

[kennalder]

.

Start consistently handing out 30 year prison sentences for corruption and see what happens to it.

.

Yes. That would help. BUT WHO'S GOING TO DO THE 'HANDING OUT'? Duh.

All this discussion just proves what I have been saying since I got here.

If you wanted to clean this place up, where the he_l would you start?

[Buchholz]

.

Start consistently handing out 30 year prison sentences for corruption and see what happens to it.

.

Yes. That would help. BUT WHO'S GOING TO DO THE 'HANDING OUT'? Duh.

All this discussion just proves what I have been saying since I got here.

If you wanted to clean this place up, where the he_l would you start?

Start with the Montenegin/Nicaraguan/Ugandan citizen that has current cases with the entity named in Post # 21 and work down. That includes the family members that directly benefited from the corruption of those with current cases, eg. Oak et al.