Why Is The Private Sector More Serious About Ending Graft?: Thai Talk

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THAI TALK

Why is the private sector more serious about ending graft?

Suthichai Yoon

The Nation

You've got to wonder why the private sector has come out more aggressively against corruption than the government. And you should get more curious if the government appears not too excited over reports that a senior bureaucrat has reported losing to a team of robbers much less than the robbers themselves claimed to have taken from his home.

Put these two stories together, and you might not be too surprised over the fact that Transparency International says Thailand has slipped in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) ranking in its latest annual report.

According to Juree Vichit-Vadakan, secretary-general of Transparency International Thailand, our country scores only 3.4 out of 10 on the transparency scale. The previous year's score for Thailand was 3.5.

Compared with other countries, corruption perception in Thailand was ranked 80th among 183 countries on the 2011 CPI. Last year, we were placed 78th among 178 countries monitored in the survey. Regionally, Thailand was ranked 10th among 26 Asian countries. Significantly, Thailand shared the 80th ranking with Colombia, El Salvador, Greece, Morocco and Peru.

More significantly perhaps, no Cabinet member or senior government official has said anything about the report. There is no call for a new campaign against such a negative "corruption perception index". Nobody in the government has declared a full alert in response to this "wake-up call".

But business leaders are more or less up in arms. They aren't reacting directly to Transparency International's rankings. In fact, the Anti-Corruption Network (ACN) had planned to announce its new, pro-active campaign before the TI report was made public.

It wasn't pure coincidence though. The alliance of Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries, the Thai Bankers' Association, the Securities Exchange of Thailand and 26 other organisations had formed a strong network to fight corruption in the face of reports that the government was planning to spend at least Bt800,000 million for recovery and reconstruction activities after the devastating floods.

"We are going to X-ray every project to monitor any attempt at corruption," declared Pramon Sutivong, the anti-graft network's chairman. In other words, the private sector is watching the government to prevent officials and politicians from demanding tea money, which in some cases is said to be as high as 30 per cent, from firms bidding for contracts from government agencies.

The anti-corruption network's campaign is to be labelled, "Clean Thailand, DIY" - a vigorous, and courageous attempt to mobilise citizens from every sector to help fight the corruption that has spread like cancer all over Thai society.

Why hasn't the government taken an active role in this very important anti-graft move? For one thing, the enthusiasm to crack down on corrupt officials isn't there. Deputy Premier Kittirat Na Ranong told reporters that he was approaching the issue with a "heavy heart" (a Thai expression indicating the opposite of encouragement) because corrupt practices had become a "tradition" inherent in Thai society.

The other reason for the ambivalent attitude on the part of the government towards fighting corruption is that it isn't part of the populist platform which, for all intents and purposes, is aimed at pleasing the electorate, not upsetting the apple cart.

The Counter-Corruption Commission (CCC), an independent body with a distinguished record so far, isn't standing by though. A CCC executive member, Vicha Mahakhun, told a radio programme that the revised law had added new muscle to the agency by empowering the CCC to freeze the assets of officials "suspected" of corruption.

The case of the ex-permanent secretary of the Communications Ministry, Supoth Saplom, will be the first test case for the new legislation. "We must show that we can trace the money trail all the way back from the start - and not only take action when robbers report piles of cash in a government official's residence," Vicha said.

With the government showing hardly any enthusiasm for getting to the bottom of the story of such a senior official with so much cash stashed at home, it's time the non-government agencies showed that they can really represent the people's eagerness to catch the crooks red-handed.

If not now, when?

-- The Nation 2011-12-08

[JurgenG]

Why hasn't the government taken an active role in this very important anti-graft move? Most probably because it was busy somewhere else. Maybe the author of this article didn't noticed an important increase in the humidity level in Bangkok, increase that was a major concern for the inhabitants of the capital city for the past few month. Where was this article written ? In Hua Hin or Pattaya ?

Then blaming the government for the increase of the corruption level when it has been in power for less than 4 month after more than 5 years in the opposition ... Am I the only one to feel a little bias here ?

It's common knowledge that in the previous government, the democrats, in exchange for the post of PM, gave the other members of the coalition total freedom to loot the country. The senior bureaucrat who reported losing to a team of robbers much less than the robbers themselves claimed to have taken from his home, for which administration was he working ?

Sometime I feel the selection process to write for the Nation is some sort of Limbo dance, with the bar based on the IQ level.

Edited December 8, 2011 by JurgenG

[whybother]

Why hasn't the government taken an active role in this very important anti-graft move? Most probably because it was busy somewhere else. Maybe the author of this article didn't noticed an important increase in the humidity level in Bangkok, increase that was a major concern for the inhabitants of the capital city for the past few month. Where was this article written ? In Hua Hin or Pattaya ?

Then blaming the government for the increase of the corruption level when it has been in power for less than 4 month after more than 5 years in the opposition ... Am I the only one to feel a little bias here ?

It's common knowledge that in the previous government, the democrats, in exchange for the post of PM, gave the other members of the coalition total freedom to loot the country. The senior bureaucrat who reported losing to a team of robbers much less than the robbers themselves claimed to have taken from his home, for which administration was he working ?

Sometime I feel the selection process to write for the Nation is some sort of Limbo dance, with the bar based on the IQ level.

The Transport secretary was working for the Thaksin administration, the Samak administration, the Somchai administration and the Abhisit administration. Why do you ask?

[DocHolliday]

Why hasn't the government taken an active role in this very important anti-graft move? Most probably because it was busy somewhere else. Maybe the author of this article didn't noticed an important increase in the humidity level in Bangkok, increase that was a major concern for the inhabitants of the capital city for the past few month. Where was this article written ? In Hua Hin or Pattaya ?

Then blaming the government for the increase of the corruption level when it has been in power for less than 4 month after more than 5 years in the opposition ... Am I the only one to feel a little bias here ?

It's common knowledge that in the previous government, the democrats, in exchange for the post of PM, gave the other members of the coalition total freedom to loot the country. The senior bureaucrat who reported losing to a team of robbers much less than the robbers themselves claimed to have taken from his home, for which administration was he working ?

Sometime I feel the selection process to write for the Nation is some sort of Limbo dance, with the bar based on the IQ level.

Sometime I feel the selection process to write for the Nation is some sort of Limbo dance, with the bar based on the IQ level.

IIRC the OP writer is Nation's editor-in-chief and a Harvard graduate

Edited December 8, 2011 by DocHolliday

[JurgenG]

Sometime I feel the selection process to write for the Nation is some sort of Limbo dance, with the bar based on the IQ level.

IIRC the OP writer is Nation's editor-in-chief and a Harvard graduate

So I guess we have here an other guy good at using big words

[AleG]

Why hasn't the government taken an active role in this very important anti-graft move? Most probably because it was busy somewhere else. Maybe the author of this article didn't noticed an important increase in the humidity level in Bangkok, increase that was a major concern for the inhabitants of the capital city for the past few month. Where was this article written ? In Hua Hin or Pattaya ?

Then blaming the government for the increase of the corruption level when it has been in power for less than 4 month after more than 5 years in the opposition ... Am I the only one to feel a little bias here ?

It's common knowledge that in the previous government, the democrats, in exchange for the post of PM, gave the other members of the coalition total freedom to loot the country. The senior bureaucrat who reported losing to a team of robbers much less than the robbers themselves claimed to have taken from his home, for which administration was he working ?

Sometime I feel the selection process to write for the Nation is some sort of Limbo dance, with the bar based on the IQ level.

Bolded, do you even believe the things you say?

Edited December 8, 2011 by AleG

[hellodolly]

<br />

<br />

Sometime I feel the selection process to write for the Nation is some sort of Limbo dance, with the bar based on the IQ level.

<br /><br />IIRC the OP writer is Nation's editor-in-chief and a Harvard graduate<br />

<br /><br />So I guess we have here an other guy good at using big words <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" /><br />

<br /><br /><br />

No we have a guy who understands words.

Maybe you were out of the country and did not notice that Bangkok had a humidity problem and the Government spent it's energy trying to get a pardon for a criminal. Being unsuccessful at that they decided to get him a passport to make it easier for him to run from the law.

[Valentine]

Why hasn't the government taken an active role in this very important anti-graft move? Most probably because it was busy somewhere else. Maybe the author of this article didn't noticed an important increase in the humidity level in Bangkok, increase that was a major concern for the inhabitants of the capital city for the past few month. Where was this article written ? In Hua Hin or Pattaya ?

Then blaming the government for the increase of the corruption level when it has been in power for less than 4 month after more than 5 years in the opposition ... Am I the only one to feel a little bias here ?

It's common knowledge that in the previous government, the democrats, in exchange for the post of PM, gave the other members of the coalition total freedom to loot the country. The senior bureaucrat who reported losing to a team of robbers much less than the robbers themselves claimed to have taken from his home, for which administration was he working ?

Sometime I feel the selection process to write for the Nation is some sort of Limbo dance, with the bar based on the IQ level.

The current government have only been in opposition for less than 3 years out of the last 5. Corruption is older than democracy & is heartening to see the private sector take up the challenge as all of the past & present government have been involved in policy corruption which started to become more open with the so called "buffet" cabinet under Chatchai in the early 90s. Recent governments are taking policy corruption to ever greater heights & IMO if they could stamp out at least 50% the average person in this country would see their standard of living raised quite considerably. It is so sad that the common people are mere pawns in this game of greed & power & these very same people have very few decent role models to which they can aspire thus many succumb to the same greed, albeit on a smaller scale.

Edited December 8, 2011 by Valentine

[JurgenG]

Why hasn't the government taken an active role in this very important anti-graft move? Most probably because it was busy somewhere else. Maybe the author of this article didn't noticed an important increase in the humidity level in Bangkok, increase that was a major concern for the inhabitants of the capital city for the past few month. Where was this article written ? In Hua Hin or Pattaya ?

Then blaming the government for the increase of the corruption level when it has been in power for less than 4 month after more than 5 years in the opposition ... Am I the only one to feel a little bias here ?

It's common knowledge that in the previous government, the democrats, in exchange for the post of PM, gave the other members of the coalition total freedom to loot the country. The senior bureaucrat who reported losing to a team of robbers much less than the robbers themselves claimed to have taken from his home, for which administration was he working ?

Sometime I feel the selection process to write for the Nation is some sort of Limbo dance, with the bar based on the IQ level.

Bolded, do you even believe the things you say?

If you refer to the Samak and Somchai administration, everybody knows they never had a chance to effectively rule the country. The police and the army refused to obey. They were under contant threat of legal challenge. It was actually the reason given by Newin for changing allegiance, "This government (Somchai) will never be allowed to function, so for the sake of the country, we decide to join force with the democrats".

Even for the last election, it was one of the strong "incentive" to vote for the democrats. The army will never allow a PT government, so vote smart, don't waste your time, vote for the democrats. Fortunately the electors din't accept the blackmail. I also guess a number of influencial people, both in Thailand and abroad, were tired with the incompetence of the democrats and their backers. That's why, despite the dreams of some sore losers, we haven't see a coup so far and the present government will be allowed to run its term.

[whybother]

If you refer to the Samak and Somchai administration, everybody knows they never had a chance to effectively rule the country. The police and the army refused to obey. They were under contant threat of legal challenge. It was actually the reason given by Newin for changing allegiance, "This government (Somchai) will never be allowed to function, so for the sake of the country, we decide to join force with the democrats".

Even for the last election, it was one of the strong "incentive" to vote for the democrats. The army will never allow a PT government, so vote smart, don't waste your time, vote for the democrats. Fortunately the electors din't accept the blackmail. I also guess a number of influencial people, both in Thailand and abroad, were tired with the incompetence of the democrats and their backers. That's why, despite the dreams of some sore losers, we haven't see a coup so far and the present government will be allowed to run its term.

"The army will never allow a PT government" - which was the BS continually brought up by PTP and their supporters.

"That's why, despite the dreams of some sore losers, we haven't see a coup so far and the present government will be allowed to run its term." - Are you talking about Jatuporn, who has predicted a coup nearly every week for the last 2 years?

[AleG]

If you refer to the Samak and Somchai administration, everybody knows they never had a chance to effectively rule the country. The police and the army refused to obey. They were under contant threat of legal challenge. It was actually the reason given by Newin for changing allegiance, "This government (Somchai) will never be allowed to function, so for the sake of the country, we decide to join force with the democrats".

Even for the last election, it was one of the strong "incentive" to vote for the democrats. The army will never allow a PT government, so vote smart, don't waste your time, vote for the democrats. Fortunately the electors din't accept the blackmail. I also guess a number of influencial people, both in Thailand and abroad, were tired with the incompetence of the democrats and their backers. That's why, despite the dreams of some sore losers, we haven't see a coup so far and the present government will be allowed to run its term.

That's two paragraphs of worthless spin.

Reality is nice, come visit some time.

[Valentine]

If you refer to the Samak and Somchai administration, everybody knows they never had a chance to effectively rule the country. The police and the army refused to obey. They were under contant threat of legal challenge. It was actually the reason given by Newin for changing allegiance, "This government (Somchai) will never be allowed to function, so for the sake of the country, we decide to join force with the democrats".

Even for the last election, it was one of the strong "incentive" to vote for the democrats. The army will never allow a PT government, so vote smart, don't waste your time, vote for the democrats. Fortunately the electors din't accept the blackmail. I also guess a number of influencial people, both in Thailand and abroad, were tired with the incompetence of the democrats and their backers. That's why, despite the dreams of some sore losers, we haven't see a coup so far and the present government will be allowed to run its term.

The police were apathetic during both the PAD & the red shirt demonstrations. The army were only involved in the dispersal of the red shirts due to the inactivity by the police, they were not asked to intervene in the PAD demonstrations.

[JurgenG]

If you refer to the Samak and Somchai administration, everybody knows they never had a chance to effectively rule the country. The police and the army refused to obey. They were under contant threat of legal challenge. It was actually the reason given by Newin for changing allegiance, "This government (Somchai) will never be allowed to function, so for the sake of the country, we decide to join force with the democrats".

Even for the last election, it was one of the strong "incentive" to vote for the democrats. The army will never allow a PT government, so vote smart, don't waste your time, vote for the democrats. Fortunately the electors din't accept the blackmail. I also guess a number of influencial people, both in Thailand and abroad, were tired with the incompetence of the democrats and their backers. That's why, despite the dreams of some sore losers, we haven't see a coup so far and the present government will be allowed to run its term.

That's two paragraphs of worthless spin.

Reality is nice, come visit some time.

The problem is people who have been living in Thailand for the past 6-7 years know what I say it's true.

I don't live in the Nation and Thai Visa virtual world. That's the problem with the electronic age, reality lost its meaning.

[Scott]

One inflammatory post with profanity has been deleted.

Please exercise care in your posts.

[Mosha]

If you refer to the Samak and Somchai administration, everybody knows they never had a chance to effectively rule the country. The police and the army refused to obey. They were under contant threat of legal challenge. It was actually the reason given by Newin for changing allegiance, "This government (Somchai) will never be allowed to function, so for the sake of the country, we decide to join force with the democrats".

Even for the last election, it was one of the strong "incentive" to vote for the democrats. The army will never allow a PT government, so vote smart, don't waste your time, vote for the democrats. Fortunately the electors din't accept the blackmail. I also guess a number of influencial people, both in Thailand and abroad, were tired with the incompetence of the democrats and their backers. That's why, despite the dreams of some sore losers, we haven't see a coup so far and the present government will be allowed to run its term.

They may not have accepted the blackmail, but they did accept the bribes to vote PTP.

[hammered]

So we see an effort to conflate corruption only with (bad) polticians while the private sector dudes remain good, and there is no mention of the extra-parliamentary poltical gamesmen (surely that is a version of corruption too) and their roles, the courts, the bureacracy, the military etc and actually stating a body is good that is regarded by many as fatally flawed. It is a classic cherry picking to argue my propaganda piece.

What next. All polticiians are corrupt and bad ergo we need to do away with democracy and have those we choose to label as good make all the decisions

The writer also seems to be a bit confused about how seperation of powers work. Investigators investigate, prosecutors prosecute, courts judge. Nione of this is done by governments otherwise it would be deemed a withchunt when it is about possible criminal allegations about an individual.

Edited to add: and if the private sector wanted to do something about graft they could come clean publically about all the bungs they had paid and about their links to poltical parties and how this advantages them

Edited December 8, 2011 by hammered

[Skywalker69]

<br />

<br />

Sometime I feel the selection process to write for the Nation is some sort of Limbo dance, with the bar based on the IQ level.

<br /><br />IIRC the OP writer is Nation's editor-in-chief and a Harvard graduate<br />

<br /><br />So I guess we have here an other guy good at using big words <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" /><br />

<br /><br /><br />

No we have a guy who understands words.

Maybe you were out of the country and did not notice that Bangkok had a humidity problem and the Government spent it's energy trying to get a pardon for a criminal. Being unsuccessful at that they decided to get him a passport to make it easier for him to run from the law.

+1 :jap:

[Canada]

Why hasn't the government taken an active role in this very important anti-graft move??????

what a stupid question

[hellodolly]

So we see an effort to conflate corruption only with (bad) polticians while the private sector dudes remain good, and there is no mention of the extra-parliamentary poltical gamesmen (surely that is a version of corruption too) and their roles, the courts, the bureacracy, the military etc and actually stating a body is good that is regarded by many as fatally flawed. It is a classic cherry picking to argue my propaganda piece.

What next. All polticiians are corrupt and bad ergo we need to do away with democracy and have those we choose to label as good make all the decisions

The writer also seems to be a bit confused about how seperation of powers work. Investigators investigate, prosecutors prosecute, courts judge. Nione of this is done by governments otherwise it would be deemed a withchunt when it is about possible criminal allegations about an individual.

Edited to add: and if the private sector wanted to do something about graft they could come clean publically about all the bungs they had paid and about their links to poltical parties and how this advantages them

You say

"The writer also seems to be a bit confused about how seperation of powers work. Investigators investigate, prosecutors prosecute, courts judge. Nione of this is done by governments otherwise it would be deemed a withchunt when it is about possible criminal allegations about an individual."

If that is true why is the government trying to get Thaksin exonerated and a free pass to come home. He claims it was a political job done on him not a legal one. But as you point out it was a legal job not a governmental job done on him.

Would be nice if the Government we have now would believe it was a legal thing that happened to him and let the legal system do there job.

Besides think of the propaganda they could use . We are doing every thing we can to mitigate the damage from the floods instead of the Cabinet is having secret meetings to get a pardon for Thaksin and when that didn't work they are trying to reinstate his passport. No mention of reinstating any other passports to people who are running from the law.:jap:

[Ricardo]

<snip for brevity>

Then blaming the government for the increase of the corruption level when it has been in power for less than 4 month after more than 5 years in the opposition ... Am I the only one to feel a little bias here ?

<snip for brevity>

While I would accept that the PPP-led coalition-governments of PM-Samak & PM-Somchai were not notably effective, and that their supporters may have been disappointed by them, they nevertheless were in power, and it is therefore mistaken to try to claim that they weren't. So it's wrong IMO to say "after more than 5 years in the opposition".

If their room-for-manouver was limited by other constraints, such as the law or military power-group or the demands of coalition-partners or by public-protests, then that is no more than applies to any normal government here.

They were not 'fake Reds' or junta-appointed or a Democrat-led coalition, they were an example of the TRT/PPP/PTP Red-movement "in power", and they ignored the developing Global-Economic-Crisis to focus upon more-partisan affairs. Rather as their successors now appear to be doing.

[Scott]

A series of posts which are off-topic and inflammatory with accompanying posts discussing moderation have been removed. The replies have also been removed.

Please discuss the OP and the content of the thread; not the character of the posters.