Remember Public Servants Who Put Thailand First

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EDITORIAL

Remember public servants who put Thailand first

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Today's bureaucrats and politicians should look to the values and achievements of two men who represented the country's interests rather than their own ambitions

Over the past week, Thailand has lost two technocrats who have served the country with their vision of Thailand playing a pivotal role in the global economic community. When the civil service was a stronger institution than it is today, these two veteran servants laid down the foundations for their agencies and left a legacy that their successors are unlikely to emulate because of the changing work culture.

The two bureaucrats in question are Bajr Issarasena, former permanent secretary to the Commerce Ministry, and Staporn Kavitanon, former secretary-general of the Board of Investment (BOI), who passed away within days of each other. Although both men had retired for years before their passing, their achievements should serve as a benchmark for the new generation of civil servants. Bajr and Staporn displayed dedication and courage in standing up to politicians, and they groomed the next generation of officials, some of whom have risen to the top of their careers today.

Bajr and Staporn began their careers as Thailand was first starting to embrace external trade and foreign investment. Bajr started at the Commerce Ministry in 1954 after graduating from Cambridge University. He accumulated knowledge and experience by working at various departments until he finally rose to the post of permanent secretary. One of Bajr's main roles and achievements was leading Thailand in many crucial international trade negotiations - bilaterally, multilaterally and regionally - and working to protect Thailand's commercial interests. For instance, he led Thai trade negotiators in a bilateral trade dispute with the United States over imported cigarettes. He groomed his subordinates, including Kriek-krai Jirapaet and Karun Kittisataporn - who both later became permanent secretaries at the Commerce Ministry - to become the Kingdom's top trade negotiators for the Asean Free Trade Area (Afta) and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (Gatt), which has now become the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Staporn, meanwhile, turned the Board of Investment into a successful facilitator to attract foreign direct investment. Under Staporn's guidance, the BOI was transformed from what was known as the "twilight zone" into a magnet to draw foreign investors to Thailand. The BOI is now a modern organisation that has introduced a one-stop service to provide information for investors and assist them in establishing their businesses.

Staporn was also instrumental in promoting greater cooperation between the public and private sectors. During his decade at the BOI, he was a great advocate of all channels in public relations that would effectively showcase Thai manufacturers' competitiveness.

Bajr and Staporn may be among the last generation of technocrats to play a forceful role in Thailand's development. The political environment has changed, and nowadays politicians exert greater influence at the ministries they are in charge of. At times they put severe pressure on permanent officials who decide to stand in their way. In fact, Bajr learned about this all too well. He was dismissed from the ministry by then commerce minister Uthai Pimchaichon in 1994 over a conflict regarding a deal between a trading company and the ministry. Other officials might have chosen to succumb to the directives of politicians in order to survive in the post. But Bajr decided to act based on what he thought was right. The Supreme Court later ruled that Uthai's dismissal of Bajr was an act of political misconduct.

While these two public servants were in charge of their respective agencies, they proved to be visionary leaders - a rare quality these days among bureaucrats and, especially, politicians, who tend to adopt short-term policies to stay in power. Bajr and Staporn's legacies should serve as a reminder and a lesson for the civil servants of today and tomorrow.

-- The Nation 2012-02-08

[exeter]

Sound like two good men, Thailand needs a lot more of these. The culture here seems to be I am available for the highest bidder, I might even change my political alleigance if there is money in it for me and with a mindset like that who can you trust? I hope some more good men or women can break through and put the country before their bank balances.

[AZBill]

Gives new meaning to "the short list"

[CalgaryII]

Most likely well deserved plaudits for these two gentlemen.

Although to be a curmudgeon in this feel-good story, I also notice a bent to demonizing Politicians - the representatives of the people - and glorifying a powerful bureaucracy to challenge those who were elected.

But a powerful bureaucracy vs. elected officials is probably a subject for another time.

[Reasonableman]

Most likely well deserved plaudits for these two gentlemen.

Although to be a curmudgeon in this feel-good story, I also notice a bent to demonizing Politicians - the representatives of the people - and glorifying a powerful bureaucracy to challenge those who were elected.

But a powerful bureaucracy vs. elected officials is probably a subject for another time.

I thought you'd be enthusiastically upholding the benefits of a professional public service, working hard for the well-being of the entire population, not being blown around like confetti with every change in the political party in power. Yes, it is good to see people of high principle who are not subservient to every vagary of the political wind, who stand up for the welfare of the general population when it is threatened. I would have thought you'd be all for that. Aren't you?

[CalgaryII]

Most likely well deserved plaudits for these two gentlemen.

Although to be a curmudgeon in this feel-good story, I also notice a bent to demonizing Politicians - the representatives of the people - and glorifying a powerful bureaucracy to challenge those who were elected.

But a powerful bureaucracy vs. elected officials is probably a subject for another time.

I thought you'd be enthusiastically upholding the benefits of a professional public service, working hard for the well-being of the entire population, not being blown around like confetti with every change in the political party in power. Yes, it is good to see people of high principle who are not subservient to every vagary of the political wind, who stand up for the welfare of the general population when it is threatened. I would have thought you'd be all for that. Aren't you?

In a Democracy, the Civil Service does not run the show.

"The People's Representatives" direct and control the Civil Service.

In the event of a Govt. change as happened here recently, the Civil Service may need to re-position itself to carry out the policies on which their masters were elected. To do otherwise when they think they cam and when they have the power, is disrespectful of the electorate.

I guess I am also sensitive to instances in Thai Politics where Politicians are demonized wholesale. When I see that, I come to the immediate conclusion that their is another agenda at play here.

There are some anti-democratic elements in Thai politics, who would dismiss Democracy in a heartbeat. They have a penchant for demonizing the results of Democracy, namely Politicians.

Lest this be seen as a blind defence of Politicians, it is not. See it in the context of Democracy activism.

[Reasonableman]

Most likely well deserved plaudits for these two gentlemen.

Although to be a curmudgeon in this feel-good story, I also notice a bent to demonizing Politicians - the representatives of the people - and glorifying a powerful bureaucracy to challenge those who were elected.

But a powerful bureaucracy vs. elected officials is probably a subject for another time.

I thought you'd be enthusiastically upholding the benefits of a professional public service, working hard for the well-being of the entire population, not being blown around like confetti with every change in the political party in power. Yes, it is good to see people of high principle who are not subservient to every vagary of the political wind, who stand up for the welfare of the general population when it is threatened. I would have thought you'd be all for that. Aren't you?

In a Democracy, the Civil Service does not run the show.

"The People's Representatives" direct and control the Civil Service.

In the event of a Govt. change as happened here recently, the Civil Service may need to re-position itself to carry out the policies on which their masters were elected. To do otherwise when they think they cam and when they have the power, is disrespectful of the electorate.

I guess I am also sensitive to instances in Thai Politics where Politicians are demonized wholesale. When I see that, I come to the immediate conclusion that their is another agenda at play here.

There are some anti-democratic elements in Thai politics, who would dismiss Democracy in a heartbeat. They have a penchant for demonizing the results of Democracy, namely Politicians.

Lest this be seen as a blind defence of Politicians, it is not. See it in the context of Democracy activism.

Democracy activism, don't make me laugh! Your version of democracy is a perversion of democracy, more like a capitalist dictatorship of users and used, winners and losers, pigs and sheep. Laws are made in a representative elected Parliament (yes, government, opposition, independent, aligned and non-aligned, the whole mix) in most democracies, not by opaque "emergency" decrees that are not able to be considered, debated, amended, and voted on by ALL those representing their constituencies. You argue against judicial review, against parliamentary review, a strong public service -- against any constraint on the activities of the government in power. Be careful what you wish for. I can see that might be in the short-term interests of a select few, but a disaster for the long-term good governance of the Thai people. Democracy activism, what a joke! You are not a democracy advocate at all, far from it.