Thai Prison Scandal: Jail Officials Let Inmates Go Free Early

[webfact]

PRISON SCANDAL

Jail officials let inmates go free early

Krissana Thiwatsirikul,

Piyanuch Thamnukasetchai

The Nation

Authorities face asset seizures

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: -- An investigation has found that officials at Nakhon Si Thammarat Central Prison allowed inmates to use banned items - for cash - and secured a reduction in punishment for some.

"A drug convict on death row has been said to have behaved well and because of that he has now been ordered to serve just 33 years in jail. He's confident he will be able to walk free soon too," Nakhon Si Thammarat police chief Maj-General Ronnapong Saikaeo said yesterday.

He said police now had evidence solid enough to see prison officials' assets seized.

Ronnapong spoke after more than 600 officials conducted a surprise search of the local jail on Sunday, which uncovered hundreds of mobile phones, weapons and illicit drugs.

He insinuated that many drug traffickers were able to get their jail terms commuted through good-behaviour reports because of corrupt ties with prison officials.

"We have had evidence that some inmates are engaged in drug trafficking even when they are behind bars. They will be prosecuted again and get additional punishment," Ronnapong said.

Some 30 to 40 per cent of officials at the prison were clearly involved in bringing banned items such as phones and drugs to inmates, he said. Recordings showed someone hurling boxes of mobile phones into the jail and officials were seen collecting them.

"Police have sweated to arrest drug convicts. But when they are behind bars, they can continue their illegal trade with help from prison officials," the officer complained.

All inmates at the Nakhon Si Thammarat Central Prison were required to undergo urine tests yesterday to determine whether they had used illicit drugs.

Ronnapong vowed to take tough action against offending inmates and prison officials.

He said he had raised the issue of corrupt officials with Corrections Department director-general Suchart Wong-ananchai.

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok said the probe into wrongdoing at the Nakhon Si Thammarat prison had clearly implicated many officials and was likely to reveal similar offences at other correctional facilities too.

"We have tapped cellphone signals coming out of prisons," Pracha said.

Ronnapong said records from the seized phones were very useful in investigating others involved in drug trafficking.

"At this point, we have found links to inmates at Bang Kwang Prison too. These involved inmates have had connections in Laos and Myanmar," he said.

In a related development, Pol Colonel Dussadee Arayawut, secretary-general of the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, revealed yesterday that a probe by his agency had found three officials at Rattanaburi Prison guilty of bringing illicit drugs to inmates.

Illicit drugs and many banned items were found at Rattanaburi Prison in Surin when a surprise search was conducted last year.

-- The Nation 2012-04-24

[x5david]

Not sure if this crackdown's purpose is really to fix this problem or just someone up the chain angry they didn't get their cut....

[h90]

Not sure if this crackdown's purpose is really to fix this problem or just someone up the chain angry they didn't get their cut....

Monopolize and bring the prices up....

[heiwa]

The untouchables.

Edited April 24, 2012 by heiwa

[DoctorG]

Now, if only they would actually charge, and convict these officials, then we might believe they are serious.

[ralphlsasser]

Now, if only they would actually charge, and convict these officials, then we might believe they are serious.

^ I think it is safe to say, that will not happen. They'll transfer them. In a Thai eyes, problem sloved.

[OzMick]

How much extra would it cost to drug test the guards at the same time?

[OzMick]

" Recordings showed someone hurling boxes of mobile phones into the jail and officials were seen collecting them."

This doesn't make sense. If a guard wanted to bring phones in, he carries them in his pocket or work-bag, not have them hurled over a fence in front of a security camera that he would/should be aware of. Sounds like the guards picking up their phones were actually doing their job, or at least interfering with the competition.

[jalansanitwong]

Are they letting any farangs walk free? There is certainly enough Poms locked up here to fill a plane.

[whybother]

"Police have sweated to arrest drug convicts. But when they are behind bars, they can continue their illegal trade with help from prison officials," the officer complained.

Read: "Police officers are not getting their cut, so they arrest the drug convicts only to see them pay the prison guards".

Jealousy.

[pisico]

Is this surprising? It is in line with the same system of corruption no administration, past or present, was willing to tackle.

This raid is just to create the image that they care. There is no accountability within the framework of government institutions. The most that can happen in the face of blatant violations of the law is a transfer. Thai prisons (same as Customs) are notorious for being corrupt and arbitrary. The rule of law to Thais are mere suggestions.

[TAWP]

" Recordings showed someone hurling boxes of mobile phones into the jail and officials were seen collecting them."

This doesn't make sense. If a guard wanted to bring phones in, he carries them in his pocket or work-bag, not have them hurled over a fence in front of a security camera that he would/should be aware of. Sounds like the guards picking up their phones were actually doing their job, or at least interfering with the competition.

It could be a case that someone needed to bring in a large amount of phones and had them arranged to be thrown over the fence and picked up by some bought guards - not all guards might be bought or involved in all cases of illegal behavior.

[NomadJoe]

Are they letting any farangs walk free? There is certainly enough Poms locked up here to fill a plane.

My understanding has always been this is common practice, and that was before I met a Brit that claimed he spent several months in prison in Chaing Mai for killing someone until he could pay the warden $50,000 to be released.

.

Edited April 24, 2012 by NomadJoe

[Thaddeus]

Now, if only they would actually charge, and convict these officials, then we might believe they are serious.

^ I think it is safe to say, that will not happen. They'll transfer them. In a Thai eyes, problem sloved.

Transfer them to an inactive prison?

[GentlemanJim]

The corruption issue is simply endemic in Thailand. It is the resin that glues together the fabric of Thai society. Every single person in a Government job is always on the make. Some examples just from our local area.

We had elections this weekend for 20 people to be elected to decide how to spend the annual town 'projects' budget which is normally in the order of 700 million to 1 billion baht a year !!!!!! It is an acknowledged fact that if you win a seat on this committee you are made, as EVERYONE gets a large slice of the pie, All contracts for work are also given to the companies owned by the senior committee members. The 'democratic' elections were welcomed by the local poor as they knew they would get bribes for votes, and they did! Our next door neighbor ' a poor but senior lady in the village was given 5000 baht by the most senior corrupt official and told to give 200 baht to others and that they all vote for him. She pocketed the money, and voted for the other guy . Incidentally, the most corrupt guy who has been chairman for 16 years, started with nothing and now has a personal fortune of 500 million plus! was voted out...

My wife's Uncle was an Army Officer who now has several very valuable properties in BKK and a nice merc. How has he achieved that on an Army Officers wage? Many years ago he was taking massive bribes to 'look over' the requirement for young wealthy kids to do their national service commitment. When my wife was young she had to 'clean' his house and she would see him bring in holdall bags full of blocks of 1000 baht notes, the bags full to the brim. He had a senior position in recruiting. Tens of millions a year!

We know local police and prison officials who all supplement their poor Government wage by taking bribes in return for any privilege they can bestow on the unfortunate.

A guy I know got a gun license the other day and avoided all the red tape by 'donating' 5000 baht to the senior official in the licensing office, and with the caveat that he must by a gun from a particular gun shop....owned by the same senior official in the gun licensing office!!!!! All 5 staff in the office get a share of the bribes, so they are all implicated so they must all remain silent!

There is simply no way to stamp this out in the next 25 years. I have no doubt that the 800 inspection officials who went into the prisons will be on a different 'bribary' tier. Thais in Government do nothing without money being paid, and then will do anything for money. And the poor remain poor. I still haven't worked out how it is possible for this country to work in terms of economics.

[ivan96822]

Corruption, corruption, corruption....Grime, crime, and slime.

[w11guy]

Mobile phones, drugs, etc are also available in UK prisons. It's not just a Thai problem.

[hellodolly]

Now, if only they would actually charge, and convict these officials, then we might believe they are serious.

You are insinuating they can not charge and convict them.

WHY are they all members in the parliament?

[hellodolly]

The corruption issue is simply endemic in Thailand. It is the resin that glues together the fabric of Thai society. Every single person in a Government job is always on the make. Some examples just from our local area.

We had elections this weekend for 20 people to be elected to decide how to spend the annual town 'projects' budget which is normally in the order of 700 million to 1 billion baht a year !!!!!! It is an acknowledged fact that if you win a seat on this committee you are made, as EVERYONE gets a large slice of the pie, All contracts for work are also given to the companies owned by the senior committee members. The 'democratic' elections were welcomed by the local poor as they knew they would get bribes for votes, and they did! Our next door neighbor ' a poor but senior lady in the village was given 5000 baht by the most senior corrupt official and told to give 200 baht to others and that they all vote for him. She pocketed the money, and voted for the other guy . Incidentally, the most corrupt guy who has been chairman for 16 years, started with nothing and now has a personal fortune of 500 million plus! was voted out...

My wife's Uncle was an Army Officer who now has several very valuable properties in BKK and a nice merc. How has he achieved that on an Army Officers wage? Many years ago he was taking massive bribes to 'look over' the requirement for young wealthy kids to do their national service commitment. When my wife was young she had to 'clean' his house and she would see him bring in holdall bags full of blocks of 1000 baht notes, the bags full to the brim. He had a senior position in recruiting. Tens of millions a year!

We know local police and prison officials who all supplement their poor Government wage by taking bribes in return for any privilege they can bestow on the unfortunate.

A guy I know got a gun license the other day and avoided all the red tape by 'donating' 5000 baht to the senior official in the licensing office, and with the caveat that he must by a gun from a particular gun shop....owned by the same senior official in the gun licensing office!!!!! All 5 staff in the office get a share of the bribes, so they are all implicated so they must all remain silent!

There is simply no way to stamp this out in the next 25 years. I have no doubt that the 800 inspection officials who went into the prisons will be on a different 'bribary' tier. Thais in Government do nothing without money being paid, and then will do anything for money. And the poor remain poor. I still haven't worked out how it is possible for this country to work in terms of economics.

My My Aren't we all knowing about Thailand except how the economics work.

Are you one that accuses all waitress of being Whores.

You seem to have a positive genius for painting every one the same color. Maybe if you had not married into a corrupt family you would have a little bit of a different view of Thai's.

For myself not being marrfied into a corrurpt family and hanging around with the easly bought Tghai's I see them as people the world over some good some bad some better than others some worse than others.

Did you ever stop to think that bribes at a certain level are just the Thai way to pay decent wages that if the offenders received they might not resort to bribery. Here in Thailand it is just a way to avoid taxes that you pay back home for their services.

Edited April 24, 2012 by hellodolly

[how241]

Not sure if this crackdown's purpose is really to fix this problem or just someone up the chain angry they didn't get their cut....

Could be as little of both. Either way, a clean-up is needed.

[Skywalker69]

Now, if only they would actually charge, and convict these officials, then we might believe they are serious.

^ I think it is safe to say, that will not happen. They'll transfer them. In a Thai eyes, problem sloved.

Transfer them to an inactive prison?

[Bagwan]

Now, if only they would actually charge, and convict these officials, then we might believe they are serious.

^ I think it is safe to say, that will not happen. They'll transfer them. In a Thai eyes, problem sloved.

Transfer them to an inactive prison?

Yet another superb one liner from my favourite poster.

[louse1953]

The corruption issue is simply endemic in Thailand. It is the resin that glues together the fabric of Thai society. Every single person in a Government job is always on the make. Some examples just from our local area.

We had elections this weekend for 20 people to be elected to decide how to spend the annual town 'projects' budget which is normally in the order of 700 million to 1 billion baht a year !!!!!! It is an acknowledged fact that if you win a seat on this committee you are made, as EVERYONE gets a large slice of the pie, All contracts for work are also given to the companies owned by the senior committee members. The 'democratic' elections were welcomed by the local poor as they knew they would get bribes for votes, and they did! Our next door neighbor ' a poor but senior lady in the village was given 5000 baht by the most senior corrupt official and told to give 200 baht to others and that they all vote for him. She pocketed the money, and voted for the other guy . Incidentally, the most corrupt guy who has been chairman for 16 years, started with nothing and now has a personal fortune of 500 million plus! was voted out...

My wife's Uncle was an Army Officer who now has several very valuable properties in BKK and a nice merc. How has he achieved that on an Army Officers wage? Many years ago he was taking massive bribes to 'look over' the requirement for young wealthy kids to do their national service commitment. When my wife was young she had to 'clean' his house and she would see him bring in holdall bags full of blocks of 1000 baht notes, the bags full to the brim. He had a senior position in recruiting. Tens of millions a year!

We know local police and prison officials who all supplement their poor Government wage by taking bribes in return for any privilege they can bestow on the unfortunate.

A guy I know got a gun license the other day and avoided all the red tape by 'donating' 5000 baht to the senior official in the licensing office, and with the caveat that he must by a gun from a particular gun shop....owned by the same senior official in the gun licensing office!!!!! All 5 staff in the office get a share of the bribes, so they are all implicated so they must all remain silent!

There is simply no way to stamp this out in the next 25 years. I have no doubt that the 800 inspection officials who went into the prisons will be on a different 'bribary' tier. Thais in Government do nothing without money being paid, and then will do anything for money. And the poor remain poor. I still haven't worked out how it is possible for this country to work in terms of economics.

Hey Jim,your wife must have cleaning house in her nappies,1000 baht notes come out in 1992.Can i come to your town,my village only gets 250,000 baht,i'd like a bit of the action down your way,you seem to know all the crooks in town.

[tragickingdom]

It would only be a scandal if it was something out of the ordinary. Everybody knows that not everybody is treated equal in Thai society. I consider the fact that capital punishment is still in place a scandal, especially given the fact that a significant percentage of the inmates are there because the evidence was framed, the judge was bought or the police had a deadline to make. On top of that people without money are put away for a very long time without them even having any kind of legal representation. So no this is not a scandal merely something of common practice.

[GentlemanJim]

The corruption issue is simply endemic in Thailand. It is the resin that glues together the fabric of Thai society. Every single person in a Government job is always on the make. Some examples just from our local area.

We had elections this weekend for 20 people to be elected to decide how to spend the annual town 'projects' budget which is normally in the order of 700 million to 1 billion baht a year !!!!!! It is an acknowledged fact that if you win a seat on this committee you are made, as EVERYONE gets a large slice of the pie, All contracts for work are also given to the companies owned by the senior committee members. The 'democratic' elections were welcomed by the local poor as they knew they would get bribes for votes, and they did! Our next door neighbor ' a poor but senior lady in the village was given 5000 baht by the most senior corrupt official and told to give 200 baht to others and that they all vote for him. She pocketed the money, and voted for the other guy . Incidentally, the most corrupt guy who has been chairman for 16 years, started with nothing and now has a personal fortune of 500 million plus! was voted out...

My wife's Uncle was an Army Officer who now has several very valuable properties in BKK and a nice merc. How has he achieved that on an Army Officers wage? Many years ago he was taking massive bribes to 'look over' the requirement for young wealthy kids to do their national service commitment. When my wife was young she had to 'clean' his house and she would see him bring in holdall bags full of blocks of 1000 baht notes, the bags full to the brim. He had a senior position in recruiting. Tens of millions a year!

We know local police and prison officials who all supplement their poor Government wage by taking bribes in return for any privilege they can bestow on the unfortunate.

A guy I know got a gun license the other day and avoided all the red tape by 'donating' 5000 baht to the senior official in the licensing office, and with the caveat that he must by a gun from a particular gun shop....owned by the same senior official in the gun licensing office!!!!! All 5 staff in the office get a share of the bribes, so they are all implicated so they must all remain silent!

There is simply no way to stamp this out in the next 25 years. I have no doubt that the 800 inspection officials who went into the prisons will be on a different 'bribary' tier. Thais in Government do nothing without money being paid, and then will do anything for money. And the poor remain poor. I still haven't worked out how it is possible for this country to work in terms of economics.

My My Aren't we all knowing about Thailand except how the economics work.

Are you one that accuses all waitress of being Whores.

You seem to have a positive genius for painting every one the same color. Maybe if you had not married into a corrupt family you would have a little bit of a different view of Thai's.

For myself not being marrfied into a corrurpt family and hanging around with the easly bought Tghai's I see them as people the world over some good some bad some better than others some worse than others.

Did you ever stop to think that bribes at a certain level are just the Thai way to pay decent wages that if the offenders received they might not resort to bribery. Here in Thailand it is just a way to avoid taxes that you pay back home for their services.

Red rag to Bull!!

Where have I ever said all waitresses are whores? I have never ever discussed, whores, bar girls or waitresses on TV as I have never frequented a farang bar and have never been with a whore? At what point have I married in to a corrupt family?Did you know all 300 members of your wifes family before you married her? Why would I know of a guy living in BKK when we live 700 miles away? I have not painted everyone with the same colour, I gave specific examples of specific people, and apart from an Uncle whom I have never met, NON are in my family. And read my post, I said they are taking bribes because of their low wages. People like you deserve to sh*t hedghogs! Where have I said I am 'hanging around with easily bought Thai's' you cheeky sod.

Louse 1953

Hey Jim,your wife must have cleaning house in her nappies,1000 baht notes come out in 1992.Can i come to your town,my village only gets 250,000 baht,i'd like a bit of the action down your way,you seem to know all the crooks in town.

My wife is 40 what exactly is your point? Are you implying she was incontinent aged 20? She was at Uni in BKK and had to clean her Uncles house in order for him to give her free lodgings while she studied. Happy with the detail now? We are not all married to 19 year olds you know. Sorry to disappoint you but there is no point coming down, afraid I don't know the crooks. I don't know the election officials concerned, I dont know the Uncle who lives 700 miles away, I know of but do not socialise with, speak to or any other action that would make me familiar with the police or prison officer concerned, and the only one I do know well is the old lady who took 5000 baht off the crooked politician for her vote and then voted for the other guy. She isnt a crook she's a bloody hero.

Edited April 24, 2012 by GentlemanJim

[MEL1]

Are they letting any farangs walk free? There is certainly enough Poms locked up here to fill a plane.

Scott's off free...

-mel.

[heiwa]

Show me the money 555. Thai guy once joked with me that the police will arrest the good guy with a gun but not arrest the bad guy because he is paying the monthly fee to plunder.

Edited April 24, 2012 by heiwa

[hellodolly]

The corruption issue is simply endemic in Thailand. It is the resin that glues together the fabric of Thai society. Every single person in a Government job is always on the make. Some examples just from our local area.

We had elections this weekend for 20 people to be elected to decide how to spend the annual town 'projects' budget which is normally in the order of 700 million to 1 billion baht a year !!!!!! It is an acknowledged fact that if you win a seat on this committee you are made, as EVERYONE gets a large slice of the pie, All contracts for work are also given to the companies owned by the senior committee members. The 'democratic' elections were welcomed by the local poor as they knew they would get bribes for votes, and they did! Our next door neighbor ' a poor but senior lady in the village was given 5000 baht by the most senior corrupt official and told to give 200 baht to others and that they all vote for him. She pocketed the money, and voted for the other guy . Incidentally, the most corrupt guy who has been chairman for 16 years, started with nothing and now has a personal fortune of 500 million plus! was voted out...

My wife's Uncle was an Army Officer who now has several very valuable properties in BKK and a nice merc. How has he achieved that on an Army Officers wage? Many years ago he was taking massive bribes to 'look over' the requirement for young wealthy kids to do their national service commitment. When my wife was young she had to 'clean' his house and she would see him bring in holdall bags full of blocks of 1000 baht notes, the bags full to the brim. He had a senior position in recruiting. Tens of millions a year!

We know local police and prison officials who all supplement their poor Government wage by taking bribes in return for any privilege they can bestow on the unfortunate.

A guy I know got a gun license the other day and avoided all the red tape by 'donating' 5000 baht to the senior official in the licensing office, and with the caveat that he must by a gun from a particular gun shop....owned by the same senior official in the gun licensing office!!!!! All 5 staff in the office get a share of the bribes, so they are all implicated so they must all remain silent!

There is simply no way to stamp this out in the next 25 years. I have no doubt that the 800 inspection officials who went into the prisons will be on a different 'bribary' tier. Thais in Government do nothing without money being paid, and then will do anything for money. And the poor remain poor. I still haven't worked out how it is possible for this country to work in terms of economics.

My My Aren't we all knowing about Thailand except how the economics work.

Are you one that accuses all waitress of being Whores.

You seem to have a positive genius for painting every one the same color. Maybe if you had not married into a corrupt family you would have a little bit of a different view of Thai's.

For myself not being married into a corrupt family and hanging around with the easily bought Thai's I see them as people the world over some good some bad some better than others some worse than others.

Did you ever stop to think that bribes at a certain level are just the Thai way to pay decent wages that if the offenders received they might not resort to bribery. Here in Thailand it is just a way to avoid taxes that you pay back home for their services.

Red rag to Bull!!

Where have I ever said all waitresses are whores? I have never ever discussed, whores, bar girls or waitresses on TV as I have never frequented a farang bar and have never been with a whore? At what point have I married in to a corrupt family?Did you know all 300 members of your wifes family before you married her? Why would I know of a guy living in BKK when we live 700 miles away? I have not painted everyone with the same colour, I gave specific examples of specific people, and apart from an Uncle whom I have never met, NON are in my family. And read my post, I said they are taking bribes because of their low wages. People like you deserve to sh*t hedghogs! Where have I said I am 'hanging around with easily bought Thai's' you cheeky sod.

Louse 1953

Hey Jim,your wife must have cleaning house in her nappies,1000 baht notes come out in 1992.Can i come to your town,my village only gets 250,000 baht,i'd like a bit of the action down your way,you seem to know all the crooks in town.

My wife is 40 what exactly is your point? Are you implying she was incontinent aged 20? She was at Uni in BKK and had to clean her Uncles house in order for him to give her free lodgings while she studied. Happy with the detail now? We are not all married to 19 year olds you know. Sorry to disappoint you but there is no point coming down, afraid I don't know the crooks. I don't know the election officials concerned, I dont know the Uncle who lives 700 miles away, I know of but do not socialise with, speak to or any other action that would make me familiar with the police or prison officer concerned, and the only one I do know well is the old lady who took 5000 baht off the crooked politician for her vote and then voted for the other guy. She isnt a crook she's a bloody hero.

No where have you said all waitress are whores and I never said you hung around with them,

As for marring into a corrupt family you openly admitted your wife's uncle was corrupt and she said and did nothing about it. That is a common practice in corrupt families.

You posted

"The corruption issue is simply endemic in Thailand. It is the resin that glues together the fabric of Thai society. Every single person in a Government job is always on the make. Some examples just from our local area."

You will notice you painted them all with the same paint brush no exceptions.

I just gave you a example of what your kind of thinking is in other careers. All the same no difference. If one waitress is whore they all are. If one police man is honest they all are,

As I said you just grabbed the paint brush with only one color on it and applied it to every one in one career. Are you now saying that other careers you can see that there are differences between the people in them.

No where did I say you used their services or went into farong bars.

So why are you denying it?

As I said in my post I can see good people and bad people some better some worse but defiantly not all corrupt,

Edited April 24, 2012 by hellodolly

[h90]

Show me the money 555. Thai guy once joked with me that the police will arrest the good guy with a gun but not arrest the bad guy because he is paying the monthly fee to plunder.

where is the joke?

[jaapfries]

The corruption issue is simply endemic in Thailand. It is the resin that glues together the fabric of Thai society. Every single person in a Government job is always on the make. Some examples just from our local area.

We had elections this weekend for 20 people to be elected to decide how to spend the annual town 'projects' budget which is normally in the order of 700 million to 1 billion baht a year !!!!!! It is an acknowledged fact that if you win a seat on this committee you are made, as EVERYONE gets a large slice of the pie, All contracts for work are also given to the companies owned by the senior committee members. The 'democratic' elections were welcomed by the local poor as they knew they would get bribes for votes, and they did! Our next door neighbor ' a poor but senior lady in the village was given 5000 baht by the most senior corrupt official and told to give 200 baht to others and that they all vote for him. She pocketed the money, and voted for the other guy . Incidentally, the most corrupt guy who has been chairman for 16 years, started with nothing and now has a personal fortune of 500 million plus! was voted out...

My wife's Uncle was an Army Officer who now has several very valuable properties in BKK and a nice merc. How has he achieved that on an Army Officers wage? Many years ago he was taking massive bribes to 'look over' the requirement for young wealthy kids to do their national service commitment. When my wife was young she had to 'clean' his house and she would see him bring in holdall bags full of blocks of 1000 baht notes, the bags full to the brim. He had a senior position in recruiting. Tens of millions a year!

We know local police and prison officials who all supplement their poor Government wage by taking bribes in return for any privilege they can bestow on the unfortunate.

A guy I know got a gun license the other day and avoided all the red tape by 'donating' 5000 baht to the senior official in the licensing office, and with the caveat that he must by a gun from a particular gun shop....owned by the same senior official in the gun licensing office!!!!! All 5 staff in the office get a share of the bribes, so they are all implicated so they must all remain silent!

There is simply no way to stamp this out in the next 25 years. I have no doubt that the 800 inspection officials who went into the prisons will be on a different 'bribary' tier. Thais in Government do nothing without money being paid, and then will do anything for money. And the poor remain poor. I still haven't worked out how it is possible for this country to work in terms of economics.

GentlemanJim; I believe you hit the proverbial nail on the head: squarely ! !

One does not have to 'like' what's going-on in Thailand, but there's nothing wrong with recognizing (clearly !) the factual situation on the ground here.

For all those who are bleating at this (IMHO: brilliantly phrased) "analysis; please don't forget that things in England & Western-Europe weren't all that much different all that long ago . . . . . why, for example, was there a guy named Robin Hood ?

It is my sincere hope (& belief) that; given time, the situation in Thailand will "straighten itself out" for the better; just like it did, eventually, in our countries.

Edited April 25, 2012 by jaapfries