No Progress On Graft, Says Sonthi: Thailand

[webfact]

No progress on graft, says Sonthi

Khanittha Theppajorn

The Nation

Sonthi

BANGKOK: -- The man who oversaw the coup that ousted Thaksin Shinwatra's government six years ago today lamented yesterday that corruption - one of the reasons cited for the power seizure - was still a severe problem in the country.

General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, now leader of a small political party called Matubhum, said the five governments over the past six years had failed to tackle this problem.

"I believe all the governments are aware of this problem but nobody is serious about tackling it. This is why the country has not seen much development in democracy," he said.

In an exclusive interview on the eve of the 2006 coup's sixth anniversary, Sonthi said he was disappointed that the politicians had failed to put the corruption problem on the national agenda. He said the government should encourage the civil sector and the media to help with scrutiny so graft can be prevented.

He said corruption was one of the five reasons his National Security Council cited when it seized power from Thaksin. "Corruption is a big obstacle to democracy," he said.

Sonthi, who was Army chief when he led the coup, said his real intention was to "maintain the country's democracy and Constitution". As for the continuing conflict between the rival political colours, Sonthi said he felt the situation was worsening. He explained that politics was being influenced by politicians and parties' personal benefits, not democracy. However, he said, he did not think Thaksin was behind the conflict because "over the past few years he has been living in exile overseas, far away from Thailand".

Sonthi caused a stir in June when he proposed a reconciliation bill that critics said was aimed at whitewashing Thaksin's wrongdoings.

-- The Nation 2012-09-19

[jerrysteve]

WHAT else is OLD News

[dcutman]

Stating the obvious is very easy, doing something about it, not so much.

[GentlemanJim]

At the end of the exclusive interview he told the journalist he would rather not send an invoice to the editor for his fee, but could they give a brown envelope to the gardener.

[fareastguy]

Thailand has had & still has a history or should I say a culture of corruption, so deep rooted that it will take an immense effort to eradicate.

It will take time to re-educate all politicians, governors, mayors, company owners, small business owners etc that it must come to an end.

It will only come from the firm orders from the very top, with a panel of unbiased judges to be set up to investigate all findings & a hotline to report abusers.

The order must be unambiguous, "from today this government will take action, corrupt actions will not be tolerated by anyone in any position"

if reported & found guilty you will be punished to the highest level within the law, you will not be privy to any kind of amnesty, you will be removed from your post & have a lifetime ban from holding that position again, be it a politician or company owner.

All profits from proven corruption will be recovered by means of repossessing the assets from the guilty person or immediate family assets.

Only then may these leeches within the Thai society act appropriately within the office they have been elected to work or they will eventually be rooted out and removed !!

Her biggest challenge will come when it's time to keeping close friends & allies in check

But it can only come from the very top, if Yingluk has a taste for true democracy as she say's, then it must start with her giving a clear order to all parties.

Maybe she has developed a taste for politics during the past year, maybe she has the grit & determination to turn the country around, maybe she has a vision of treading the same path as Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia instead of watching them grow & Thailand falling behind.

And maybe one day she will wake up with the self belief that she needs & realise that the strings controlling her from afar are actually holding her back from what she herself could achieve, maybe it's time so clear the cupboard of deadwood & past grievances, it's time she took the next steps herself & starts to write her own history & new legacy for Thailand.

Only then will the Reds, Yellows or whatever persuasion they are realise the future is in font waiting to be tapped, not having lifetime feuds about the past, eventually they will see it's pointless & move into the light or be left behind.

Edited September 19, 2012 by fareastguy

[GentlemanJim]

A nice post, however, having a determination to follow in the path of Cambodia is exactly what we don't want and exactly what her brother does want. A dynastic republic with one political party and as many as possible kept poor and uneducated.

[noitom]

Maybe 18 or so military coups have had a little to do with impeding democratic government. Especially, when the majority of "equally eligible citizens" ( democracy) are unaware of the coups and caught by surprise as well especially the last one.

[LuckyLew]

A nice post, however, having a determination to follow in the path of Cambodia is exactly what we don't want and exactly what her brother does want. A dynastic republic with one political party and as many as possible kept poor and uneducated.

I agree

[Thaddeus]

Do as I say, don't do as I do.

Oh, you just did what I do too, but I can't single you out in case it backfires, on me.

Impasse.

[Buchholz]

"I believe all the governments are aware of this problem but nobody is serious about tackling it."

He's overlooking the seriousness the current government has taken on the issue.

Yingluck launches anti-corruption campaign

Posted 2012-05-19

http://www.thaivisa....ption-campaign/

Edited September 19, 2012 by Buchholz

[chainarong]

You Probably can fix this problem, by having another coup.

[OzMick]

Lamenting corruption, but trying to whitewash the most corrupt of all. What a bloody hypocrite!

[asiawatcher]

As is often said - the fish stinks from the head down - only difference here is the fish is out of town and it does not behoove his billions to stop the corruption!

[Nickymaster]

A nice post, however, having a determination to follow in the path of Cambodia is exactly what we don't want and exactly what her brother does want. A dynastic republic with one political party and as many as possible kept poor and uneducated.

Spot on!

[Nickymaster]

"I believe all the governments are aware of this problem but nobody is serious about tackling it."

He's overlooking the seriousness the current government has taken on the issue.

Yingluck launches anti-corruption campaign

Posted 2012-05-19

http://www.thaivisa....ption-campaign/

Which one of them doesn't have a corruption case "pending"?

Edited September 19, 2012 by Nickymaster

[Thai at Heart]

You Probably can fix this problem, by having another coup.

I would hardly believe that that is a one stop shop for preventing corruption.

[SICHONSTEVE]

Concerning the politicians unwillingness to tackle the rampant corruption that exists in Thai society - has anyone wondered why turkeys never vote for christmas?????

[timewilltell]

Corruption kills not just people but the country. He is right though I wonder the depth of his sincerity! Linking corruption to democracy is OK but I think the real damage done is far worse than the votes bought by politicians to persuade the village idiots to vote for them - and linked to teh appalling education system here it is no surprise there is no political will to get Thailand's education system a priority - it is easy to lead sheep even if you just a big sheep yourself!

[Thaddeus]

"I believe all the governments are aware of this problem but nobody is serious about tackling it."

He's overlooking the seriousness the current government has taken on the issue.

Yingluck launches anti-corruption campaign

Posted 2012-05-19

http://www.thaivisa....ption-campaign/

Which one of them doesn't have a corruption case "pending"?

The grumpy one in waiting.

[noitom]

"I believe all the governments are aware of this problem but nobody is serious about tackling it."

He's overlooking the seriousness the current government has taken on the issue.

Yingluck launches anti-corruption campaign

Posted 2012-05-19

http://www.thaivisa....ption-campaign/

Which one of them doesn't have a corruption case "pending"?

The expressions on all of their faces says it all about what they think of corruption.

[Buchholz]

role model House Speaker and Pheu Thai MP Somsak Kiatsuranon sleeping in Parliament

The latest corruption scandal brewing has Pheu Thai Party MP and House of Representatives Boss (pictured above) leaving Thailand yesterday with a 39-person entourage for a "study trip" to Europe to the tune of 7 Million Baht of taxpayers' money (180,000 Baht each).

In addition to taking place while Parliament is still in session, there's no shortage of tourist-related activities such as tickets for Premier League football matches on consecutive days.

Additional details on the boondoggle junket available it today's other paper.

.

Edited September 20, 2012 by Buchholz

[Jitar]

A nice post, however, having a determination to follow in the path of Cambodia is exactly what we don't want and exactly what her brother does want. A dynastic republic with one political party and as many as possible kept poor and uneducated.

Yes the Cambodian / Red model is crap but the alternatives so far are not much better. I.E a democratic constitutional monarchy in theory but in practice a series of corrupt power brokers punctuated by coups with as many as possible kept poor and uneducated.

Sonthi's comments make me wonder how smart he thinks the average Newspaper reader is.

Perhaps justifying a coup to "maintain the country's democracy and Constitution" is a another white lie?

Now he wants the "civil sector and the media to help with scrutiny so graft can be prevented". That will happen just after the turkeys vote for Christmas.