Thoughts On Institutionalised Police Corruption

[Rancid]

Just been reading the post on Phuket with many punters wondering why the corrupt police there, and elsewhere, are allowed to continue on unabated.

As such my observation is that the moneyed elites here (like most places) control the government, as such it is a given that governmnet policy reflects the desires of said moneyed elite. Now the Thai Police has been corrupt since before the dinosaurs died off yet no change ever takes place. Why would that be?

Consider this: if your daughter kills numerous irrelevant peasants in a minivan or your grandson runs down and kills some wretched lo-so while spaced out on coke and alcohol do you want them facing something like a real police force who would pretty much just arrest and charge them with their crimes? Or would you prefer a corrupt institution where a few baht passed ensures all charges disappear? Likewise when you steal from your company and shareholders or are entangled in a corruption scandal do you want real police or Thai police to deal with? Most large fortunes are made illigitimately, these sort of people want a pliable police force. That is why it hasn't changed and never will change. A few ripped off tourists are irrelevant in the greater scheme of making serious dirty money without fear of prosecution.

Perhaps many would disagree, but think it through, is this not how feudalism functions? Likewise as I previously posted, the entire bedrock of corruption through every level of government rests upon the corrupt police, how else could innactive posts be allowed to exist as an alternative to jail?

[rgs2001uk]

Not knocking your post, I agree, but dont kid yourself its restricted only to Thailand.

Dont know where you are from, however IMHO the police and army exist in the UK only to keep the unholy alliance in power, eg clergy, monarchy and nobility.

[TomTao]

Some of the police in the tourist areas may be corrupt and actively continue the cycle of corruption, but that is not always the case, especially in areas with minimal tourist activity, corrupt police and government officials are every where, we occasionally hear good news stories, such as the police officer who searched a vehicle at a roadblock in Chumphon recently who found a cache of yaba hidden in the back of the vehicle, the same officer refused repeated attempted bribes by the driver. So there are items in the news that give a glimmer of hope in the possibility that some individuals possess at least some moral fibre, we can only hope it catches on.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect App

[StreetCowboy]

Not knocking your post, I agree, but dont kid yourself its restricted only to Thailand.

Dont know where you are from, however IMHO the police and army exist in the UK only to keep the unholy alliance in power, eg clergy, monarchy and nobility.

Thank goodness the class war is not over yet; my kids may yet appreciate it. I should keep your post, so that they can better understand Karl Marx. However, that will be in the context of a history class. The British seem to have a particular fondness for long-gone battles... Are you still fighting for the vote, and the abolition of child labour in the pits?

SC

[rgs2001uk]

Not knocking your post, I agree, but dont kid yourself its restricted only to Thailand.

Dont know where you are from, however IMHO the police and army exist in the UK only to keep the unholy alliance in power, eg clergy, monarchy and nobility.

Thank goodness the class war is not over yet; my kids may yet appreciate it. I should keep your post, so that they can better understand Karl Marx. However, that will be in the context of a history class. The British seem to have a particular fondness for long-gone battles... Are you still fighting for the vote, and the abolition of child labour in the pits?

SC

I can see history isnt your chosen subject.

Both the American revolution (1775) and French revolution (1789) took place before Marx was born (1818).

[cdnvic]

Ok, you two are getting way off topic here.

[stoneyboy]

The police are corrupt in the UK,my mate a long time school friend smokes the pot he confiscates from unsuspecting members of the public.

[StreetCowboy]

The police are corrupt in the UK,my mate a long time school friend smokes the pot he confiscates from unsuspecting members of the public.

So your mate is corrupt. Apparently you are not too bothered about it - I suppose we get the police force we deserve

SC

[rgs2001uk]

OK, back on subject, copied and pasted from a source I cant link to, if the OP wants the source send me a PM and I will send him a link to the complete article.

"For example, the Thai government created the Thai police without providing them enough funding and basically gave them, (and other institutions in Thailand), the authority to "gin muang" (literally "eat cities"), and this has become deeply institutionalized in Thai society. When the government does not fund something enough (like the police force, customs workers, and most bureaucrats), they traditionally have been tacitly entitled to gain benefit from their position and "gin muang" (sorry, I don't know how to write the Thai word for "eat" in English and make it sound right, LOL)."

[cdnvic]

Please re-read this post:

I've removed a few posts. Any more breaches of the rules and this topic will be closed.

[Scully]

Until people view corruption as wrong and don't benefit from it then it is here to stay.

Corruption is ingrained in Thai society.

The road up to my rented house is in a terrible state, government officials receives yearly funding and offers the contract to a friend. Official takes a bung and contractor does the same.

Once the work is done it is a case of local people getting paid to fill the pot holes in its annual bodge job.

When asked why they don't just do the job properly the reply is, there will be no money for next year.

Everyone along the line is benefiting from top to bottom.

This isn't the same as the Thai police corruption as the poor usually dont benefit however its just another case of corruption in society. The average poor Thai person has little or no say.

[mike123ca]

i'm told the cop on the street is making less than 10,000k ($300.00) a month.

Pays for his own gun and uniform.

If this was to happen in my home country, they would be on strike for a long time.

The level of corruption doesn't surprise me.

[troy]

Not to mention the money they paid to get the job in many cases.