Prem Says Corruption Is The 'worst' Crime Of The Nation

[webfact]

Prem says corruption is the "worst" crime of the nation

BANGKOK, 4 April 2013 (NNT) – President of the Privy Council of Thailand General Prem Tinsulanonda says corruption is the worst crime, urging Thais to fight against the wrongdoing for the sake of the country.

After presiding over an international seminar organized by the Office of the Ombudsman Thailand, General Prem said corruption was the worst criminal act of the country and of the world, adding that when he was the prime minister, Thailand was facing 3 major problems: poverty, drugs, and corruption.

Among the three problems, corruption was the worst one as it was the number-one threat to the nation. He therefore urged all Thais to stand up and fight to stop graft, adding that the Ombudsman Office needed to cooperate with other parties in achieving its goal of making Thailand a corruption-free country.

The general also said Thai people are lucky to have a king like His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej who has been the perfect example for all Thais, and the pride of the country.

He also said Thais should follow his Majesty's sufficiency economy philosophy for their own benefits.

-- NNT 2013-04-04

[soi41]

And this coming from a man, who made his fortune by hard psysical labour !

[A_Traveller]

I have to say that I agree with this, since what is so often forgotten is that "Corruption" is a short form of saying No rule of Law, which in Thailand is true both at the macro level [politically motivated fashionable cases notwithstanding but no real ability to hold to account] and at the micro level 100thb to ride without a motorcycle helmet.

If no one sees the law as a real operational framework for the society, then the society itself and that very underpinning which is required for a modern integrated community to function may well be lost.

[asiasurfer]

So, Corruption is the worst problem after drugs and poverty???

So, WHY do we have corruption???

Easy: Because lots of people in this country are poor indeed. Consequently they may also use or deal with drugs! Consequently corruption is thriving and broadly accepted in Thailand.

Rings a bell? Who dares to tell a politician...?

[Chrisswe]

And Military coups a real disaster for Thailand !!!

[virtualtraveller]

No corruption, or less, then the coup probably would not happen, eliminate it entirely and you'd likely solve lots of other problems like poverty and drug enforcement.

[asiasurfer]

No corruption, or less, then the coup probably would not happen, eliminate it entirely and you'd likely solve lots of other problems like poverty and drug enforcement.

Completely disagree. How do you want to eradicate corruption? First get the people out of poverty and give them education. The rest will resolve by itself. Disadvantage of my strategy is though that it will take at least 3 generations...

[billd766]

If corruption was eliiminated in Thailnd and all the corrupt persons from the very top downwards put in jail Thailand would need many more jails.

Fotunately money would be available from the 30% (corruption) tax, money would be saved by having no politicians and the remainder of the Thai people would be so much better off.

Would having no politicians make any difference to the country, externally just a little and internal to Thailand it would make a lot of good differences and people would be a lot happier.

[Time Traveller]

Does anyone still even bother to listen when he opens his mouth anymore? This comment is just a thinly veiled stab at his opponent trying get the constituents to remember the thaksin years. After all with the 2 trillion baht in government spending planned, those demorats need to win back power if they want to get their dirty hands on a piece of that pie

[seminomadic]

He also said Thais should follow his Majesty's sufficiency economy philosophy for their own benefits.

Furthermore he added that Thais should stop being gay, stop vying for power in Thai society and stop being hypocritical.

[JetsetBkk]

I have to say that I agree with this, since what is so often forgotten is that "Corruption" is a short form of saying No rule of Law, which in Thailand is true both at the macro level [politically motivated fashionable cases notwithstanding but no real ability to hold to account] and at the micro level 100thb to ride without a motorcycle helmet.

If no one sees the law as a real operational framework for the society, then the society itself and that very underpinning which is required for a modern integrated community to function may well be lost.

+1

Ayn Rand - as per my signature below.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Wrong. The worst crime is not being corrupt.

It is not doing anything to stop it, when you have that power.

Corruption is a top-down affair. It has permeated Thai society like terminal cancer. What is the purpose of making such statements?

Survey after survey shows that 75% of the people approve of bribery.

HTF are you going to stop it?

[belg]

as 75% to 80% are ok with it, as long as they profit from it... good luck with that !

[laobali]

Wrong. The worst crime is not being corrupt. It is not doing anything to stop it, when you have that power. Corruption is a top-down affair. It has permeated Thai society like terminal cancer. What is the purpose of making such statements? Survey after survey shows that 75% of the people approve of bribery. HTF are you going to stop it?

It's a way of life, and not only in Thailand. The only ones who could begin to stop it are those that benefit most, which is why corruption can/will never end. It's not governments that are corrupt, it's people.

Edited April 4, 2013 by laobali

[heybruce]

Many of these posts are not clearly written, but I get the impression that some people think poverty causes corruption. Huh? Poor people aren't the cause of corruption, they are the victims. Only people in a position of power and influence can benefit from corruption, and it is so ingrained in Thailand they seem to think it is their right.

Eliminating endemic corruption won't be easy and can't be done quickly, but two key steps are open government--make government salaries and benefits public, along with opening the books on all government projects; and freeing the press from the ridiculous libel laws--let reporters report verifiable facts even if they embarrass the rich and powerful. Of course then you have to protect the reporters; it will take a brave reporter and publisher to be the first to print a story about the obvious wealth of modestly paid police chiefs and military commanders.

Edited April 4, 2013 by heybruce

[asiasurfer]

Many of these posts are not clearly written, but I get the impression that some people think poverty causes corruption. Huh? Poor people aren't the cause of corruption, they are the victims. Only people in a position of power and influence can benefit from corruption, and it is so ingrained in Thailand they seem to think it is their right.

Eliminating endemic corruption won't be easy and can't be done quickly, but two key steps are open government--make government salaries and benefits public, along with opening the books on all government projects; and freeing the press from the ridiculous libel laws--let reporters report verifiable facts even if they embarrass the rich and powerful. Of course then you have to protect the reporters; it will take a brave reporter and publisher to be the first to print a story about the obvious wealth of modestly paid police chiefs and military commanders.

You are right. Poor people only act out of desperation, whilst the "Elite" fills their pockets with money and aren't even ashamed of it...

[xkmasada]

No irony when Prem himself is the Chairman of the largest and most corrupt bank in Thailand LOL

[hellodolly]

No corruption, or less, then the coup probably would not happen, eliminate it entirely and you'd likely solve lots of other problems like poverty and drug enforcement.

True

But you would need an incredible amount of new politicians and civil servants.

The BIB would just about have to start from scratch. Crime would rule supreme with so few in uniform. But when they did get the force built up along with an honest government and bureaucracy we would have a much better Thailand,

Problem is it is just a variation on the if game and no resemblance to reality. And with the current administration a very highly disliked idea.

[Arkady]

Can Prem honestly put his hand on his heart and say he never accepted a favour in any shape or form that was given entirely due to his position? .....I thought so.

Nevertheless, he is regarded as relatively clean by today's gigantuan corruption standards and his sentiments are correct, even though they will fall on deaf ears, since the greed is good culture has grown exponentially since even his day.

[ThailandNoob]

I have to say that I agree with this, since what is so often forgotten is that "Corruption" is a short form of saying No rule of Law, which in Thailand is true both at the macro level [politically motivated fashionable cases notwithstanding but no real ability to hold to account] and at the micro level 100thb to ride without a motorcycle helmet.

If no one sees the law as a real operational framework for the society, then the society itself and that very underpinning which is required for a modern integrated community to function may well be lost.

I hope it is not forgotten that a military coup is a textbook example of "no rule of law".

[ThailandNoob]

Nevertheless, he is regarded as relatively clean by today's gigantuan corruption standards ....

How can the architect of a military coup ever be regarded as "clean" by any standards? It does not make sense to regard this man as anything other than pure evil.

[chainarong]

If things don't change , they will remain the same, business as usual General.

[Mitker]

Among all declarations made by current people in power/charge/control, his statement is by far well above the average

[Suffinator]

Corruption is the 'Enemy within' and will eventually bring this country to its knees, after which will see and uprising of the people resulting in an all out bloody civil war. This scenario has been played out in many countries across the world and Thailand is heading into the History Books of yet another example of "How not to Govern a Country."

[tragickingdom]

No mister Prem, raping democracy multiple times is the worst crime of the nation add to it that only your supporters have power enough to demand bribes and you know who is really to blame.

[tragickingdom]

If things don't change , they will remain the same, business as usual General.

Prem was an unelected PM (call it dictator) for many years. He did nothing about the status quo. His own appointed and supported judges were caught red handed on youtube. The General did not spoke out. Why would he. He is using himself blackmail to get the court results the elite desires. By the way it is easier for a dictator like Prem was to change things than for an elected government.

[heybruce]

No corruption, or less, then the coup probably would not happen, eliminate it entirely and you'd likely solve lots of other problems like poverty and drug enforcement.

It's quite naive to think that the military coup was to stop corruption. The higher ranks of the military benefit from corruption just like the civil service and police, yet the fight against corruption largely ended after the coup was justified by convicting Thaksin. Granted Thaksin was guilty of corruption, but so were, and are, many others.

[laobali]

Corruption is the 'Enemy within' and will eventually bring this country to its knees, after which will see and uprising of the people resulting in an all out bloody civil war. This scenario has been played out in many countries across the world and Thailand is heading into the History Books of yet another example of "How not to Govern a Country."

It's true. There are numerous countries heading the same way. End of discussion, really – for me anyway.

[harber8]

Prem says Thaksin is the "worst" crime of the nation

I think these two should just have it out.

Set a date and time and take the gloves off.

[me313]

Wrong. The worst crime is not being corrupt. It is not doing anything to stop it, when you have that power. Corruption is a top-down affair. It has permeated Thai society like terminal cancer. What is the purpose of making such statements? Survey after survey shows that 75% of the people approve of bribery. HTF are you going to stop it?

When people dare speak up about corruption, they are called "Whistleblowers" in the USA. Very often whistleblowers get killed, or gang stalked, thrown out of their jobs, put into accidents, etc etc. That's in a country which is just realizing that there is "corruption" in the society, but they blame it all on "The Government" and not on the people who sit back and let it happen, which is mostly the entire population with a few exceptions. And, as the cycle goes, the few exceptions to the rule try to blow the whistle and end up dead, unemployed, or kicked out o f society in some way, or put in prison, or just dead of some illness long before it's their time to go..... So, the problem in Thailand is not so easy to route out, since it seems to be a worldwide system that permeates every culture and is an accepted form of behavior called "politics".