In danger of being a nation run by thieves: Thai editorial

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
In danger of being a nation run by thieves
The Nation

Corruption at all levels of society is endemic and slowly strangling Thailand; it's time to take a stand before we choke to death.

BANGKOK: -- This month the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is going to select members for all provinces except Bangkok, which has commissioners.

Applications closed on Tuesday and the selection process will be carried out for the first 32 provinces on July 17, and for the remaining 44 provinces on July 24.

The applicants are required to be "evidently honest" and show their credentials in supporting the fight against corruption. They must be between 45 and 70. Successful applicants will be stationed at the NACC office in the province where they applied and will serve as provincial members for four years.

Twelve larger provinces each have five provincial members - Khon Kaen, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Buri Ram, Roi Et, Si Sa Ket, Songkhla, Surin, Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani. The remaining provinces have three members each.

The anti-graft agency is placing high hopes on these provincial members. Prasart Pongsivapai, one of the nine commissioners, said having members in every province represents a new era in the agency's fight against corruption.

"Provincial NACC members come from the people, and we believe that they will help reduce irregularities in state agencies in their areas, particularly within local administrative organisations," he said.

Their work will focus on examining and verifying the financial reports of local politicians, and on encouraging citizens with knowledge of irregularities or corruption to inform them directly.

However, Prasart also cautions that the NACC should ensure that provincial members do not allow themselves to be influenced by politicians or local groups or individuals with vested interests.

Corruption at all levels of society continues to be a serious problem for Thailand. Public officials, from junior civil servants and policemen to top bureaucrats and Cabinet members, are regularly accused of graft, and many of them have been convicted for corruption and sentenced to terms of imprisonment or other punishment.

On the global scale, Thailand ranks dreadfully in terms of transparency, often among countries at a similar stage of economic advancement. Recent surveys by eight leading organisations promoting government transparency have found that the Kingdom's performance has worsened in recent years. This is because there have been large-scale irregularities in government policies, often facilitated by legal loopholes, according to NACC member Klanarong Chanthick. "Corruption is badly undermining the country's economic, political and social systems. Irregularities in Thailand tend to get more serious and complex," he said.

In many cases nowadays, corruption is not simply the result of trying to mitigate the problems caused by a low salary or high debt, as was often the case in the past. For many wealthy politicians and officials now, corruption boils down to simple greed and never knowing how much is enough. Vasit Dejkunchorn, a former deputy national police chief, has called these greedy politicians "kleptocrats" and warned that, if nothing is done to rein them in, they might eventually turn Thailand into a kleptocracy - a country ruled by thieves.

To fight corruption effectively, responsible officials have to enforce the anti-graft law and other relevant legislation strictly and fairly. In addition to the NACC, the police, public prosecutors, judges and other officials should become serious and sincere about fighting corruption.

With all the authorities involved taking part seriously, there can be hope that instances of corruption will at least be reduced in the future. It is impossible for corruption to be completely stamped out from our nation. But, as a matter of urgency, we should try to curb it as much and as best as we can.


-- The Nation 2013-07-04

[LuckyLew]

It is not in danger of being runs by theives

It already is run by thieves whose sole interest i personal gain / profit of themselves, family and friends

I think they are trying to climb the list of most corrupt countries

There goal for 2013 is to crack the top 10

[EyesWideOpen]

After seeing these anti-corruption headlines for many years, I am beginning

to see the glimmer of a strategy here. For the powers that be, this strategy seems to be to steal as much money as possible, while at the same time have the media pump out these repetitive nonsensical headlines about how corruption is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Yet for some reason nothing is ever done......

My general sense is that corruption instead of being addressed, has actually increased to mind boggling levels. The rice scam, and the proposed 2 trillion baht infrastructure project with its implied 30 percent looting levels are just fresh examples of that....

Just saw this from the post above. "......51.2% said corruption by government officials was acceptable as long as it improved their living conditions." This points to a fundamental flaw in the thinking of the average Thai. Corruption harms the public, as the money that is supposed to be for the public benefit instead is siphoned off to a Swiss bank account or a house in London. What the Thai public gets seems to be an endless series of shoddy infrastructure projects. Guess the payments to the mia nois at least stay in Thailand... :-)

Edited July 4, 2013 by EyesWideOpen

[NongKhaiKid]

" in danger of being ", oh no this is too much, my sides can't handle anymore splitting.

[Pikeybkk]

Thailand , hub of kleptocracy

[Roadman]

In danger of being run by thieves....!!! It already is by a people's court convicted criminal out of Dubai. The joke is that even the writer of this thinks it is only someone who they can label as just a thief. Does it not even register that when a criminal convicted by the countries own courts is running the country de facto from abroad then the problem is more than thievery.

Edited July 4, 2013 by Roadman

[kurnell]

Surely the people of Thailand are not dumb enough to fall for this nonsense forever. Surely!

[bkkgriz]

I think the writer of this editorial does not even follow the news. In danger of becoming? It seems Thailand passed that road marker many years ago. Without a complete change of mindset, corruption will never stop. Jailing big names and educating the masses on the evils of corruption would be a good start.

[RickBradford]

I think we can safely say that things in Thailand are going to get worse before they get better. The only question is: how much worse?

[simple1]

A good approach would be to overhaul the provision of bail process within the Criminal Code. Often bail is provided and then the accused absonds overseas until the Statute of Limitations expires.

[MaxLee]

I think we can safely say that things in Thailand are going to get worse before they get better. The only question is: how much worse?

Until Thailand has sunk into the sea and has run out of energy completely.

The future great flood and power blackout problem, I see it coming a mile away.

[Crossy]

An off topic post and reply deleted, let's stick to the corruption issue.

[lovetotravel]

I think they had better station an army group with these NACC people in the provinces to protect them! Best of luck.

[Ricardo]

So, these jobs with the NACC, how much do they cost to be 'selected' ?

[Ianatlarge]

Join the club. Perhaps, after a long and costly series of exercises (maybe a few trips here and there in the region and the world), a few minor officials will be put on trial, and lots of reports will be written, but not much will change. In reality I do not believe that Thailand is any more or less corrupt than any other country. It is just in the west that the corruption is better hidden and overlooked. Good luck guys, and remember to duck just in case you do accidentally uncover real corruption of any truly important.

[Orac]

I think they had better station an army group with these NACC people in the provinces to protect them! Best of luck.

Better yet send the NACC into the army as well. Corruption is endemic in all areas of society and, though the government does need extra scrutiny, there are many areas where they have limited control which need cleaning up as well.

[chooka]

Surely the people of Thailand are not dumb enough to fall for this nonsense forever. Surely!

[Tatsujin]

For many wealthy politicians and officials now, corruption boils down to simple greed and never knowing how much is enough.

Well Thailand, there's a simple answer . . . stop voting for them.

[Tatsujin]

Surely the people of Thailand are not dumb enough to fall for this nonsense forever. Surely!

Well, they've proven over and over again that yes they are . . . shame.

[metisdead]

A post in violation of fair use policy has been removed. It is generally accepted, but not written into law, that quoting the first two or three sentences of an article and giving a link to the source is considered “fair use” and not a violation of copyright.

[foxteen]

A friend of mine even told a funny joke, no need to revoke corruption because they are all in the market ...

[DocN]

It happens for decades, now!

How is this "news"?

[55Jay]

In Danger of Being a Nation World Run By Thieves

[SteveReilly]

The best business in Thailand is to be a politician followed by being a policeman. When a public project is run by those that pay the "highest bid" instead of qualifications, the public gets screwed. This is evident when visiting the airport, or riding the BTS with limited cars and increasingly expensive or sidewalks that last a few months before the bricks start popping to name just a few projects. I wonder when Thais will say enough is enough.

[TomTao]

The words In danger of being can easily be removed from this headline.

[bigbamboo]

That's an awful lot of inactive posts.

[noitom]

"In danger of becoming." It is clear to everyone that Thailand is well past "becoming" a nation run by thieves. It is a sewer of corrupted behavior. All of Thai government, police, and military management has been corrupted beyond correction. Thailand is a place where no upper level Thais with any wealth to speak of ever do time for the crime. They never even get arrested, cuffed, or tried and convicted. Never ever. Thailand is a circus.

[Halion]

Willful corruption by Goverment officials in connection with public and Goverment funds should be consideredas an act of treason.

[culicine]

For many wealthy politicians and officials now, corruption boils down to simple greed and never knowing how much is enough.

Well Thailand, there's a simple answer . . . stop voting for them.

The problem is that corruption is endemic at all levels. Free and fair elections will never happen until the scourge of vote buying stops. One wonders what the turnout at the polling booths be like if no vote buying occurs. 20% or less? Most people wouldn't be bothered because of the belief that all politicians are greedy and it really makes no difference who is in power - so take the 500 baht and vote for that party.

[culicine]

Do they also get a free bodyguard or two? I don't see many takers. I hope they are paid very well and don't succumb to some nice backhanders.