Whistleblowers hunted by those who fear them: Thai editorial

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EDITORIAL
Whistleblowers hunted by those who fear them
The Nation

Governments like to preach democracy and its principles, but only when it suits their needs

BANGKOK: -- Whistleblowers everywhere share a common trait. They are heroes to some, but have to escape from others who are hell-bent on hunting them down. America's Edward Snowden is on a worldwide flight, but Thailand's Supa Piyajitti, deputy permanent secretary at the Finance Ministry, seems cornered in her own country, a brave state official trapped under the heavy perception that anything that stirs the political dust must be related to the national divide.

The Senate Committee on the Economy, Commerce and Industry has issued a statement condemning any harsh action taken against government officials. That follows the Finance Ministry's decision to set up a committee to investigate Supa, who in her capacity as chair of a sub-committee on the rice price-pledging scheme has heavily criticised it. She revealed that the scheme could incur a loss of over Bt130 billion for the 2012-2013 harvest season. This is no longer a shocking revelation as far as the rice scheme is concerned but, coming from a senior government official, the Yingluck Shinawatra administration was rattled.

Supa was removed from the sub-committee and then re-appointed in the wake of public support for her stance. That, along with attempts by the Senate committee to protect her, are a good sign, but barely so. Thailand has been so torn asunder by the political divide that whistleblowers are often seen as being "part of a conspiracy". Increasingly, claims about corruption will first meet with scepticism and then be dismissed as politically motivated.

Who would want to be a whistleblower? Predictably, Edward Snowden has become a wanted man after accusing the US authorities of large-scale invasion of privacy through a top-secret spying programme. Like Julian Assange before him, Snowden is a hero to some and a traitor to others. The recognition and the fame, or notoriety, cannot compare with the trauma of being branded an enemy of the state or, in some cases, the world.

When so-called advocates of democracy launch a manhunt for a whistleblower, it's ironic at best and hypocritical at worst. The ability to tolerate and endure all kinds of criticism is the only way to differentiate the advocates of democracy from those they proclaim to abhor. There is no other way. Clamping down on, or intimidating, critics should be left exclusively to dictators.

Democracy allows one person to rightly stand up against millions if, say, he or she has all the evidence to support his or her belief. In fact, democracy ensures that person's right to speak up even if he or she only has doubts about something that concerns a community or nation's wellbeing. This can make life difficult for governments, but democracy must be embraced as a whole package, not selectively.

Whistleblowers are thorns in the side of all "democratic" governments, but that's the price to pay if you want to embrace democracy. Those governments might claim they are open enough to criticism, and say how "lucky" the critics are compared to people rendered absolutely voiceless in other countries. That is a wrong argument, simply because you can't compare democracy with dictatorship. Allowing normal criticism does not prove a healthy democracy; the moment of truth only comes when people like Snowden or Supa stand up and speak out. They represent democracy's real challenge, because giving people the right to vote is easy, but coping with the unpalatable truth is difficult. Dealing with those pointing the finger at you and saying, "This is not democracy," is even harder.

Snowden and Supa are voters whose tax money is spent by their governments. They have every right to question or voice concern when governments that spend their money and that came to power through the democratic rights they exercised do something that concerns them. Democracy is as simple as that. To politicians elected to power through its principles, the rest of the package can be as tough as nails and as hard to swallow.


-- The Nation 2013-07-13

[Bellweather]

There are " good " whistle blowers and " bad " ones and the media are often complicit in which title is to be used but often don't make up their minds until they see how public and political opinion is going.

The Thai media isn't the most decisive or investigative probably with good reason.

[theblether]

Governments like to preach democracy and its principles, but only when it suits their needs

Amen

[virtualtraveller]

Not sure if a Democrat govt would have reacted the same way, but also not sure they would have got themselves into the poo like this. The Peua Thai-Thaksin form of govt is 'we win outright, we get to call the shots, make the rules, appoint our own, silence our critics using govt machinery, pardon our own'. If you don't like it, then go away and figure out how to win an election.

[LomSak27]

well I always remember a TV show in Chiang Mai - I think about the night safari park - the issue was about high death rate of animals and land grabbing by the park etc. At the end of the show, while they were still filiming some guys sitting with the director, who had tough questions asked of him, went up and punched out the newscaster - right there!

The newscaster wisely stated afterword he would not press charges, just an unfortunate accidental incident. Good for him too as the next time the pay him a visit they might be carrying something other than fists.

[greg71]

This is a laugh again from the nation,only last week they openly apologized about the ice cream gang article and pics they ran in there crappy paper

[SinglePot]

developed democratic countries have laws.

let's not forget that Snowden is alleged to have broken them.

[SinglePot]

Governments like to preach democracy and its principles, but only when it suits their needs

Amen

Some governments don't even bother to preach it. Amen

[Bluespunk]

Supa isn't a whistle blower. She's someone actually doing her job properly.

Edited July 13, 2013 by Bluespunk

[bigbamboo]

And there was the most famous Thai whistleblower of them all, the muslim lawyer Somchai Neelapajit.

[Tatsujin]

Not sure if a Democrat govt would have reacted the same way, but also not sure they would have got themselves into the poo like this. The Peua Thai-Thaksin form of govt is 'we win outright, we get to call the shots, make the rules, appoint our own, silence our critics using govt machinery, pardon our own'. If you don't like it, then go away and figure out how to win an election.

100% correct except for one thing ... it should be "buy" not "win" an election.

[manfrommanteo]

Democracy sounds like a great idea, but never works. There has to be rule of law, not majority vote. Add to that when votes can be easily bought and sold, the votes go to the highest bidder. Ben Franklin wisely said, "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." We see this in Thailand and we see it in the United States. The lambs are lunch.

[gabruce]

There are " good " whistle blowers and " bad " ones and the media are often complicit in which title is to be used but often don't make up their minds until they see how public and political opinion is going.

The Thai media isn't the most decisive or investigative probably with good reason.

What is a "bad" whistle-blower?

The only definition I can think of would be a whistle-blower that is lying.

[Bellweather]

There are " good " whistle blowers and " bad " ones and the media are often complicit in which title is to be used but often don't make up their minds until they see how public and political opinion is going.

The Thai media isn't the most decisive or investigative probably with good reason.

What is a "bad" whistle-blower?

The only definition I can think of would be a whistle-blower that is lying.

Someone who tells an inconvenient, unwanted even unpopular truth. Even a lying whistle blower can be good if he gets lots of support until found out.

Look at Edward Snowden, to the US he's public enemy number 1-10 but he's so " good " outside the country.

[A Member]

There are " good " whistle blowers and " bad " ones and the media are often complicit in which title is to be used but often don't make up their minds until they see how public and political opinion is going.

The Thai media isn't the most decisive or investigative probably with good reason.

What is a "bad" whistle-blower?

The only definition I can think of would be a whistle-blower that is lying.

I agree with the idea that it's what the media especially makes them out to be.

[sausageandmash]

well I always remember a TV show in Chiang Mai - I think about the night safari park - the issue was about high death rate of animals and land grabbing by the park etc. At the end of the show, while they were still filiming some guys sitting with the director, who had tough questions asked of him, went up and punched out the newscaster - right there!

The newscaster wisely stated afterword he would not press charges, just an unfortunate accidental incident. Good for him too as the next time the pay him a visit they might be carrying something other than fists.

Not good for him at all. He acted like a coward. He should have punched him back. I'm sick of hearing about people taking this kind of crap.

[pisico]

developed democratic countries have laws.

let's not forget that Snowden is alleged to have broken them.

Laws in Thailand are regarded as "suggestions". Specially traffic laws.

[Roadman]

Pity that Snowden was used in comparison of Khun Supa. Not sure about Snowden although I do question the right of the Americans to be setting world policy when their spying is also on me and mine - non Americans. That aside the Khun Supa aspect of the article is 100% right. The PM who was one of the instigator's of the investigation harassment of Khun Supa doing her job morally was also the same one bull craping in Mongiolia about how they are upholders of democracy....Yingluck and Thailand governance is an absolute joke. The thai public in mass needs to be more critic of these thieves even if it is at the opinion poll stage.