Surin warns of grave impact on country and region if Thailand fails to tackle corruption

[Thai at Heart]

Thailand's corruption is not the number one issue that has been holding the country back. The real problem with Thailand in the recent past has been the lack of political stability.

What ever we think of the present government we are experiencing a period of moderate stability. If the political parties that lost the last election parties would honor their vows made when becoming MP's and behave like a credible opposition the nation would stabilise and get on with the much needed development projects on hand.

Can you think of any grander corruption than a coup, buying votes or corrupting the judiciary or the upper house of representatives.

[Thai at Heart]

Thailand's corruption is not the number one issue that has been holding the country back. The real problem with Thailand in the recent past has been the lack of political stability.

What ever we think of the present government we are experiencing a period of moderate stability. If the political parties that lost the last election parties would honor their vows made when becoming MP's and behave like a credible opposition the nation would stabilise and get on with the much needed development projects on hand.

Can you think of any grander corruption than a coup, buying votes or corrupting the judiciary or the upper house of representatives.

[EricBerg]

Thailand's corruption is not the number one issue that has been holding the country back. The real problem with Thailand in the recent past has been the lack of political stability.

What ever we think of the present government we are experiencing a period of moderate stability. If the political parties that lost the last election parties would honor their vows made when becoming MP's and behave like a credible opposition the nation would stabilise and get on with the much needed development projects on hand.

Political stability????????? The one stable factor is that corruption is growing and done more and more openly. As is the acceptance of that corruption growing.

Surin has integrity and brains. Perhaps he could organize some group of specialists that try to expose corruption and make it a broad thing to communicate to the people. If all sit by and do nothing the Thaksin-clan will rob the country clean. And after them there will be many standing in line to squeeze out some more.

[MaiChai]

Thailand has always been corrupt, but i have seen corruption so bad as it is now. Even the legal system is affected.

[boomerangutang]

A highly respected Thai man said, a few years ago, words to the effect; "If Thais fail to adhere to the rule of law, then the country will become a failed state."

The Pope recently said, in effect; "If the Catholic Church doesn't clean up its act, it will crumble and fall."

Now Mr. Surin; "If Thailand fails to tackle corruption, then there will be grave impacts."

Boomerangutang asks, 'why always future repercussions?'

Let's look at those dire predictions in the present tense:

>>> Thais do not follow the rule of law, so Thailand is a failed state. Need an example? Cop-killing sons of rich people getting off scot- free, is one of many.

>>> The Catholic Church is corrupt, so it is bereft and crumbling at its foundations.

>>> Corruption is rife in Thailand, and the impacts are visible everywhere: in unnecessary flooding, in bomb detectors that never worked, in Bt.1,600 clocks bought for Bt.77k each, in a 2.2 trillion baht train for Chinese commerce, the list goes on ad infinitum.

[Pops]

Talk talk talk !!

Instead of talking, Thailand should take the bull by the horns and stop talking about fighting corruption, but start fighting corruption.

It they're serious about it of course, which so far they have not shown.

This fighting can only be done publicly in the open.

Just start somewhere where corruption is expected (or probably well known) and make public what one is investigating for all to see.

It doesn't matter what or where one investigates, as long as one starts and reports publicly, so everyone can see and feel that the government is serious about this matter.

Say for instance, start checking all assets of high government officials and everyone related to them (even maids as we have seen in the past) compared to the tax they pay, the income they have and all other financial details going years back.

Report every step of the process with results to the public and actually condemn and punish when wrong-doing is proven.

It will probably not solve corruption but could create 1. trust that the government is serious about tackling corruption and 2. probably create a wave of people that dare to come forward with information they have regarding corruption.

Now, al the talks are just a waste of breath.

[hellodolly]

Talk talk talk !!

Instead of talking, Thailand should take the bull by the horns and stop talking about fighting corruption, but start fighting corruption.

It they're serious about it of course, which so far they have not shown.

This fighting can only be done publicly in the open.

Just start somewhere where corruption is expected (or probably well known) and make public what one is investigating for all to see.

It doesn't matter what or where one investigates, as long as one starts and reports publicly, so everyone can see and feel that the government is serious about this matter.

Say for instance, start checking all assets of high government officials and everyone related to them (even maids as we have seen in the past) compared to the tax they pay, the income they have and all other financial details going years back.

Report every step of the process with results to the public and actually condemn and punish when wrong-doing is proven.

It will probably not solve corruption but could create 1. trust that the government is serious about tackling corruption and 2. probably create a wave of people that dare to come forward with information they have regarding corruption.

Now, al the talks are just a waste of breath.

Well I certainly agree with the principals you have laid out.

The one thing standing in the way is the people will have to change the they.

As it stands the they is not about to change any thing that does not enriched themselves personally.