We're stuck if we fail to get a key thing right: Thai editorial

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
We're stuck if we fail to get a key thing right
The Nation November

Fighting corruption is not a complex task, but one standard is needed for all when determining right and wrong

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's political strife, no matter how complex it may seem, can be traced to one single cause - the inability to apply one standard in determining right and wrong. While that may seem to echo what self-proclaimed "victims" say, it's actually a simple thing. We as a country are very good at exploiting loopholes and very bad at fostering real values. When loopholes are found, they are used as if they were key principles. That's why the crisis is deepening, as anyone on both sides of the polarity can locate legal or constitutional loopholes.

Take corruption, for example. It's a simple evil made to look complicated by loophole-seeking political rivals. We can't combat corruption because we only have "rules" against it but not common values against it. Rules have loopholes, but real values do not. And loopholes cause divisions, because they are slippery and can give rise to eye-for-an-eye mentality.

To fight corruption, we need to simplify the task of the fighters. Of course, not everything is black and white, but not everything is grey, either. If it's too complicated to bring down a corrupted figure despite strong evidence, fighting graft will turn into some kind of political game, not a national agenda that everyone must participate in.

Countries which succeed in combatting corruption do one thing in common: They unequivocally support anti-graft officials and make their jobs as simple as possible. Their societies have established strong attitudes against corruption and applauded every downfall of the big fish in complete disregard for any political affiliation. A cheat is a cheat and fraud is fraud, no matter who you are, or which party you are from.

Can Thailand do that? For a brief period following the birth of the "People's Constitution" in 1997, society watched in admiration the crackdowns on the likes of Democrat secretary-general Sanan Kachornprasart and high-profile candidates in a Senate election. There was light in the end of the tunnel when the National Counter Corruption Commission, the Constitution Court and the Election Commission did their jobs without the complication of who wielded political influence or who were politically popular.

That was probably the closest we were to creating a truly efficient anti-corruption mechanism and effective checks and balances. Politics has proved too powerful to be taken out of the anti-graft campaign. The simple "evil" managed to make itself look complicated. The once-lauded Constitution Court, NCCC and EC have been interfered with and dragged through the mud.

How can we get back to the "independent" anti-corruption mechanism? That sounds like a question which is too forward-looking. Our immediate issue is that the Constitution Court, which is trying to block a charter amendment criticised as a way to allow political domination of the anti-corruption mechanism, may face impeachment. It's clear that Thailand is badly divided over what defines corruption and how to fight graft.

We can only hope the divide is more over "How to fight" than over "define corruption", because graft thrives on a situation where people don't quite know what it is.

The future is highly unpredictable, if not totally bleak. We have been

miserable because we have failed to do a simple thing right.

What is certain is that it does not matter much who wins the currently political showdown, because the genuine will to eradicate the biggest scourge is still nowhere to be seen.

-- The Nation 2013-11-25

[Tatsujin]

Interesting. Good points made, but until the "majority" of Thai's want corruption and graft to end, little is going to change.

Might be a good campaign promise for the Dems however, a promise of complete transparency and severe punishments for those that partake. They've got to rewrite ALL the "laws" in Thailand first however to remove those loopholes and grey areas.

[WhizBang]

Interesting. Good points made, but until the "majority" of Thai's want corruption and graft to end, little is going to change.

Might be a good campaign promise for the Dems however, a promise of complete transparency and severe punishments for those that partake. They've got to rewrite ALL the "laws" in Thailand first however to remove those loopholes and grey areas.

They also need to rewrite (or eliminate) the libel/defamation laws, that way we can name and shame, plus the press could do REAL investigative reporting.

I like the China solution to top level corruption... the death penalty. After the first bigwig was caught, tried, convicted AND executed, corruption, in Thailand, would come to a screeching halt.

[Tatsujin]

Interesting. Good points made, but until the "majority" of Thai's want corruption and graft to end, little is going to change.

Might be a good campaign promise for the Dems however, a promise of complete transparency and severe punishments for those that partake. They've got to rewrite ALL the "laws" in Thailand first however to remove those loopholes and grey areas.

They also need to rewrite (or eliminate) the libel/defamation laws, that way we can name and shame, plus the press could do REAL investigative reporting.

I like the China solution to top level corruption... the death penalty. After the first bigwig was caught, tried, convicted AND executed, corruption, in Thailand, would come to a screeching halt.

Yup, you're right. I nominate Thaksin as the first to be made an example of.

[Bakseeda]

I second that motion....

[klauskunkel]

Fighting corruption is not a complex task

I beg to differ; to substantially reduce corruption in Thailand you need to change Thai culture at it's roots. It's about lack of values, ignorance, unquestioning obedience of authority, and no interest.

So, to change a population's attitude about corruption you need to change:

the social environment - family values, ethics, morals;

the education system - understanding of processes (government, social, economical), critical questioning, realizing/caring about the issue

the "holy cow" - get rid of the idea of untouchables, be it institutions, positions or persons, all should be transparent and accountable

I think it is a complex task and will take some generations

[noitom]

The country is on the brink of collapse according to headline news. This editor is still carping about corruption reversal. What a stunning example of head in the sand journalism and editorial by this Thai newspaper.

[Benmart]

Interesting. Good points made, but until the "majority" of Thai's want corruption and graft to end, little is going to change.

Might be a good campaign promise for the Dems however, a promise of complete transparency and severe punishments for those that partake. They've got to rewrite ALL the "laws" in Thailand first however to remove those loopholes and grey areas.

They also need to rewrite (or eliminate) the libel/defamation laws, that way we can name and shame, plus the press could do REAL investigative reporting.

I like the China solution to top level corruption... the death penalty. After the first bigwig was caught, tried, convicted AND executed, corruption, in Thailand, would come to a screeching halt.

Yup, you're right. I nominate Thaksin as the first to be made an example of.

When someone dies, either naturally or by execution, the memory of them fades with each passing day until it is forgotten. However, imprisonment for life would be an ongoing warning, refreshed by the imagery of the culprit wasting away behind lock and key. The punishment must fit the crime, while at the same serving as a deterrent to those that would commit the same offense.

[Artisi]

I second that motion....

Carried.

[bigbamboo]

Maybe Thailand should have severe penalties for corrupt officials like they do in China. Politicians here might think twice about dipping their grubby hands in the till then.

On the other hand, they would probably just flee the scene as they do now.

[Maggusoil]

In the English speaking West we have had the basis of justice codified for over 700 years, and the brilliant part of it is, that it is not complicated.

Men and women, children and even some animals know the difference between Right and Wrong.

This is applied in Countries like Great Britain, America, Canada, Australia and came from the greatest gift to

mankind's search for democratic principles, in the Magna Carta.

The principals put down by lawyers in a court of law in front of a jury, who can decide not only the guilt of a party but

lesser known, the appropriateness of the penalty.

It is my humble opinion, that this and not the freedom to vote, has been the greatest gift to civilisation of the law

and real democracy.

Through the courts, applying this method we can change laws ourselves. Rarely used admittedly, but the resources are there.

[BlackJack]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKofnVkUwBA