Many Thai civil servants express their support for ant-government protesters

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POLITICS
Many civil servants express their support for protesters
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Many public officials yesterday expressed their support for the cause of the anti-government protesters and their disagreement with what the government had done, particularly the push for a blanket-amnesty law.

Some of them disagreed with the protesters' street marches that caused severe traffic congestion but they regarded such a tactic as a necessary evil. They said they felt more comfortable with these protesters, when compared to the aggressive red-shirt protesters.

However, all of them spoke on condition of anonymity.

An official at the Public Health Ministry said that he blew a whistle in support of the protesters when they besieged the ministry compound on Wednesday. He said that he simply wanted to show that many bureaucrats disagreed with what this government was doing.

"The government should run the country transparently, and not for their own group. The attempt to issue an amnesty law shows that the government seriously lacks ethical values," he said.

"It is said that state officials should be neutral. But in this case, it is clear that the fight is between good and bad. So it's sensible to choose the right and the good," the bureaucrat said.

An Interior Ministry official in the Northeastern province of Khon Kaen said many officials were frustrated with the government.

He called on his fellow bureaucrats to come out and join the protesters' peaceful campaign for political changes. "This is unlikely to succeed in a short time. But at least it lets the government know that state officials in all ministries disagree with the way they are running the country."

An official at the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security yesterday said she had joined many other ministry officials in blowing whistles in support of the protesters when they arrived at the ministry on Wednesday. She had wanted to join the protest against the controversial amnesty bill but was limited by her status as a civil servant. "As a civil servant, I work for the country, and not for politicians," she said.

The official said many of her colleagues shared her view and that they were really frustrated with what the government had done over the amnesty bill.

Many officials at the Government Complex in Nonthaburi, which the protesters have occupied since Wednesday, yesterday backed the protesters' cause.

A 35-year-old official at the Election Commission said she and her colleagues backed the protesters because she believed that what the government was doing was destructive to the country. She said the protesters' occupation of the complex has not disrupted work at the Government Complex.

"Our support is not for any person in particular, but instead for the country that we love," she said.

The complex houses more than 30 state agencies, with about 15,000 public officials.

A 30-year-old official of the Constitutional Court estimated that more than half of the officials at the complex backed the supporters and many even took part in the protest. He said that bureaucrats have the right to join the protest.

A 26-year-old official at the Auditor-General's Office said street protests had caused negative impacts on the country, in addition to causing traffic congestion. However, he admitted that civil servants, like other groups of people, have the right to join such protests.

Civil Service Commission Secretary-General Nontigorn Kanchanachitra said yesterday state officials have the constitutional right to join protests but they also have to comply with the Civil Service Act, which requires that civil servants maintain political neutrality.

Jaruayporn Thoranin, a member of the CSC's Merit System Protection Committee, said any civil servant found to be unfairly treated due to their political views may petition against any supervisor involved.


-- The Nation 2013-11-29

[bigbamboo]

Must be elite civil servants then.

Edited November 28, 2013 by bigbamboo

[NongKhaiKid]

Civil Servants have to maintain political neutrality, really ?

Has anyone told people like Tarit ?

[arthurboy]

Drivel.

Are these the same civil servants who manipulate their department budgets to supplement their salaries and buy promotions to serve their own ends?

Or those who are not satisfied with a job for life and a very comprehensive benefits and welfare package which includes cheap loans and extended family healthcare?

Last time I looked, around 9% of the Thai population worked in either local or central government.

Not happy with what exactly?

sent from my hippo phone

[chainarong]

Good to see a bit of character enter the arena, these people have to put up with the day to day running of the country, who better is placed to comment on the PTP than these people, transparency seems to be a issue , wounder why.

[ramrod711]

Under the category of, "Not exactly breaking news"

The attempt to issue an amnesty law shows that the government seriously lacks ethical values," he said.

[Loles]

Ye, Ye. And if the revolution failed they will say:

..... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa not me, not me ..........

[15Peter20]

"Some of them disagreed with the protesters' street marches that caused severe traffic congestion..."

If only they had read Thai Visa they'd have known - courtesy of some of the geniuses that post here - that in fact anti-government protests actually improve traffic flow in the city. 555.

[jacko45k]

A fine time to polarise the views of the right leaning civil service then I suppose.

[lostmebike]

They said they felt more comfortable with these protesters, when compared to the aggressive red-shirt protesters

Civil servants, the whole world agrees with you on this one.

[Hawkman]

They said they felt more comfortable with these protesters, when compared to the aggressive red-shirt protesters

Civil servants, the whole world agrees with you on this one.

As many Thais are saying and what that civil servant said, this is a fight for good vs evil. This is why that people are making a stand. A government must work for the people not themselves.

Yingluck can say all what she likes but she and her party have lost so much trust now, how will they build that trust again? What can they do that will make anyone believe them that they have changed and will be sincere. hence, why the protests are continuing.

[tim armstrong]

Does this mean that civil servants cannot vote ?

[tingtongteesood]

It's amazing how 1000 baht in their hands can make them trust the crooks again...Let's hope they are smart enough not to be swayed by bribes again next election....

[spidermike007]

This is an absolute demonstration of character and courage. Speak your minds! Show us what you really feel! Many of us felt the amnesty bill was a heinous whitewash, and was the wrong bill, at the wrong time. Obviously Yingbat did not see this coming. This is democracy at work. I wish my people in the US were capable of something like this. I am not sure they have it in them anymore. Seeing the Thai people standing up to power, and making it known that the PM completely dropped the ball, is a good thing for the nation. Lets hope it does not turn violent. Lets hope something is resolved. I would like to see her resign. I think a lot of people are beginning to realize the staggering degree of incompetence she brings to the table, and just how fabulously untalented her entire cabinet is. I am watching this adventure with utter fascination.

[Bagwan]

Drivel.

Are these the same civil servants who manipulate their department budgets to supplement their salaries and buy promotions to serve their own ends?

Or those who are not satisfied with a job for life and a very comprehensive benefits and welfare package which includes cheap loans and extended family healthcare?

Last time I looked, around 9% of the Thai population worked in either local or central government.

Not happy with what exactly?

sent from my hippo phone

Perhaps they know what they do is wrong and they want to see a peaceful Thailand with equal opportunities for all. I wouldn't expect a Thaksin supporter to understand that.

[Emdog]

This article is worthy of a Fox News Alert: in other words, inane and pointless. How about a follow up article " Many civil servants express their support for government"