Thai editorial: Is transparent, graft-free politics too much to ask?

webfact · December 11, 2013

EDITORIAL
Is transparent, graft-free politics too much to ask?
The Nation

Protesters from all walks of life are united by the desire to stamp out corruption in power - and it's achievable

BANGKOK: -- The size of Monday's march to Government House was widely reckoned to be even larger than the Democracy Monument protest on November 24.

Protests of this size in the capital are rare, if not unprecedented.

It was impossible to calculate the exact number who marched peacefully along Bangkok streets on Monday to express their dissatisfaction with a government and political system rife with corruption. Estimates ranged from the authorities' claim of less than 100,000 to protester organisers' boast of more than 2 million.

But the exact number of protesters mattered less than their reason for their decision to march. Why did so many educated, law-abiding citizens answer the call made by Suthep Thaugsuban, who has been charged with insurrection? The demands made by Suthep and his People's Democratic Reform Committee for serious and sincere political change in Thailand have struck a chord with many - despite his push for a "people's revolution" being against the law.

Certainly, people took to the streets on Monday for a variety of reasons. A major one was frustration with the government's abuse of power amid a political system in which corruption is endemic. These people are fed up with politicians buying their way to power and abusing the resulting mandate for their own benefit. They are demanding reforms that will clean the system of graft and impunity.

For many, the government-backed bill for a blanket amnesty was the final straw. It destroyed their last remaining trust in the MPs who backed a law that would absolve any politician convicted of corruption and serious crimes such as murder and arson, retroactive to 2004.

The calls for political reform are growing, fed by years of accumulated discontent with a corruption-plagued system and widespread distrust of elected officials concerned with their own parties and networks rather than the public interest.

A familiar line of defence for supporters of corrupt politicians is that every Thai government is graft-ridden - or at least contains some crooked members. Wouldn't it thus be a good idea to eradicate corrupt individuals from Thai politics? Keeping such individuals out of power would save huge amounts of taxpayer's money and improve the country's competitiveness in many ways. Thailand is ranked 102nd of 177 countries in this year's Corruption Perceptions Index, down from 88th last year.

Politicians, their supporters and sympathisers should learn to listen to this "people's power" instead of attempting to discredit or belittle the movement. They should be aware that this is a force that deserves to be heeded in our democratic system.

To achieve "true democracy", mere voting is not enough. The political system also needs transparency. Many of our politicians see their election to office as a licence to fatten their bank accounts with state funds and projects. Ordinary citizens should thus be more willing to blow the whistle against corruption and abuse of power. Meanwhile, the existing anti-graft watchdogs and check-and-balance mechanisms should be allowed to function independently without political meddling.

If their desire to see a better Thailand is genuine, politicians must allow a reform process to go ahead. There should be stronger legal mechanisms to enhance transparency in politics and to prevent any further attempts to weaken the check-and-balance system. With cooperation from all sides, keeping corrupt individuals out of politics is an achievable goal.

-- The Nation 2013-12-12

NongKhaiKid · December 11, 2013

YES !

selftaopath · December 12, 2013

"If their desire to see a better Thailand is genuine..."

seemingly the only thing that is genuine in Land of

Scams/Lack of Sanction (LOS) is the desire for MONEY.

lovetotravel · December 12, 2013

Great article. Speaks nothing about yellow or red shirts. Just discontent with massive corruption and political meddling. Easy to solve this political divide if the current government would do something about this?

binjalin · December 12, 2013

The problem is cultural and it would take a sizable paradigm shift to rid Thailand of corruption. All the institutions are corrupt from Police to other government agencies. It has to come from the top and the amart have to be disbanded.

Only the Rule of Law should be applied to all citizens equally from top to bottom and therein lies the real problem. The rich, elite 'amart class' in BKK think they are above the law - their kids can kill in their sports cars or shoot with their handguns and NOTHING is done because they buy there way out of it.

When this is STOPPED and the Thai people see fairness and equity then there is HOPE

Thailand needs a Mandela, Gandhi or a Aung San Suu Kyi - someone free of corruption and not swayed by power but, alas, it does not have one and nor is there one amongst the current gang.

None of those 'Greats' would use the 'Dear Leader Way' that is destroying this democracy now by seizing power from a democratically elected government.

Jasun · December 12, 2013

"Protests of this size in the capital are rare."

Especially if you don't count the UDD demonstrations of 2010, the PAD in 2008, the pre coup protests of 2006, and none of the protests that seem to happened every few years in previous decades.

Emdog · December 12, 2013

"Protesters from all walks of life are united by the desire to stamp out corruption in power" or to get back their cronies and get that cash cow flowing back where it should be...

"These people are fed up with politicians buying their way to power and abusing the resulting mandate for their own benefit." Unless some relative is on the payroll, in the stream etc. That poll some months back shows most Thai people think corruption is okay. Article is right that it is endemic, top to bottom. Harder to get rid of than crab grass. I would guess most are against corruption except for when they get it.

metisdead · December 12, 2013

A post containing an insult toward another member has been removed. Drop the insults or don't bother posting.

Loaded · December 12, 2013

Corruption is taught at school. Exam results are doctored to ensure students pass. Cheating and plagiarism are tolerated and in some institutions they are enthusiastically encouraged. Under-table payments to school directors are expected from parents for their children to gain entrance to prestigious schools.

It's also encouraged by their warped version of Buddhism. Monks will give out winning lottery numbers. 'merit' is made in exchange for a promotion at work, the boss not catching their theft, good looks etc. It's a morally corrupt view of the teachings of Buddhism.

To remove corruption from Thai society, Thailand will need to start again. This isn't feasible, so I don't think anything will change in the foreseeable future. Accept it or become frustrated by it - that's your choice.

IMA_FARANG · December 12, 2013

YES !

-----------------

In Thailand there will not be graft free and corruption free politics AS LONG AS ALL current politicians of ANY PARTY are allowed to run in any election.

Therefore, the ONLY way to change Thai politics is for:

ALL current political parties to be dissolved.
A panel of respected non politicians be appointed as an interim government and established by Royal Charter to rule temporarily.
This panel will run the country for 2 years as a caretaker government,
At the end of that period there will be new elections with new parties. All of the current party leaders and ministers will not be allowed to run for office except if approved by the governing panel.
After those elections the panel will be dissolved .... and the politicians left can go back to their silly games if they want to.

When your house is dirty, you can't clean it by picking up a few things.

You've got to sweep out the old dirt until the house is totally clean.....and then start over,

Thai politics needs a clean sweep also .... just like that dirty house.

DocN · December 12, 2013

YES !

Beat me to it!

noitom · December 12, 2013

It's not too much to ask, but it's way too much for Thais to do.

Dogmatix · December 12, 2013

The red shirts and PT will argue that it is indeed too much to ask. They will argue implicitly that because the majority of voters elect corrupt politicians who abuse power for their own family interests, ruin the economy and rule in an authoritarian manner, that is what is exactly what the country wants and the minority just has to suck it up.

On the other hand, they perhaps need to reflect on why Suthep, who until about a month ago was indentified in most people's minds as having the same corrupt, self-serving objectives in life as them, has struck a chord in the minds of millions of Thais who are no longer prepared to tolerate the Shinawatra dynasty in Thai politics. There seems to be a real hunger for reform in the political system, and the administrative system of the country, particularly decentralisatin of provincial administration and, above all else, decentralisation and control over the appallingly low quality national police force. They recognise that all of these things need to be reformed to bring Thailand's political, social and economic development into the 21st century and create a competitive economy that can create opportunities for all Thais in the coming decades. Suthep, for all his obvious flaws, has articulated these aspirations clearly for them and is the only person in the country crazy enough to put his balls on the wire to lead this unconventional movement. He also has the advantage of knowing all the politicians' wrinkles and where many of the skeletons are buried.

It would be a huge mistake for PT, its red shirts and their equally madcap sponsor overseas to imagine that these aspirations will simply go away after another election has ostensibly endorsed, corruption. abuse of power and authoritarianism all over again.

Edited December 12, 2013 by Dogmatix

Dogmatix · December 12, 2013

"Protests of this size in the capital are rare."

Especially if you don't count the UDD demonstrations of 2010, the PAD in 2008, the pre coup protests of 2006, and none of the protests that seem to happened every few years in previous decades.

Chavalit threw in the towel in 1997 after a lunch hour demonstration by 300 secretaries in Silom Road.

spirit47 · December 12, 2013

No. Set it as the goal, for going in the right direction...

tomacht8 · December 12, 2013

Hope for all future budgeting processes they make it compulsory for all future governments, that

- the use of money for project proposals are accurately represented in detail and on the last baht.

- the use of money for project proposals is described in detail for all people publicly documented and visible

- Public monthly or quarterly reports on Finance and project progresses.

- Public invitation for project proposals and at least three competitive compare offers.

- Project completion reports including all expenses with receipts.

- a strong supervisory committee composed of members is formed by all parties,

to control the entire investment process without disabilities and time delay restrictions. The results of the process and progress checks are presented to the parliament. The members of the supervisory body should rotate so that corruption is impossible.

When public funds are used, then the public has the right to see what the representatives of the people plan to do with the money and how it was used.

and

Follow and implements the laws.

Equal rights for all.

No immunity for criminals.

Give all murders, thieves and corrupt people a fair legal proceeding.

And if they are sentenced to prison then they should also serve their time there.

A good start would be to revoke her brother's passport and to request extradition,

because he is a convicted criminal by law. And that he gives commands to the government bodys is obvious.
An untenable situation and has nothing to do with democracy.

At the same time also Suthep should receive his court process.

After that, the remaining 25,000 corruption cases must swiftly brought to a conclusion.

Ulic · December 12, 2013

Great article but I am not sure the protesters are marching to eliminate corruption. They are on one side or the other Yellow or Red.

They want the other side to end corruption in its ranks. They want there side to get into/retain power so they can benefit.

From the last pole I read 70% of Thais believe corruption is OK as long as it benefits them. From the rice pledging scheme and other

farm produce subsidy schemes to the car tax rebate scheme, these policy's do not benefit the country as a whole but groups of people

and industries. Suthep as leader is no bastion of honesty and integrity. If both groups were marching together I would believe the article.

As it is I believe the article is a pipe dream at the moment.

craigt3365 · December 12, 2013

Great article but I am not sure the protesters are marching to eliminate corruption. They are on one side or the other Yellow or Red.

They want the other side to end corruption in its ranks. They want there side to get into/retain power so they can benefit.

From the last pole I read 70% of Thais believe corruption is OK as long as it benefits them. From the rice pledging scheme and other

farm produce subsidy schemes to the car tax rebate scheme, these policy's do not benefit the country as a whole but groups of people

and industries. Suthep as leader is no bastion of honesty and integrity. If both groups were marching together I would believe the article.

As it is I believe the article is a pipe dream at the moment.

Actually, they really are marching to eliminate corruption. The current protesters are not necessarily yellow shirts. And they are not 100% in support of Suthep.

Bluespunk · December 12, 2013

"Is transparent, graft-free politics too much to ask?"

Put it on your wish list for Santa and see if he can deliver. The majority of the current crop of politicians certainly won't.

robblok · December 12, 2013

Great article but I am not sure the protesters are marching to eliminate corruption. They are on one side or the other Yellow or Red.

They want the other side to end corruption in its ranks. They want there side to get into/retain power so they can benefit.

From the last pole I read 70% of Thais believe corruption is OK as long as it benefits them. From the rice pledging scheme and other

farm produce subsidy schemes to the car tax rebate scheme, these policy's do not benefit the country as a whole but groups of people

and industries. Suthep as leader is no bastion of honesty and integrity. If both groups were marching together I would believe the article.

As it is I believe the article is a pipe dream at the moment.

Actually, they really are marching to eliminate corruption. The current protesters are not necessarily yellow shirts. And they are not 100% in support of Suthep.

I got the same impression, it was told me by (Thai) friends who still go to those demonstrations, they don't want Suthep to rule they want an framework so the government cant be that corrupt anymore. Does not mean all protestors think the same there are so many different factions but they certainly don't all want a dictatorship most want a strong framework so whatever government comes (ok they some prefer a non red government) cant be too corrupt.

Robby nz · December 12, 2013

Great article but I am not sure the protesters are marching to eliminate corruption. They are on one side or the other Yellow or Red.

They want the other side to end corruption in its ranks. They want there side to get into/retain power so they can benefit.

From the last pole I read 70% of Thais believe corruption is OK as long as it benefits them. From the rice pledging scheme and other

farm produce subsidy schemes to the car tax rebate scheme, these policy's do not benefit the country as a whole but groups of people

and industries. Suthep as leader is no bastion of honesty and integrity. If both groups were marching together I would believe the article.

As it is I believe the article is a pipe dream at the moment.

You are way out of line on that one.

There are some who identify with one group or other whether it be Dems or anything else but the vast majority are there because they want the system cleaned up and most of them see what should be obvious to anyone that the PT Govt with Thaksin in charge, "Thaksin thinks PT acts" are well on the path to destroying this country for their own gain.

They are against Yingluck and the Shin clan because they happen to be the ones that are at present ripping the system off. It would be exactly the same if it were anyone else doing what they are doing,

I cant see how you work out that the ordinary people who are there are going to benefit if either side gains, retains, power.

They only way these people can gain is if the system is cleaned up to prevent the abuse of power and the corruption by whoever is in power.

That is what they are there fighting for, a fair and balanced system that treats everyone fairly and has in place checks and balances that force whoever is in power to act for the good of the country and the people.

Note "To force whoever is in power"

They are not saying, as you suggest, that we want them out so we can get in there and be the ones ripping the country off.

Gonsalviz · December 12, 2013

Apparently it is too much to ask world wide.

jat1012 · December 12, 2013