Academics suggest Thai government place an emphasis on transparency

[webfact]

Academics suggest government place an emphasis on transparency

BANGKOK, 12 Feb 2014, (NNT) - The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) has suggested the Government place an emphasis on being transparent when presenting information to the public, in order for it to pave the way to a viable solution to the nation’s prolonged corruption issues.

TDRI’s Director of Systematic Management, Duenden Nikomborirak, added that if the government is sincere about addressing corruption, it should provide a mechanism for the public to check its transparency. She gave as an example the on-going problems with the rice support program, saying that the administration would earn trust and possibly avoid protests if it simply revealed statistics of transactions involved in the rice mortgage scheme.

She proposed the government amend the constitution on the provision of official data, saying that information in a program such as the rice pledging scheme should always be available to the public while loopholes that allow the withholding of accurate information should be closed.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) Vichai Assarassakorn commented that another key tool is to create a national mindset against the acceptance of corruption. He pointed to the TCC’s campaign to raise awareness among Thais, saying that during the past three years of the campaign people had realized the corruption issue is relevant to them and they had paid more attention to the matter. Mr. Vichai said that in 2010 only 50-60% were interested in the issue but after three years of the campaign 70-80% of the people are now paying attention to corruption in politics.

-- NNT 2014-02-12

[Costas2008]

"Mr. Vichai said that in 2010 only 50-60% were interested in the issue but after three years of the campaign 70-80% of the people are now paying attention to corruption in politics."

Never late than never.

[Scamper]

" ... if the government is sincere about addressing corruption, it should provide a mechanism for the public to check its transparency. "

What if it isn't sincere about addressing corruption ?

[bigbamboo]

Of course they should but they won't because if they did everyone could see why they were in politics in the first place.

[sundrenched]

This gets to the heart of what made me unsupportive of the PDRC all along. This is a very good proposal, and the type of reform they could demand / protest for in the democratic framework. Shut down Bangkok until a proposed bill on transparency is enacted. Instead of 100,000s of thousands of people showing up, you'd get millions. Instead of dividing people across party lines, they would be united. It would be very hard for the government not to cave in on a reasonable demand like this. Instead, the PDRC demands the keys to the safe without specifying what it want to do. It all gives the impression that they're not interested in improving transparency, or worse, that they want to keep things intransparent for when they're in power.

[rogerdee123]

I think the problem is ..... this Government thinks "Transparency" means "Invisibility" ...

[heybruce]

True open book transparency means showing how the government spends its money, and also what the government contractors do with the taxpayer money they receive. That would expose the people giving and taking bribes. Great idea, but don't hold your breath. Neither party nor the military want that.

Another element of transparency, which is required by law in other democracies, is to require all government civil servants and military officers to reveal all assets that may represent a conflict of interest when performing their duties. Of course all government salaries are public record in transparent societies. Also, by law or tradition, in functional democracies elected officials will make all assets and sources of income public. Once again, don't hold your breath in Thailand.

Finally, effective transparency means allowing the press to name and shame by reporting verifiable facts without fear of retribution. A public official that reports a million baht a year from legitimate sources of income, but lives a lifestyle that clearly exceeds this income, would be a fair target of the press even if it doesn't know where the unreported income comes from. Thailand's libel laws prevent the press from reporting these types of stories even if all the information is correct.

I am aware of no political leader from any party calling for this type of transparency, and even attempting real transparency in Thailand would be enough to prompt another military coup.

It really is a great idea, achieving it will be hard and take a long time. The public must demand it, and continue to demand it over many elections.

[chainarong]

Exactly the same as the people on the same page here at Thaivisa have been pushing for years , nothing new in the academic's calling for transparency , they have also been calling for years , so the question from the academic's and the folk on the same page at Thaivisa , what's taking so long???

[sundrenched]

what's taking so long???

The puppet masters on neither side want it.

[Nickymaster]

You really think that the Shin clan cares about transparency? They were just trying to wipe out a few more checks and balance mechanisms before the protest started. Secret rice deals keep the Shins alive.

Telling the Shins to be transparent is a waste of time. Only a court or coup can stop their corrupt machine. The country keeps on loosing spots on the global corruption index since Yingluck started shopping.

First we had this:

Then a year or so later we have Thaksin "negotiating" multi billion Dollar deals on behalf of the Thai government:

[Thai at Heart]

Suggested?

No urge, no mull, no demand???

Suggest? Suggest concerns chicken or fish for lunch

[Blackmirage2013]

This has got to be one of the most pathetic stories ever on Thai Visa

..... so let me get it right.... TDRI is asking for the government to be transparent/transparent????

Isn't that like asking a fish to be wet? Holy shit, isn't it obvious that we have wanted the government to be honest since its birth? Do we have to ask it to be honest??? Is it now an option?

The right observation is that if you are not honest get the hell out of here!!!!! lols

[clockman]

Not enough jails, or staff for them!

[inzman]

Only the public can demand transparency but they are too busy trying to get their own piece of the corruption pie. It is beyond hopeless for this society to become transparent. This society has developed by a culture of graft and nepotism. It will take generations for it to change. Something this big doesn't change overnight. But the path to riotousness begins with the first step, I wish them well.

[seminomadic]

Of course they should but they won't because if they did everyone could see why they were in politics in the first place.

Thread winner. All has been explained. Nothing more to see, move along.

[animatic]

Transparency which would lead to incarceration seems a non-starter with this pirate crew.

PTP Purloining Thailands Patrimony.

[lostmebike]

Transparency in Thai administrations, impossible!

[ABCer]

Any Thai Gov't cannot afford transparency, unless the cookie jar is empty.

I said any. Leave Yingluck, Abhisit, Thaksin etc. out of this discussion.

This country is inherently corrupt therefore talk of transparency is just this - talk.

The same applies to Democracy.

Educationally, politically, historically, culturally and religiously Thais are not ready. (never said genetically!)

Add academics to the above.

[rickirs]

Transparency in any political areana is a difficult task no matter how old a democratic society may be. And the Thai government is not yet a wholly democratic system. But there is this thing called "politics" that when combined with "elections" can provide a very powerful message an incumbent administation and its constituents. But it's not as simple as blockading election polls, marching in the streets, or occupying government buildings. It requires a comprehensive campaign to educate the constituency of what is wrong, why it is wrong, and what can be done to correct what is wrong. That campaign, if successful, will result in winning the election by a majority. If the PTP succeeds to continue its majority in the government and successfully fends off further challenges made to the courts to remain in office, the Democrats need to change their political tactics to broaden their support base by appealing to the low income and poor classes if it wants its message of government corrption to mean anything. That will be difficult because Suthep will have to racthet down his language or step aside and allow more moderate Democrats to lead the party.

[Ulic]

No governments in the world wants transparency. In the west it is the necessary evil they have to put up with. Even now Steven Harper

the Prime Minister of Canada is trying to pass a bill that would make any election shenanigans dealt with behind closed doors in Parliament

and make it illegal for the Election Commission to report election fraud to the public.

If they had transparency here it would make it harder for both sides to get there kickbacks and to make crooked deals.

Of course all politicians want the other side to be transparent, but not themselves.

But of course transparency is the key to a less corrupt government so we can live in hope but don't hold your breath.

[noitom]

Transparency = the kiss of death for the Thai elite and the establishment, Thai corporate sector, Thai government. If there is anything that the Thai establishment despises more than a poor Thai it is the notion of transparency. Heaven forbid.

[davehowden]

Thailand simply is not ready for democracy, like kids with a new Hi Tech toy who don't know how it works.

They need a strong Junta like control, as per Vietnam, to kick thier <deleted> into the 21st century, tone down all this religious crap and other things that cannot be mentioned.

Thaksin had the right idea, get rid of all these checks and balances and get on with the job. OK so he lined his own pockets but he also took the country forwards, but he fell foul for trying to break the power of the Army and a few other sacred cows.

I hope Thaksin makes a come back!