In Thailand, democracy is just a fig leaf for kleptocracy

[webfact]

TELL IT AS IT IS
In Thailand, democracy is just a fig leaf for kleptocracy
Pornpimol Kanchanalak
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The root of the term kleptocracy is the Greek word kleptes, meaning thief. Kleptocracy is a form of government in which officials - the ruling class and the real "elites" - use their office to increase their personal wealth and political power by corruption and embezzlement of state funds.

The robbery is done at the expense of the general population, under the false pretense of "democracy", and justified unconditionally by the fact that they are "elected" by the majority. Kleptocracy is the de facto political system of Thailand, not democracy.

In our country, the pilfering has been so rampant for so long that corruption has become de rigeur - the fashionable, popular behaviour in our value system. Schoolchildren and businessmen alike perceive it as a norm, acceptable as long as they do not get caught and if "some" people get some nominal benefit out of it.

Our "democracy" was never really rule-based, despite the fact that it should have been. We have rules, but they are always bent to the will of the ruling class. In our politics, and sadly in our society, money talks louder than rules. Money talks and criminals walk.

In principle, democracy allows all citizens, rich and poor alike, an equal chance on election day to shape their own and their children's future. But as US Secretary of State John Kerry candidly stated last weekend, elections do not necessarily lead to democracy, nor are they synonymous with democracy. Contrary to the perception of much of the Western media, the Thai protesters are not anti-democracy; they are protesting to root out a corrupt regime.

How corrupt?

Last weekend, the honorary chairman of the Rice Millers Association disclosed that at least Bt8 billion in state funds under the shameless government scam known as the rice-pledging programme were sent by illegal currency exchange traders, mostly in Chinatown, to Hong Kong. Some of that amount found its way back to Thailand, obviously not into the hands of farmers, but unquestionably into those of the thugs who still call themselves the hoi polloi "proletariat" as they laughed all the way to the bank. The dirty money has been laundered clean. Case closed.

More elections mean more sophisticated vote-buying mechanisms. In the old days, "vote purchasers" would distribute banknotes torn in half to voters, who could collect the other half when the desired candidates won. Nowadays, money changes hands via gambling dens. Voters willing to pawn off their rights place their bets, then when the vote-purchasing candidate wins, they go to the den to collect their winnings. Some dens will issue "lottery tickets" to vote-sellers. If their candidates win, the voters with the winning lottery tickets collect their money.

During the campaign season, piles of cash are given to the canvassers, most of whom also wear elected local and national hats as officials, who will in turn keep their share. The Central Bank may boast it has a way to monitor the flow of large exchanges of cash. But in reality it cannot. In the cases where it did pick up the money trail, it chose to remain mum to stay out of trouble.

State enterprises have been an important means to siphon off money to government cronies. The government in power will appoint its own people to plum positions on the boards of these quasi-government entities. They then cast their votes in support of retaining "advisers" for projects initiated by their respective organisations. These 'advisers" either belong to the companies owned by politicians or their families, or they pay a big chunk of their fees to politicians. The cash delivery can come direct to politicians via the front as well as the back door, or indirectly via an intricate web of con artists, but it eventually ends up in the bank accounts of politicians.

There have been intricate policy corruption schemes whereby government projects are initiated to benefit companies belonging to politicians. More frequently now, the "bids" are rigged at the TOR (Terms of Reference) level. Confidential information, cartloads of documents on the technical as well as financial requirements, is given to the intended bid winners before the bid. This is done in broad daylight with the full cooperation of the government officials responsible for holding the bid-tender.

Officials appointed by high-ranking government officials must offer more than a onetime pay-to-play recompense, instead making regular "tributes" to the politicians who bestowed their high offices upon them.

Many office-seekers have to travel to Dubai to make their face seen and their offer heard.

In terms of the ultimate robbers of taxpayers, look no further than the Education Ministry, which receives the second-largest budget allocation (20.6 per cent of total budget) after the general administration expenditure (20.8 per cent). Thailand's education system is in tatters, at the level of both teachers and students. Thai students rank worse in many categories than their peers in other Asean countries. The teachers also flunk the standardised tests, even in the subjects they teach. Overseeing them is a ministry where procurement wizardry turns a Bt100,000 processor into a Bt500,000 computer. The same type of sorcery has turned the dime-a-dozen computer tablets that no longer work after one year into devices prized as much as the most commercially successful brands on the market. Overseas trips for teachers have become a way of paying off political favours, rather than for the enhancement of educational experience. For years, our tax money that has flowed into the budget of this ministry has not been used efficiently and productively, but embezzled in huge quantities. If education is so fundamental to a thriving democracy, and an important engine of our collective future, what does the sorry state of our education tell us about our democracy, and our tomorrow?

So the deafening excuse of our Dear Leader and her administration for their stubborn insistence on sticking in office - that they are defending Thailand's democracy - is a self-serving perversion. We have elections, and a simulacrum of a democracy, but we are not a democracy. The highway-robbery of our tax-money that has spread and taken root everywhere has turned Thailand into a kleptocratic nation. That's why protesters are calling for reform, before a new election. Without a reform, a new election is not going to turn our kleptocracy into a democracy, for there is much more to democracy than an election.

If there was nothing more to it, the world would have to prepare to hail North Korea's new democracy on March 9, when the country holds its general election.


-- The Nation 2014-03-06

[DirtFarmer]

This writer was convicted of election campaign irregularities in the USA representing the laundering and funneling of more than 700k dollars into the Democratic Party fund raising on behalf of CP group and others she "insisted" on bringing to the luncheons...she should know from first hand knowledge about corruption and how deeply rooted it is... and she should look in the mirror before she opens her mouth...

Edited March 5, 2014 by DirtFarmer

[Roadman]

Excellent article. Some one in the Nation has finally had the 'balls' to truthfully put it all together and tell it as it is.

[JRSoul]

Fig leaf? Since when has a Thaksin government been that modest?

[jaidam]

The Thaksin kleptocracy is as subtle as a rampaging viking in your teenage daughter's bedroom. This article will get the usual frothers knickers in a right twist, stand by for a deluge of "but Abhisit bla bla...."

[arthurboy]

Klong Dam project, Hopewell fiasco, Klong Chan Credit Union fraud, and so on.

Routine traffic law 'violation' fines, paying off military personnel to avoid conscription, under the table payments, so your child can get into school, and so on.

Enforce the law, put those responsible in prison, sequester their assets, and so on.

Another laudable but going nowhere article from the Nation, and so on.

sent from my hippo phone

[chainarong]

Regardless of Pornpimol pedergree, one should congratulate the findings , someone has just turned the light on , Thailand has never had Democracy , with the so called reforms being talked about , one doubts that democracy will be nothing short of the Thai Democracy in another form , to have Democracy you have to understand democracy.

[MrJohnson]

A very depressing start to the day reading this article, mainly because it is 100% correct. The integrity of the author is not what is important here, it is what has been said. Let's not just simply shoot the messenger. Corruption is a cancer in this country especially within the education ministry. That a country spends so much on education and gets so little is a disgrace. It is endemic, systemic and ultimately is crippling the development of Thailand. Cynics might suggest that the people at the top have a vested interest in keeping the education system the way it is. They might be right but personally I believe it is simply that it is such an attractive cash cow for the parasites that they cannot resist. Either way it results in the same thing. If the AEC results in increased labour mobility across the region the Thais will be huge losers.

[focus27]

This writer was convicted of election campaign irregularities in the USA representing the laundering and funneling of more than 700k dollars into the Democratic Party fund raising on behalf of CP group and others she "insisted" on bringing to the luncheons...she should know from first hand knowledge about corruption and how deeply rooted it is... and she should look in the mirror before she opens her mouth...

And the proof is here:

http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/192/1037/594125/

perhaps Ms Pornpimol has learnt that in a developed democracy corruption is by stealth.

[noitom]

The author states that an election before reform is not the answer. But who will establish the reform configuration and policy? The "candidates" for election should clearly articulate their reform criteria. And not just typical Thai bluster and hedging. Specific issues and steps to bring about change. Then the candidates run for election based on their reform policy. The author puts the cart before the horse. However she accurately describes Thailand as a kleptocracy and paints an accurate roadmap of a failed state and further chaos.

[northernjohn]

This writer was convicted of election campaign irregularities in the USA representing the laundering and funneling of more than 700k dollars into the Democratic Party fund raising on behalf of CP group and others she "insisted" on bringing to the luncheons...she should know from first hand knowledge about corruption and how deeply rooted it is... and she should look in the mirror before she opens her mouth...

With that kind of experience she knows exactly what it is.

Nice to hear from an expert with experiance on the subject not just some dirt poor farmer.

[northernjohn]

A very depressing start to the day reading this article, mainly because it is 100% correct. The integrity of the author is not what is important here, it is what has been said. Let's not just simply shoot the messenger. Corruption is a cancer in this country especially within the education ministry. That a country spends so much on education and gets so little is a disgrace. It is endemic, systemic and ultimately is crippling the development of Thailand. Cynics might suggest that the people at the top have a vested interest in keeping the education system the way it is. They might be right but personally I believe it is simply that it is such an attractive cash cow for the parasites that they cannot resist. Either way it results in the same thing. If the AEC results in increased labour mobility across the region the Thais will be huge losers.

The only timer the messenger gets shot is when they are right.

[northernjohn]

The author states that an election before reform is not the answer. But who will establish the reform configuration and policy? The "candidates" for election should clearly articulate their reform criteria. And not just typical Thai bluster and hedging. Specific issues and steps to bring about change. Then the candidates run for election based on their reform policy. The author puts the cart before the horse. However she accurately describes Thailand as a kleptocracy and paints an accurate roadmap of a failed state and further chaos.

Are you new to politics?

Candidates are always saying things they have no intention of carrying out. Time to put the much needed reform in front of the cart not behind a horse wearing blinders.

Stick around and you will get the hang of it.

[JRSoul]

The author states that an election before reform is not the answer. But who will establish the reform configuration and policy? The "candidates" for election should clearly articulate their reform criteria. And not just typical Thai bluster and hedging. Specific issues and steps to bring about change. Then the candidates run for election based on their reform policy. The author puts the cart before the horse. However she accurately describes Thailand as a kleptocracy and paints an accurate roadmap of a failed state and further chaos.

Are you new to politics?

Candidates are always saying things they have no intention of carrying out. Time to put the much needed reform in front of the cart not behind a horse wearing blinders.

Stick around and you will get the hang of it.

Lies, damned lies, and election promises.

[focus27]

Show me a government that is not a den of thieves and liars. The West has fallen asleep and let democratic principles of justice and freedom be stolen by psychopathic corporations. Here is an interesting article on countries that have reached a far more intransigent stalemate than Thailand: http://rt.com/op-edge/democracy-on-retreat-europe-ukraine-608/ ... all of them in Europe.

The difference between Europe and Thailand is that Thailand has never had a functioning democracy; they seem to have gone from feudalism to neo-feudalism with a democratic mask.

Democracy is dead, long live the democratic charade.

If reform is the way forward then it must start at the very top, with the judges (and backed up by the police). Politicians are not going to reform themselves - it is rather like expecting beggars to morph into philanthropists.

[klauskunkel]

This writer was convicted of election campaign irregularities in the USA representing the laundering and funneling of more than 700k dollars into the Democratic Party fund raising on behalf of CP group and others she "insisted" on bringing to the luncheons...she should know from first hand knowledge about corruption and how deeply rooted it is... and she should look in the mirror before she opens her mouth...

Maybe so...

Still true, everything she said

[SOTIRIOS]

....her crime is miniscule compared to the level of crimes being committed here....

[gemini81]

....her crime is miniscule compared to the level of crimes being committed here....

How is her crime 'miniscule' and in comparison to what other crimes?

[boomerangutang]

So, we who are well-read are aware of the profound depths of corruption endemic to Thai politics. When will the voters in Issan figure it out. Or maybe they've also known, but for them corruption is no big deal. Perhaps for them, being very rich (and making promises to make others rich) is what matters most. Making reforms in how poor Issan farmers think is as important as any other reforms.

Corruption is culturally embedded in the Thai psyche. It's similar to the concept of not being able to see anything wrong with buying pirated goods. How to change deep-set concepts in how people think? I don't know.

I think, if there are going to be 'reforms' that stick (at all) they'll have to come down the tubes from those who are elected to do such things. Currently, it's Shinawatre lovers who are winning elections. If reforms don't happen with them, then.... let's hope future elections will bring in (at least) a half-decent bunch of leaders who can implement some improvements.

[toybits]

How can you even start writing about what is wrong when you cannot freely discuss what is at the root of the problem? Nothing more that spin control....

[soalbundy]

This writer was convicted of election campaign irregularities in the USA representing the laundering and funneling of more than 700k dollars into the Democratic Party fund raising on behalf of CP group and others she "insisted" on bringing to the luncheons...she should know from first hand knowledge about corruption and how deeply rooted it is... and she should look in the mirror before she opens her mouth...

Maybe so...

Still true, everything she said

This article is going to change what? If you live in Thailand long enough you just get cynical and apathetic about politics,imagine what a Thai feels like. Every street sweeper,every farmer,every brick layer knows whats going on,they don't need to be told. Where is a Thai Oliver Cromwell when you need him,someone who can walk into parliament and say "Be gone,there is no good in you". Thailand has never had democracy so they wouldn't miss it,its the wrong system for many countries in Asia.

[Melyn]

Whilst Bostonhad its tea party, Bangkok plans its tea leaf party

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[AleG]

Those who insist in the line "but they were elected" is the panacea to any wrong doing can chew on this amusing fact, Pablo Escobar, the Colombian drug lord, was at one time elected to the Colombian parliament. After he was eventually kicked out there was a spat of bombings and murders of courts and judges who were investigating his crimes.

There's nothing new under the Sun...

[EyesWideOpen]

Wow so refreshing to see the truth. The elites are not going to be happy reading that story this

morning. But I suppose their grip on Thailand is so tight they probably are not worried....

[dude123]

With all this talk about democracy, I am still aware of only one country in the world that actually has true democracy and that is Switzerland. They practice "direct democracy". All other countries, Thailand included, are not democratic in the true sense of the word, with some not even remotely so.

Edited March 6, 2014 by dude123

[stickylies]

This article is going to change what? If you live in Thailand long enough you just get cynical and apathetic about politics,imagine what a Thai feels like. Every street sweeper,every farmer,every brick layer knows whats going on,they don't need to be told. Thailand has never had democracy so they wouldn't miss it,its the wrong system for many countries in Asia.

so very true... but what's even more cynical is that every time i try to discuss this with people (all affected by this crap) they still feel the need to DEFEND their country... with thanx to their childhood education brainwashing...

[LomSak27]

Here we Go!

The Nation has its nose in a snit because they were unable to overthrow the democraitcally electednt and replace it with "Unelected Councils". They keep trying to sele the story that they actually care about corruption and honesty in goverment.

They only car about getting rid of a rival and then back to "Corruption as Normal"

[northernjohn]

Show me a government that is not a den of thieves and liars. The West has fallen asleep and let democratic principles of justice and freedom be stolen by psychopathic corporations. Here is an interesting article on countries that have reached a far more intransigent stalemate than Thailand: http://rt.com/op-edge/democracy-on-retreat-europe-ukraine-608/ ... all of them in Europe.

The difference between Europe and Thailand is that Thailand has never had a functioning democracy; they seem to have gone from feudalism to neo-feudalism with a democratic mask.

Democracy is dead, long live the democratic charade.

If reform is the way forward then it must start at the very top, with the judges (and backed up by the police). Politicians are not going to reform themselves - it is rather like expecting beggars to morph into philanthropists.

" Politicians are not going to reform themselves - it is rather like expecting beggars to morph into philanthropists."

and it is not going to happen your way either

"If reform is the way forward then it must start at the very top, with the judges (and backed up by the police)."

Reform must start with non Partisan people from all walks of life. All willing to put the welfare of Thailand first.

Where to find them will take a little time but they are out there. I said non partisan people but I do believe there are members of all parties who if able to climb out from under the yoke of their leadership would be glad to put there beliefs aside if there was a better one. Not a lot but some. No I do not know who they are. But I do know some who defiantly would not qualify.

[slipperx]

This writer was convicted of election campaign irregularities in the USA representing the laundering and funneling of more than 700k dollars into the Democratic Party fund raising on behalf of CP group and others she "insisted" on bringing to the luncheons...she should know from first hand knowledge about corruption and how deeply rooted it is... and she should look in the mirror before she opens her mouth...

If that is true does it really make any difference to the points raised?

Of course who will stop the next lot of traitors when they tAke office assuming the corruption continues?

[PepperMe]

This writer was convicted of election campaign irregularities in the USA representing the laundering and funneling of more than 700k dollars into the Democratic Party fund raising on behalf of CP group and others she "insisted" on bringing to the luncheons...she should know from first hand knowledge about corruption and how deeply rooted it is... and she should look in the mirror before she opens her mouth...

And the proof is here:

http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/192/1037/594125/

perhaps Ms Pornpimol has learnt that in a developed democracy corruption is by stealth.

Read it.

They were acquitted as the case was dismissed.