Thai editorial: Time we citizens wielded the knife

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Time we citizens wielded the knife
The Nation

Our amoral political culture is the breeding ground of the rot afflicting Thai society

BANGKOK: -- In times of political conflict, both sides talk loudly of the need to respect the rules and the law. But politicians often make the demand of their "enemies" while at the same time doing their best to evade the rules.

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra says he is ready to "sacrifice his family" by ending its political role so the country can emerge from the ongoing impasse and move forward. However, Thaksin also wants his critics to adhere to the law. "The country's problems have been caused by failure to adhere to the rules," a Thaksin aide quoted him as saying.

The ex-premier is correct in his analysis, though he could have been more specific. It is, in fact, politicians' disregard for the rules and law that has led to much of the turmoil now afflicting the country.

Thaksin left the country shortly before being sentenced to jail in 2008 and has been in self-imposed exile ever since. The latest round of political turmoil came after the House of Representatives passed a government-backed blanket amnesty for all those involved in political conflicts of recent years. Critics and opposition politicians alleged that the amnesty bill, which was subsequently blocked by the Senate following widespread opposition, was chiefly aimed at benefiting Thaksin.

The ex-premier was handed a two-year sentence by the Supreme Court for abuse of power in connection with his then-wife's purchase of a valuable property that had the state had confiscated, at a price far lower than its market value. Then, in 2010, the Supreme Court ordered the seizure of Bt46 billion of Thaksin's money after deciding it had been accumulated improperly while he was in office. Just days after the court ruling, Thaksin's red-shirt supporters took to the streets and staged a 10-week protest against the Bangkok "elite". More than 90 people were killed during that time, including protesters, soldiers, police, foreign journalists, city dwellers and passers-by. Several other legal cases against Thaksin were suspended after he fled the country in 2008.

Obeying the law is a basic requirement for any ordinary citizen. But politicians are not merely ordinary citizens: they are leaders, responsible for running the country and making its laws. As such, they need to comply with more than just the laws of the land; they also have to abide by high ethical standards.

In fact, any politician knows right from wrong unless and until he fools himself into believing otherwise. Unfortunately, unscrupulous lawmakers often fool themselves and their supporters into believing that their actions do not violate any laws. When tried and found guilty, these politicians will accuse the court of being politically motivated and biased against them. The irony is that when they win lawsuits against their enemies, these same politicians often praise the same court for "seeing that justice is served".

Thailand is in desperate need of politicians who obey not just the law but also commonly held standards of what is right and what is wrong. Our political culture of self-serving expediency has dragged this country into the mire of vicious conflict. To escape it, we, as citizens and voters, need to hold our politicians to higher standards.


-- The Nation 2014-04-24

[terryp]

if you keep voting for corrupt pasasites you will get ..............DHHH!!!!

Thais are no different to many World wide they are lazy and just expect things to change but still vote the same ...its laughable

[Chupup]

Good thoughts would love to see it happen BUT. TiT

Sent from my Z130 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Suriya4]

All laws are just. But some law are more just than others.

[chrisrazz]

This country needs more politicians to come from the private sector, people who have actually achieved things in a competitive environment (though, it is arguable that there is a truly competitive market given the level of corruption and the protective policies that exclude foreign involvement). Mediocrity is the result of protection and corruption, this suits the higher echelons of Thai society nicely, their elevated status is at risk if corruption is eliminated and excellence is rewarded. Most of the political class come from the public service, military or police. These people have often achieved their status within a system of endemic corruption of one sort or other. They are never held to account for poor performance. They have achieved very little and are often without talent, they are just players of the 'game' and seemingly not actually very good at that.

Edited April 24, 2014 by chrisrazz

[noitom]

The editorial starts off very well. "Our amoral political culture is the breeding ground of the rot afflicting Thai society."

[madmitch]

This country needs more politicians to come from the private sector, people who have actually achieved things in a competitive environment (though, it is arguable that there is a truly competitive market given the level of corruption and the protective policies that exclude foreign involvement). Mediocrity is the result of protection and corruption, this suits the higher echelons of Thai society nicely, their elevated status is at risk if corruption is eliminated and excellence is rewarded. Most of the political class come from the public service, military or police. These people have often achieved their status within a system of endemic corruption of one sort or other. They are never held to account for poor performance. They have achieved very little and are often without talent, they are just players of the 'game' and seemingly not actually very good at that.

You want more Thaksins?

[rhythmworx]

[rametindallas]

"The country's problems have been caused by failure to adhere to the rules," a Thaksin aide quoted him as saying.

Since, this being Thaksin, no-way is the above comment any kind of admission that he or any of his puppets caused any of the problems by failing to adhere to the rules. One has to wonder, who are these people who DID create the country's problems by failing to adhere to the rules. This is proof, as if anybody needed more, that Thaksin is out of touch with reality if he thinks that he and his are faultless; either that, or he's doing some major trolling.

[The stuttering parrot]

Time we thai citizens wielded the knife!

Catchy headline .

Unfortunately some thai citizens are wielding more than just knives!

[scorecard]

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This country needs more politicians to come from the private sector, people who have actually achieved things in a competitive environment (though, it is arguable that there is a truly competitive market given the level of corruption and the protective policies that exclude foreign involvement). Mediocrity is the result of protection and corruption, this suits the higher echelons of Thai society nicely, their elevated status is at risk if corruption is eliminated and excellence is rewarded. Most of the political class come from the public service, military or police. These people have often achieved their status within a system of endemic corruption of one sort or other. They are never held to account for poor performance. They have achieved very little and are often without talent, they are just players of the 'game' and seemingly not actually very good at that.

You want more Thaksins?

NO, but unless I'm mistaken the OP is not meaning the paymaster types but is meaning highly capable, highly moral, highly sincere Thais.

They do exist, there are many of them, who right now just sit and watch because they don't want to be associated with the current gangs of immoral scaly thieves we currently call politicians.

[Eric Loh]

Courts, indepenent and law enforcement agencies have their role to play to dispense fair and not corrupt judgement. Only then will law and rules will be respected.

[jpeg]

but is meaning highly capable, highly moral, highly sincere Thais.

[bangkokheat]

the answer is simple, oh, no it isnt, dont know what i was thinking,,,,keep up the good work mr leaders, dont forget to turn the lights out after you plunge the country into darkness

[bangkokheat]

what we need is a world wide march against bankers and governments, right or wrong at least the thais have balls to make a stand, unlike us westerners, taking it up the bum

[lucjoker]

I see this false sentence before:"Thaksin left the country shortly before being sentenced to jail in 2008 and has been in self-imposed exile ever since. "

The reality sounds a bid different:" He was found guilty and sentenced by court to go to prison for 2 years, he , the convicted criminal, fled the country and is still hiding ."

[Johpa]

This country needs more politicians to come from the private sector, people who have actually achieved things in a competitive environment

Oh please, the private sector is as depraved, if not more depraved then its surrogate, the public sector. Competive environments in the public sector only exist for brief initial periods and then it becomes solely who has accesss to the most capital and who has "access" to the politicians. Remember the maxim of the private sector: the competition is your friend and the customer is your enemy. Read Warren Buffet because if there is one thing his brilliance avoids investing into is anything where there is competition, he prefers investing in companies that have "moats" around them making the barrier to compete insurmountable.

[Scamper]

Excellent article, and one that reaches an inescapable conclusion - non-adherence to the law is the very source of the dysfunction. And yes, it is applicable to all sides, all parties, all politicians. Politicians hopscotch over each other in a continual game of determining who started the cycle. Each have plausible reasons to point to both as the cause. And yet each have equal reason to shift the argument - quite credibly - and claim the other responsible for setting a spin of events in motion. When both are in a perpetual loop, both can claim to be right, and actually be right ! That's where Thailand's political environment stands - in a loop, with a great deal of finger-pointing. Cause and effect are continually in motion, and keep each other in a perpetual spin.

And yet it must be acknowledged - in all sobriety - that no politician has ever come even close to the level of power and corruption that Thaksin has. Not even close. And it also needs to be acknowledged that Thaksin still remains the most polarizing political figure. Ever. What is particularly breath-taking about Thaksin is that - with all that we have come to learn about the extent of his power, wealth, and influence - and it's immense - he clearly wants more. That realization has finally sunk into the consciousness of the public. And it's brought us to where we are now. But there's more than just that. Even with that growing public realization, the public is becoming simultaneously just as aware that dislodging his influence is very, very difficult. In fact, it's already tearing the country apart. And his influence is till pervasive. That's how powerful he is. Yes, he has no control over the courts, but he is doing everything in his power to undermine their authority. The courts are surviving. But only just. And they're not receiving much help. They are under continual attack from the UDD, but also from Phue Thai, various outspoken members of the " cabinet " - if you can call them such - and even from Yingluck herself. Never before in the history of the country has this level of pressure ever been placed on the judicial system. Ever. Without it, to be sure, Thaksin would be here. So the public needs to realize - now more than ever - just how important the judiciary is, and exactly how life would be like without it. Horrible things happen in history when the power of the judiciary is usurped. History is replete with such examples. Thaksin's amnesty bill would have been the end of law and order as we know it. How do you pick up the pieces of the law after having pardoned over 25,000 people convicted of corruption ? Imagine, over 25,000 people convicted of corruption pardoned. Can one imagine the signals that would send and what effects that would have ? That's Thaksin's world. He would be comfortable with that, as long as he was pardoned and he got his money back. He didn't care about the consequences of that bill. Clearly. It was passed at 4 in the morning. That's how uncomfortable this bill was in the light. But it backfired. Thaksin knew there would be a public backlash. But he has no idea it would be a strong as it was. Clearly. It torpedoed the administration. And it set off a populous sentiment that no one politician could ever douse.

Edited April 24, 2014 by Scamper

[WoopyDoo]

Good thoughts would love to see it happen BUT. TiT

Sent from my Z130 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

The only way you will see it happen is if Thailand gets the reforms needed which is why the PDRC has massive support, because most of the people know that this is the only real opportunity Thailand has ever had of seeing this ideal of change come about.

But then again.... there are those who want zero change..... strange how those people are supporters of the most vile and corrupt regime Thailand has possibly seen in its entire history.

That includes the red farang on here too..... They want no change, they want nothing good for Thailand, they prefer to keep the Thais held back so they can feel somewhat superior to them, because of their own social deficiencies.... Must be frustrating to be a social misfit to the point you want an entire nation of people suffer to feel better about yourself.

[rickirs]

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Good thoughts would love to see it happen BUT. TiT

Sent from my Z130 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

The only way you will see it happen is if Thailand gets the reforms needed which is why the PDRC has massive support, because most of the people know that this is the only real opportunity Thailand has ever had of seeing this ideal of change come about.

But then again.... there are those who want zero change..... strange how those people are supporters of the most vile and corrupt regime Thailand has possibly seen in its entire history.

That includes the red farang on here too..... They want no change, they want nothing good for Thailand, they prefer to keep the Thais held back so they can feel somewhat superior to them, because of their own social deficiencies.... Must be frustrating to be a social misfit to the point you want an entire nation of people suffer to feel better about yourself.

If the PDRC has such "massive" public suport, why does it fear an election right now? Why does it instead blockade election stations and prevent oppoisition party candidates from registering for the election?

The frustration lies with the PDRC because despite all its rhetoric about government corruption and needs for immediate reforms, IT CANNOT GET ELECTED. Suthep and this article sites the reason that Democrats will once again lose the election: the electoriate is "uneducated" and not deemed eligible to vote correctly. When a party blames the electoriate for its failure to be elected, that party either needs to do better to deliver its message to the public or reform itself. But the idea of shutting down elections, instituting a one-party unelected government, and establishing an electoriate process that will guarantee election of the PDRC cannot be said to sustain or improve a democratic framework of government. Thus, the frustration lies with the PDRC because it FEARS democracy.

[rreddin]

The editorial starts off very well. "Our amoral political culture is the breeding ground of the rot afflicting Thai society."

A good start and a rapid downhill ride from their that would make the North Wall of the Eiger look like a gentle slope. Fortunately, the OP is online so fewer trees have had to be felled to print this editorial, which misses the real issues.

The problem is that Thailand is is not a moral society in the sense that its culture is informed and inflenced by a moral based religion. That is not to say the country's problems are the fault of Buddhism, they are not. Corruption is endemic and has been for hundreds of years. Politicians are just a part of that problem. There is corruption in every aspect of Thai life and almost all aspects of Thai society.

That corruption is very largely accepted. It is that culture at all levels in Thai society that has to be changed. The Nation can write all the hand wringing editorials it likes, but words will not change the situation. Moral leadership and a real sense of perspective are required. Changing this aspect of Thai culture for the better will take at least a generation starting with the children just starting school. The 14 month time scale previously mentioned by Suthep just shows his lack of understanding of the real problem.

The rule of law is widely disregarded, so singling out Thaksin is just a cheap propoganda. Suthep is too busy trying to bring about a dictatoship to attend court to answer charges of murder, but the courts do nothing about it. Yet they fast track cases against Yingluk even though there are older and no less serious cases pending against Suthep and others. What hope is there for the rule of law when even the courts are clearly applying different standards? What hope is there for the rule of law when even an NACC member is calling for the corrupt judicial system to be overhauled?

The Nation has its own political affiliations, which just happen to be anti-Shinawatra, so it is understandable that they omit any mention of the political nature of is conviction, which is why the rest of the World ignores it and allows him to travel the globe almost unrestricted. The rule of law is widely disregarded by wealthy Thais and well connected Thais who can buy off all but the most serious charge. If you can afford to buy a Benz or an even more expensive luxury car, not only does the law not apply to you, but neither it seems does the import tax on your vehicle.

Nor is Thailand a tolerant society. Here are just three examples: Buddhist Thailand cares little or nothing about their fellow citizens in the South who follow Islam. Consequently, that attitude is reciprocated.Some Bangkokians and some of the so called "educated" Thais consider rural folk, especially those from the North and North East as being no better than buffaloes fit only for labouring and menial work. Little wonder that some folk in Lana/Isaan have no love for Bangkok people. More recently we have the example of an ex-military man, now hospital director, setting up an organisation to hunt down, and in some cases use violence against, those of his fellow citizens who hold different views to him.

it is time for Thailand to be realistic and address the real problems in the country to make it a more socially inclusive, just and equitable society for all Thais.

[louse1953]

what we need is a world wide march against bankers and governments, right or wrong at least the thais have balls to make a stand, unlike us westerners, taking it up the bum

Some of the youth do take up the cudgels,usually around G8,G20 time,but are demonized by the compliant press and local govts,who have their snouts in the trough.This world will not survive unless there is radical change.Look whats happened in 200 years.Can the earth survive another 200,imo,no.

[ratcatcher]

the answer is simple, oh, no it isnt, dont know what i was thinking,,,,keep up the good work mr leaders, dont forget to turn the lights out after you plunge the country into darkness

"..... dont forget to turn the lights out after you plunge the country into darkness"

Might be hard to find the light switch if the country's already plunged into darkness. Just a wee thought.

[xminator]

No you get amoral politicians because you have a amoral and materialistic high-so and middle class. The politicians are just a symptom.

[rreddin]

No you get amoral politicians because you have a amoral and materialistic high-so and middle class. The politicians are just a symptom.

I beg to differ. Politicians are not a symptom, they are a product of Thai society as it now is. If you want to change politicians for the better, you first have to change Thai society for the better.