EDITORIAL
A lesson for Thai politicians from South Korea's PM
The Nation

It's time our lawmakers stopped passing the buck and began taking responsibility for their actions

BANGKOK: -- Chung Hong-won resigned from his post as South Korea's prime minister on Sunday, taking responsibility for the slow initial response to the Sewol ferry disaster which ended in the loss of more than 300 lives.

His action was deemed normal in countries where ruling politicians and officials are held to high standards. But in countries like Thailand, the news came as a surprise, and the Korean leader's decision was viewed by many as irrational.

Why would a leading politician take responsibility for a wrongdoing he did not commit? Why was the prime minister expected to resign over a tragedy that wasn't his fault?

Were he in an equivalent post in Thailand, Chung would simply have offered a nicely worded apology and been praised for it. But the South Korean premier chose to go much further. As second-most senior figure in government after President Park Geun-hye, Chung felt accountable.

"As I saw grieving families suffering with the pain of losing their loved ones and the sadness and resentment of the public, I thought I should take all responsibility as prime minister," he explained.

"I would like to apologise for the mishandling of a slew of problems, from preventive measures before the accident to the government's initial response and follow-up steps over the accident."

Such a sense of accountability is a key requirement in a good leader.

In Thailand, however, few lawmakers take the concept of "political responsibility" seriously. Rather than owning up to their faults or wrongdoings, they tend to shift the blame onto others. Cornered by the courts or independent watchdogs, they come out fighting, accusing the judges of bias or of being politically motivated. Indeed, why show accountability or remorse for actions that damage the lives of millions when politics is a self-serving game of survival?

Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra recently urged the Constitutional Court to rule with fairness over her alleged malfeasance in the removal of National Security Council chief Thawil Pliensri. She asked for the same from the Anti-Corruption Commission as it considers whether she is guilty of condoning corruption in connection with the government's graft-plagued rice price-pledging scheme.

How would people ordinarily react to defendants asking the court to ensure that it judges their case fairly? If the defendant is sure of his innocence, he should produce the evidence and wait for justice to be served. And, whether or not he agrees with the final verdict, he must accept it. That is the nature of justice.

We Thais do not expect our politicians to follow the example of South Korea's prime minister. We do not expect our lawmakers to take responsibility for the carelessness or wrongdoing of others. We would be satisfied if they merely took responsibility for their own negligence or abuse of power - or, at the very least, showed some remorse.

If more of our politicians did so, Thailand would be a better place in which to live. Higher standards of accountability in politics would lead to a decline of conflict and violence.


-- The Nation 2014-05-01

Don't "Thai-Chinese" to me...

"NOt my problem, not my fault" <-the Thai way of bailing out of problems

Actually they need to learn from the past Eg that coups and judicial coups accomplish nothing in the end except creating more of a mess.

Thais learning and especially from a foreigner ?

Thai politicians, police and military personnel, would never ever take an example of any other country.....there is no other country, in the minds of these people, that could possibly teach anything to Thais.....

Except maybe Zimbabwe .......

It takes dignity and integrity to resign at a time of crisis and criticism.

Something that this regime is devoid of.

But then again I doubt the S Korean government are anywhere near as corrupt as this government and money is a good motivator.

Had he been in a position of having such a ****d up country where corruption and theft of public money goes totally unchecked and a government can easily keep all its support while doing so... Then maybe the S Korean government may also be tempted... but unfortunately for them they have a proper country with a proper system and are light years ahead of the Thai's who would not know what dignity and integrity was if is punched them in the mouth.

The South Korean press has dismissed the PM's resignation as a political ploy because he had little power. Power rests with President Park.

When she went to a memorial for the dead, many family members of the deceased/missing booed her and had the wreathes and flowers she laid moved away from the other flowers. The President is being savaged by the South Korean press. So............ is the lesson to toss some politician under a political bus to protect the big boss?

A 1,000 wild horses will not unseat a Thai politician once he's got hold on to his seat,

and that is the reason why thins country had so many coups, the only way to get rid

of a government and a politicians.....

This is complete tosh. I know for a fact that politicians such as Chalerm would be the first to take responsibility and resign in a case like this.

Hear, hear.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Across the entire Kingdom of Thailand is taking responsibility (for anything) the norm?

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A 1,000 wild horses will not unseat a Thai politician once he's got hold on to his seat,

and that is the reason why thins country had so many coups, the only way to get rid

of a government and a politicians.....

Well the last coup didn't do that good , they are all still there , except one.

A lesson for Thai politicians from South Korea's PM

It's time our lawmakers stopped passing the buck and began taking responsibility for their actions

Koreaness is not Thainess

"Rather than owning up to their faults or wrongdoings, they tend to shift the blame onto others."

Actually they need to learn from the past Eg that coups and judicial coups accomplish nothing in the end except creating more of a mess.

Q.E.D.

Well done, moonao, you are a truthful representative of those you support.

It takes dignity and integrity to resign at a time of crisis and criticism.

Something that this regime is devoid of.

But then again I doubt the S Korean government are anywhere near as corrupt as this government and money is a good motivator.

Had he been in a position of having such a ****d up country where corruption and theft of public money goes totally unchecked and a government can easily keep all its support while doing so... Then maybe the S Korean government may also be tempted... but unfortunately for them they have a proper country with a proper system and are light years ahead of the Thai's who would not know what dignity and integrity was if is punched them in the mouth.

Good point about the dignity aspect. Something this PM does not seem to embody. But, you know the country is in a difficult position when the opponent is Suthep. Talk about a shill, an incompetent, an empty suit, and a phony with bad intentions. So, what is the alternative at this point? I would suggest a reform of the entire political infrastructure and system from the ground up. And appointments of ministers based on qualifications, not who you know, or what your family name is. Yes, taking responsibility for ones actions, or inactions, is a very foreign, and alien concept here in the LOS. Face tends to allow them to get away with a lot, and not look within. It is the behavior of cowards to not look within for solutions.

Actually they need to learn from the past Eg that coups and judicial coups accomplish nothing in the end except creating more of a mess.

Are you now green,if you mix yellow and red I think you get green.Green can also mean you are new and know nothing,which are you?

Thais learning and especially from a foreigner ?

Perry Como "It"s Impossible"

Actually they need to learn from the past Eg that coups and judicial coups accomplish nothing in the end except creating more of a mess.

Are you now green,if you mix yellow and red I think you get green.Green can also mean you are new and know nothing,which are you?

Yellow and blue make green. Yellow and red make orange.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Actually they need to learn from the past Eg that coups and judicial coups accomplish nothing in the end except creating more of a mess.

What Are you talking about eggs for ? Seems you are the only one with egg on his face... ! And can I ask a question that most TV posters would like to know, Did you ever attend school..? If you did , it was a waste of time..! Suicide is painless....

It takes dignity and integrity to resign at a time of crisis and criticism.

Something that this regime is devoid of.

But then again I doubt the S Korean government are anywhere near as corrupt as this government and money is a good motivator.

Had he been in a position of having such a ****d up country where corruption and theft of public money goes totally unchecked and a government can easily keep all its support while doing so... Then maybe the S Korean government may also be tempted... but unfortunately for them they have a proper country with a proper system and are light years ahead of the Thai's who would not know what dignity and integrity was if is punched them in the mouth.

And don"t forget they fought a war,with a little help from their friends.

Actually they need to learn from the past Eg that coups and judicial coups accomplish nothing in the end except creating more of a mess.

Are you now green,if you mix yellow and red I think you get green.Green can also mean you are new and know nothing,which are you?

Yellow and blue make green. Yellow and red make orange.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Sorry,it"s my age.Thanks for reminding me,but you get my gist anyway.

The South Korean press has dismissed the PM's resignation as a political ploy because he had little power. Power rests with President Park.

When she went to a memorial for the dead, many family members of the deceased/missing booed her and had the wreathes and flowers she laid moved away from the other flowers. The President is being savaged by the South Korean press. So............ is the lesson to toss some politician under a political bus to protect the big boss?

You have all the answers,you tell us.

All pigs fed and ready to fly!

this is not the case of PTP leaders.... They are so far from to recognize any responsibility in pledge rice scheme fiasco

Actually they need to learn from the past Eg that coups and judicial coups accomplish nothing in the end except creating more of a mess.

right on topic as usual.......not

go away

The South Korean press has dismissed the PM's resignation as a political ploy because he had little power. Power rests with President Park.

When she went to a memorial for the dead, many family members of the deceased/missing booed her and had the wreathes and flowers she laid moved away from the other flowers. The President is being savaged by the South Korean press. So............ is the lesson to toss some politician under a political bus to protect the big boss?

and I suppose the school vice principle committing suicide was also a political ploy right.......?

Talking &lt;deleted&gt; as usual GK

The only way to remove a corrupt thief from office in Thailand is either by the army or the courts - they have no honour, PTP are like a pack of hungry wild dogs feeding on a rotten carcass

korea goes one way. thais go another. korea booms in finance and tech and manufacturing, thailand booms in theft, devolving industry, and hoarding. History says that soon these corrupt politicians will pay. generally with their families.

The South Korean press has dismissed the PM's resignation as a political ploy because he had little power. Power rests with President Park.

When she went to a memorial for the dead, many family members of the deceased/missing booed her and had the wreathes and flowers she laid moved away from the other flowers. The President is being savaged by the South Korean press. So............ is the lesson to toss some politician under a political bus to protect the big boss?

and I suppose the school vice principle committing suicide was also a political ploy right.......?

Talking <deleted> as usual GK

The only way to remove a corrupt thief from office in Thailand is either by the army or the courts - they have no honour, PTP are like a pack of hungry wild dogs feeding on a rotten carcass

or death.

It takes dignity and integrity to resign at a time of crisis and criticism.

Something that this regime is devoid of.

But then again I doubt the S Korean government are anywhere near as corrupt as this government and money is a good motivator.

Had he been in a position of having such a ****d up country where corruption and theft of public money goes totally unchecked and a government can easily keep all its support while doing so... Then maybe the S Korean government may also be tempted... but unfortunately for them they have a proper country with a proper system and are light years ahead of the Thai's who would not know what dignity and integrity was if is punched them in the mouth.

South Korea had a similar problem to that of Thailand, namely a bloated military with a tendency to interfere in politics.Unlike Thailand the South Korean army was bitch slapped back to the barracks and ordered by the democratically elected civilian government to concentrate on their military duties.

Unlike Thailand the South Korean army does actually have a real job to do - dealing with my avatar.

I don't see why Yingluck should resign.No charges against her have been proved.And her accusers are tainted.

There was a case for Abhisit to resign after the murder of unarmed civilians on his watch.But naturally he didn't take responsibility for it.

I am all for people and especially politicians being responsible for their actions but just how was this man in any way, shape or form responsible for the ferry capsizing and the deaths of many passengers ?

His resignation is nothing more than political pantomime and the Thai's have nothing to learn from this apart from what not to do in the event of a disaster.