Thai editorial: Tougher sentences aren't the answer to corruption

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Tougher sentences aren't the answer to corruption
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Unless we intervene to teach children from a young age why bribery and abusing power are unacceptable, the 'Thai disease' will be reproduced in generation after generation

Thailand appears to be performing better this year in its battle against graft. In Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index for 2014 the Kingdom has climbed 17 places to 85th among 175 countries surveyed, with a score of 38 out of 100. No 1 in the rankings with a score of 92 was Denmark, while Somalia and North Korea were rated worst for public corruption, both with a score of 8.

The annual index measures perceived levels of public sector corruption worldwide. Last year, Thailand was ranked 102nd with a score of 35.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the index now rates Thailand 12th among 28 countries, tied with India, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Among the 10 Asean member-states, we rank third, tied with the Philippines and behind Singapore (7th in the world) and Malaysia (50th). Perceived as more corrupt are Indonesia, ranked 107th in the world, followed by Vietnam (119th), Laos (145th), Cambodia and Myanmar (both 156th).

Some are hailing Thailand's latest global ranking as evidence of progress in our battle against the chronic problem of corruption, but others say the slight improvement in our score doesn't signal success. National Anti-Corruption Commission member Pakdee Pothisiri described the country's rise from 102nd in 2013 to 85th this year as a "good development", adding that the NACC's goal was to help boost the country's score to 50 within the next three years. However, Pramon Sutivong, chairman of the Anti-Corruption Organisation, said the better ranking did not mean Thailand's corruption problem has improved.

The authorities and corruption-combating activists have come up with a variety of ideas to amend the law in a bid to discourage politicians and bureaucrats helping themselves to taxpayers' money. Among the proposed changes are increased powers for the NACC, including the authority to make arrests, no statute of limitations for corruption cases, and severer punishment of convicted public officials - including capital punishment in the worst cases.

Meanwhile, more evidence has surfaced of a widespread and deeply ingrained acceptance of corruption as part of everyday life. And perhaps most worrying is that this acceptance seems to extend to our children, who will grow up to decide the future direction of the country.

In a recent survey of some 4,000 youngsters in 21 provinces across the country, a quarter of them admitted to having resorted to bribery to attain their ends, and said they saw nothing wrong with cheating in exams. The survey's findings were yet another sobering reminder of the scale of the problem.

Certainly, tougher anti-corruption laws and stricter enforcement are necessary to discourage politicians and bureaucrats from pocketing public funds, demanding kickbacks and taking other forms of bribe.

However, our main focus should be on instilling standards of civic pride, duty and responsibility in our youngsters. Unless we intervene to teach children from a young age why bribery and abusing power for personal gain is wrong and unacceptable, the social cancer of corruption will be reproduced in generation after generation. For as long as we fail to address the disease where it takes root - in the youngest members of our society - we condemn ourselves to a future in which our collective wealth continues to be stolen and related social problems flourish.

If we don't want the next generation to suffer the deep social and economic damage from corruption that has befallen us, the battle for hearts and minds must begin now, with our youngsters.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Tougher-sentences-arent-the-answer-to-corruption-30249540.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-11

[ExPratt]

Apparently perceptions are that Thailand (85) is more corrupt than Malaysia (50). I would say this perception is due to the corruption in Malaysia being more sophisticated with a Government who have been in Power since independence , 57 years

[HeijoshinCool]

Getting officials to prosecute corruption is like sending in bacteria to clean up an infection.

[Fiddlesticks]

Tougher sentences aren't the answer to corruption

How could they possibly know since it has never been attempted here in Thailand! Say what you will, fear of exposure and punishment is a real deterrent to corruption. Thailand should at least give it a try.

[NongKhaiKid]

Educating children, great idea but who is going to do it ? Will it be parents who ' arrange ' things for them anyway, teachers etc who happily solicit and accept various ' considerations ' or the country's leaders who are up to their necks in it.

Social responsibility should be taught at a young age but the educational system isn't big on teaching too much as it is so there needs to be the very big stick in the background to reinforce what will happen and that bribery, connections will not be of help.

Unfortunately with many things, not only corruption, so ingrained in Thai culture this well worn idea of starting teaching young is just that, a well worn idea that's not likely to get very far.

Edited December 10, 2014 by NongKhaiKid

[Chang_paarp]

Not just sentences, loss of privileges, assets and being named publicly. In other words a total loss of face. Plus the education from a young age with similar lessons along the way.

Never going to happen but it is a nice ideal.

[hanuman2543]

Every week the same blablabla. Thais are really big in talking but getting things done is a complete different matter. Additional there are the already mentioned problems with the mindset and the unwillingness to punish wrongdoers. None of us will see real change during our lifetime, only cosmetics. Too many people profiting from the current status quo.

Edited December 10, 2014 by hanuman2543

[whybother]

Tougher sentences aren't the answer to corruption

They might not be the complete answer but they would certainly help.

[slipperx]

Corruption needs to be a social stigma before much progress will be made. A bit like racism in the UK was stigmatized to change the mindset of the youth and also many older people. That process is continuing but Thailand and Thais is making no progress with the deep rooted problems because no politician is interested in the country beyond shouting how great Thailand is and how Thais are the best race in the world. Even the bare faced truth is denied by the ignorant. Nationalism and xenophobia is the mindset and corruption fits on very well with those tendancies

[PatOngo]

Tougher sentences aren't the answer to corruption

..............no, a nod and a wink seems to be the answer.

[IamNoone88]

They are right.... tougher sentances are not the answer. Well, unless you take a few out the back with a board hung around their necks and shoot them like they do it. That would clear it up pretty quickly and the youth of the day would soon be re-educated

[chainarong]

It depends on the size and the type of corruption , the statute books should carry a minimum of 10 years to life maximum , that way the law then can determine the extent of the crime and penalise appropriately and on small corruption no matter what it is you are going to get 10 anyway and Mum and Dad and the school kid can go figure. EASY

[ezzra]

Yep, you're absolutely right, no need for tougher sentences, amnesty and reconciliation for all

is the answer, forgive and forget attitude (and keep the money) is the word.. yeah well,

good luck to you with that... now you know whey your highest office holding in the land

are engaging in corruptions and thievery on a mass scale...

Edited December 11, 2014 by ezzra

[Tatsujin]

Tougher sentences that are actually enforced for once regardless of social status might help, along with no bail for those more serious crimes, more than a 2,000 baht fine for serious offences, and confiscation of assets (regardless of which "maid's" name they might be in) might actually start to do some good.

It's obvious that the concepts of "right and wrong", "fairness" and "equality" are unfamiliar here, so hit them where they actually will notice it, in their pockets.

EDIT: I forgot to add these: no more "inactive posts", and if an offense is committed whilst in "Government", a ban for life, no exceptions.

They might also want to check up a little more deeply on the "worth" of some of these individuals based on their "yearly" salary and compare it to what they actually have occasionally, they can't all be "lottelly winners".

But who am I kidding, there is zero incentive for anyone in the upper echelons of any department anywhere in Thailand to change anything much, it will cost "them" too much as well.

Edited December 11, 2014 by Tatsujin

[EyesWideOpen]

Funny stuff. If at some point Thailand actually did want to wipe out corruption,

they need look no farther than Singapore . With resolve I think they accomplished

it in five years as I recall. And without looking it up, I suspect the punishment

for corruption is severe. This editorial is almost ludicrous, as it is implying it

cannot be done, therefore no need to punish people........ If Thailand started

executing people for corruption, it would stop overnight....

[clockman]

Until the slander and libel laws. Are removed.Nothing will change!

[SOTIRIOS]

.....written for the benefit of those facing prosecution for corruption...........what a joke.......

...and pass it for journalism....disguised as sentimental morality.....

[Noi657]

Apparently perceptions are that Thailand (85) is more corrupt than Malaysia (50). I would say this perception is due to the corruption in Malaysia being more sophisticated with a Government who have been in Power since independence , 57 years

Think that can be said about most countries!

The UK is riddled with tax avoiders and dodgy politicians.

The working man gets stung while the elite get away with it!

The difference between thailand and western countries is that thailand is terrible at hiding it!

[Mario2008]

Tougher sentences aren't the answer to corruption

How could they possibly know since it has never been attempted here in Thailand! Say what you will, fear of exposure and punishment is a real deterrent to corruption. Thailand should at least give it a try.

It is well known that tougher sentences are normally not the answer to reduce crime. Research shows that nothing is more effective than increasing the risk of getting caught. If you increase that risk, crime drops more significantly than a harsher sentence.

That is why the editorial wants to start with educating people, so they don't accept it and corrupt officials are getting more often caught and prosecuted.

[whybother]

Tougher sentences aren't the answer to corruption

How could they possibly know since it has never been attempted here in Thailand! Say what you will, fear of exposure and punishment is a real deterrent to corruption. Thailand should at least give it a try.

It is well known that tougher sentences are normally not the answer to reduce crime. Research shows that nothing is more effective than increasing the risk of getting caught. If you increase that risk, crime drops more significantly than a harsher sentence.

That is why the editorial wants to start with educating people, so they don't accept it and corrupt officials are getting more often caught and prosecuted.

Everyone knows what corruption is. They even know who's doing it. Sometimes the corrupt officials are being caught and prosecuted.

And they get a slap on the wrist and go straight back to what they were doing.

They're not asking for the death penalty, but there needs to be some disincentive to them being corrupt.

[noitom]

Public arrests, , handcuffing, perp walks, no bond, trial prosecutions and stiff sentences and fines are exactly what is needed to make an impression on the Thai public. These quiet Thai arrests, disappearing caees, transfers, no serious punsihment are not to be taken seriously by Thais. Thais see that the old system is still working.

[maidee]

yes, don't punish the thieves, let them keep the money they stolen

good example indeed ...

corruption in school, aka headmaster taking admittance fee ? money for better grades ?

is it cheating when the teacher hold a test & also offers the answers ? so everybody pass and make him look good ?

[klauskunkel]

Oh, the logic!

Concentrate to eradicate corruption in the next generation...and let the current one continue on. Whatever, it's your country.

[Carrerakiss]

Tougher sentences aren't the answer to corruption

How could they possibly know since it has never been attempted here in Thailand! Say what you will, fear of exposure and punishment is a real deterrent to corruption. Thailand should at least give it a try.

Any kind of sentence would be a start. The only time a prosecution is attempted is when the corrupt official has fallen out of favour with powers that be, not because of corrupt acts per se.

[bino]

Any punishment or sentence would be better than the "transfer to an inactive post" that is handed down to the most corrupt group in Thailand when they are caught out.

[gchurch259]

For a while China had the answer, a 9MM slug to the back of the head. Cheap, clean and final.

Now looks like they jail them. Here taking all their assets down to the 300THB a day minimum wage sounds like a good idea.

Where is the "Red Bull Twerp" that killed the policeman ??

[scorecard]

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Tougher sentences aren't the answer to corruption

They might not be the complete answer but they would certainly help.

How true. IMHO there needs to be multi pronged approach:

- Severe punishment and very public shaming.

- More and regular statements from highly respected leaders pushing for morality and ethics.

- Education of the young starting at an early age by dedicated teachers who are well versed in the subject and have good handout materials as well as good

'lectures'. IMHO many current teachers are not up to the task in terms of real insightful knowledge to teach this subject, and/or don't care, and/or even teach kids corruption is 'good business'.

I've seen this at one of the university where I lecture. A couple of Thai professors who in the teachers lounge brag about corruption and some even share corruption ideas with their pupils along with praising those who have got rich through corruption.

One example, one professor who puts it like this: 'OK, he's corrupt but he's helping his family and helping his kids to go to school abroad, so it's OK'. Same lady also says 'You just cannot expose people from famous families because it would be just too embarrassing for the family.'

- Changes in the law so that there is no statute of limitations.

- Speed up the court process so corruption charges are held and punishment given (where proven guilty) within a few months. And no bail to give the convicted person time to get their affairs in order.

- Install laws which prohibited convicted offenders from ever being involved in any way in politics and /or holding any form of public position, salaried or otherwise.

Edited December 11, 2014 by scorecard

[MobileContent]

In Singapore is a cop takes 10 S$ for a traffic violation he is jailed for 1-5 years and kicked out of the police force.

This would be a good start for Thailand but it will never happen.

[Ulic]

On the contrary tougher sentences will be a part of the solution, but first the guilty have to be prosecuted and found

guilty. This first step is what seems to be sadly lacking.

[macanello]

Please stop talking about Thai culture. What culture?

The old school Thai culture is dead and buried and the new stinks of shit big time. The educated Thais are making it their business to keep the lower classes down just like in medieval Europe.