Why corruption always wins in Thailand

[humqdpf]

One way to counter corruption is to hold accountable those convicted of corruption.And face is so important after time in jail is served the convicted should be ordered to wear a bright colored jumpsuit for 5 years after serving time so people know who they are. Police, Politicians, Judges should be held to a higher standard and judgement and jail time should be double that of citizens. That alone would make them think twice before doing something stupid.

What you say is true if there were enough incorruptible people in positions of trust and power.

But if everyone is corrupt, those put in the coloured jumpsuits are unlikely to be the most corrupt. The article make the point that corruption allegations (and possibly convictions) are politically motivated or through cronyism. Ramping up the punishments, whether through loss of face or otherwise, is unlikely to make any difference to the corrupt atmosphere.

[humqdpf]

About 7 years ago I took a bus to Vietnam, there was a massive queue at the border, then a mass of tourists walked by guided by a thai/vietnamese (can't recall) saying $5 for express border entry (or something like that). I declined to join them on principle, the same principle that made me decline a "factory visit" and safari holiday from a South African supplier I used to deal with. I am not perfect and have indeed paid the police instead of a fine, but its a supply and demand situation, remove either and corruption ceases to exist. Removing demand or supply is the big problem

So you would not agree with the notion of a immigration express line for business class passengers - this is something that exists in many airports, including Heathrow in London.

The point about corruption has to do with whether the activity is only provided selectively to certain individuals (cronyism) or where the payment is made against the rules.

In the case of the queue at the border, it is hard to know exactly whether it is corrupt or not. And this is often the point - there is no transparency. In Heathrow, the express lane is clear and known to everyone and is available for crew and those who have business class tickets. If you have a business class ticket, you automatically get the privilege and the money does not just go into the pockets of the immigration officers.

The South African supplier example is not always clear. If the offer is known to the board and CEO of the company (and not something cooked up between a manager or salesman and the company in question), then it is legit. I hate to break this to you but many large companies had such an offer until the tax authorities called into question whether it was really necessary to have that meeting in the Caribbean luxury resort - some tax authorise began to tax the individuals based on a "benefit in kind" and as far as I know this put an end to some of these beanos.

But there was a serious aspect to these beanos - these companies saw such "meetings" as a way of their sales and marketing people getting close to decision makers in their client companies, where everyone has let their hair down in an informal setting. And when you have gotten drunk with some person and gone swimming and dolphin spotting or whatever with them, you are much more likely to be open to answering their phone calls back at the office

[FangFerang]

The story avoids the issues no newspaper has done more than cursorily touched on -- being defamation charges used as an editing tool that silences your opponents, and lese majesty charges which jail your opponents and paints them as unpatriotic.

Those two abused laws are the source of all corruption, and the two sliced achilles heels of the media and investigative journalism.

All other arguments are just feeding the monster while everyone runs around calling each other names.

[maidee]

too difficult to check their wealth (money in the bank, houses, cars, mia nois) before they take office

and compare when they leave ?

+++ 50.000.000 baht in 4 years on a 100.000 baht salary ?

[cup-O-coffee]

Yet another article re-hashing the same old facts and stating the obvious.

Exposure to corruption starts at an early age and the introduction comes from family and teachers and depending on a family's status and wealth youngsters grow up in a cocoon where everything can be bought or arranged for them, including justice.

An absolute sea change in the attitude of Thai society is needed and that's not going to happen as there are too many vested interests and the current govt is no exception. Govt after govt will go through the sham of fine words, promises and assurances but little else except in handpicked cases which serve the self same vested interests.

Agreed.

If one is drilling for oil and comes up empty over and over again, then one either is not drilling deep enough, or one must decide to move on to another area and abandon the area one has remained in for thousands of years.

Sadly, when one refuses to dig deep enough, or abandon one's area, then it is possible that one is stupid, or one is experiencing some kind of benefit to upholding this seemingly fruitless standard of practice...

...by seemingly fruitless practice, I contend that this is what is presented as a pap to the mindless drones, who labor at the drill rig, whilst the drill owner obtains that which he or she desires in one form or another, at the overall cost and sacrifice of the drone. Note to self: rig the system to feed the drones more pap so that they think they are happy. Redefine their definitions of happiness. Bludgeon them with guilt.

"Political tags -- such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth -- are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire."

-Robert A. Heinlein

It is like the glass being half empty, or half full, or the glass being twice as large as it is supposed to be, but the people are too stupid, illiterate, uneducated, etc. to realize the differences, and moreover lack any of the factors required in order to being about change.

Oh yes... change begins with the majority (the dog), and not the minority (the tail) whom the majority elect. The tail wags because the dog is happy, or the dog's eye's twitch because the tail has a blue-mountain spotted tick sucking the life out of the dog and the dog is too damned stupid or incapable of ridding itself of the tick... or the tick has assimilated into the dogs vital organs to the extent that ridding the dog of the tick will also rid us of the dog, itself. Oh, the humanity!

Maybe people do not understand that Darwinism sometimes takes a bit longer, and allows a population to be a bit larger before natural selection takes place. Maybe people do not realize that the ingenious contraptions that mankind has developed postpone Darwinism from fulfilling its destiny in short order, as before, yet mankind does not understand that resistance is futile, and moreover brings only more grief to mankind the more we resist, placate and mitigate the worst parts of our human nature.

Oh, there is so much more to muse about, but for the moment, I took great joy in this one possible aspect of the chaos which besets us.

Now, how about that for a thought?

[nithisa78]

Why isnt the culture ministry sticking up for corruption?

I thought a part of thainess is corruption?

We all know its culturally ingrained and affects everybody and every part of Thai society.

So what the problem?

I call for "Corruption Day" a day to celebrate the innovative and successful acts of corruption.

If you had a thought your brain might explode.

[NoshowJones]

Yet another article re-hashing the same old facts and stating the obvious.

Exposure to corruption starts at an early age and the introduction comes from family and teachers and depending on a family's status and wealth youngsters grow up in a cocoon where everything can be bought or arranged for them, including justice.

An absolute sea change in the attitude of Thai society is needed and that's not going to happen as there are too many vested interests and the current govt is no exception. Govt after govt will go through the sham of fine words, promises and assurances but little else except in handpicked cases which serve the self same vested interests.

Yep.

And as you said this government is no different. We have had multiple military governments and officers from there becoming politicians over the years and what has really changed? Little.

Up to their necks in it all of them, both sides of the divide. Thai politics is all a power play to get bigger slices of the pie.

That's true, but there are times when we can use it to our advantage.

[Warpath]

Suthep called for unelected good people to run the country and corruption would disappear.

It seems the Junta have only met one of Sutheps requirements.

They are most definitely unelected.

[harveyw]

Corruption is systemic ,and endemic in Thailand as it is in a huge number of countries ,the best way to fight corruption is transparency of dealings ,accountability and responsibility for ones actions,but like the British politicians caught with their noses in the trough of public expenses ,it blows over and all back to business in a week or two.Nothing changes.

[kimamey]

From the first day a Thai baby suckle on his mother's tits, he's being told that money

is everything in life and if you it that all things are possible... and that's how a Thai

youngster grows up knowing that money will buy and fix everything... really, everything.....

Isn't the same true anywhere on this earth; except the powers-that-be in the western world are just more sophisticated in their approach and implementation?

I don't think that's true. Yes there is corruption in the west and yes those that are corrupt are more sophisticated. They have to be because the majority aren't corrupt and will attempt to stop them. In Thailand and others like them, since they aren't unique, that level of sophistication isn't needed as there are, or at least were enough other people engaged in corruption who don't want their own wrongdoings to be investigated to make it difficult for anyone who wants to expose and fight corruption to do so.

You'll never stop all corruption but until those against it are strong enough to attend up to those who want to see it continue the level we see now will continue.

I don't have an answer to how to change this but there is something that Thailand has that has the numbers and apparently the respect that should be able to make at least some difference. The monks. Why not take a few off the seemingly continuous practice of seeing how much they can collect and get them to walk round teaching the 5 precepts. They make sense for the most part and as there's only 5 it shouldn't be that difficult to teach. It's beyond my meagre capabilities of course as I couldn't get a work permit for such a job but Thailand is knee deep in the very people who know the precepts and have the respect to get people to listen.

[kimamey]

Corruption is systemic ,and endemic in Thailand as it is in a huge number of countries ,the best way to fight corruption is transparency of dealings ,accountability and responsibility for ones actions,but like the British politicians caught with their noses in the trough of public expenses ,it blows over and all back to business in a week or two.Nothing changes.

You must have missed those that went to prison then.

[Thai at Heart]

With the defamation law as it is, no one can ever unearth corruption, other than those on an equal footing to the politicians.

Open up the media to chase these people....and let the fun begin

[Papayabokbok]

Why you think so much?!

You NO UNDERSTAND THAI PEOPLE!!!

Now lets go eat som tum!

[cookee68]

easy greed and money

[jpeg]

The story avoids the issues no newspaper has done more than cursorily touched on -- being defamation charges used as an editing tool that silences your opponents, and lese majesty charges which jail your opponents and paints them as unpatriotic.

Those two abused laws are the source of all corruption, and the two sliced achilles heels of the media and investigative journalism.

All other arguments are just feeding the monster while everyone runs around calling each other names.

Wholeheartedly agree. And are these two archaic-but-necessary-to-shield-the-thieves-on-either-side addressed in the spanky new upcoming highly exclusive Constitution? No. Thought not.

[Laughing Gravy]

Another piece of drivel hinting at the need for an undemocratic government. The reason Thailand is corrupt is that people have poor moral values. It is that simple. the ruling elite have done a great job at indoctrinating the people to accept corruption at all levels.

Until you stop corruption at the core and root levels it will always be there. Stop corrupt business practices, often seen as the norm. Stop corruption everywhere. Taking over an elected government is a corrupt practice and until this accepted, as the wrong way, Thailand will never change.

please correct your mail:

it should sound: taking over an corrupt elected gvt, winning election by election fraud and vote bying !

is not an democratic elected gvt ,

such one you have to kick out by any force whats available in a country !!

Even if all is supported fron Dubai !!

The mail is correct no need to change it. I am not any red supporter before you start saying or a yellow supporter. The whole vote buying process is used by both sections of the political spectrum. If this is the case tighten up the controls. Don't seize power and give promises that can't be delivered. In 10 months I have seen little change. there have been countless surveys telling everyone how happy people are. You have to be accountable if you want to be credible.

Pleases top bringing the man from Dubai into it. he has gone. Move on and stop using him as an excuse to take the democratic right from people.

It doesn't take a genius to see what is happening and it looks like the current powers are trying to stop the masses back in. It was an elected democratic government whether you like it or not. people had the choice of voting one person one vote. That's called democracy. Look it up.