Thai editorial: Bureaucratic and political reforms ARE INSEPARABLE

EDITORIAL
Bureaucratic and political reforms ARE INSEPARABLE

SOLUTIONS TO NATIONAL STRIFE ARE HEAVILY LINKED TO BOTH

BANGKOK: -- Politicians - or the powers-that-be - and bureaucrats either work in cpahoots or they clash. While we have given so much attention to the former in the current "reform" process, little has been heard or said about the latter. This is despite the glaring evidence of bureaucratic involvement in Thailand's political strife.

A few days ago, a former head of the Department of Special Investigation was convicted of malfeasance and sentenced to two years in jail, something that would have been impossible had the Pheu Thai government remained in power. That government had been accused of mistreating a former chief of the National Security Council. In between, a senior police official sparked a lot of controversy by publicly thanking fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra for his career progress.

That is to mention just a few examples. Rumours circulated about Finance Ministry officials being either rewarded or punished for what they did for or against politicians in power. Some military officials have allegedly bullied bureaucrats because the latest coup gave them more power. Besides, attempts or alleged attempts to control the bureaucracy have always been a major source of political conflicts, and all eyes are currently on the upcoming military and police reshuffles due to speculation that those with close connections to the powerful figures of the day will win promotions.

The task is immense, but the truth is that it's impossible to reform Thai politics without ethically cleansing the bureaucracy. Like politicians, state officials are difficult to change, but the status quo absolutely begs an overhaul. Attempts to reform the civil service may run into a chicken-and-egg situation in some cases, but we need to start as soon as we can for these reasons:

The first is that biased bureaucrats can hinder national progress. For example, they don't base their judgement of projects on their true value, but on who

initiated the plans. Good projects can be stalled while bad ones can be sped up or receive special attention.

The second reason is that unethical bureaucrats can be corrupt and/or facilitate the corruption schemes of politicians who become their bosses. To fight graft, which is the biggest source of evil, we need highly ethical and responsible bureaucrats. We can't triumph over political corruption as long as bureaucrats can't stand up against wrongdoings.

The third reason is that biased or unethical bureaucrats can amplify or prolong national strife. When a bureaucracy works with conscience, it's easier for the public to judge governments on their true merits. On the other hand, selective attention or work motivated by prejudices can cause serious political problems. Moreover, abuse of power or alleged abuse of power can become political time-bombs like in the cases of ex-DSI chief Tarit Pengdit and ex-National Security Council head Thawil Pliensri.

Last but not least, a politically-biased bureaucracy helps spawn a double standard in social morality. One obvious example is the divided reaction to the case involving the "seized gun" in Japan. The Thai public, instead of applying basic moral and ethical principles to the case, is divided along political lines. An ethically strong and politically neutral bureaucracy will help make Thais "see and judge it as it is".

Countries that make impressive national progress manage to strike a balance between the democratic mandate of politicians and the independence of bureaucrats. Only through accountability, responsibility and courage will we get genuine bureaucratic efficiency.

Some of the rules, regulations and ethical principles are already in place, but Thailand always struggles when it comes to enforcement, implementation and conscience-building. Unless that is changed, the ongoing "political reform" can be all but useless.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Bureaucratic-and-political-reforms-ARE-INSEPARABLE-30267248.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-24