Thailand rated high-risk for graft

[webfact]

Thailand rated high-risk for graft
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND has been rated as a very high-risk country for corruption in the defence and security industries, according to Transparency Inter-national, a Berlin-based global coalition against corruption.

The country falls into the "E" category of the 2015 Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index by the graft organisation, which was established by top global policymakers and has spread to over 100 nations since 1993.

The report noted that since the military coup in 2014, no independent scrutiny of the defence policy by the legislature is in place. There is a lack of budget transparency and insufficient institutional measures concerning procurement.

The corruption not only poses a serious threat to the stability of the state, but also fundamentally undermines its accountability to the Thai people, the organisation said. The government should undertake some measures to minimise the risks.

Civil society still has a limited ability to affect debate or solicit information regarding the defence budget or procurement decisions, it said.

Civil society still has a limited ability to affect debate or solicit information regarding the defence budget or procurement decisions, it said.

To make these more transparent and accountable, the government should publish an annual defence budget with detailed information on expenditures for such military-related functions as research, training, maintenance and personnel expenditures, the report suggested.

Civil scrutiny of the defence policy, external audit of the defence budget and oversight of the procurement process will also help ensure that the budget is spent on arms and equipment that actually meet the country's strategic needs, it added.

The government should outlaw private enterprise by defence and security institutions and personnel, it said, while exploring empowering enforcement agencies.

The group said there is no concrete evidence suggesting that the government or the military see military units or personal involvement in organised crime as a serious problem or are working actively to alleviate it.

With little information provided for the selection of senior personnel, legislation should be tightened and implemented, with formal written procedures as well as an objective appointment system for the selection put in place for middle and top management levels.

The government should overhaul the procurement process, it suggested. Brokers have often already been involved in the process, before the requirement is even communicated to the Defence Ministry.

Transparency International sees a sharp increase in cost to the procurement process of up to 40 per cent, thus a legal framework that addresses brokerages is needed.

Oversight mechanisms are in place but could be strengthened and consistently transparent, it said. A more consistent approach regarding procurement information would also strengthen public oversight and increase public confidence.

The organisation also said the transparency of tender boards is important, as these operate internally and release very little information.

The government should come up with mechanisms for companies to complain of malpractice or discrimination alongside clear sanctions for poor behaviour as they could help strengthen the overall system, it added.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Thailand-rated-high-risk-for-graft-30272826.html


-- The Nation 2015-11-13

[Ks45672]

Say it ain't so.....

[NongKhaiKid]

A high risk country for corruption !

Must be one of the biggest understatements of the year but of course foreigners don't understand Thainess !

[torpedo1970]

THAILAND has been rated as a very high-risk country for corruption

No sh_it sherrlock

thainess at it best

[ezzra]

" according to Transparency Inter-national "

The transparency Inter-national agency IS NOT our father....

[jaltsc]

"The report noted that since the military coup in 2014, no independent scrutiny of the defence policy by the legislature is in place."

Because, then they would have to admit that the biggest threat needed to defend against would be an angry segment of the voting population from within its borders.

[noitom]

Thais perceive that world leaders aren't aware of this. Fixing Thai military and defense corruption starts with civilan elected leadership. Then massive examinations of military officer's wealth and assets

[maewang99]

anything that anyone can say about Thailand, including the weather, is really all about one thing.

humans have fantastically developed motor skills, you learn this on reading or learning anything about why we get strokes as we get old. read. learn. huh? yeah? read. learn.

only then does the stuff about salt and blood pressure really sink in.

yes but strokes and Thailand????

at some point you learn about chimpanzees, and what much more recently seperated us from them besides tool making..... the language snowflake, using Chomsky's metaphor. and as Chomsky points out, and any linguist will, language means abstract thinking. using it to talk to each other is only a silly side effect.

our ***only*** shot at intelligence.

now I'm done so let's give it a try.

one of my favorites.

'farlang cannot understand Thai'.

well, we can't relate to chimps so good either.

it works.

Edited November 13, 2015 by maewang99

[Jessi]

Now be fair members

They do try to sweep most of it under the carpet.

[thesetat2013]

So this group has established that there is no evidence that can show the military and organised crime are not working together? Isn't that in itself an insinuation that they are in fact working together? Especially since the report claims that the military and gov don't see that as a problem and are doing nothing to alleviate it?

With this info and the unspoken claims about the gov using private enterprises as well as having little to no transparency in their budget spending and no procedures for placing mid to upper level personnel. Seems this report is divulging quite a bit of info that would lead anyone into understanding why Thailand is rated class E for graft. But, as another TV member has already explained. The outside world just doesn't understand Thailand or thainess. So the rest of the world is wrong I'm their interpretation of all of their claims. Stupid farangs will never understand. Heheee

[EnglishJohn]

"The report noted that since the military coup in 2014, no independent scrutiny of the defence policy by the legislature is in place."

Because, then they would have to admit that the biggest threat needed to defend against would be an angry segment of the voting population from within its borders.

I agree completely. The biggest threat to decent Thai people is more terrorist attacks and murders by the UDD acting on orders from red-shirt politicians.

Same as it was just before the coup. What's your point ?.

[NongKhaiKid]

Now be fair members

They do try to sweep most of it under the carpet.

LoS, the hub of very large carpets.

[cumgranosalum]

actually, i think that many people totally underestimate the extent of corruption in Thailand - even those who have lived here for decades.

there is also a school of thought that believes the current regime is less corrupt than other governments...I'd suggest this report contradicts this quite alarmingly...

"The report noted that since the military coup in 2014, no independent scrutiny of the defence policy by the legislature is in place."

Previous coup resulted in a massive increase in the military budget and huge payments to those involved.....

[Emster23]

No "high risk of corruption" here. 100% certainty.

[NovaBlue05]

Read just today that Prayut has $18M USD in assets and his salary as army chief was $43K USD annually at retirement. That's a he!! of an accomplishment!

[abitmiffed]

Like I said before Thailand is the hub of bs, lies, and corruption.

There's a bonus, at least it is a 'hub' of something.

[whatawonderfulday]

Yes but considering their much smaller numbers, more outside focus and hence a need for far more sophisticated money laundering techniques, FIFA and IAAF could certainly show the Thai Government a thing or two on how to improve their "take" from the general population thro' corruption. The mad General should appoint Sepp Blatter as a government advisor. Then things would start improving.

Perhaps then then could attain special status "F" in Transparency International's grading.

[jacky54]

Read just today that Prayut has $18M USD in assets and his salary as army chief was $43K USD annually at retirement. That's a he!! of an accomplishment!

where did you see this?

[cumgranosalum]

Yes but considering their much smaller numbers, more outside focus and hence a need for far more sophisticated money laundering techniques, FIFA and IAAF could certainly show the Thai Government a thing or two on how to improve their "take" from the general population thro' corruption. The mad General should appoint Sepp Blatter as a government advisor. Then things would start improving.

Perhaps then then could attain special status "F" in Transparency International's grading.

You are doing the underestimating thing......

Thailand's "shadow economy" is 57% of the nation;'s wealth! Most of this is the result of illegal or unacknowledged business

[Hawk]

The group said there is no concrete evidence suggesting that the government or the military see military units or personal involvement in organised crime as a serious problem or are working actively to alleviate it.

The army government simply ignore the corruption within their ranks. It seems every camp is up to something, like selling "things", or recruits not having to stay in camp in exchange for their salaries every month, the money going to a big officer, etc.

[cumgranosalum]

The group said there is no concrete evidence suggesting that the government or the military see military units or personal involvement in organised crime as a serious problem or are working actively to alleviate it.

The army government simply ignore the corruption within their ranks. It seems every camp is up to something, like selling "things", or recruits not having to stay in camp in exchange for their salaries every month, the money going to a big officer, etc.

d'you think they have any tiger steaks?

[Muhendis]

"The report noted that since the military coup in 2014, no independent scrutiny of the defence policy by the legislature is in place."

So before the military coup there was independent scrutiny of the defence policy by the legislature?

This whole article looks at the military aspect of the corruption so I guess there is no corruption in civilian organisations......

[b4n9]

holly crap, thailand? no no no

[klauskunkel]

The government should outlaw private enterprise by defence and security institutions and personnel, it said

that's the deal breaker

[DrTuner]

Of course it is, corruption is a core value of Thainess.

[seajae]

I actually know of one company(thai) that have applied for a govt permit(they have had many over the years) through all the legal channels and every department has approved it except for the top govt one, they are demanding 1 million baht to approve it and it has now been stalled for a few months as the owner refuses to pay the required graft. So much for the crackdown on corruption in the govt departments when this is allowed to happen and the business owners are too scared to report it as it may well ruin any future applications and their business by doing so.

[eddie61]

no its not corruption...

Despite being underpaid, they are geniuses with an investment portfolio, and end up with millions when they all eventually get to staff rank.

Coincidentally, they have an aircraft carrier with no aircraft, tanks with cracks, bomb detectors that don't detect anything, not even the stench of corruption, and soon submarines that probably have to be deployed in the atlantic.

That is strategy.....no not corruption... no no no

[trogers]

The rating committee must be young punts in their mid 30s...

This high risk has always been in every sector of Thai society for many many generations.

The only change in the past decade or so is the brazenness and the quantum.!

Edited November 13, 2015 by trogers

[bangon04]

Presumably there is no category F ....... Thailand has a no-fail policy.

Edited November 13, 2015 by bangon04

[soalbundy]

Now be fair members

They do try to sweep most of it under the carpet.

lot of lumpy carpets