Thai politics: Park corruption scandal casts shadow over government

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Park corruption scandal casts shadow over government
ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM

BANGKOK: -- IN THE MODERN world, crisis management is necessary for any organisation in order to deal with critical situations that could happen at any time.

Efficient management of crises will help organisations to survive and sometimes emerge even stronger from bad situations. However, those organisations that fail to cope with crises could allow their problems to grow and might end up collapsing.

The military clique that is now in power should pay more attention to crisis management to deal with a problem that is growing dangerously. An alleged irregularity involving construction of the Army's Rajabhakti Park project has grown into a scandal that is threatening the stability of the government and the National Council for Peace and Order.

The transparency of this Army project has been questioned. The project is aimed at honouring seven beloved Thai monarchs from the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya eras to the current Rattanakosin era. A number of senior military officers allegedly involved in the scandal have escaped, which has fuelled further suspicions over the project.

Deputy Defence Minister General Udomdej Sitabutr, formerly the Army commander-in-chief and also chairman of the Rajabhakti Park Foundation, had admitted that kickbacks were sought from the foundries hired to cast statues of the former kings for the park. He said the Army had intervened after being aware of the irregularity.

The kickbacks were returned to the foundries involved but the money was later donated back to the Army to fund construction of the park, according to Udomdej, who oversaw the project when serving as the Army chief.

However, a lot of questions involving this scandal have remained unanswered. The Army has denied any corruption involving the project but its explanations have failed to get rid of some suspicions. A fact-finding committee was set up to investigate, but it was conducted by people within the Army. As a result, suspicions of bias were unavoidable.

It appears the military clique in power is not dealing with their crisis in a professional way. They started by rejecting suggestions of any corruption involved with the project.

Then, after more information was released and a number of people involved began fleeing, the Army decided to set up the fact-finding committee. Army chief General Teerachai Nakwanich, who is Udomdej’s successor, simply told a press conference later that the project was free from corruption. But he failed to produce any evidence to prove that. Also, his aggressive manner during the press conference attracted even further suspicions.

The government has maintained that this project is not its responsibility. But it was found that the Cabinet acknowledged the progress of this project on many occasions during its weekly meetings. The Office of the Auditor General disclosed recently that about Bt63 million from the government’s central budget was spent on this project.

Following increased pressure, the Defence Ministry set up a committee to investigate the matter, but all the panel members are military officers, without any outsiders. So, there is still suspicion whether the panel would suggest punishment against its "comrades in arms" should any be found involved in the scandal.

The military appeared to have made a wrong move again when it opted to detain Pheu Thai Party politicians and red-shirt leaders Jatuporn Promphan and Nuttawut Saikuar while on their way to the Rajabhakti Park in Hua Hin on Monday.

The two firebrand politicians claimed they just wanted to visit the project site, but it was obvious they wanted to get arrested in order to make headlines. They succeeded after the military fell into their trap, although the two men were released later the same day.

The problem that seems to be growing out of control could be blamed on unprofessional crisis management. If the military still fails to contain the damage, impact on the government could be worse than expected.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Park-corruption-scandal-casts-shadow-over-governme-30274215.html


-- The Nation 2015-12-03

[tbthailand]

It is hilarious when the journalistic lap-dog of the junta pretends to "get tough".

just hilarious...

[hanuman2543]

Hey, we are the "good people" and never involved in any wrongdoings.

Edited December 2, 2015 by hanuman2543

[aussieinthailand]

So after several attempts to shut this story down with the usual very angry response to awkward questions by reporters and then latter release of more (not so squeaky clean information) each time it claims there is no corruption and then suggesting that internal investigation is quite acceptable and that proves full transparency while military men involved are running away and the former chairman of the project has admitted there were kickbacks paid, then his replacement say's the kickbacks were given back then donated to the project, then claiming NO government involvement shortly before the OAG discloses to the public the Tax payers money 63million baht from government was used,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Ahhh man, things aren't looking to good for these blokes again, it seems every week there's something new and they still claim we are the good guy's and we have 93% approval, everyone is happy.

Sorry guy's but if someone Rob's a bank then returns the money, doesn't absolve them of committing a crime...

Maybe a sacrificial head may roll then quietly be released on good behavior shorty after, and then all will be well in the land of scams,,, ooop's smiles...

So for the few usual suspects out there on THF, If there is found to be corruption over this or any other project which seems and with admit ion blatantly obvious should the head of the government be held legally and financially responsible just as it is doing to other people??? I'm just asking

But you few will spin this gig just like the other cock ups of the past from your hero's.....

[smutcakes]

If they dare to have corruption in a scheme like this just think how much is being siphoned off on all the other rushed and pushed through mega projects!!!

[metisdead]

An off topic post has been removed.

[mark131v]

So after several attempts to shut this story down with the usual very angry response to awkward questions by reporters and then latter release of more (not so squeaky clean information) each time it claims there is no corruption and then suggesting that internal investigation is quite acceptable and that proves full transparency while military men involved are running away and the former chairman of the project has admitted there were kickbacks paid, then his replacement say's the kickbacks were given back then donated to the project, then claiming NO government involvement shortly before the OAG discloses to the public the Tax payers money 63million baht from government was used,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Ahhh man, things aren't looking to good for these blokes again, it seems every week there's something new and they still claim we are the good guy's and we have 93% approval, everyone is happy.

Sorry guy's but if someone Rob's a bank then returns the money, doesn't absolve them of committing a crime...

Maybe a sacrificial head may roll then quietly be released on good behavior shorty after, and then all will be well in the land of scams,,, ooop's smiles...

So for the few usual suspects out there on THF, If there is found to be corruption over this or any other project which seems and with admit ion blatantly obvious should the head of the government be held legally and financially responsible just as it is doing to other people??? I'm just asking

But you few will spin this gig just like the other cock ups of the past from your hero's.....

Well said!!

I think this comes down to one very simple thing apart from the obvious corruption and closing ranks mentality they always exhibit

Basically most of these guys are just not very bright!!

They have never had to advance by merit or intellect or even by being good at their jobs so in situations like this they are completely screwed and no amount of bluster can hide that, it is good to watch them squirm though....

[shirtless]

Cast a shadow is an understatement,

[londonthai]

It is hilarious when the journalistic lap-dog of the junta pretends to "get tough".

just hilarious...

he was junta lap dog, but now bought by abhisit-prem-privy.

yesterday abhisit demanded publicly udomdej to resign.

They are sidelined by the junta, so are taking this opportunity to get back on track and push their agenda for the near future. Apparently, they disagree, who should be no 1

also yesterday prayuth allowed udomdej to step down, so it's only metter of time

Edited December 3, 2015 by londonthai

[metisdead]

A post containing vague references to HM the King has been removed as well as a reply:

Any discussion of the Monarchy or members of the royal family in a political context will result in a ban. This includes vague comments that could be construed as referring to the Monarchy.

A nonsense baiting post was removed as well.

[Emster23]

"Park corruption scandal casts shadow over government"

Not easy to cast shadows when deep down the shaft without a light.....

[Pib]

Hard to cast another shadow when so many have already been cast that it's already pitch black.

[Artisi]

Well we need someting of interest doing on to keep ThaiVisa active.

[HerbalEd]

Unlike what this story says, it actually looks like the powers that be are handling this situation exactly the way they want. Thus no one gets caught and the problem just fades away.

Edited December 3, 2015 by HerbalEd

[Lupatria]

Park corruption scandal casts shadow over government

The good news is: its impossible! There are no shadows in a dark environment.

[15Peter20]

Isn't it nice being governed by all these good, educated people?

Let's remind ourselves why these generals were so warmly welcomed by some when they took power. The legitimate government's ills which they purported to be ridding us of at the time were:

- large scale corruption

- lack of accountability

- clamping down on the press

- railroading the constitution

- threat of violence towards opponents

hmm....the more things change, the more they stay the same. Or in this case, get worse. Oh yeah, there were all those undefined 'reforms' too. I'm sure we're all loving the emperor's new clothes.

[Krataiboy]

Independent inquiry! Independent inquiry! Independent inquiry! That's what the author of this half-hearted article should have been demanding from a government which keeps telling us it is determined to cut out corruption. Anything else will be seen as a whitewash - and rightly so.

The issue here is not one of "bad management" by the military junta of a scandal involving their own. It is whether there has been corruption in the ranks which is being deliberately covered up.

An independent inquiry and publication of the full facts of this disturbing case are needed to restore flagging domestic and international confidence in a regime which talks the talk about working towards democracy, but has yet to prove it can walk the walk.

Edited December 3, 2015 by Krataiboy

[taony]

I thought prayut told them to stop talking about this.

[elgordo38]

Well we need someting of interest doing on to keep ThaiVisa active.

Not to worry there is so much someting of interest going on at any given moment that there will never be a dull moment on Thai Visa. Its like shoting fish in a barrel. Sorry for the spelling mistakes I just could not resist. Edited December 3, 2015 by elgordo38

[ldiablo]

Another topic in which the Junta lovers have mysteriously disappeared.

[fred Kubasa]

Shadow Number 49,999 - only one to the Guiness Book Of Records !

[tbthailand]

If they dare to have corruption in a scheme like this just think how much is being siphoned off on all the other rushed and pushed through mega projects!!!

hmmmm, ...

the business sector has reported that “commissions” for government projects has risen to 30 or 50 per cent of the total project value.

http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/5643

Sounds like "pay day"...

[waldroj]

More than a shadow! We are experiencing a complete blackout.

[MaxLee]

This regime should shut itself off the rest o the world, their only way to preserve face....

[tuanku]

Corruption in a project involving the images of past kings should be regarded as Lese Majeste,

Corruption by any member of the armed forces, considering who is their commander in chief, should be regarded as Lese Majeste.Lets see some 50 year prison sentences handed down to the brothers in arms, then we can feel that the playing field has been somewhat levelled.

[londonthai]

in a semi-feudal society, which is thailand, corruption is a form of lord-vassal relation. The lord supports vassal in exchange for 10% cut of his income, it's just protection money.

that model exists in army, police, civil service. So protection money tricles from the "road fines", envelopes inder the tables in town offices up the structure, to the ministries.

to get into army or police accademy, cadets have to pay hundreds of thousands baht, one of my nephew had to pay 300k. Money is paid for passing entry exams. To become a civil servant, you either have to have family connections (and become yet another member of this family mafia) or pay to the superiors.

Each transfer to a higher position in a hierarchy involves the same.

It's obvious, that in the case of curroption in the park, money went also up to the top generals, ministry of defence and including PM office. That's why the military won't clean this act.

Edited December 4, 2015 by londonthai

[Artisi]

Well we need someting of interest doing on to keep ThaiVisa active.

Not to worry there is so much someting of interest going on at any given moment that there will never be a dull moment on Thai Visa. Its like shoting fish in a barrel. Sorry for the spelling mistakes I just could not resist.

Well it gave you 2 minutes of fun

Edited December 4, 2015 by Artisi

[phoenixdoglover]

Land of Shadows

[saakura]

Land of Shadows

And of the 'Men in Black'

[taony]

in a semi-feudal society, which is thailand, corruption is a form of lord-vassal relation. The lord supports vassal in exchange for 10% cut of his income, it's just protection money.

that model exists in army, police, civil service. So protection money tricles from the "road fines", envelopes inder the tables in town offices up the structure, to the ministries.

to get into army or police accademy, cadets have to pay hundreds of thousands baht, one of my nephew had to pay 300k. Money is paid for passing entry exams. To become a civil servant, you either have to have family connections (and become yet another member of this family mafia) or pay to the superiors.

Each transfer to a higher position in a hierarchy involves the same.

It's obvious, that in the case of curroption in the park, money went also up to the top generals, ministry of defence and including PM office. That's why the military won't clean this act.

Semi?