Thailand's anti-graft chief sees the urgent need for reform

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Anti-graft chief sees the urgent need for reform
PIYAPORN WONGRUANG
THE NATION


Panthep

BANGKOK: -- WITH his knowledge, skills and experience directing an anti-graft agency for nine years, Panthep Klanarongran has all it takes to chair the newly appointed anti-graft reform committee under the new National Reform Steering Assembly.

Corruption is still endemic despite all efforts to suppress it. The country needed major reform of anti-graft work but this could be done, he said, if it was seriously addressed in a supreme law.

"Why? Can we really expect a government to pursue what would put itself under the microscope?" he said.

"That's the reason why we need to address this in the new constitution, so that the work will be continued without any disruption."

The most problematic sector is the political arena. The moral and ethical standards of the people are also a major concern. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), which he chairs, has handled 37,570 corruption cases over the past nine years. But it has managed to complete investigations into only 26,530 cases, leaving another 11,000 cases under investigation. Wrongdoers range from officials in local organisations to political office holders.

As a principal anti-graft agency, the NACC has been tackling the problem hard but it still suffers a shortage of resources - personnel, as well as funding. In the previous charter drafting round, the NACC proposed maintaining its authority to investigate suspects up to political-office holders, similar to the level prescribed in the 2007 Constitution. However, the new team of charter drafters views this differently and wants to remove and transfer some of its responsibilities to the other anti-graft agency, the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission.

The NACC disagrees with this and insists on its old powers. It has asked the new Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) to note in principle that anti-corruption must be given importance, but the details on how to tackle it can be left to organic laws.

Anti-corruption work must be in line with international practices, so laws must be amended. All related work and laws must be revamped in order to be in harmony and to strengthen one another. "I insist that we didn't ask for more. We just asked for what we already had," he said.

While still waiting for the CDC to deal with the request, as the new chairman of the reform committee, Panthep said he would push for reform of graft-fighting through the work of the NRSA following the authority given.

The NRSA has reorganised its agenda based on the now defunct National Reform Council's 37 issues. It has come up with 11 major reform priorities, plus one special focus on fighting corruption. He chairs the committee for that matter.

As a chair of the committee, Panthep has set his own personal goals for anti-corruption reform.

Fighting corruption in the political arena is the first and foremost challenge. Second is the bureaucratic system. Third is how local organisations operate. Loopholes for corruption at that level need to be looked at afterwards. Last but not least, the role of the public was seen as key to success and no less than that of the supreme law.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Anti-graft-chief-sees-the-urgent-need-for-reform-30274439.html

-- The Nation 2015-12-07

[speedtripler]

if hes been the anti-graft chief for 9 years already ........i think we need a new anti-graft chief .............

[NongKhaiKid]

This has all been said before and he must know that, all that needs to reform is the attitude to enforcement and that's a sea change that won't happen.

Those who could change things won't because it gets too close to home for many.

Look at the country's new white knight who, as soon as he took over, put himself and cronies above the law.

He was to personally handle the three lists of corrupt officials which were produced but other than a couple of sideways moves the lists seem to have disappeared and are never mentioned now which is no surprise.

Supposedly, as the saying goes, where there's a will there's a way but in respect of corruption here there's no will so tackling it is a matter of ' no way '.

[benalibina]

if hes been the anti-graft chief for 9 years already ........i think we need a new anti-graft chief .............

Same will apply for the new 1.

[craigt3365]

Interesting comment from the new US ambassador as to how the US helped combat corruption in the 1930's and 40's. A free and open media and an independent judiciary. Both desperately needed here.

[Caveat Emptor]

To my mind the anti - corruption legislation is handy to have around not for a continuous on going war but only to use as needed when selected individuals need to be dealt with.

[arrowsdawdle]

if hes been the anti-graft chief for 9 years already ........i think we need a new anti-graft chief .............

What, and take away his meal ticket?

[arrowsdawdle]

if hes been the anti-graft chief for 9 years already ........i think we need a new anti-graft chief .............

Same will apply for the new 1.

Screenshot_2015-06-14-16-19-35-1.png

"Holy Sick Buffalo, Batman!"

[arrowsdawdle]

Any reform plan that doesn't end military rule and restore free elections with a charter that makes the military subservient to elected government is not reform...it is deform.

[selftaopath]

Re: Eliminating, or merely decreasing corruption in Land of Scams/Lack of Sanctions.... Thailand is a LOST CAUSE.

As stated ", The moral and ethical standards of the people are also a major concern."

[Oziex1]

How much is he worth?

[Pib]

Fighting corruption in the political arena is the first and foremost challenge. Second is the bureaucratic system. Third is how local organisations operate.

Good luck with that fight. I expect he'll be KO'ed in the first round.

[The Deerhunter]

"Wrongdoers range from officials in local organisations to political office holders." But, note, no mention of BIB or Military!!!

[jaltsc]

"WITH his knowledge, skills and experience directing an anti-graft agency for nine years, Panthep Klanarongran has all it takes to chair the newly appointed anti-graft reform committee under the new National Reform Steering Assembly."

If he builds upon his success over those nine years, Thailand is in real trouble.

[Usernames]

Interesting comment from the new US ambassador as to how the US helped combat corruption in the 1930's and 40's. A free and open media and an independent judiciary. Both desperately needed here.

Will need to scrap and rewrite the defamation laws first.

[Usernames]

Let Chuwit review whatever they propose. He'll recognize the corruption loopholes before they can ratify another dodgy set of laws.

[chilli42]

If the current government is unable to make headway on this then there is no hope for an elected government. To the credit of the current government, there are many who have been above the law before that are now in jail .... albeit under relatively luxurious conditions.

[elgordo38]

if hes been the anti-graft chief for 9 years already ........i think we need a new anti-graft chief .............

Yes he has been but the "system" has closed ranks against him. As he states "Why? Can we really expect a government to pursue what would put itself under the microscope?" he knows where the problem lies but he is facing a ring of steel. Just speaking against corruption in the government could get him a section 44. He is going beyond the window dressing stage that his job was created for and stepping on some big toes. This could come back to bite him.

[phycokiller]

Any reform plan that doesn't end military rule and restore free elections with a charter that makes the military subservient to elected government is not reform...it is deform.

military is subservient to the monarchy and thats never going to change, at least not peacefully

[sanukjim]

How are Why would any one in the Thai government want to decrease or give their share of the pie.Even if there were an incentive to do so the Thai politicians are so used to seeing their predecessors getting VERY,VERY,RICH and it is there for the taking the incentive to become rich also is to great.Where else in the world can a Lt.Col.in the police making a salery of 120,000 baht a year own a 30,000,000 house and he and his family drive cars worth a total of over 150,000,000 ?

[waldroj]

Panthep seems to be making the right sounds, and he certainly has the experience. But, as we are seeing, even the junta appear to be tainted with the suspicion of opaque transparency.

I think few in the appropriate positions of power (even in the junta) are prepared to do anything about changing something that is so deeply entrenched in the culture.

One of the consequences of this cultural baggage is that many people here just don't seem to realise that corruption is taking place (and, I include the perpetrators in this confusion as well).

What I may see as blatant corruption, is to my Thai friends "the way business has always been done here"! Even Panthep recognises this, as he suggests that anti-corruption work must be in line with international practices (and THAT is the real challenge)!

There is not going to be any quick fix (that's simply impossible). Laws to deal with corruption have been in place, but they don't seem to be too much of a deterrent.

The only way this can be corrected is through attitudinal change. Not the type the junta favour, but through genuine and determined education over a very lengthy period.

If it is to be successful, the anti-corruption campaign will need to be as sustained as that carried out by the anti-smoking lobby!

[sweatalot]

Any reform plan that doesn't end military rule and restore free elections with a charter that makes the military subservient to elected government is not reform...it is deform.

restoring free election is not enough

first the electorate needs to be cleansed from the shin-democwacy delusion (including red shirt propaganda)

until that happens the military is the better choice

btw

T. used to pronounce democwacy - may be it was intenional to make clear he does not mean democracy ?

[Benmart]

How are Why would any one in the Thai government want to decrease or give their share of the pie.Even if there were an incentive to do so the Thai politicians are so used to seeing their predecessors getting VERY,VERY,RICH and it is there for the taking the incentive to become rich also is to great.Where else in the world can a Lt.Col.in the police making a salery of 120,000 baht a year own a 30,000,000 house and he and his family drive cars worth a total of over 150,000,000 ?

The prisons would overflow with those that could not prove that their wealth was acquired legitimately. Unfortunately, there is no reason for corrupt people to pursue other corrupt people.

[tomacht8]

....has handled 37,570 corruption cases over the past nine years. But it has managed to complete investigations into only 26,530 cases, leaving another 11,000 cases under investigation.

1. How many of these criminal fraudsters are convicted and really sitting in jail?
2. How much stolen money was actually recovered back from these criminal fraudsters for the public purse (state treasury)?

There lies the main problem.
Everyone is allowed undisturbed and unpunished to steal from the state here.

Once someone sitting in a high position,
whether in politic, police, army, administration, authority, office, etc.
then they are untouchable.

It lacks an equivalent, independent, regulatory, ethical institution, which has really the power to bring these fraudsters into prison.

[Srikcir]

"Why? Can we really expect a government to pursue what would put itself under the microscope?"

Not in a Thai democracy, especially where the current military government has absolute power over the judicial and law enforcement agencies with no mandatory accountability or transparency for its operations.

Oddly, in Meechai's disavowed Western-styled democracies around the world, government law enforcement agencies seem more than capable of pursuing domestic and transnational corruption. Maybe Panthep should investigate on how they succeed.

[The Deerhunter]

If the current government is unable to make headway on this then there is no hope for an elected government. To the credit of the current government, there are many who have been above the law before that are now in jail .... albeit under relatively luxurious conditions.

It is a great pity that "jail" is not what they mean when they say, "transferred to an inactive post."