Things Prayut can learn from the Rajabhakti project

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Things Prayut can learn from the Rajabhakti project
Tulsathit Taptim
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Exhibit A for why it’s so difficult to combat corruption in Thailand is right under the nose of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Though frustrated by the controversy surrounding the Rajabhakti Park project, he hasn’t looked at it closely enough. If he had paid serious attention, the “scandal”

So, what can the Rajabhakti "scandal" and related developments teach our prime minister?

1. Corruption has reigned supreme in Thailand because it infects only "the others", and not "us". To people in power, when a graft scandal breaks and potentially involves their men, the first instinct is to label it a political conspiracy. Which may or may not be true. The bottom line is that no conspiracy will work if corruption really didn't take place.

2. The second instinct of the powers-that-be is to protect the person at the centre of the scandal. People are innocent until proven guilty, they will say. But this attitude has long been used as a shelter for suspects, protecting them against resigning to demonstrate their accountability, and discouraging investigation and other legal proceedings.

3. The third instinct of those in power is to go after the whistle-blower. In the Rajabhakti Park case we have seen how someone who tried to use a graphic to explain the "scandal" became a target of high-level scrutiny. Rather than subjecting the accused to the toughest of scrutiny, Thailand's powers-that-be put pressure on the accusers.

4. As one social media user put it, "Poop shit stinks, whether it's big or small." We don't know for certain whether the Rajabhakti Park project was marred by corruption, or how extensive the dishonesty was. But even if the project was only tainted by a little corruption, that doesn't mean no action should be taken. Failure to act against minor fraud only sows the seeds for bigger and bigger graft.

5. The "nobility" of a project is always used as a shield. It's easy to crack down on graft in low-profile projects; it's a lot tougher to pick apart "popular" mainstream undertakings, for obvious reasons. But the devil is always in the details, so the more popular a project, the more transparent it has to be. In order to eradicate graft, no one must be allowed to hide behind the "Noble Idea", not least because any idea can be promoted as noble.

6. If the Rajabhakti project is exempt from scrutiny thanks to military power, it won't be different from any project exempt from scrutiny by political power. And we are all are back at Square One in the losing battle against graft. Thailand needs a system where we don't have to depend on a coup to fight political corruption, or a popular uprising to take care of military graft. (If this sounds like a pipe dream, it probably is.)

7. Alleged corruption in the Rajabhakti project is being politicised. Thailand's powers-that-be don't like it when they are at the receiving end of political attacks over graft. However, the point is that we actually need corruption cases to be heavily politicised and sometimes blown out of proportion. Corruption has become so bad that we need fault-finders to be at their most combative, to leave no stone unturned and to cry foul over the smallest signs of irregularity. If that makes it more difficult for rulers to govern, so be it.

8. The same goes with conspiracies. If the watchdogs can put crooks - big or small, powerful or amateurish - in fear of being caught, then we accept the downside of disruption to government work.

9. The points above tell us that fight against corruption is being stymied by double standards, lack of political will, paranoia, prejudice, over-protectiveness, self-pity and vanity. In most cases, the powers-that-be are to blame. They may think they are protecting their own regimes, but the truth is that every failure to act cedes more ground to graft. And corruption in high places benefits nobody in the long term. If moral principles aren't enough to eradicate corruption, selfish motivations should be considered. Corruption can come back to destroy everyone, especially in places where power can change hands every few years via a popular vote.

10. Corruption thrives on lip service. The more a leader "denounces" it, the more they feel inclined to distance themselves from graft, hence the over-protective attitude towards people in their political circle. In the end, corruption laughs its way to the bank, slowly but surely infecting everyone and everything around it.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Things-Prayut-can-learn-from-the-Rajabhakti-projec-30274986.html


-- The Nation 2015-12-16

[Reigntax]

Prayut finds any learning a difficult task.

[Bluespunk]

"We don't know for certain whether the Rajabhakti Park project was marred by corruption"

Hmm...

True, true, sure, not for certain we don't, can't argue about that...

However, have to say, good article.

Edited December 15, 2015 by Bluespunk

[shirtless]

What he can learn is to watch his people they are just as corrupt as the last government,

[englishoak]

Psst oiii nation, coup makers/ military generals dont listen, thats why they use force and not election... so they dont have to listen... duh

Nothing will change until there is a strong enough demand for true civilian rule and the military is put firmly in its place of serving an elected government instead of endlessly holding the country every few years to ransom.

Not in our lifetime imo.

[zaphod reborn]

He has paid a lot of attention to the scandal. This is demonstrated by his appointment of a new Chairman and several board members for the NACC.

[sharecropper]

AN excellent article. I just hope it is translated into Thai somewhere.

[mrrizzla]

He could, but he won't.

[Srikcir]

He has paid a lot of attention to the scandal. This is demonstrated by his appointment of a new Chairman and several board members for the NACC.

"A FORMER acting national police chief seen as close to the junta was yesterday elected as the new chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)"

Yup, real independence.

[klauskunkel]

mindset precludes learning, not flexible enough

[Nowisee]

Those in power steal money from the people, usually through bribery = corruption.
How to get a way with it when people are writing about it and putting pressure on you?
Give money to (include) those that oversee and they will hide it.

Money buys corruption.

No accountability, no independant oversight, no transparency, hiding and threatening and cover ups... No one can get behind it to investigate.

Good article though.

Stupid question:

IS there anyone in Thailand, preferably a Thai, that can change the thinking of the corrupt OR at the very least, change the thinking of the Thai people to see that this ultimately hurts them?

Is the thinking so common now to just shrug their shoulders and think, oh well, TIT? The bullies win. Nothing I can do.

Then there's the farang that are going to sing the same song; "why do you come to a country and try to change them?" OR "if you don't like it leave."
YET, here are articles being written about "potential" (have to be careful in your wording) corruption at the government level. I wonder sometimes who is more blinded by the head in the sand.

ANywAy, not my country and I have the freedom of movement... just sayin... blah blah blah.

[oneday]

A father NEVER feels he can learn from his children.

What he may feel from this article is that, yet another Thai reporter needs an attitude adjustment. What the people of Thailand will learn is this government does not like the truth to be spoken.

[sawadee1947]

I think PM is resistant to learn anything, not even from history of former coups....

[LannaGuy]

Point no.3 is so true here in every aspect of Thai life. KILL the messenger because we lose face and are embarrassed and forget about if it's true or not. Good article but it won't make a jot of difference but nice to see from The Nation.

[kinmaew]

OMG I thought this would be a locked topic. All hail, corruption is lovely for our country we are good, keep smiling.

[TheCruncher]

He has paid a lot of attention to the scandal. This is demonstrated by his appointment of a new Chairman and several board members for the NACC.

I didn't pay attention to those new appointments, but I guess there is a fat chance that it are former soldiers.

[z42]

Tulsathit Taptim, expect a knock on your door and some unwelcome visitors to your mother's place.. With this you just made the list for the next AA meeting (and am not talking about alcohol either)

Edited December 16, 2015 by z42

[nong38]

Prayut finds any learning a difficult task.

You can apply that to most Thais, you can teach them nothing there are no new techniques, methods or ways that have eluded them the world has nothing to show them. Am I wrong?

[CantSpell]

I particularly like points 3, 8 and 9..

In most cases, the powers-that-be are to blame: could have said in all cases tho...

If they did not initiate it, most probably, the private sector would not dare to be corrupt as well.

[elgordo38]

What he can learn is to watch his people they are just as corrupt as the last government,

Every dog should have his day (at the money trough). I felt this was a brilliant article and the writer did step on some toes I hope they do not want to lobotomize him. Brick by brick day by day this regime is watching things crumble. Their efforts have been minor at best. A big coup and people pleaser would be to bring the Red Bull heir back to face justice much like the Redshirts trial. Somehow I think that monthly envelopes are arriving to keep peoples attention focused elsewhere.

[phycokiller]

Psst oiii nation, coup makers/ military generals dont listen, thats why they use force and not election... so they dont have to listen... duh

Nothing will change until there is a strong enough demand for true civilian rule and the military is put firmly in its place of serving an elected government instead of endlessly holding the country every few years to ransom.

Not in our lifetime imo.

that would require a change to the constitution that we cant discuss