NRSA approves proposed plan for anti-corruption action

BANGKOK, 24 December 2015 (NNT) – The National Reform Steering Assembly has approved a proposal concerning the reform of the country’s anti-corruption system.

The main NRSA meeting on Wednesday reviewed the proposal of the special committee on anti-corruption reform which is chaired by Panthep Klanarongran.

The proposal consists of three reform suggestions which are aimed at instilling an of awareness of the evil of corruption, while promoting the prevention of corruption and the government's clampdown on corruption.

Mr. Panthep explained to the meeting that the proposed instilling of anti-corruption awareness should be implemented over the course of 18 months during which the public will be encouraged to engage in social sanctions in addition to the authorities’ use of legal measures.

As for the prevention of corruption, Mr. Panthep said that the committee has also suggested an 18-month implementation program to promote good governance in both the private and public sectors and to abolish laws which are not likely to help pursue this cause.

He added that the committee has proposed the instilling of an awareness of the clampdown on corruption, through the reform of the justice system in order to speed up and boost efficiency of the proceedings in the cases related to corruption.

-- NNT 2015-12-24

Evidently, this is the sum total of the output of the reform process, Phase 1, now ready for Phase 2.

It is underwhelming.

And it has an "elephant in the room" quality about it. If we talk about curtailing corruption in general terms, then we don;t have to identify and prioritize. This helps us avoid discussing the major, systemic, and powerful elements of corruption in Thailand.

Circling, circling, circling...but never landing.

Reads like after one million "successful" plans to tackle corruption we finally have the answer...

'...instilling an of awareness of the evil of corruption..."

I fear in Thailand that corruption is only regarded as evil if you don't get a slice of the action.

"The National Reform Steering Assembly has approved a proposal concerning the reform of the country’s anti-corruption system."

How nice. But the NRSA is presumably an advisory committee with no legislative authority, even under the NCPO Interim Charter. Any reforms it endorses must ultimately comply with the NCPO agenda and passed by the Junta-rubberstamp NLA. Unfortunately for the Thai people, corruption is born out of conflict of interest and the current regime has that down to a precise practice.

Perhaps Corruption at Kho Tao should be on top of the list.

Start at the top

1. Legally mandated transparency in government spending, including military spending.

2. Strict laws against conflict of interest strictly enforced.

3. A truly free press allowed to expose incompetence and corruption in government.

These are three anti-corruption measures the junta will never allow.

Edited December 25, 201510 yr by heybruce

Know how Lee Kuan Yew weeded out corruption since the mid sixties?

Reformed the police and court system. Set up an anti-corruption non-uniformed force that reported directly to him, thus by-passing corrupt ministers and MPs.

And allowed the use of entrapments to weed out the corrupted.

1. Legally mandated transparency in government spending, including military spending.

2. Strict laws against conflict of interest strictly enforced.

3. A truly free press allowed to expose incompetence and corruption in government.

These are three anti-corruption measures the junta will never allow.

Previous democratically elected governments also had a bit of a problem with these measures.

Mind you, with proper reforms, charter and organic law AND enforcement we would be on the right path.

Now if only Thai really drop their cultural acceptance of corruption. A matter of education I guess.

'...instilling an of awareness of the evil of corruption..."

I fear in Thailand that corruption is only regarded as evil if you don't get a slice of the action.

It's only considered evil if they get caught.

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