Charter's focus on anti-corruption will help Thailand avoid future crises

[webfact]

CDC President claims charter's focus on anti-corruption will help Thailand avoid future crises

BANGKOK, 4 February 2016 (NNT) – The President of the Constitution Drafting Commission has assured the public that the new draft charter’s anti-corruption provisions will spare the country some future crises.

During a meeting of members of the Constitution Drafting Commission, the National Legislative Assembly and the National Reform Steering Assembly on Wednesday, CDC President Meechai Richupan took the opportunity to explain major points of the latest draft of the new Constitution.

Mr. Meechai said that although the CDC has been working independently, its works have always been governed by Article 35 of the 2014 Provisional Constitution, which states that the charter drafters must work to help with the development process of Thailand and provide the country with tools to resolve any conflicts and prevent corrupt people from entering politics.

With that in mind, Mr. Meechai said that the CDC has written the new draft charter in a manner that is complete and concise, so as to avoid the problems which Thailand has previously faced and the loopholes discovered in previous charters.

The CDC President added that the charter drafters have agreed that Thailand has not been able to move forward effectively because of problems with corruption, a lack of discipline among the people and the lagging enforcement of laws.

Therefore, the charter drafters have approached the drafting of the country’s highest law in a way that clearly recognizes the rights of the people according to international practices and human rights.


-- NNT 2016-02-04

[tbthailand]

focus on corruption, eh, ...

So the charter specifies purchasing and spending transparency across all agencies and bureaucracies.

It specifies transparency and open access to information for government and military spending.

It has provisions for the public to demand government information disclosures to prevent hidden graft.

It includes whistle-blower protections, and rescinds defamation and sedition laws used to silence whistle-blowers.

It guarantees a free and open press allowing for investigative journalism.

....

or maybe it just contains mechanisms to punish "bad people" so that the rich and powerful are able to frame-up and persecute their enemies along with anyone else dumb enough to expose their shady business?

Which would it be Mr. Meechai?

[Basil B]

Well if the current administration can not ride the country of this blight who can???

There are just too many untouchables with friends in high places...

[NongKhaiKid]

Just make the provisions flexible enough that they can be ' legally ' applied, read manipulated, depending on who is in the spotlight as after all one day it might be the drafters themselves, friends, family or cronies.

[jacky54]

isn't corruption already illegal and been so for ever? They need to focus on harsh prosecutions and sackings, that's all.

[WhizBang]

I have said it before, and I will say it again... it's all about enforcement. You can have as many laws as you like, but if they are not enforced 24/7/365, fairly to one and all regardless of status, then nothing changes.

So the place to start is with a complete, top to bottom reform of the police and judicial system. Until that happens, NOTHING will change in Thailand.

[Srikcir]

"clearly recognizes the rights of the people according to international practices and human rights."

So did the 2007 Constitution and look how effective that was in preventing the abolishment of Thai people's human rights. Meechai might be more honest to say,

"clearly recognizes the right of the minority autocracy to define the rights of the people in a manner that mimicks international practices and human rights."

Henry Louis Mencken - "It is hard to believe that a man is telling the truth when you know that you would lie if you were in his place."

[smedly]

isn't corruption already illegal and been so for ever? They need to focus on harsh prosecutions and sackings, that's all.

well yes of course it is but they also lie and hide budget/finacial details to keep it well covered up, the key is transparency and accountability and after that agencies with far reaching powers to investigate and prosecute through dedicated courts to speed up the process and then finally harsh penalties for those found guilty

[sawadee1947]

a new charter might be ok. But how long will it be valid? Up to next government? If wanted long time, does it mean we will have present PM for a long time???

[jayboy]

When the time comes the Thai public will be able to be guided - when they arrive at the voting booths - by uniformed army cadets on the value of the Charter.

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5827?utm_source=feedburner

Sometimes reality exceeds what the most inspired comedian could dream up.

[sanukjim]

Just make the provisions flexible enough that they can be ' legally ' applied, read manipulated, depending on who is in the spotlight as after all one day it might be the drafters themselves, friends, family or cronies.

You are right KID,How does a government change from any corruption mode that has been established as a basic way for the itself to operate with everybody knowing that the core corruption is how the present leaders got there in the first place.? Words,only words for foreign governments to applaud.

[tbthailand]

I have said it before, and I will say it again... it's all about enforcement. You can have as many laws as you like, but if they are not enforced 24/7/365, fairly to one and all regardless of status, then nothing changes.

So the place to start is with a complete, top to bottom reform of the police and judicial system. Until that happens, NOTHING will change in Thailand.

to which I would military, too.

You make a perfectly clear point. Solving corruption is about enforcement. And uncovering corruption requires transparency.

Neither of which has anything to do with a constitution. Which just reveals the fake nature of this so-called "anti-corruption" exercise.

[halloween]

focus on corruption, eh, ...

So the charter specifies purchasing and spending transparency across all agencies and bureaucracies.

It specifies transparency and open access to information for government and military spending.

It has provisions for the public to demand government information disclosures to prevent hidden graft.

It includes whistle-blower protections, and rescinds defamation and sedition laws used to silence whistle-blowers.

It guarantees a free and open press allowing for investigative journalism.

....

or maybe it just contains mechanisms to punish "bad people" so that the rich and powerful are able to frame-up and persecute their enemies along with anyone else dumb enough to expose their shady business?

Which would it be Mr. Meechai?

Your normal answer to solving Thailand's political problems is "elections". Reading your new demands, I can't help thinking about the last elected government, and the scams they used to buy electoral support. Don't rate very highly, do they?

By the way, does the US offer information on spending of its military and spy agencies?

[candide]

focus on corruption, eh, ...

So the charter specifies purchasing and spending transparency across all agencies and bureaucracies.

It specifies transparency and open access to information for government and military spending.

It has provisions for the public to demand government information disclosures to prevent hidden graft.

It includes whistle-blower protections, and rescinds defamation and sedition laws used to silence whistle-blowers.

It guarantees a free and open press allowing for investigative journalism.

....

or maybe it just contains mechanisms to punish "bad people" so that the rich and powerful are able to frame-up and persecute their enemies along with anyone else dumb enough to expose their shady business?

Which would it be Mr. Meechai?

Your normal answer to solving Thailand's political problems is "elections". Reading your new demands, I can't help thinking about the last elected government, and the scams they used to buy electoral support. Don't rate very highly, do they?

By the way, does the US offer information on spending of its military and spy agencies?

You can check here:

http://government.defenceindex.org/countries/united-states/

And compare:

http://government.defenceindex.org/countries/thailand/

[halloween]

Your normal answer to solving Thailand's political problems is "elections". Reading your new demands, I can't help thinking about the last elected government, and the scams they used to buy electoral support. Don't rate very highly, do they?

By the way, does the US offer information on spending of its military and spy agencies?

You can check here:

http://government.defenceindex.org/countries/united-states/

And compare:

http://government.defenceindex.org/countries/thailand/

Oh yes, congress oversight committees. I would have much faith in a PTP oversight committee, no doubt headed by Chalerm.

Are concerned citizens allowed FOI?

[15Peter20]

All this time and energy wasted on making new laws. The problem has always been enforcement. And we still see precious little on that.

[tbthailand]

focus on corruption, eh, ...

So the charter specifies purchasing and spending transparency across all agencies and bureaucracies.

It specifies transparency and open access to information for government and military spending.

It has provisions for the public to demand government information disclosures to prevent hidden graft.

It includes whistle-blower protections, and rescinds defamation and sedition laws used to silence whistle-blowers.

It guarantees a free and open press allowing for investigative journalism.

....

or maybe it just contains mechanisms to punish "bad people" so that the rich and powerful are able to frame-up and persecute their enemies along with anyone else dumb enough to expose their shady business?

Which would it be Mr. Meechai?

Your normal answer to solving Thailand's political problems is "elections". Reading your new demands, I can't help thinking about the last elected government, and the scams they used to buy electoral support. Don't rate very highly, do they?

By the way, does the US offer information on spending of its military and spy agencies?

yes.

btw, you seem to come from a democratic country, yet you also seem to believe that this military junta can "fix" Thailand.

since the military has been in control of the country for many more years than democratic governments since 1932, isn't your apparent faith in military governments misplaced?

Edited February 5, 2016 by tbthailand

[candide]

When the time comes the Thai public will be able to be guided - when they arrive at the voting booths - by uniformed army cadets on the value of the Charter.

http://prachatai.org/english/node/5827?utm_source=feedburner

Sometimes reality exceeds what the most inspired comedian could dream up.

Gosh!I wonder why this information has not been more diffused yet.