As someone who only vists, not lives in Thailand yet, it's not easy to understand where this coup and junta thing are headed.
From everything I have read in the internet papers and the boards, there doesn't seem to be much reason to think that corruption will not be as bad in the next governnment as it was with Thaksin or anyone else that follows. These politicians are simply switching parties or singing a new song for the time being.
Corruption has become the Thai way of doing things after generations of greedy rich people running things, no matter what some people in high places like to pretend.
Does anyone who follows this situation see a way out of the corruption mess ?
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Getting out of the mess
Started by JimLA, Jan 18 2007 05:36 PM
5 replies to this topic
#3
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Posted 18 January 2007 - 06:43 PM
In my opinion, Thailand will never rid itself of the institutional corruption until it develops a genuine democracy with a substantial middle class who want power and have access to a press free of state ownership and/or control.
The 1997 constitution promised that free press but Thaksin, with the benign help of the opposition democrats, who sat quietly throughout the first four years of corruption, did his best to erode it, leaving the media in army control to use it for propaganda.
They have to seriously cultivate a political climate where people question authority, not wai and keep quiet. If it were my decision I would junk criminal penalties for libel, which are used by corrupt people to silence criticism.
I would also ditch the antique concept of lese majeste, which politicians try to use as a political weapon, even though His Majesty actually seems to have suggested in December, 2005, that the concept had outlived its utility long ago.
As long as corruption can pass for acceptable conduct among the power elite running Thailand, where everyone thinks about "getting their piece of the action" and doesn't worry about being held accountable by an inquisitive press, the situation will not change, no matter what the new constitution says.
Sadly, I see little reason to hope that this situation is going to be changed by the latest round of "let's have a coup and change the constitution" games the thais have been playing since 1932.
The 1997 constitution promised that free press but Thaksin, with the benign help of the opposition democrats, who sat quietly throughout the first four years of corruption, did his best to erode it, leaving the media in army control to use it for propaganda.
They have to seriously cultivate a political climate where people question authority, not wai and keep quiet. If it were my decision I would junk criminal penalties for libel, which are used by corrupt people to silence criticism.
I would also ditch the antique concept of lese majeste, which politicians try to use as a political weapon, even though His Majesty actually seems to have suggested in December, 2005, that the concept had outlived its utility long ago.
As long as corruption can pass for acceptable conduct among the power elite running Thailand, where everyone thinks about "getting their piece of the action" and doesn't worry about being held accountable by an inquisitive press, the situation will not change, no matter what the new constitution says.
Sadly, I see little reason to hope that this situation is going to be changed by the latest round of "let's have a coup and change the constitution" games the thais have been playing since 1932.
#4
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Posted 18 January 2007 - 06:58 PM
It seems to me that the interim Militry controlled Government should be just holding the fort and speeding ahead with the writing and agreeing the a new constitution, a plebicite to give it authority and then hold elections. The constitution MUST be above Government and not, as previously, easily changed by those in power. They obviously need to manage the day to day running of Government but I think that they really should not be messing about with stuff like alcohol sales laws, rape laws and the like which would best come from a democratically elected Government.
The main things that needs nurturing are the security of the Governemnt and Nation, protecting the vibrant economy and handling emergencies such as floods and airports that need repair.
The real important one is the economy and that is currently badly bruised by the coup, the bombs, the witholding tax, the property ownership proposals and now a completely unneccesary tiff with Singapore - a wealthy neighbour which was interested in investing in Thailand despite their huge losses over the Shin Corporation saga.
Lets hope it all turns out well.
The main things that needs nurturing are the security of the Governemnt and Nation, protecting the vibrant economy and handling emergencies such as floods and airports that need repair.
The real important one is the economy and that is currently badly bruised by the coup, the bombs, the witholding tax, the property ownership proposals and now a completely unneccesary tiff with Singapore - a wealthy neighbour which was interested in investing in Thailand despite their huge losses over the Shin Corporation saga.
Lets hope it all turns out well.
#5
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Posted 19 January 2007 - 07:52 AM
I too hope it all turns out well for the Thai people. But I agree with Hedda's assessment almost entirely. The Thai education system is a mess and, absent major changes (like making school through highschool mandatory
and free and then actually teaching some critical or independent thinking), the thai citizens won't insist on any true accountability from their leaders. They'll just continue to wai to their superiors and never question how those superiors are ripping them off. That's the way it's always been.
We westerners often wish that a western-style democracy would take hold in Thailand but we can't forget that the reason we feel that is best is because of our education and cultural backgrounds. We strongly believe in the rule of law because that's how our home countries work and we were taught from day one in school that this was the best way to go. The Thais aren't taught those concepts nor does Thailand have a similar "rule of law" history (hmmm....18 or so coups in the last 75 years?) so I'm not sure why we would expect them to "want" the same things.
The "subsistence economy" philosophy seemingly espoused by the junta and the palace is, to me, just a "don't make waves" policy that is more of the same.
and free and then actually teaching some critical or independent thinking), the thai citizens won't insist on any true accountability from their leaders. They'll just continue to wai to their superiors and never question how those superiors are ripping them off. That's the way it's always been.
We westerners often wish that a western-style democracy would take hold in Thailand but we can't forget that the reason we feel that is best is because of our education and cultural backgrounds. We strongly believe in the rule of law because that's how our home countries work and we were taught from day one in school that this was the best way to go. The Thais aren't taught those concepts nor does Thailand have a similar "rule of law" history (hmmm....18 or so coups in the last 75 years?) so I'm not sure why we would expect them to "want" the same things.
The "subsistence economy" philosophy seemingly espoused by the junta and the palace is, to me, just a "don't make waves" policy that is more of the same.
#6
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Posted 19 January 2007 - 09:12 AM
I also agree with Hedda. I believe that ending corruption under any circumstances in Thailand has a chance roughly equivalent to the USA bringing lasting peace to the Middle East.
