Anti-graft officials defend corruption drive despite ranking

Anti-graft officials defend corruption drive despite ranking

People form the phrase
People form the phrase "stop corruption" at the government’s Stop Corruption campaign at the CentralWorld shopping centre in this August 2012 photo. Despite numerous government campaigns, Thailand’s international anti-graft score has not improved since 2013. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

Despite showing no progress in a global anti-graft survey released by a watchdog group Wednesday, the military government's crusade to stamp out corruption is working, albeit slowly, anti-graft officials contend.

In its Corruption Perceptions Index 2015, Transparency International (TI) said Thailand placed 76th among 168 countries, tied with such nations as Burkina Faso, Tunisia and Zambia. While the country's relative ranking improved from 85th place last year, its score of 38 remained the same, marking no improvement by the government or private sector in curbing graft.

The survey traces perceptions of public sector corruption and is calculated based on expert opinions. Countries with less corruption are assigned a higher score.

In 2015, Denmark ranked first in the survey with a score of 91 while North Korea and Somalia were perceived as the most corrupt with a score of 8 each.

However, Anti-Corruption Thailand (ACT) chairman Pramon Suthiwong, believes the ranking shows that some of Thailand's methods to deal with corruption are working while others still lack efficiency.

"We must draw lessons from the CPI ranking and score to better tackle corruption," said Mr Pramon. The ACT, along with other experts, would study details about the survey's criteria and analyse them to determine what weaknesses remain, he said. 

Mr Pramon believes the government has shown a commitment to address the country's corruption problems in the past year.

The prime minister's use of Section 44 to remove public officials suspected of corruption, or to transfer them to inactive posts, is effective. However, the ACT fears that such methods are not a long-lasting way to tackle the country's problems, he said.

Solid reforms and the establishment of new anti-corruption mechanisms must be carried out. These include setting up a new court to handle corruption cases.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has concluded investigations in several high-profile cases.

"The legal and disciplinary measures taken against individuals involved in corruption prove there is the political will to tackle the problem," he said.

Other improvements include state agencies adopting an Integrity Pact in five public procurement projects, including the purchase of NGV-fuelled buses and the construction of the Mass Rapid Transit system's Blue Line, Mr Pramon argued.

Under the pact, launched last year, state agencies and firms bidding for contracts declared they would abstain from bribery and graft. A third party will be allowed to monitor the entire project.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment yesterday also signed a pact with anti-corruption agencies to fight against graft in its projects.

The agencies include the NACC, the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, the Department of Special Investigation, the Office of the Auditor-General and the Anti-Corruption Foundation.

A joint panel will be set up to deal with complaints, said Gen Surasak Karnjanarat. 

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (1)