A comedy of errors in the war on graft

COMMENTARY

A comedy of errors in the war on graft

Published: 29 Oct 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The future for the graft busters at the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Anti-Corruption Network (ANC) should be looking healthy. But behind the scenes, it would not appear to be so.

The NACC is opening more offices in the provinces _ more than two dozen in recent weeks. That is a good sign for those who are fed up with polls showing that corruption is OK as long as the public benefits from it too.

NACC offices which will be opened in every province by the end of next year will monitor suspicious projects undertaken or about to launch by local governments. At the same time officials on the ground can kick off a campaign to raise awareness on the danger of corruption to the people.

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loong
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Discussion 10 : 29 Oct 2012 at 23.1710
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Asian Hand Disc#9 said that:
"Sooner or latter, somebody will be made and example of and go to prison from a court judgement not from a press release by the NACC"
I don't see Mr. T. go to prison when the court handed down 2 year jail sentence. Sorayuth and Mr. T. are no different, they are an apple with an apple. The only effective way is to turn the dial from CH3 to other channels.
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Asian Hand
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Discussion 9 : 29 Oct 2012 at 16.329
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Why should Sorayuth step down? Why should his employer force him to do so? There have been no charges laid, no conviction. All you pundits seem to favour this NACC to become judge and jury. Come on NACC do you homework, prepare your documentation and evidence and then go after him. But NACC carrying out their mandate, for the time being looks hopeless. But go to be persistent in order to effect change. Sooner or latter, somebody will be made and example of and go to prison from a court judgement not from a press release by the NACC.
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ubuntu
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Discussion 8 : 29 Oct 2012 at 15.198
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There exists a unique atomic particle in Thailand. The particle orbits around the nuclei and produces electrostatic attractive forces so strong. that corruption cannot resist.
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bluebottle
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Discussion 7 : 29 Oct 2012 at 14.547
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Let us be honest,note the wording,You will not change the mindset of those at the top. It needs a new culture from the bottom.Those at the top the only way to stop them is to lock them up.The media can not say too much because it is written in the charter that to harass is not allowed. Without there help it is difficult to see how you can stop it and how long do you think the NACC will remain independent when MR T returns.
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lucy
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Discussion 6 : 29 Oct 2012 at 14.336
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There's another side to the Ch 3 Sorayuth Suthassanachinda row. I like his program, but he doesn't really do much reporting except when it makes him look good, like during the floods. The rest of the time he just rips off other reporters' work and comments on it.
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lungstib
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Discussion 5 : 29 Oct 2012 at 13.135
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Its bad enough having corrupt politicians in large numbers but on top of that the police are as corrupt an outfit as you can find. Cases just wont ever get to court even if the NACC and ANC get down to work. I really see no answer to this awful problem.
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oldexp
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Discussion 4 : 29 Oct 2012 at 12.554
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D3, johninbkk
selective hearing and reading are your specialty we know.
Please also mention "But it has not mentioned funds to pay new staff"
The elected government seems to have some control over it, doesn't it.
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johninbkk
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Discussion 3 : 29 Oct 2012 at 11.153
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"The government has to shoulder its share of the blame."
The head of the NACC was directly appointed by the military coup government. It is an "independent" organization, meaning the elected government has no control over it.
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commonman
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Discussion 2 : 29 Oct 2012 at 04.262
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You've got to be joking. Do you understand the Thai people and how deeply rooted corruption (tea money) is in this culture. No amount of committees or judicial entities is going to change a mind-set that comes from hundreds of years of cultural history. If you don't change the mind-set, you don't change anything. If you want to put it in xtian terms, who will cast the first stone?
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Aussie John
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Discussion 1 : 29 Oct 2012 at 04.251
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Whats to stop corruption infiltrating the NACCs provincial offices? That the country is being run by a corrupt family and is accepted by voters just goes to show that the people accept corruption as long as they themselves benefit no matter how small the amount coming their way. Curbing corruption must start at the top where most of the black money ends up.
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A comedy of errors in the war on graft | Bangkok Post: opinion