Interesting News Source

[crepitas]

This site may be of interest to some:

Politics: Using corruption as a political game is hot again, but factual, how corrupt is Thaksin anyway? | Thai Intelligence News

The above article though is a bit of a hard read

[Norton]

The above article though is a bit of a hard read

Sure is. Long and rambling but fundamentally another comparison of level of corruption between opposing political factions. Nothing new here. Corruption exists on all sides.

For the moment we have two profoundly different political agendas/platforms.

a) PDRC (anti government) - Representation via appointment by an "unbiased" select committee.

b) PT (pro government) - Representation via election by all citizens in accordance with Thai constitution.

Choose a or b and debate merits of your choice. Debating level of corruption is futile.

Both will end with corrupt leaders until the electorate or the select committee rejects corrupt politicians.

[Perota]

Debating level of corruption is futile.

Both will end with corrupt leaders until the electorate or the select committee rejects corrupt politicians.

But is the electorate willing to end corruption ?

When faced with the hard facts proving Suthep (and other democrat leaders) was at least as corrupt as they say Thaksin was, the opposition came back with the argument that corruption was actually acceptable in Thai culture. But Thais being nice and caring people, the loot should be shared among peers. Not keep for oneself or, even worse, distributed to these dumb buffalos in the north.

Just one question here. Many explanation have been given for the recent conflict but nobody ever talked so far abut a North/South conflict like it happened in some other countries in S.E. Asia. But the geography of the conflict seems to show a clear divide north/south in the electorate.

_

[Norton]

But is the electorate willing to end corruption ?

Not yet. Going to be long time until they are.

corruption was actually acceptable in Thai culture

loot should be shared among peers

After gaining majority control of gov, Thaksin thought he could defy this long established practice. A very big mistake.

geography of the conflict seems to show a clear divide north/south in the electorate

South a traditional Dem stronghold. Not sure why. I don't think the Dems or the PTP have done much for the South. The disenfranchise issue remains same under both parties. No significant investment in South. Only more military presence to counter insurgency.

[Perota]

loot should be shared among peers

After gaining majority control of gov, Thaksin thought he could defy this long established practice. A very big mistake.

I don't see it this way. Before Thaksin there was no stable government, they had very short life, so everybody had a chance to be in the next government within a reasonable time frame. The problem now is for parties that are not in Thaksin coalition, it's a very long dry season with a stable government that goes full term. If you add that the chance to be in the next government are closed to zero, you understand why some get desperate.

[leemo]

Debating level of corruption is futile.

Both will end with corrupt leaders until the electorate or the select committee rejects corrupt politicians.

But is the electorate willing to end corruption ?...

_

I hope not, it's in the DNA, the cement that holds the country together.

But makes good headlines when someone announces he wants to eradicate corruption because he wants it all for himself.

[Norton]

The problem now is for parties that are not in Thaksin coalition, it's a very long dry season with a stable government that goes full term. If you add that the chance to be in the next government are closed to zero, you understand why some get desperate.

We are in agreement. Rid the country of Thaksin and all parties share the loot.

[sabang]

They're probably squabbling over commission.

[Norton]

Had to laugh when the High Speed Rail project was derailed cuz "Thailand not ready for it". If the Dems get back in power, suddenly Thailand will be ready.