New Mandala readers in Canberra may be interested in the following seminar:
Corruption and current political evelopments in Thailand
Professor Medhi Krongkaew
Venue: ANU Sparke Helmore Law Theatre 1
Date: Monday 22 October, 2007 12:30-2.00Corruption in Thailand is currently being put under the microscope by the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC), together with the Assets Examination Committee, as they look into allegations of financial malpractice under the previous and current governments.
Professor Medhi Krongkaew has been an NCCC Commissioner for the past year, and is well placed to speak on this topic. He formerly taught at the National Institute of Development Administration and Thammasat University, and is one of one of Thailand’s most respected economists. He was also a Senior Fellow in the Division of Economics, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, ANU, and has written dozens of articles on a wide range of Thai economic issues, with a particular focus on poverty.
The National Thai Studies Centre, together with the Division of Economics, RSPAS, extends a warm welcome to all.
26 responses so far ↓
1 Republican // Oct 21, 2007 at 12:10 am
“…Professor Medhi Krongkaew has been an NCCC Commissioner for the past year, and is well placed to speak on this topic…”
Could someone clarify this for me. If Medhi Khrongkaew has only been an NCCC Commissioner for the past year then I assume he has been appointed to the position by the royalist-military dictatorship. Is this correct?
2 Republican // Oct 21, 2007 at 6:34 pm
According to the Thai Wikipedia entry for “คณะกรรมการป้องกันและปราบปรามการทุจริตแห่งชาติ” Medhi Khrongkaew was indeed appointed as a NCCC Commissioner by the military junta 3 days on September 22 2006 – 3 days after the coup.
So this is a person who has been appointed to a position by a military dictatorship, which has stolen at gunpoint the government and the national budget paid for by the Thai taxpayer which should rightly be administered by elected politicians.
So Methi’s salary while serving on the NCCC is paid for by the dictatorship. And we are supposed to take his pronouncements on corruption seriously? What about his own moral corruption at accepting a powerful, official position while the Thai electorate has held at gunpoint with large areas still under martial law?!
Indeed, he is “well placed to speak on this topic…” because he owes his position on the NCCC to the royalists and the military!
It is worth asking now, coming on top of its hosting of the CNS’s propaganda team a few months ago, whether the ANU’s National Thai Studies Centre is an overseas branch of network monarchy.
Since the September 19 2006 coup has the NTSC invited ANY member of the former democratically elected governement to give their version of the story?
3 col. jeru // Oct 21, 2007 at 10:07 pm
Republican is right . . ANU should also invite at least one member of the former elected government . . . and who else would qualify to speak on corruption but the Mother of all Thai corruption himself Thaksin Shinawatra . . .
4 Srithanonchai // Oct 22, 2007 at 2:31 am
And Thaksin would even pay the trip out of his own pocket, which is important for the NTSC with its chronic lack of funds.
5 Grasshopper // Oct 22, 2007 at 10:58 am
but Srithanonchai, would it really be Thaksin’s money when he stole it all from the people of Thailand?!
6 Srithanonchai // Oct 22, 2007 at 3:22 pm
I don’t think that “stole it all from the people of Thailand” is empirically sustainable. Except, of course, you mean to say that every bsusiness person operating in Thailand stole his or her money from the Thai people…
7 Grasshopper // Oct 22, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Yes of course. These business people need to look up the word sustainability!
8 Srithanonchai // Oct 22, 2007 at 8:47 pm
“Sustainability” or “Socialism”? What kind of economic system is on your mind? By the way, if you approach things from this perspective, Thasksin as a concrete individual cannot be attacked on this ground any longer.
9 Grasshopper // Oct 22, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Comrade there is only one kind of economic system worthy of all individuals! The economic system of sufficiency agrarin reform! We must be sufficient to remain social. Otherwise we will be disunified and leaving ourselves wide open to the throngs of paranoid capitalism! I want to see Thaksin working with the farmers he bought!!!
*hits fist on podium*
10 Srithanonchai // Oct 22, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Oh, I see, you have adopted a stance of satirical-royalist PolPotism!
11 col. jeru // Oct 23, 2007 at 1:55 am
Grasshopper and Srithanonchai are too far removed from real-life economics of earning a living for both to conclude ” … that every business person operating in Thailand stole his or her money from the Thai people…”
Maybe both of you can be more intellectually stimulated by my suspicion that “insufficiency economics and vote-buying in Thailand” are closely intertwined.
12 Thailand » Blog Archives » Comment on Corruption in Thailand by Srithanonchai // Oct 23, 2007 at 8:46 am
[...] Comment on Corruption in Thailand by SrithanonchaiAnd Thaksin would even pay the trip out of his own pocket, which is important for the NTSC with its chronic lack of funds. [...]
13 Nine good men and true // Oct 23, 2007 at 10:11 am
[...] Monday I attended the Medhi Krongkaew’s seminar on Corruption and Current Political Developments in Thailand.1 Medhi, who has sporting the compulsory yellow tie, spoke about his fist year (with another eight [...]
14 Srithanonchai // Oct 23, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Col. Jeru: “Grasshopper and Srithanonchai are too far removed from real-life economics of earning a living” > What dou you know of my economic situation?
15 Col. Jeru // Oct 23, 2007 at 10:45 pm
Srithanonchai what do you know about running a business enterprise?
16 Srithanonchai // Oct 24, 2007 at 1:44 am
Col. Jeru: I little bit of logic would not hurt you, believe me. This time around, a mere transfer to an inactive position is insufficient. Demotion is called for.
17 col. jeru // Oct 24, 2007 at 2:23 am
Srithanonchai not only don’t you anything about Thai businessmen but you don’t also don’t know shit about logic nor military ranks. No wonder you enjoy your exchange with the Grasshopper immensely. Didn’t I warn you both that I am always eager to “cast the first stone”?
18 Grasshopper // Oct 24, 2007 at 10:35 am
Jeru, rather than pick on us less enlightened why don’t you educate us on Thai business? I’m sure your words would be quite informative…
19 col. jeru // Oct 24, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Grasshopper I didn’t say I am fully-versed with Thai business. You and Srithanonchai both did . . . or how else could you both arrive at that sweeping statement ” that every business person operating in Thailand stole his or her money from the Thai people…”. Or maybe just too much grass consumed the Grasshopper’s brains?
20 col. jeru // Oct 24, 2007 at 2:19 pm
BTW Grasshopper and Srithanonchai some food (other than grass) for thought: If we remove every Thai businessman from the Thai economy and leave only royalties, military soldiers, politicians, the rurally constipated, academics and the scholarly (like Grasshopper and Srithanonchai), will there be anything to steal from the Thai people?
21 Srithanonchai // Oct 24, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Jeru, “casting the first stone” is not merely a physical exercise in which only the arm and some nerves are involved. Also, casting the first stone is not really a value in itself. What, is Col. the lowest rank already?
22 Srithanonchai // Oct 24, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Co. Jeru: You must be on grass — otherwise how can you come up with this sort of grassed statements?
23 col. jeru // Oct 24, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Ahhh Srithanonchai who envies the rank . . given me not for valor nor selfless heroics but for pissing off some forgotten pro-Thaksin blogger.
What dishonorary title I have earned via coup will also forthwith be not so easily given up. If I commit more dishonors is only because a General’s cap better suits me.
24 Grasshopper // Oct 24, 2007 at 7:26 pm
jeru, for your benefit I provide you with some links:
http://m-w.com/dictionary/sarcasm
http://m-w.com/dictionary/cynical
http://m-w.com/dictionary/irony
http://www.thai2english.com/dictionary/facetious+
25 Grasshopper // Oct 24, 2007 at 7:31 pm
… and to answer your question: no, there will be no reason to steal. I don’t know why you need to mention royalty AND academics — aren’t they the same? Other than this you have described utopia!
26 Thailand » Blog Archive » Editorial: Corruption in Thailand ** // Feb 8, 2008 at 9:57 am
[...] Corruption in ThailandCorruption in Thailand is currently being put under the microscope by the … Comment on Corruption in Thailand by SrithanonchaiAnd Thaksin would even pay the … [...]
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