The content in this page ("Corruption is just a part of society" by Pravit Rojanaphruk, The Nation) is not produced by Prachatai staff. Prachatai merely provides a platform, and the opinions stated here do not necessarily reflect those of Prachatai.

Corruption is just a part of society

There are people who believe that if Thailand could just stop corrupt politicians from ever getting elected, then the Kingdom would once and for all be free of graft. Few, however, understand that graft, corruption and bribery, at least in its legal, subtle and insidious forms, is very much part of Thai culture and society.

Take, for example, the daily requests and prayers offered at Hindu and Buddhist altars, to animistic deities and the statue of King Rama V. They always come with a promise of an offering if the wishes are "granted" and the "repayment" for such supernatural favours range from flowers, wooden elephants, statuettes of dancers to running around stark naked, depending on how big the wish is.

Besides, these offerings are not just the norm among the less-educated Thais. Many "well-educated" people also make such offerings in exchange for good grades, enrolment at prestigious colleges or promotions at work.

Then there's the widespread practice of acquiring and wearing Buddhist amulets in the belief they can make the wearer popular, rich, sexually attractive or even strong enough to withstand the impact of bullets. Whether these offerings are reliable or not, the issue is that for many who believe in them, they are also a form of bribery.

Another aspect of subtle corruption is favouritism within the old boys' network. When your old school chum calls you up asking for a favour that might be seen by some as nepotism, it's often very difficult to say no.

Recently, a friend - known for his honesty and spirituality - thought nothing of sending me two Buddhist philosophy books with the note: "If you think the books are of interest or of some value, perhaps you would be so kind as to review them." I'm afraid I was not a very "good" friend because I have not written reviews about them yet.

People in power can help friends of friends or even their favourite underlings by using their influence or abusing their professional position. And it is still quite common to be soft when old friends make such requests.

The idea of graft and corruption came to Thailand with Chinese immigrants, who brought with them the practice of "tea money", which has since taken root in the country. During times past, kingdoms under the sphere of influence such as the realm of Pattani also used to offer tributes to sovereigns in Bangkok, and these offerings took the form of small silver and gold trees among other things.

Today, the practice of giving highly priced "gifts" or "donations" to people with power and influence at the top of social and political echelons continues without question.

Perhaps these offerings may not be considered "legal" in other parts of the world, but they are actually very much a part of Thai society and the cultural environment. Not paying attention to these subtle aspects of bribery and yet moaning about corruption is like saying it's okay to drink beer but not whisky.

Maybe corrupt politicians are more like the rest of us than we would like to admit. The idea of corruption does not come from Mars, it is very much part of an ordinary "legal" aspect of Thai society.

Source: 
<p>http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Corruption-is-just-a-part-of-society-30173501.html</p>

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