Everyone knows that Thailand, like many other countries, has a problem with corruption. At The Nation it is reported:
The growing coalition against corruption in Thailand will get a major boost on Thursday, when the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Anti-Corruption Network will sign a partnership declaration at the Sathornthani Centre of Rangsit University….
The new partnership aims to promote regular dialogue and strategy on fighting corruption, the development of public advocacy campaigns, and knowledge sharing in raising public awareness and building capacity of organisations within the expanding network.
The Anti-Corruption Network (ACN) is a private sector group led by a consortium of Thai businessmen and more than 30 industry associations, which include the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Thai Bankers’ Association, the Federation of Thai Industries, and the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).
Not to be too cynical, but we would have thought that all of these groups were part and parcel of the historical development, embedding and continuation of corruption. We get the impression that these groups are making a political statement that is trying to pin all the blame on corruption on elected politicians. Perhaps these business groups will do some self examination and consider their well-greased relationships with police, government officials and the military.
