Casting spells against corruption

Given that corruption has afflicted mankind for thousands of years and is apparently deeply embedded in societies, I would need to cast plenty of spells to uproot this ugliness.

The first spell would be to “cure” the causes of our suffering.

Humans have difficulty controlling their desires. Some feel an intense need to gossip, filling the air with nonsense and unproductive chatter that satisfies no one – neither talker nor listener. Others yearn impatiently for some material item they don’t have and, in some cases, can never acquire. 

Such desires are hot news right now, as the refurbishment of the Cabinet meeting room makes headlines. Journalists last week eagerly reported PM’s Office minister ML Panadda Diskul’s boast that the room would be equipped with conference technology on par with that of the White House. Members of the media descended on the meeting room for the unveiling of the big screens and pricey microphones.

The news drew much attention. 

Junta supporters lauded the move, saying it “modernised” Thailand. It looked good for the country to be able to match the international superpower (though it is mostly national agenda that is discussed in this 513,120-square-metre complex, not something involving people across the world). Finally Thailand, with an economy worth US$673.725 billion – about 4 per cent the size of the US’s $17.5 trillion – can match up to a superpower.

Those opposing the junta, as expected, attacked the move. Poised for a chance to scorn the government, they lashed out at the lavish spending on unnecessary equipment at a time when the country’s economy is still in bad shape. 

Neutral observers paid more attention to the price of equipment, following a Pheu Thai politician’s claim that the Bt140,000 paid for each microphone was way higher than the market price. Many are now calmly waiting for an explanation from the government, which just days ago announced that combating graft was its national priority.

Panadda Diskul on Sunday was quick to respond to the confusion, explaining he had been misquoted and, in fact, had never given media an interview on the requisitioning of the system as he was not directly involved. He also insisted that the contract for the Cabinet conference room’s sophisticated audio system had yet to be signed. He added that the vendor’s price might still be negotiable and could drop to below the quoted price, in line with details issued by Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew, a deputy chief of the National Council for Peace and Order.

Yesterday, Panadda reiterated that there were no irregularities in the plan but neglected to elaborate on why the vendor had been so generous as to fully equip the room prior to agreeing on a price and signing the contract. 

Onto my second spell, which would be cast for greater understanding among humans, which would in turn create more compassion for others. Evidence that this is sorely needed is everywhere. Why does Vladimir Putin want to recreate the Soviet Empire when not all of its people would be guaranteed a better life? A worse prospect still is how Islamic State militants will run countries if they win their wars. Both ignore the notion that a peaceful win-win solution exists for all circumstances.

In this sense, the corruption case against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra never ceases to surprise me. 

It follows the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)’s charges against former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and accomplices, for allegedly profiting from the rice-pledging scheme. Public prosecutors have not yet brought the case to the court, and Boonsong and accomplices are still considered innocent until proven guilty.

Yet the NACC pushed the prosecutors to bring the case against Yingluck, charged for negligence which led to the corruption, to court. This begs the question, how can the NACC proceed with its quest to punish someone for permitting corruption that has not been proved?

The prosecutor explains that Yingluck can’t be brought to court yet as the evidence against her has not been fully compiled. To begin with, the NACC forgot to submit the Thailand Development Research Institute’s full corruption report, of which only the cover page was attached.

This sparked comments. 

Junta supporters, for whom the Shinawatra clan are public enemy No 1, attacked the prosecutors, saying they were surprised with the decision. The opposition smiled. 

The neutrals are worried over the future of Thailand’s rule of law and social justice.

It was surprising to hear a comment that the NACC may have been seeking to save the prosecutors’ time by attaching only the cover page of the TDRI report. You don’t need to be told which side the commentator is on. You should instead be worried that some Thais think that lawmakers don’t need proper evidence to establish a person’s guilt and punish them, if that person is deemed “bad”. If this new “rule of law” were to be enshrined in the justice system, the political battle between opposing camps would afflict us for ever.

Sigh! 

What a shame my witch’s powers are just imaginary.