Democracy, rule of law and the rice scheme's stolen billions
Play
It is some irony that as the Charter Drafting Committee is working for "democracy", the perpetrators of perhaps the greatest national fraud ever are simultaneously enjoying full liberty and their ill-gotten gains.
Worse, taxpayers and bond buyers are expected to reimburse the country for its Bt800-billion budget black hole. That’s salt in the wound.
Democracy is about the law and its enforcement. A very comprehensive report on the rice-pledging scheme has been produced. If the present government seriously wishes to establish democracy it should start by applying the law. With the tax-paying victims being punished while the criminals roam free with their swag, the NCPO are losing all credibility. The reform to democracy should start now with the confiscation of the stolen billions and those guilty being brought to book.
Democracy is not academic opinion or simply a word: it is an applied system of government. It’s time to start the application.
JC Wilcox
