Give the junta credit where it's due

Like Richard Bowler, I am a sceptic when it comes to official pledges on eradicating corruption in government. However, I am prepared to give credit where it is due.

First, during its year in power, this interim government has already overseen the arrests of many police generals and civil servants on corruption charges. That fact should gratify even hardened sceptics – and also deter any officials tempted by opportunities for graft. The number of arrests might not be great, but it represents a significant increase on the almost zero arrests for corruption in the decade before this government.

Second, while the coup leader is empowered under Article 44 of the interim charter with discretionary authority that even covers death by firing squad, he has used it wisely to untie the many knots hindering the corruption purge.

Third, though many corruption cases are excluded from forgiveness for the ban on past politicians but one of them is meaningful enough: Thaksin Shinawatra’s guilt on land purchase.

Fourth, the scepticism on the draft constitution in encouraging a coalition government is meek when almost all European countries were many times governed under coalitions. We have tried the Anglo-Saxon two-party system since 1932. It may be refreshing to be different now.

Finally, being corruption-free seems against human nature. Corruption is reported everywhere like FIFA or in countries like United Kingdom, United States and all other English-speaking countries. So the extent of this junta having done so far of many right things is a good benchmark for me now to tell them to roll on. 

I do admire sceptics but not those habitual sceptics who ignore others’ achievements. 

Songdej Praditsmanont