Solemn promises that ought never to be broken

In a highly unusual ceremony repeated across the country and at our embassies and consulates overseas on November 22, all government officials made a series of pledges in front of portraits of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha led 4,000 officials at Government House though the ritual intended to honour the late monarch, in an event broadcast nationally, and their words were echoed in sombre oath-taking ceremonies elsewhere.
It has long been customary for members of incoming governments and new Cabinet ministers and justices to assemble before portraits of the King – or in his presence when it was possible – to formally promise to obey the law as they carried out their assigned duties. What made last week’s events unusual, apart from the sad circumstances compelling this renewal of oaths, was the nature of the promises made.
In addition to pledging allegiance to all of the Chakri Dynasty monarchs, the participants promised to respect the law and preserve the environment while utilising natural resources in a balanced and sustainable way. They vowed to be virtuous and upstanding in their public and personal lives as they help steer the country towards a peaceful future, and to pursue lifelong learning in the interest of contributing to national progress.
In a nod to the stated aims of the post-coup military-led administration, the officials dedicated themselves to national reforms and, interestingly enough, to democratic government under a constitutional monarchy – based on “legal principles and good governance for the benefit and happiness of the Thai people”. To this end they promised to carry on King Bhumibol’s efforts to assure the country of long-term stability and prosperity.
This was probably the first time Thailand has seen so many of its public officials pledge to assist in national reforms in support of democratic governments. Listeners can be forgiven if they viewed the proceedings with varying degrees of scepticism. It would be naive to expect that all of the participants will remain completely true to their pledges. The intent of the ceremonies, rather, was likely to inspire ordinary citizens to place more trust in their public servants and perhaps follow suit in working for the betterment of society.
Seen in this regard, the oath-taking rites cannot be faulted per se. However, it now falls to those who made the pledges to keep their word and to the public to make sure that they do. 
For the government officials, surely the still-raw emotions of our national loss add enormously to the sense of promises so weighted they can never be broken or compromised. To yield ground on those vows would directly dishonour the great King and invite dire spiritual (or psychological) consequences. It is for the leaders of government, at every ministry and foreign mission, to ensure that no one goes astray.
The timing of these ceremonies so soon after His Majesty’s death could be the key to their success in curbing official graft. Similar oaths are taken upon assuming office, and yet few observers expect them to be universally honoured. To be sure, if those taking the oaths stayed true to them – shunning temptation and avoiding criminality – Thailand would not be the fundamentally corrupt society it is.
For the public ever hopeful that such pledges will be kept, watchful eyes can ensure our public servants aren’t merely paying lip service to noble intentions. It is for us to make sure that people in authority act in our best collective interests, free from the allure of our self-serving bribery. Meanwhile a new democratic era is imminent, with checks and balances to be reintroduced, the better to monitor the workings of government and the keeping of promises.