Our only chance of progress lies with our children

Corruption is often cited by coup-makers as a reason for overthrowing an elected government – they did so in the country’s last two coups in 1991 and 2006. Corruption among those in power followed by a military coup has become a vicious cycle in Thai politics. It all begins with an election. Then there is corruption. That prompts a coup.

The first coup in Thailand’s modern political history occurred in June 1932. That “revolution”, led by a group of young, foreign-educated bureaucrats, brought an end to absolute monarchy and ushered in the era of constitutional monarchy. It also led to many other changes in this country. Since then Thailand has seen 17 attempted or successful coups, up to the last one on September 19, 2006. 

Because of the last coup, which took place more than 15 years after the previous one in February 1991, no political pundit can now state with certainty there will be no more coups in this country. The only thing they can agree on is that the possibility of another coup is only slightly less when compared to a few decades ago. 

In the second half of the 20th century, when the military was more powerful politically, a coup could be staged for trivial reasons that would be considered insensible by today’s “standards”. An Army chief might stage a coup on the rumour that he had been “kicked upstairs” to become the armed forces supreme commander – a ceremonial position with no real power. A prime minister who was also field marshal and had control over the Army might stage a coup to overthrow his own government following an internal dispute. He could then set up a new Cabinet and handpick its members. 

Today, military commanders who are capable of staging a coup are aware of the many consequences they could face, including later reprisals by opposition and pro-democracy groups, boycotts and sanctions imposed by foreign governments, and possible revenge on the part of those overthrown and their supporters. 

Between coups and corruption, it is difficult to say which causes more damage to the country’s economy, dignity and opportunity to progress. Both of these ills cause massive damage to the country, although corruption is permanently pervasive at all levels of government and society. Billions upon billions of baht in taxpayers’ money are lost to corrupt politicians and bureaucrats each year, and it’s a well-known fact that private contractors have to bribe them as much as 30 per cent of a government project’s value.

Coup supporters want the country to be free of corrupt politicians, while corrupt politicians and their supporters fear losing power because of a coup. Neither coup nor corruption benefits the people or the country. They benefit and satisfy only certain groups of people. Thus, it is in the interest of the citizens of this country to work to rid society of both evils. However, it is going to be extremely difficult to break the vicious cycle of election, corruption and coup. The more difficult part is to tackle corruption, judging from the discouraging findings in some recent surveys, which show that few Thais oppose corruption if they benefit from it.

There are still so many people in this country – particularly in politics and the bureaucracy – who need to think about their sense of right and wrong. It might be too late to change those people for the better, but at the very least we must attempt to instil a moral conscience in our children, in the hope that our country will suffer less corruption in the future. 

Those who hate corruption and the damage it does should support the campaigns and projects that encourage children to be honest.