It’s just Thailand

Recent events involving the aberrant behaviour of many government officials have once again shown that the hierarchical, bureaucratic society of Thailand is not compatible with an equitable justice system.

High-ranking officials, top politicians and the very wealthy just don’t get the same treatment as the common citizen. This inequality is built into a system that not only survived the 1932 coup but stayed firmly in place for the various successive coups and attempts at reform since.

Many countries decided that equality, liberty and justice was the proper way to approach a modern society but Thailand has so far refused that option. To many young Thais it is quite obvious that a certain general doesn’t believe he should be judged and its also clear that the anti-corruption body isn’t in a position to do so.

Several high-ranking ex-politicians have avoided judgement by running off with the public believing they had official help to do so. Even when caught red-handed, officials get such lenient treatment that it beggars belief, with inactive posts, transfers or dismissal with pension being laughably suggested as punishment.

With bureaucratic officials locked in this 19th-century mindset, I see no hope for the changes necessary for Thailand to join the modern, computerised, robotic world that we are headed for.

The very mention of a lawyer, who has discussed the need to reform lese majeste, being involved with a modern political party has already brought death threats and complaints from the well-entrenched dinosaurs who still think a senior position in the military is a lifelong guarantee of riches. Surely one day things have to change. LUNGSTIB Chiang Mai