A survey released today in Bangkok shows that nearly two out of three Thais are quite ready to accept gifts or money in exchange for their votes. Eight of 10 would not even report election corruption.
The Abac Poll of Assumption University would seem to show that attempts by interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont to eliminate vote-buying during the upcoming general election are likely to be fruitless.
Abac Poll director Noppadol Kannikar said the poll was conducted among 3,758 eligible voters in 14 provinces nationwide between October 15 -20.
Some 64.6 per cent of the respondents said they were willing to accept bribes in exchange for their votes in the December 23 election.
Just 35.4 per cent of the respondents said they would not accept bribes or favours in exchange for their votes.
Even more worrying, 83 per cent of respondents said they would not inform the Election Commission or concerned officials of vote-buying practices even if they had evidence.
Exactly two-thirds recognised that vote-buying in Thailand has now reached its most critical point ever.
Only 51.9 per cent of the respondents said they would consider both political party policies and the qualifications and personalities of the candidates before casting their ballots, while 28 per cent said they would give preferential attention to the candidates themselves.
Just 20.1 per cent indicated they would make their decision based on party policy platforms.
Source : Bangkok Post
Thought : There you have it, Thais don't give a rats about politics and may the richest party win!
Survey: Two thirds of Thais would take a bribe
Survey: Two thirds of Thais would take a bribe
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
-
Randy Cornhole
- Rock Star
- Posts: 3701
- Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2005 5:01 pm
- Location: London
- Contact:
From the elections I’ve seen up in Issan, most of the candidates were handing out money and just about everybody was accepting it, but the ballots were still secret so actually there was no way of guaranteeing that people gave the votes they had been paid for.
Apparently it’s normal to take money off multiple candidates, and obviously only one of them gets the vote.
Apparently it’s normal to take money off multiple candidates, and obviously only one of them gets the vote.
-
Guess
- Deceased
- Posts: 3470
- Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2005 3:01 pm
- Location: BangSaphan. Laurasia. Sub thumb
I have often pondered that one as most people do vote in secret themselves. I guess some may vote for who paid them in fear of reprisals if they were found out.STEVE G wrote:From the elections I’ve seen up in Issan, most of the candidates were handing out money and just about everybody was accepting it, but the ballots were still secret so actually there was no way of guaranteeing that people gave the votes they had been paid for.
Apparently it’s normal to take money off multiple candidates, and obviously only one of them gets the vote.
There are also cases of representatives collecting voting papers from villagers in exchange for cash. This obviously requires a higher level of corruption but it happens.
I think I have already said before that if these figures related to a sub Saharan African nation you would have blue helmets at every polling station.
But as JohnnyK says its no worse than the west. The British system, although seemingly devoid of corruption at a major level, has major flaws and in reality the government is decided by the 20% of voters who have most recently become eligible. (i.e 18 - 22 year olds). I have nothing against that group but there needs and wishes are way off the majority view and they can be marketed to very easily by right & left wing media companies.
Democracy doesn't work but just happens to be the least of many evils in many countries.
[color=blue][size=134]Care in the community success story.[/size][/color]
If i was dirt poor and knew that every party on the ballot had broken all promises and done jack crap for me for the last 50 years whilst sticking their own noses in the trough i would take the money and spoil my ballot paper as well
By the way steve G they were throwing money around down here just as much
oh and using mobile phones to photo ballot papers for proof was why they turned the booths round
By the way steve G they were throwing money around down here just as much
oh and using mobile phones to photo ballot papers for proof was why they turned the booths round
A Greatfull Guest of Thailand
This is exactly why the political and economic state of this country is in the crapper.
Until something is done about education it will remain in the crapper as far as I can see.
The poor get poorer and the fatcats buy football clubs.
Until something is done about education it will remain in the crapper as far as I can see.
The poor get poorer and the fatcats buy football clubs.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
BANGKOK (AFP) — Thailand's political parties Thursday took an oath at the country's most sacred Buddhist temple that next month's elections would be free of the rampant vote-buying which afflicted previous polls.
Leaders and candidates from political parties took part in the ceremony at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha inside Bangkok's Grand Palace and in similar ceremonies at seven other cities across the country.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, front runner to be Thailand's next leader after the December 23 polls, and senior politicians from eight other parties swore they would not breach election law.
The Emerald Buddha, which according to legend was carved from a block of jade in 43 BC, is regarded by Thais as the most sacred Buddha image -- and breaking an oath made before it would result in bad karma.
Suthipon Thaweechaiyagarn, secretary general of Election Commission which organised the ceremony -- the first in Thailand -- said the government had made curbing vote-buying a priority.
"So today's ceremony is held to create awareness among politicians and parties who play a key role in the elections not to engage in vote buying," he said.
Suthiphon then led election commission officials to swear that they would organise free and fair and transparent elections, which are intended to return Thailand to democracy following last year's military coup.
Although the Election Commission has imposed strict campaign rules, vote-buying is widely practiced among rural Thais under traditional patronage.
Vote buyers could face up to 10 years in prison while voters who accept money face jail terms of between one and five years.
But ensuring clean elections could still be an uphill struggle, as according to a survey published in the Bangkok Post on Monday, two-thirds of Thais believe there will be vote-buying in their constituencies.
A poll by Assumption University during general elections in 2005 found that votes cost an average of about 500 baht (16 dollars), but as much as 2,000 baht around Bangkok.
Leaders and candidates from political parties took part in the ceremony at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha inside Bangkok's Grand Palace and in similar ceremonies at seven other cities across the country.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, front runner to be Thailand's next leader after the December 23 polls, and senior politicians from eight other parties swore they would not breach election law.
The Emerald Buddha, which according to legend was carved from a block of jade in 43 BC, is regarded by Thais as the most sacred Buddha image -- and breaking an oath made before it would result in bad karma.
Suthipon Thaweechaiyagarn, secretary general of Election Commission which organised the ceremony -- the first in Thailand -- said the government had made curbing vote-buying a priority.
"So today's ceremony is held to create awareness among politicians and parties who play a key role in the elections not to engage in vote buying," he said.
Suthiphon then led election commission officials to swear that they would organise free and fair and transparent elections, which are intended to return Thailand to democracy following last year's military coup.
Although the Election Commission has imposed strict campaign rules, vote-buying is widely practiced among rural Thais under traditional patronage.
Vote buyers could face up to 10 years in prison while voters who accept money face jail terms of between one and five years.
But ensuring clean elections could still be an uphill struggle, as according to a survey published in the Bangkok Post on Monday, two-thirds of Thais believe there will be vote-buying in their constituencies.
A poll by Assumption University during general elections in 2005 found that votes cost an average of about 500 baht (16 dollars), but as much as 2,000 baht around Bangkok.
