National Integrity Systems Transparency International Country Study Report Thailand 2006 National Integrity Systems Country Study 2006 Authors Dr. Ora-orn Poocharoen Lecturer, Director of the Political Science PhD Program, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University Dr. Ake Tangsupvattana Associate Professor, Deputy Dean for Academic and International Affairs, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University Research Assistant Arunee Santhitiwanich Researcher, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University The National Integrity Systems TI Country Study Report of Thailand is part of a 2006 series of National Integrity System Country Studies of East and Southeast Asia made possible with funding from: Sovereign Global Development The Starr Foundation The Council for the Korean Pact on Anti-Corruption and Transparency United Kingdom Department for International Development All material contained in this report was believed to be accurate as of 2006. Every effort has been made to verify the information contained herein, including allegations. Nevertheless, Transparency International does not accept responsibility for the consequences of the use of this information for other purposes or in other contexts. © 2006 Transparency International Transparency International Secretariat Alt Moabit 96 10559 Berlin Germany http://www.transparency.org Thailand 2 National Integrity Systems Country Study 2006 Acknowledgements This report would not have been possible without the assistance of many people. The authors would especially like to thank Dr. Juree Vichit-Vadakan (TI-Thailand), Dr. Kanokkan Anukansai (TI- Thailand), Rosana Tositrakul (NGO), Dr. Ammar Siamwalla (TDRI), Dr. Somkiat Tangkitvanich (TDRI), Dr. Jirawan Bhakdiputra, Prasong Lertrattanawisut (media), Somluk Hutanulak, Benjamas Siripak, Noppadol Themmatha (police), Chairat Khanittabutr (NCCC) and Gecha Chechay (Ombudman Office). We would also like to thank Associate Professor Dr. Bidhya Bowornwathana, Professor Dr. Jaras Suwanmala and Associate Professor Wanchai Meechart at the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University, for their various informal inputs to this report. There are also many other individuals who have provided information for this report. We cannot mention all but would like to thank everyone who contributed. Thailand 3 National Integrity Systems Country Study 2006 Contents Acknowledgements.......................................................................................................... 3 List of Tables.................................................................................................................... 5 List of Figures .................................................................................................................. 5 Abbreviations................................................................................................................... 6 What Is the NIS?............................................................................................................. 7 Why Conduct NIS Country Studies? ................................................................................... 7 Methodology of the NIS Country Studies ............................................................................ 7 Executive Summary ......................................................................................................... 8 Corruption Profile .......................................................................................................... 12 Anti-Corruption Activities............................................................................................... 15 Executive ..................................................................................................................... 17 Legislature ................................................................................................................... 19 Political Parties.............................................................................................................. 20 Electoral Commission..................................................................................................... 22 Supreme Audit Institution .............................................................................................. 23 Judiciary ...................................................................................................................... 24 Civil Service ................................................................................................................. 28 Law Enforcement Agencies ............................................................................................. 31 Public Contracting System .............................................................................................. 33 Ombudsman ................................................................................................................. 35 Anti-Corruption Agencies................................................................................................ 37 Media .......................................................................................................................... 39 Civil Society.................................................................................................................. 41 Business Sector ............................................................................................................ 43 Local Governments........................................................................................................ 44 International Institutions................................................................................................ 45 Evaluation of the NIS ..................................................................................................... 47 References ..................................................................................................................... 49 Books and Papers .......................................................................................................... 49 Thailand 4 National Integrity Systems Country Study 2006 List of Tables Table 1: Corruption Cases in the Customs Department 1998–2004 ......................................... 13 Table 2: Annual Budget of the Courts .................................................................................. 26 Table 3: Budget of the Administrative Court by Revenue Source ............................................. 26 Table 4: Personnel of the Administrative Court ..................................................................... 27 Table 5: Budget of Public Sector Agencies............................................................................ 29 Table 6: Budget of Law Enforcement Agencies (millions of baht) ............................................. 32 Table 7: Budget of the Ombudsman .................................................................................... 35 Table 8: Cases filed with the Ombudsman............................................................................ 37 Table 9: Budget of Anti-Corruption Agencies (millions of baht) ............................................... 39 List of Figures Figure 1: Structure of the Judiciary in Thailand .................................................................... 25 Figure 2: Governing Structure of Thailand........................................................................... 44 Currency The currency in Thailand is the Thai baht (THB) and the rate of the baht to the US dollar in January 2007 was approximately THB 100 to US$2.80. Thailand 5 National Integrity Systems Country Study 2006 Abbreviations ADB Asian Development Bank AMLO Anti–Money Laundering Office BOB Bureau of Budget CCPN Coordinating Committee for Primary Health Care of Thai NGOs CDR Council of Democratic Reform CG Corporate Governance CPD Campaign for Popular Democracy CSR Corporate Social Responsibility ECT Election Commission of Thailand EGAT Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand FACT Foundation for a Clean and Transparent Thailand FFC Foundation for Consumers GFMIS Government Fiscal Management Information System IMF International Monetary Fund LDI Local Development Institute MCOT Mass Communication Organisation of Thailand NCCC National Counter Corruption Commission NDI National Democratic Institute for International Affairs OAG Office of the Auditor General OCSC Office of the Civil Service Commission OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OIC Official Information Commission OPDC Office of Public Sector Development Commission PM Prime Minister PNAC People’s Network against Corruption PNET People’s Network for Elections in Thailand PTT Petroleum of Thailand Public Company Limited RDS Rural Doctor Society SEC Securities and Exchange Commission TRT Thai Rak Thai Party UCL Union for Civil Liberties Thailand 6 National Integrity Systems Country Study 2006 About the NIS Country Studies What Is the NIS? The National Integrity System encompasses the key institutions, sectors or specific activities (the ‘pillars’) that contribute to integrity, transparency and accountability in a society. When it functions properly, the NIS combats corruption as part of the larger struggle against abuse of power, malfeasance and misappropriation in all its forms. Strengthening the NIS is about promoting better governance across all aspects of society. The concept of the NIS has been developed and promoted by Transparency International as part of TI’s holistic approach to combating