Protests

Pro-democracy group calls for “honest” cops to join them, as corruption exposed in parliament

Published

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 11:13

PHOTO: Thai PBS

The pro-democracy Ratsadon group is calling for “honest” police officers to join a rally taking place today to protest police and government corruption. Protesters are expected to gather at the Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok from 5pm. During last week’s no confidence debate against the PM, members of the opposition accused Prayut Chan-o-cha and his deputy, Prawit Wongsuwa, of involvement in a corrupt system of “payment for promotion” to allow police officers to move up the ranks.

The Ratsadon group is appealing to officers who have not benefited from such corruption to join them in calling it out.

“Good work, well-recognised work, but without lobbying, you will be stuck at the same place. Police, it’s time to choose whether to side with the civilians or the tyrants!”

Coconuts reports that the rally is called, “police mob to defeat an elephant” in reference to the system known as “elephant tickets”, in which prominent figures at the top of the political system sign tickets that promote officers swiftly through the ranks . It’s understood such tickets can be bought for millions of baht and even give the holder a discount on the bribe needed for promotion.

The crooked system was highlighted during last week’s parliamentary debate, with leaked documents indicating the involvement of the PM and Prawit, as well as Thailand’s highest institution. An MP from the Move Forward Party, Rangsiman Rome, was swiftly threatened with the country’s lèse majesté law after he presented a 2019 palace document which backed the promotion of 20 police officers.

Rangsiman says he’s aware of the risk he’s taking in presenting such evidence, but that the system creates a circle of immorality and corruption. He says officers have to maximise the payments taken from human trafficking and illegal gambling operations in order to afford promotion tickets.

“This is probably the most dangerous action I’ve ever taken in my life. But since people have chosen me for this duty, I will fight for them.”

SOURCE: Coconuts

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9 Comments

Toby Andrews

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 11:37 am

Any cops that turn up will lose their chance of promotion.
However an honest cop would not bribe to gain promotion anyway.

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- Galaxy
  
  Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 1:07 pm
  
  Unfortunately, they don’t exist: They are honest at the beginning and after a certain time they join the loop of corruption. Why most of them they get some profits and not me? So I go and I practice now!
  
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Slugger

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 1:18 pm

You people are corruption fixated. There must be a name for it. Maybe it reflects where you come from.

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- Pedro
  
  Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 6:14 pm
  
  Oh come on Slugger, surely even you with your strong sense of law and order and punishment for protesters, cannot condone the corruption that clearly exists in the Thai police – unless of course you are a corrupt Thai police officer trying to hide from the truth about yourself. No-one can uphold the law by breaking the law.
  
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- Boss
  
  Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 7:32 pm
  
  You seem so Slimy perhaps you should change your name from Slugger to “Slug”
  
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Issan John

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 1:36 pm

Doomed to be the least supported rally in Thai protest history – the only thing new about this is that it’s the first time anyone’s dared say so publicly and to name names.

Maybe doing so will have an effect, but it won’t bring police flocking out to support it (at least not if they can be identified).

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Tony

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 2:57 pm

An honest cop in Thailand was once said to be as rare as rocking horse shit. Good luck finding them.

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mud bucket

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 4:53 pm

funniestthing I have read all day, thanks for the laugh.

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Jim kelly

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 8:33 pm

Remember, this is the ‘ROYAL’ Thai Police.. ROYAL….. H ha ha ha ha!!

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Maya Taylor

A seasoned writer, with a degree in Creative Writing. Over ten years' experience in producing blog and magazine articles, news reports and website content.

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