Corruption Scandals in Thailand are Just the Tip by Phairath Khampha 6 December 2002 A poll in Thailand found that scams perpetrated by politicians and government officials and the military had eroded the government's credibility; 72 percent of Thais have lost all faith in the government and social institutions. Driven by greed and power, politicians are the real culprits behind the graft scandals plaguing the current Thaksin Shinawatra administration, the opinion poll released on December 1, 2002 said. An overwhelming majority of the 1,551 people who responded to the Abac poll said politicians were behind all major graft cases over the previous two years. Between 66 and 87 per cent of respondents said rogue politicians were responsible for irregularities relating to procurement, overseas job placement and agricultural pledging to boost prices. Eighty-five per cent said they suspected that the scandals that had come to light were just the tip of the iceberg and 72 per cent said they had lost all trust in politicians. Another 78 per cent said that as a result of the litany of scandals they had lost confidence in the government's policy-making process and that Prime Minister Thaksin was seen as evil, greedy and corrupt. The majority of respondents--76 per cent--called on the government to act swiftly in bringing rogue politicians to justice. But most were doubtful such politicians would ever be charged because they just paid off the judiciary and members of bodies responsible with curbing corruption. The survey listed greed as the root cause of politicians' corruption, followed by a feeling of superiority and arrogance fuelled by power, legal loopholes, a lack of effective checks, and the attempt to recover lavish campaign spending. Among proposed measures to stamp out corruption respondents suggested permanent bans from politics, stricter law enforcement, promotion of ethics among youth, an end to vote-buying and decentralisation aimed at improving checks and balances. Meanwhile in Chiang Mai, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Prapat Panyachatraksa called a press conference on the same day to dismiss allegations by opposition MPs that he was involved in irregularities concerning a government-financed longan price prevention programme in four northern provinces. "I have dedicated myself to protect the interest of farmers, with no intention to make any personal gains," he said. Banharn Silapa-archa, the corrupt leader of coalition partner Chat Thai Party and also known as the godfather of Suphan Buri Province because he and his family control most of the illegal rackets there, said that he did not think it was fair for government ministers to shoulder responsibility for all the irregularities committed in the ministries under their supervision. Of course he would say that otherwise he would have to answer for all his ill-gotten wealth. "A minister's duty is to ensure government policies are implemented. They should not be blamed for wrongdoing committed by permanent officials," he said. Democrat and opposition leader Chuan Leekpai, a former Thai prime minister, said that party MPs would continue scrutinising the government despite threat of legal action by certain Cabinet members.