Bangkok: The Minister of Justice, Pol. Col. Thawee Sodsong, officially opened the Anti-Corruption and Ethics Promotion Week for the fiscal year 2025, advocating for a policy of “Justice Against Corruption, Transparency, No Corruption.” He emphasized the need for newborn generations to be educated against supporting corruption and misconduct in any form. He also highlighted the responsibility of parliament, government, courts, independent organizations, and officials to educate the public on the dangers of corruption. Pol. Col. Thawee underscored the necessity for effective mechanisms to eradicate corruption in both public and private sectors and stressed the importance of campaigns that provide knowledge and protection to whistleblowers.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Col. Thawee pointed out that the rule of law indicator slightly improved from 0.49 in 2023 to 0.50 in 2024. However, the corruption indicator remained unsatisfactory at 0.46. He posed a question about reconciling the NACC’s CPI indicator w
ith the Ministry of Justice’s WJP indicator to achieve a target score increase from 35 to 49 points by 2027. He emphasized the importance of adhering to the principles of good governance, including political freedom and the people’s right to a voice, while ensuring laws align with justice and the rule of law.
Pol. Col. Thawee questioned the implications of legal awareness for ministers and expressed support for civil servants, citing a Nida Poll indicating increased public confidence in rights and freedoms. He referenced South Korea’s brief martial law declaration as an example of public mobilization and shared insights from Japan, where combating the “triangle of evil” involving politicians, civil servants, and businessmen requires social and cultural efforts. He advocated for ethical principles and religious engagement as tools for change, suggesting collaboration with religious councils for effective implementation.
The forum highlighted South Korea’s successful anti-corruption strategies, including anti
-corruption legislation and trade competition laws that curtail large companies’ power, thereby reducing corruption.