Corruption in citizenship: government demands action!

Corruption in citizenship: government demands action!

The debate about citizenship and corruption in Thailand is gaining momentum. On October 8, 2023, a crucial meeting of the National Security and Border Affairs Committee was held in the Thai Parliament. Rangsima Rom, MP and deputy leader of the People's Party, spoke about the pressing issues. The focus was on speeding up the process of granting citizenship to numerous people who are entitled to it. To date, 480,000 people have been granted citizenship, but many challenges remain, particularly in certain regions and in the bureaucratic process.

Many citizens are already complaining about the corruption that occurs in the awarding of citizenship. Manp Kheeriphuwadol, another MP from the People's Party, pointed out that community leaders are often involved in corrupt activities. This is also evident in reports of bribery, where sums starting at 5,000 baht are demanded. These problems are not new; Corruption is a tailored issue that has been present in Thai politics for years. Loud Wikipedia Thailand is only rated 34 out of 100 in the 2024 Corruption Perception Index and ranks 107th out of 180 countries.

Need for improvement identified

Rangsima underlined the need to improve procedures for granting citizenship and clarify the situation of those affected. The government has already taken steps to work with a database not linked to illegal immigrants. However, this represents only part of the solution. There is a clear call for Prime Minister Anutin to take action against corruption. According to Rangsima, the responsibility to address this issue lies squarely with the government.

It is noteworthy that despite the existence of numerous institutions to combat corruption, the country remains affected by endemic practices. A survey found that 25% of business people had to pay bribes to win contracts from government agencies. Police corruption is also widespread and affects many citizens. All of this casts a shadow over the government's efforts to build trust and promote the rule of law.

Funding for solutions

Another key point of the meeting was the urgent need for specific budgetary resources to address the issues surrounding citizenship and identity status. The idea that internal administrative structures tend to encourage corruption focuses on the duty to subject the Home Office to a thorough audit.

Given that corruption in Thailand is estimated to cost up to 50-100 billion baht annually, it is high time for lasting change. The problems highlighted and reports of corruption can no longer be ignored. According to Rangsima, the call for justice and equal treatment of all those affected is essential. Only through a consistent fight against corruption can the trust of the population, which has suffered greatly in recent years, be regained.

It remains to be seen whether the government will achieve the necessary major breakthrough. But the demands for more transparency and fairness in administration are unmistakable. An important topic that will continue to concern many people in Thailand in the future.