Doing Good Deed is Difficult, Whistleblowing Becomes Risky Endeavor
จากไชต์: Office of The National Anti - Corruption Commission (ONACC)
จำนวนผู้เข้าชม: 559
By Rakpa U-Suwan HAND Social Enterprise
"As you reap, so shall you sow"—this age-old saying teaches us that good deeds bring good returns, while malicious actions yield undesirable outcomes. Do you agree with this moral adage? If so, let's examine this saying in the context of corruption issues in our country. Do you still hold the same belief?
Corruption is increasingly becoming the root cause of various social issues in Thailand. Day by day, the corruption problem grows more severe and complex. Alternatively, one could argue that perpetrators are becoming increasingly sophisticated in covering up evidence and manipulating wrongdoings into appearing as rightful actions. This makes the investigation and evidence gathering for legal proceedings against these fraudsters increasingly challenging. To enhance the effectiveness of government operations, the public can play a crucial role as a "whistleblower," vigilantly monitoring, inspecting, and reporting corruption or any unjust activities that harm the interest of an organization or the public good.
Experts from the central legal information center at the Office of the Council of State, have indicated that "a whistleblower is akin to an essential cog that helps to curb corruption and plays a critical role in preventing and suppressing illegal activities." However, even then, whistleblowers may face risks such as prosecution, threats, or intimidation for exposing the information of wrongdoers to the public or providing evidence to relevant agencies for investigation. Therefore, ensuring the protection of whistleblowers is an important mechanism to build confidence, assuring whistleblowers that they will be safeguarded for the benefits they bring to society.
"In order to encourage the public to bravely act as whistleblowers for righteousness, the state must effectively design and enforce laws that provide protection and motivation for reporting corruption."
In many countries, there are laws protecting whistleblowers that offer comprehensive coverage to ensure the safety of the "whistleblower" after revealing information. Each country has different legal details regarding this protection. In the United States, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 (WPEA) covers the protection of current or former government officials. In England, the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 provides protections that cover state officials, state employees, private sector employees, contractors, and trainees. Additionally, in the Asian region like South Korea, there is the Public Interest Whistleblower Protection Act (PPIWA) which offers protections that include state officials, private employees, and even foreign employees of Korean companies, including those working abroad. There are also financial rewards, medical assistance, and compensation for loss offered to whistleblowers.
When looking back at whistleblower protection in Thailand, it is found that currently there is no specific law protecting whistleblowers. However, the protection for witnesses in corruption cases is often cited. Even the 2003 Witness Protection Act in Criminal Cases specifies that protection will only be given to 'witnesses', meaning individuals who can be summoned to provide facts to the state and fall under the judicial process. On the contrary, whistleblowers who only want to anonymously report information and do not wish to act as witnesses will not be protected under this law, making them vulnerable to threats or intimidation from wrongdoers without clear protective measures.
So wait a minute! If doing a good deed is rewarded with such negligence, do you all still agree with the proverb mentioned earlier or not?
Earlier I argued that the proverb "As you reap, so shall you sow" serves as a moral guideline, reminding us to choose the right actions. However, I also pointed out that this proverb might be too abstract, and therefore not necessarily a guaranteed predictor of tangible outcomes based on one's actions. In order to ensure more concrete results, I suggested that there should be laws that specifically support and protect whistleblowers. The meaning of 'whistleblower' should be clearly defined, criteria for individuals protected under the law should be established, and there should be clear legal penalties as well as protective measures against unfair treatment from wrongdoers.
I believe that the public is willing to do what is right and to blow the whistle when they encounter unlawful activities. They suggest a channel for reporting suspected corruption incidents without having to reveal one's identity, through the Line chatbot "Report Fraud via Chatbot" (@Corruptionwatch) organized by the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand. This service is open to the general public and government employees. Any suspicions received will be forwarded to the National Corruption Deterrence Center for factual verification. There is also cooperation from public media networks like the "Must be Exposed" page, which helps track and present issues through social media to stimulate fact-finding.
In conclusion, I earnestly hope that one day Thai society will be free from corruption, and all sectors will collaborate together, as solving the problem of corruption cannot be done by a single individual. Thank you.
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