Somsak's European adventure

It was honesty, pure and unadulterated, when parliament president Somsak Kiatsuranont shrugged off criticisms of his nine day, seven million baht, taxpayer-funded study trip to Europe with 39 media staff and close aides by saying that there was no hidden agenda.

There's no need for a hidden agenda. This is simply a time-honoured tradition.

When you are a phuyai in Thai society, which members of parliament are, you've earned the perks and privileges, even at the expense of taxpayers.

When society functions and interacts based on the principles of patronage, it is expected that the phuyai treat the phunoi, which includes the media, to some smacking good times, and, of course, perhaps learn something in the process; these are study trips after all.

This relationship is important, because politicians want reporters to write wonderful things about them, so pampering them is, of course, the right strategy. And the opposite holds true: A reporter is only as good as his or her sources, so maintain that relationship and enjoy the perks that come with it.

Ethically, however, reporters are obliged to be impartial and not write wonderful things about politicians in return for ''study trip'' pampering, or any other sort of favour. And there are many ways in which politicians pamper reporters.

Most reporters would not compromise on ethics, but let's dig deeper into the dilemma. Might not all the pampering and favours, as well as the relationship that has been forged, deter reporters from exposing the wrongdoings of his or her political patron?

This simply depends on each individual reporter and his or her conscience, but bear in mind the cultural values of boon khun, or gratitude, and nae ra khun, betrayal.

Every fiscal year government agencies receive funds for study trips, courtesy of the taxpayers. For example, in January of this year Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra asked government departments and agencies to cut their spending by 10 per cent to allocate more funds for flood relief efforts. But in the end several government organisations, including parliament as a whole, increased their overall budget. In fact, the parliament added 50 million baht of taxpayers' money for study trips, on top of the original allocation of 125 million tax baht, for a grand total of 175 million baht.

Taking into account that there are 35 parliamentary committees, that's approximately five million baht per committee for study trips. Now, I'm only giving the figures for the parliament, not other agencies, because too many numbers give me a headache.

There are two points here.

First, study trips are a routine matter with every government. They provide deserved privileges to the phuyai, while upholding and strengthening the social and professional bonds with the phunoi.

It's a matter of connections and relationships under the patronage system.

The second point is that people just don't seem to listen to the prime minister. Where's big brother when she needs him?

The itinerary for the parliament trip - England, France and Belgium, Sunday night's premier English Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United, foreign government and media headquarters, shopping, eating and nice accommodation - is nothing new.

In fact, it is all quite normal, except perhaps for the footie matches, which are supposedly being funded by the Siam Sport Company anyway, not taxpayers.

If an entourage of personal aides, wives, children and friends was on board that too would be nothing new.

Posting trip photos with one's wife and daughters shopping gaily on Facebook isn't anything new either, nor is taking them down quickly once someone makes a comment like ''Hey, wait a second, isn't that trip on taxpayers money?''

I fondly remember reporters saying the greatest accomplishment of a particular female minister from a previous government, who was in fact a nominee of her husband, was taking reporters on so many shopping trips abroad on taxpayers' money.

There's a reason why I enjoyed my lifestyle better back when I was writing about nightclubs and restaurants. Those trips were termed more matter-of-factly as media trips. I got to fly business class to destinations across the globe to basically drink and party, courtesy of the PR budget of various whisky and beer brands.

Ah, the good old days.

So when I was first invited on the parliament president's study trip, which departed last Wednesday and is due back on Thursday, my first invitation anywhere since those glorious days writing about nightclubs and restaurants, I'm not going to lie, I went "Oh yes, take me. For the love of the gods, take me!"

Of course, there was that tiny, microscopic pang of guilt that the trip wasn't on the PR budget of some whisky or beer brands, but instead on taxpayers' money - I am one of about only two million people in my beloved Kingdom who actually pays income tax.

But really, this is a small point.

What prompted a change of mind was that the nine-day trip would cause a couple of Sunday columns to be missed, and everyone knows if that happens the conveyer belt of the universe would cease to function, throwing the entire solar system into chaos, leading to the extinction of not just mankind, but any extraterrestrial life forms that might exist out there.

And everyone would blame me, so we cannot have that.

The Premier League match wouldn't be missed, since I'm the only Thai male who doesn't watch football. (You have my permission to use that as a line when picking up a girl.)

Lunch at the Four Seasons in Bayswater won't be missed, because they have a branch at Siam Paragon, and really, what's the big deal, it's just khao nha ped.

The biggest reason why missing out on the trip didn't cause much regret is that the itinerary doesn't include any drunken parties.

Of course, I am saddened to miss out on learning new theories on flood management and witnessing the trials and tribulations of that dysfunctional family called the EU parliament.

But I'll survive.

Let me reiterate, study trips are a normal, time-honoured tradition that serve the cultural values of perks and privileges and maintain harmonious social relationships between phu yai and phu noi at the expense of taxpayers. All of this is part of the patronage system.

There's no hidden agenda here.

Now if we want to upset this tradition and shake things up a bit, is there something we can do? Yes, of course, it's so easy.

Those in the media can simply turn down all invitations from government agencies to go on taxpayer-funded trips abroad. Just say no.

See now, more people are going to be angry with me.

Contact Voranai Vanijaka via email at voranaiv@bangkokpost.co.th.

Share your thoughts

Discussion 1 : 24/09/2012 at 01:09 PM
"Most reporters would not compromise on ethics"? You're kidding me, right?
Discussion 2 : 23/09/2012 at 10:01 PM
So what’s news; haven’t we heard enough of this sort of “discovery” about senior “public servants” who were suppose to be exemplary in their conducts. In a democratic society, beside the opposition parties, news media are duty bound to scrutinize political parties / public servants to ensure they serve the interests of the people. However, if there are too many embedded news people around, we often get sanitized version of their “misdeeds”.
Discussion 3 : 23/09/2012 at 06:43 PM
Sorry folks, the argument 'others do it too' doesn't shake out when your alleged political platform is anti-amart and social justice. PTP are a bunch of frauds claiming to be the "people's party" when in reality they are elitists themselves simply using gullible poor folks to propel their agenda forward.
Discussion 4 : 23/09/2012 at 06:37 PM
So after all this hand wringing about the horrible elitist Amart, all Peua Thai has turned into is a bunch of much more overt high rolling frauds, living the high life off of public funds while their still very dirt poor, uneducated followers rot in the sun every time the paymaster needs some PR support. How progressive!
Discussion 5 : 23/09/2012 at 05:40 PM
Disc32 DomDunn - "I wonder why the Bangkok Post didn't reveal the details of this trip when they were first sent to VV, it would have been a scoop." And give Peua Thai a chance to pull the trip before it happened? It's a scoop now, rather than rumour of a possible junket. "It would be interesting to know if the Bangkok Post has ever allowed any of its journalists to accompany politicians on foreign study trips and if so which politicians were involved." is a very poor way of you trying to shift the stain of impropriety away from Peua Thai. Don't worry, though, I'm here to ensure we stay focussed on another of Peua Thai's shady deals.
Discussion 6 : 23/09/2012 at 05:35 PM
Disc25 - DomDunn - Rather than telling me how 'all governments do it' and how 'other people are corrupt' why not for ONE SINGLE SOLITARY occasion, condemn immoral behaviour? Go on!! Try it! See if you can bring yourself to criticise one iota of Peua Thai's behaviour.
Discussion 7 : 23/09/2012 at 05:17 PM
to comet disc 23. Uk mps yes claimed money they shouldnt but they have been ordered to pay this back with some recieving criminal punishment! some however were legally right just morally wrong and also paid back. Also the amount of money was NOTHING campared to the corruption in thailand so maybe you should go and research abit more before you try comparing the uk on a forum about thailand!
Discussion 8 : 23/09/2012 at 04:17 PM
I wonder why the Bangkok Post didn't reveal the details of this trip when they were first sent to VV, it would have been a scoop. It would be interesting to know if the Bangkok Post has ever allowed any of its journalists to accompany politicians on foreign study trips and if so which politicians were involved.
Discussion 9 : 23/09/2012 at 02:33 PM
D27 : There is no Gift Tax in Thailand .There is no wealth tax in Thailand. If you are MP then there is a limit to which amount you can receive in present, but can't remember the actual value, and of course the companies or institutions that the participants of the group belonged to may have specific rules for their employees as well that they have to adhere to.
Discussion 10 : 23/09/2012 at 02:24 PM
Europe with its austerity measures (for the common people) is perhaps the more interesting destination for a study trip on spending in this context.
Discussion 11 : 23/09/2012 at 02:03 PM
Just a tiny little thing I didn't read about on this forum: How did these people fly to Europe? With Thai International? How many in Economy, in Business, and in First Class? At 'normal' rates, or 'Free'? Thai is a public company, so that's tax payers money too (the more so when the company makes losses). I'm sure there must be records of this. Any 'jorno' interested in digging into the 'specials' granted to politicians (and family, staff, and mianois) on the National airline? I don't say this is new stuff, but as the country has now a government 'by the people and for the people', one should expect better ethics and accountability! Quod non... Why?
Discussion 12 : 23/09/2012 at 01:35 PM
Somsak's European adventure or Somsak's European vacation?
Discussion 13 : 23/09/2012 at 12:46 PM
The list of all participants of this trip, and I guess on similar trips, is public. So the public should demand to hear what exactly happened on these trips. Maybe the journalists who joined these trips can publish all the interviews which they made at the trips with the politicians about the details – there must have been many many interviews, why else would the journalists officially be asked to join the politicians? And then there is the income tax issue. I am not sure about Thailand but in many other countries every taxpayer has to pay taxes on big gifts they receive. So I guess every participant has to pay income tax for a trips worth 100,000B or more.
Discussion 14 : 23/09/2012 at 12:40 PM
As always the article is clear, sceptical and may be even properly "sarky" but the politicos do not care - especially the Absent Brother who thinks his money will get him anywhere, even back here (and it has done pretty well so far). Family, cronies, lawyers, crawlers will continue to come up with "reasons" for his rehabilitation.
Discussion 15 : 23/09/2012 at 12:37 PM
englishbob D15 Though you are undoubtedly correct about the true purpose of this trip and saying that it is for study is a lie (though not a white lie), as VV points out, all governments do it not just "PT piggies" and not just Thai governments.
Discussion 16 : 23/09/2012 at 12:03 PM
Have people forgotten how Thaksin when PM made sure millions of baht in advertising went to the papers that supported him and tried to discourage advertising in those that didn't?
Discussion 17 : 23/09/2012 at 11:59 AM
D.14 Nongrong J. Probably you missed the news about the MPs of UK. UK MPs are not different.Google (MPs' expenses in detail) it, if you want to read details. Only diffenece i find is that, some are less shameful and others are more.
Discussion 18 : 23/09/2012 at 11:56 AM
Press junkets have always been a dilemma for journalists, this I have personally experienced. In this case, the group included political lectures which is more sinister. As to parliament increasing the junket budget by 50%, this might be justified by the need for all these committees to go on 'study' trips to Dubai, which is all the pesky fault of the 'politically motivated' judiciary eh?
Discussion 19 : 23/09/2012 at 11:27 AM
With K. Voranai's integrity, inteligence and love of the country, we are better of if he were the Speaker of the House instead of the shameless S.
Discussion 20 : 23/09/2012 at 11:18 AM
Firstly, Khun Voranai, thank you very much for giving priority to the universe and our solar system so that mankind and extraterrestrial life do not become extinct. The man in Dubai will be relieved too. Secondly, thank you for having the integrity not to be bought by corrupt politicians, which was no doubt their main intention for inviting the Media. Thirdly, thank you for being critical of the obsolete and hopelessly corrupt patronage system, which is holding Thailand back in the modern equivalent of the Dark Ages. There is still hope that Thailand will be free of its rusty chains and cobwebbed upholders one day soon.
Discussion 21 : 23/09/2012 at 10:51 AM
". . . what are we in power for?" Will this be a new PTP slogan as catchy as PTP leader's " . . . It is cool to be corrupt " I think I'll sign up to join PTP and the Reds from iPhone application.
Discussion 22 : 23/09/2012 at 10:49 AM
In a democratic society this is considered a perk,and a gift,it is taxable have any of the "party" paid tax on it?.No because I suspect its written into the constitution that parliament came up with thinking about themselves when it was written. In the UK such trips are paid for by the so called guests and that in turn helps pay for the trip.Stop kidding yourself the idea of taking these people is meant to placate and to secure good press as it has done, also making Somsak look big.I can do anything and get away with it syndrome.
Discussion 23 : 23/09/2012 at 10:21 AM
A nice tongue in cheek article. An interesting question is who actually "owns" tax money. Does it belong to the government and its agents, or does it belong to the people, who allow the government to use it on their behalf. If only a few millions pay tax, can the rest, the majority, have the right to decide how it is used?
Discussion 24 : 23/09/2012 at 09:55 AM
You reading this are the reason this is allowed to continue .Stop letting politicians waste money on corruption .Start making them be accountable or this shameless disgusting behavior will continue .
Discussion 25 : 23/09/2012 at 09:54 AM
Disc3 John - Another non-point? It's getting to be a habit now. The point of the trip isn't study (and I dare you to write that it is), so it's another white lie from the PT piggies. The point of the trip is to curry favour with the media. Khun Voranai is one of the only English language journalists who writes balanced pieces in which both government and opposition are in the crosshairs. His invitation was an attempt to shift those crosshairs off PT and Thaksin and more onto Dems. Thank you, K Voranai for having the integrity to refuse the bribe.
Discussion 26 : 23/09/2012 at 09:45 AM
Another excellent article by Kun Voranai Vanijaka. This attitude amongst Thais about perks for position is counter-productive. If an MP did this in UK he'd be slaughtered.
Discussion 27 : 23/09/2012 at 09:08 AM
Excellent article Khun Voranai. I hope your life insurance is fully paid up!
Discussion 28 : 23/09/2012 at 09:07 AM
In an opinion column, it is not relevant if the author is biased or not, because it is only an opinion. But when reporting facts about various government related issues, we all know in which direction the BP leans. Maybe this is one of the reasons the author turned down the invite?
Discussion 29 : 23/09/2012 at 08:17 AM
Excellent reading, but why do you say study trips provide deserved privileges to the phuyai? This was a junket in the guise of a study trip on taxpayers money. Why did they deserve it? And why was parliament president Somsak Kiatsuranont absent from his job? The only thing he deserves is 'the boot'.
Discussion 30 : 23/09/2012 at 08:15 AM
Reality is MP go on junkets. What made this a story was the thoughtlessness (or ineptness) of the excuse - to study water management - although this seems to have changed along the way. A simple 'we are off to study the Parliamentary systems in various European democracies' would have made this a non story.
Discussion 31 : 23/09/2012 at 07:41 AM
As one of those to million taxpayers mentioned in the article, I sure would like to have a say in how my taxes are spent. But I cannot. At the very least, we taxpayers should receive a "thank you" card (instead of the shaft).
Discussion 32 : 23/09/2012 at 07:34 AM
Maybe one reason for missing the trip is that you would be obliged to write something about the truth that simply wasn't true and that wouldn't be the true Voranai. What is troubling is none of the media saw this an opportunity to expose the truth of this trip, perhaps out of fear for their own livelihood? Most of Thailand has been corrupted, media accepting free trips at the taxpayers expense and then writing fictious tales are just another corrupt part of an overly corrupt society. What ever people can get at the expense of someone else is the norm these days in Thailand.
Discussion 33 : 23/09/2012 at 07:29 AM
I thought I read that they turned down your request to be included Khun V. Is it because they know you can't be bought?
Discussion 34 : 23/09/2012 at 06:48 AM
Thanks to K. Voranai for saying what needs to be said. It would obviously be all the harder to do if he were beholding to the mob on the hill. If only his brave and honest voice could start a snowball we may yet live to see effective social change in Thailand. For those who defend and apologize for the crooks and thugs who dress up in new clothes of democracy I would say, "take off your rose-coloured glasses".
Discussion 35 : 23/09/2012 at 06:27 AM
Be careful some foreigners may die of heart attacks reading this.
Discussion 36 : 23/09/2012 at 06:14 AM
Khun Voranai, I believe even you could have accepted invitation and let some one else run your column for two weeks, when your return your comment about the study tour will be all the facts.How the entourage enjoy the shopping, the ball game , the sightseeing , eating ,drinking at resturants even just duck over rice dish would make them talk about it for weeks or months. But when it boils down to the study they suppose to have crashcourse included in this 9 days you will find yourself in shock if they bring back the water managments they learn(if they ever learn) in such a short time and put it up on the shelve and claim it can't be done. You turned down this invitation show that your conscience is stronger than many other media members.I admire you for that.
Discussion 37 : 23/09/2012 at 05:37 AM
"Sathit Pitutacha, a member of the Democrat Party's executive board, said...the media members invited on the trip were not parliament journalists. They were pro-government journalists, columnists and academics who had been attacking the Democrats" - BangkokPost, 22/09/2012 I didn't know that Voranai is a Thaksin loving red shirt!
Discussion 38 : 23/09/2012 at 05:07 AM
Sooo, ultimately, if the people in charge want to cut down on the number of others bringing up a smell test, you just give them an opportunity to pick up a little stink themselves. I'm afraid this is just another story to point out that stink is woven into the fabric of Thai culture and therefore, unavoidable and unlikely to ever change.
Discussion 39 : 23/09/2012 at 03:55 AM
Sorry for you having missed the party Voranai. But - on the bright side - you have kept your self respect and your friends and readers. And don't worry there won't be many (new) people angry at you now, those that go will go anyway, those that won't go know why.

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