How did you start doing this job?
I was a monk until I was 25 and never had a job before. While I was a monk, I was possessed by someone who declared himself to be the Great Naga Nanthopananthanagaraj, from Buddhist legend. He told me he had to use my body to help people on Earth because it is a rule of the god-world that gods gain power by helping people. Now I work during the week and open the hermitage on weekends.

How do you perform your work?
I pray and meditate and let the Great Naga possess my body. Once he possesses me, I don’t know anything else. People who live with me, tell me later what the Great Naga has done.

How does it help people?
He gives advice to people who are in trouble. He will see what you’ve done and how to fix the problem. If people have done bad things, we will help them make merit to improve karma.

Have you ever had any other supernatural experiences?
No. Being a medium is enough.

What do other people think about your job?
They’re just amazed that I can do this. Some of my friends have also come to seek help from the Naga after finding out what I do.

Will you pass your skills onto the next generation?
I can’t. I have been destined to do this. All I do is pray and observe Buddhist precepts to keep my mind clean.

How much do you earn?
Depends on what people give me. I never ask.

What do you say to skeptics who don’t believe in your magic powers?
Hearing ten people talk isn’t the same as seeing it for yourself.

What is your philosophy?
Be honest and be patient so the gods will respect you.
Piyapong can be reached at Wihanpromprasit 086-882-3751.

Q&A: The Customer

Worasunan Kornpornpasawit, 31, admin at Siriraj Hospital tells us why she’s come to see the medium.
What problem did you come to see the medium for?
I had a problem with my younger boyfriend. I didn’t tell him at first that I already had kids. I was afraid that he would leave me. I came to see the medium to ask the Naga what I should tell my boyfriend and whether he’ll leave me.

And what did the Naga say?
The medium told me that I should tell my boyfriend and that he won’t dump me because he’s a good person. I did as the medium told me and that’s exactly what happened! So I keep coming back to see him every time I have problems I can’t figure out. I also brought my mom to see the medium, and she’s now fixed her problems, too.

How did you start doing this job?
I used to be a businessman and lecturer, but I wasn’t happy. So I started meditating and then traveled to Nepal where I found a kind of happiness I’d never known before. All my fame, money and stability in life couldn’t give me this happiness. So I began to study, both here and abroad, about human aura, meditation practices, quantum energy, before opening the Power of Life Center to help people. It looks to combine ancient and modern science to heal.

How do you perform your work?
I start by taking a picture of a person’s aura, and then I examine their problems by analyzing their aura’s color. I use a camera with a special lens that can capture aura lights. Then I advise them on how to fix their problems which includes the meditation practices we offer here. I help to treat their mind, body and spirit. Sometimes I will gather my followers to meditate in strong magnetic fields like at Stonehenge, the pyramids of Giza or the North Pole.

How does it help people?
I encourage psychological meditation to help people who have excessive stress. If they have physical problems, we also have food therapy, shocking the body’s cells, crystal bowls or even healing through the seven chakras. There was one case where our patient had a spinal curvature. She’s now better after trying several of our therapies.

Have you had any supernatural experiences?
I do astral projection where my soul travels out of my body to the other world. I have only seen brightness; it’s wonderful.

How has your work changed your life?
I went from doing everything for work and money to being able to help people.

Will you pass your skills on to the next generation?
Yes, I have so many followers now.

How much do you earn?
It’s hard to say because I wear several hats. But as for the center, you have to be pay B1,000 for membership, B700 for a photo of your aura. Other therapies vary in price.

How much of your talent is training and how much is a natural gift?
It’s both. I think training is important to maintain and make your power stronger.

What do you say to skeptics who don’t believe in your special powers?
It’s fine. They don’t have to believe but if they want proof, just give us a call or come and visit.
Sathittham can be reached at 02-618-2221, 081-332-7822.

How did you start doing this job?
I used to run an import/export business and it wasn’t so successful. I had lost millions before, and I kept fighting, until I couldn’t take it anymore. I bought a Kuan Yin CD [devotional songs to a Chinese goddess] to help me cope. Those songs really touched me, and I started hearing Kuan Yin speaking to me. I then found myself knowing things people couldn’t possibly know.

When did you realize your powers?
I was watching TV at home one day, and I heard someone talking to me. The voice was saying that it was time for me to go study astrology. I hesitated at first because I wasn’t really into that kind of thing. But then I thought I might as well try it. Maybe it’s what I’m actually here for.

How do you perform your magic?
I start by merely looking at a customer’s face. If I can’t see enough, I ask for their full name. The sound directs me as to what color the name should be written in. It usually takes two hours per session but it depends on what I see. Apart from giving advice on their business and personal life, I also do a feng-shui consultancy. It may sound unbelievable, but I can feel what a house or a piece of land used to be in the past.

Who are your customers?
Many are from other countries like China, Australia and America, but there are also Thai celebrities, officials and big business owners. I have good customers.

Is it your innate ability or your training that’s made you what you are?
I’ve had a kind heart since I was a little girl and like to give without expecting anything in return. When I do bad things, I find myself more immediately affected by karma than others and that’s how I decided to become an example for other people. I have holy things that keep me on the correct path. I didn’t really learn anything from those astrology courses, just the opportunity to practice telling my classmates’ fortunes.

How do you know which holy people will speak to you?
I just know. I can see their images when I close my eyes while telling fortunes. It’s mostly Kuan Yin and also others, like King Rama V, Mae Ya Mo, Mae Ya Nak, Priest Pern, Priest Toh. I also see common spirits that come with the customers to ask for their own wishes.

How does it help people?
I don’t encourage people to foolishly believe whatever I say. All I do is direct them to the correct path and express what the gods say. When I see my customers’ mistakes, I bring those issues up. The best solution for all difficulties is to have a pure heart and to not cause trouble to others.

Have you ever been told that your prophecy is wrong?
Not yet. But, I can prove my accuracy. Clients better make sure that they’ve followed my suggestions before making judgments.

How do you charge?
It varies case by case—anywhere from four to six digits.

Do you have any children? Will you pass on your skills to them?
In my first month of pregnancy I knew that it was a girl, without any tests, and that she’s a gift from Kuan Yin. My daughter also has the sixth sense. She’s an ordinary 18-year-old now and I don’t expect much from her; I just hope that she has a good heart. This specialty cannot be 100 percent taught. Doing dharma seven days and seven nights won’t do any good if you still think ill about other people.
Pattawan can be reached at 081-641-7759.

How did you start doing this job?
I got interested in this field as a kid. I used to be bullied by other kids at the temple where I was a young novice. One day I had an irresistible urge to fight back against the bullies. A monk in the temple saw my reaction and invited me to learn about tattoo magic with him. I went on to study communication arts and marketing at university but reamined interested in tattoo magic. I travelled all over the country to learn from the great tattoo masters. I started tattooing for my close followers first and then created the Thai Tattoo Preservation Club.

How do you perform your work?
Basically I tattoo the client based on the specific ambition that he or she wants to achieve. Each tattoo pattern offers different charms or magic. For example, the Suea Liaw Lang [tiger turning back] can bring you success and make you more charming or appealing. The client can opt for a proper tattoo with ink or an invisible one using herbal oils.

How can a tattoo help someone?
It helps improve the area of life that the particular tattoo covers. So for example, a salesperson who wants to charm clients and make higher sales may want the magical power of my Salika Linthong (golden tongue bird) tattoo. The magic comes from the chants I do while I am doing the tattoo and the power of the god or creature that the tattoo features.

Are there any side effects? Can the tattoo not work?
Of course. We have rules that clients have to follow, like not eating meat on Buddhist holy days. They also have to pray for the god master who will protect them through the tattoos. If they don’t follow these rules, then it might not work.

Have you had any supernatural experiences?
Always. I used to follow a master who was famous for being invulnerable. One day I tried to follow him and find out his secret and learn his power. He knew I was there so he stopped and picked up a random rock lying on the ground. He blew on it whispering an incantation and then gave it to me saying, “Because you want proof that I’m real.” I decided to test his powers by holding the rock and asking one of my friends to shoot at me. He took aim and fired, but the gun he used just exploded in his hand.

Will you pass this skill on to the next generation?
I’ve tried but I can’t find the right student at the moment. They have to have good karma, natural ability, patience and virtue.

How much do you earn?
My tattoos start from B999 but can be thousands of baht depending on the design. I don’t do many, though, as I am only open for tattooing three days a week. The rest of the time I do my other businesses, which covers everything from jewelry exports, to secondhand cars and amulet selling.

How much of your talent is training and how much is a natural gift?
It has to come together. Some people have tried for years but can’t achieve the same power in their tattoos as I can . Those who have the gift will progress and learn faster.

What do you say to skeptics who don’t believe in your magical powers?
People nowadays aren’t stupid. They can analyze what is true or not. Lord Buddha’s teaching have been around for 2,500 years: the story has been rewritten over and over again but that doesn’t stop people from believing. So why do people think magic doesn’t exist? Our ancient masters created this to protect, not harm. It’s people who make it black or white magic—not the magic.
Ajarn Suea can be reached at 089-448-8422, www.importancetattoo.com

Q&A: The Customer

Narachai Atthapassorn, 29, a chef at the Radisson Hotel, comes to visit the tattoo master again after he had his first tattoo three years ago.
How was the first outcome?
Before I got the tattoo, my life really sucked for a long time. I was a cook for years. I saw no opportunities to become a chef. At some point, I lost my job as well. I researched on the internet and found Ajarn Sue so I decided to get a tattoo with him. After I got the tattoo, Sue Liawlang [tiger looking back], my life got incredibly better. Out of nowhere, I got a call from the Radisson Hotel to test to be their chef and I got it. I swore that I never sent any application to them before. I also attracted more girls too!

Why do you come back?
I am opening my own restaurant and I want it to be successful. So I just came back to ask him to give me more good tattoos.

Thong Lor would seem like it’s an odd place to have a tattoo studio. A tattoo shop is the one thing Thong Lor doesn’t have. It’s become more fashionable to get more tattoos. Before, it was like, only a certain group of people would get them. Most [of what you would see twenty years ago] would be religious tattoos. Now, there are people getting tattoos for fashion and to look good.

What was the first day like?
I get two kids, like two 13-year-old girls, walk in with school uniforms and braces and everything. I’m like, “Oh shit, my first customers!” They wanted to get matching tattoos on their wrists, but didn’t have a clue what they wanted. So I went all Dad on them and told them they were too young and they should really think on it—because a unicorn might not be cool in two years.

What’s the pain like?
It hurts! People always ask me, “How bad is it compared to a pinch?” I tell them, “Man, it’s not even one-tenth of the pain. But it’s not too much, you can take it. After that, you feel so proud.

Do you guys do sak yant tattoos?
Yeah, we do sak yant tattoos, but we don’t give blessings or anything like that. All of them are farang, they came and they give us a specific tattoo. We’ve done about five or six. My friend, a French boxer, he had done four yants. Another guy, British, he got two.

What about all that Culture Ministry talk about how they don’t want these symbols to be commercialized?
I think it seems pretty harsh. Like, the guy that came to me—he’s from England, but he loves Thailand. He loves the culture, everything. He lives here. He even hangs a phra on his neck. Most people that ask for sak yant respect the symbols. It’s a form of art. There are some bad artists, but with good Thai artists, if farangs come in and ask for them in inappropriate spots, then they would tell them a better place to put it.

Kwankhao Sumalee, 23, freelance makeup artist

“Since many Thai people are now practically living like fishermen, I think the PM should reconsider the first-car scheme to be the first-boat scheme instead. “

Parinyaporn Sangsomwong, 24, advertising account executive

“The government should seriously renovate the damaged areas and plan in advance for the future. And the Prime Minister can start modeling for Burberry’s next collection.”

Phonphot Chobnamtan, 33, engineer

“Monitor that all the donations, food, stuff, everything really goes to the right people—all of it.”

Somrak Sila, 32, gallery owner

“How serious is this question? They should explain that it’s not the floods, the world is just sinking and we should just continue building hi-rise condos. And announce that every day is loy kratong day.”

Note Dudesweet, 31, party organizer

“I want them to re-plan the way the water flows and the ‘monkey cheek’ catchments. The water should flow somewhere, not just stay in there. Now that we’ve we learned our geography lesson, we must fix that.”

Hariti Yoshmetha, 25, field engineer

“We shouldn’t wait for help. It’s time we do everything ourselves. First thing I’ll do is try selling all the canned food, especially instant noodle cups, I stocked up on before the flood."

Chardchakaj Waikawee, 29, photographer

“We should brainstorm and figure out how to heal the hearts of Thai people and bring us unity. Right now, everybody is heartbroken.

Ark Saroj, 28, filmmaker

“We should all buy boats. Any kind of boat. At least one per family.”

Yanin Sayabutra, 24, law student

“Reducing taxes and getting rid of water would be my top priorities. Next is adding a special insurance that covers people who were affected from the floods.”

Athipon Mathawikul, 28, advertising communications manager

“Educate people so we’ll have wiser leaders in the next generations.”
 

GT200 Bomb Sniffers

B800-900 million
The British-made device was meant to detect explosives, and their use in the deep South led to hundreds of arrests—arrests we now know were baseless. The GT200 was actually two empty plastic boxes, although the army was paying B900,000 per scanner. You could also add “sensor cards on them,” increasing the cost to B1.2 million. The cards, when taken apart, were just crudely cut pieces of cardboard. Despite this, the case never went to court, the army continued to claim the scanners work and they even received the enthusiastic support of top forensic investigator, Dr. Pornthip.

Thai Khem Khaeng

Part of the B86 billion overall budget
Under the Abhisit government, the Ministry of Public Health drew flack for overspending and inflated prices on just about everything they bought under the stimulus spending scheme, from UV fans and ambulances to equipment and building materials. Thanks to the findings of head investigator Banlu Siripanich, the Public Health Minister and Democrat MP Witthaya Kaewparadai and the Deputy Minister from Bhumjaithai Party Manit Nop-amornbodi had to resign, although there were no legal consequences for either of them.

The Ratchadaphisek Land Case

B100 million
In 2003, Potjaman Shinawatra bought land from the government for B772 million. By some estimates, Potjaman should have paid B880 million for the Ratchadapisek plots. For this, Thaksin was found guilty of abusing his power while Prime Minister by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions. He was sentenced to two years in jail. Potjaman was refunded with 7% interest per annum and the land was sold to a property developer for B1.8 billion.

The Fire Truck Scandal

B6.6 billion
In 2004, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration signed a contract for fire trucks and boats from Austrian company Steyr. It was approved by Interior Minister Bokhin Balakula and Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej as part of a barter deal for Thai chickens. But it was Samak’s democrat successor, Apirak Kosayodhin, who opened a letter of credit to foot the bill. When it was revealed the trucks were seriously overpriced, Apirak was forced to resign on Nov 13, 2008. Recently, Apirak was also found to have had fake CCTV cameras installed in the capital, although the former governor claims they were the fastest way to restore a sense of security in the capital in the wake of the Dec 31, 2006, New Year’s Eve bombings.

Shin Corp.

B46 billion
The Shinawatras’ shares in Shin Corp increased in value by B46 billion from the date Thaksin took office in 2001 to their sale to the Singaporean company Temasek in 2006. The Supreme Court found Thaksin guilty of a conflict of interest and corruption for enacting policies that benefited the company during his time as Prime Minister and confiscated the B46 billion, while freezing another B30 billion. Thaksin supporters argue the liberalization of the telecoms market benefited the entire sector (and consumers) and that Shin Corp’s increase in value was in line with the Thai Stock Market’s performance over the same period.

The journalist

Sarinee Achavanuntakul

In the media world, Sarinee Achavanuntakul wears many hats: blogger, publisher, writer, translator, and editor. She is also co-founder of Thaipublica.org, a website dedicated to investigative journalism with a focus on transparency in the public and private sectors and sustainable development.
How does Thai society view corruption?
Thai society isn’t so different from other societies in the sense that corruption is not something that people feel they can do anything about, especially when it’s pervasive. It’s the kind of thing most of us don’t feel directly affected by. Damages from corruption mostly occur in the future, in the form of our children getting bad quality public services. Many funds are diverted to useless projects instead of real investments in education and health, for example. We feel like there’s nothing we can do because the more pervasive it is, the more we feel like we have to be part of that system.
What is the role of the media in fighting corruption?
Because corruption in Thailand is extremely pervasive, we need better ways to get information out. The media is crucial in terms of doing investigative news, and also in not honoring well-known corrupt figures. We know well-known corrupt officials who can still somehow go to social functions and people shake their hands and wai them. This has to stop. Social sanction is crucial to instil the sense, especially in the younger generations, that there are certain kinds of people we don’t want to honor. As long as the media still pays homage to corrupt politicians and to corrupt figures, it’s not going to change.
Can you talk about the potential of the internet in terms of exposing corruption?
The internet is a great platform because anonymity is important. A lot of people who have sensitive critical information naturally don’t want their identity exposed. The internet by nature protects your anonymity quite well, even though in Thailand we have very bad laws that can destroy that very quickly. The question then is how to make those people feel safe enough to volunteer information. How to pick out that kind of information and make it as effective as possible. So this goes back to the role of journalists. More journalists have to look at the internet as a place where they can do their job.
What other anti-corruption initiatives need to happen?
The anti-corruption initiatives from the private sector need a lot more resources commited to them in order to move them forward and not be just for show. They need to commit resources to establishing hotline centres where people can call in. They need a real mechanism to make people feel that it’s trustworthy and reliable. They can help push for better disclosure. They can help push for real standards on CSR—the real kind of CSR that includes anti-corruption as one of the key items. They can push for witness protection laws.
What are some myths about corruption?
The real myth is that we cannot do anything about it. If you look at the history of other countries, nobody has gone from an under-developed country to a more developed country without fighting corruption.

Thailand is rife with corruption on every scale and across every sector. Bribes are paid to the police on a daily basis. Corrupt politicians are given respect and voted into office time and time again. Grassroots protests against mega projects are often ignored, and small communities often end up having to watch their livelihoods be destroyed. We spoke to four women from four different sectors of society about why Thailand is so corrupt, the myths that perpetuate corruption and what’s being done to fight this endemic issue.

The NGO watchdog

Juree Vichit-Vadakan

Juree Vichit-Vadakan has worked extensively in the women’s rights arena and is currently the Secretary General of Transparency Thailand. The organization’s latest project, “To Pai Mai Gong” (Growing Good) targets children through a school program that raises awareness about corruption.
Why is Thailand so corrupt?
It’s partly because the structure of Thai society still doesn’t give importance to equality. We still cling to the patronage system of the past. People in power need to surround themselves with friends and subordinates, and these friends and subordinates receive patronage in return. This kind of structure turns politics into a matter of money. Politicians need money to maintain their power and position. And it becomes a vicious cycle. Those with no money have no access to power.
What are some of the myths about corruption?
Petty corruption doesn’t hurt anybody. Both sides benefit. The giver wants to give. The receiver wants to receive. These are myths because it’s the state that loses. Some people say it’s just something between the giver and the receiver, when in truth, this is all a public matter. Corruption is never a private matter. When you create this kind of culture of tolerance, can you imagine the damage being done to the younger generation? They will tolerate corruption. They will think that it’s acceptable because everyone is doing it.
Is there a link between gender inequality and corruption?
Yes. Many studies have shown that there tends to be less corruption when more women are included in the decision-making process. Women who have made it in politics tend to have gone through a lot to get to where they are. They usually feel that since they have the opportunity to hold the position, they’d better not do something that could be damaging to themselves and their families. I’m not talking about legacy cases. I’m talking about local women politicians. Male politicians usually get involved in infrastructure projects, where corruption is rampant. Women politicians prefer to tackle projects that will benefit their children, like education, the environment, security and health. They usually understand what it takes to create a good environment for their children, so the tendency to pocket money from these projects is often less.

The Grassroots Activist

Sompong Wianghchand

Sompong Wiangchand was one of the people who spearheaded the Assembly of the Poor protests against the construction of the Pak Moon Dam. Over twenty years later, Sompong is among the few people left in the struggle. She was recently appointed a member of the National Reform Committee.
Why do you think Thailand is so corrupt?
It begins with elections, that are often rife with vote-buying. Once in office, these politicians use the opportunity to retrieve the money they spent during the election. This is common among district and sub-district headmen and village chiefs. The District Administration Organization is the worst. To be able to work there, you have to pay them 100,000 baht per year. As for those in Parliament, they’re just climbing up the ladder for their own personal gain.
How does Thai society view corruption?
I see it as a danger to the country’s development. Competent people with no money don’t get to work, but incompetent people with money get the jobs, which is such a shame. But some people in my village think I’m crazy, that I’m not normal, even stupid. They ask me, “Why don’t you make money your priority?” District and sub-district headmen say that they have the right to their positions because they’ve spent money to buy them. As for the people, when the government gives them money or aid, they see the politicians as gods. They think that the money comes straight from the politicians’ pockets. They don’t realize that it comes from the state, from other ordinary people.
What can the private and the public sectors do to help fight corruption?
I heard in the news that the private sector is joining hands to fight corruption. That’s really good. When it comes to big development projects, we really need competent, quality people. There’s just too much outside intervention in the National Anti-corruption Commission.
What can the people do to combat corruption?
The Assembly of the Poor has always fought against corruption. We drafted a bill that will see more community participation in development projects, as well as the public’s ability to monitor state budgets, but the bill is still sitting in Parliament. So far, people have no idea where the money comes from. There’s no mechanism that gives the public access to the Bureau of Budget. Ordinary people like us have always depended on the power of the masses, but that power is always rendered ineffective by the state mechanisms.

The Business Woman

Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul

Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul chairs the Foundation for a Clean and Transparent Thailand and the good governance committee of the Thai Chamber of Commerce. In June, the CEO of Toshiba Thailand signed her company up for the Coalition Against Corruption that counts the Thailand Stock Exchange and the Thai Chamber of Commerce among its members. The company recently refused to participate in the government’s tablet programme, due to fears that the procurement would be rife with corruption.
How does Thai society view corruption?
It’s just become so rampant that engaging in corruption is normal, and not engaging in it is not. What’s worse is that people can’t distinguish between right and wrong. That’s the reason why the Chamber of Commerce and the Coalition Against Corruption wanted to join forces. The network was not created to point fingers at anyone. We’re trying to tackle the problem by starting with ourselves. When we talk about wrongdoings, we need to ask ourselves whether or not we’re participating in it. What we try to do is to start over and change people’s attitudes, starting in our own homes, in our own companies.
Can you give us an example of what a private company can do to reduce corruption?
There are a lot of people in Thailand who see something they don’t like but say nothing because they don’t want to put themselves at risk. We can’t remain silent anymore. It’s obvious the horrible state our society is in today. We have to speak out. We have to practice what we preach. We have to give others encouragement so they will have the courage to speak out as well. If you’re the head of the company, you have to set an example. You have to be pro-active and show your subordinates that transparency is important to the company. If Thailand wants to be an economic leader, we have to clean up our act or else others won’t recognize us as capable to lead. And right now, we’re not transparent.
What else does the Coalition Against Corruption need to do to combat corruption?
The first thing we said we needed to do was to set up a center to share information, to see how we can better work together. The second thing we need to do is create an index. We plan to publish a perception index every six months. The main issue that we’ve decided to tackle together is procurement. The NACC has been pushing a new procurement bill that concerns the private and public sectors. The Office of the Public Sector Development Commission is working on the same issue. We decided to jump on the bandwagon because we want to see it materialize. We try to work with other organizations, like gender and educational organizations, and the BMA, to raise public awareness about corruption. We also need special events to stimulate the public. Recently we organized a walk against corruption where we invited Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and President of the Senate Teeradej Meepian to show that fighting against corruption isn’t about politics.
What are the challenges?
Some people tell me that joining forces to tackle corruption is impossible—people in the government, ordinary people I meet, even people in my own company. I make my employees wear anti-corruption t-shirts every Thursday. The first day we did that, an employee said that when he was on the bus, someone asked him whether he was wearing the t-shirt because he didn’t like the prime minister. Another employee asked me whether he could wear another shirt if he had to go into government buildings because everyone just stared at him as if he were accusing them of corruption. That’s why I think we need to let everyone know where we stand on this matter. We can no longer remain silent. There will be people who are against us, but I think that’s a phase we all have to go through.