The fast-emerging scandal of the dumping of electronic waste illustrates just how far behind, and how out of touch authorities are in battling corruption. Of course the e-waste story involves flaunting of the law. But it shows just how simple it is to ignore laws, bypass regulations and fool government. The days of furtive corruption involving suitcases full of cash are gone. Some call the new-style corruption more sophisticated but it is actually more thuggish.
The e-waste story began benignly and positively. Several government departments -- the Department of Industrial Works, the Customs Department and others -- talked over a proposal by five companies. The businesses outlined a plan for recycling. The plan called for the firms to aggregate electronic waste in Thailand with a modest amount of imported waste. The discarded old mobile phones, computers, memory boards and much more would be stripped under safe conditions for re-use.
Factories were authorised. Regulators were assigned. Business-government ties were established. And virtually from the start, poachers, pirates and just plain "business mafia" groups horned in on this excellent plan. It all went bad virtually from the start of the plan to make Thailand a minor recycling centre. The number of registered plants and e-waste importers have passed 100, but the truth is that no one in government or law-enforcement has any idea of the magnitude of this business.
