Rising cost of living is blamed for imbalances between income and expenses

To what extent the habit of giving 'tea money' to officials is rooted in the Burmese society?

Have you ever paid 'tea money' to get things done? If yes, do you think you should pay?

If you are in government service, does the practice of taking 'tea money' justifiable due to rising commodity prices?

Do you think the Burmese society will be able to eradicate 'tea money' practices?

We would like to hear from you.

The programme took place on 13 August 2008.

The followings reflect the balance of opinions received so far...

Lawlessness is the cause of rampant corruption. Children and friends of lawless generals are doing whatever they want and they are above the law. If you are not connected to these people, you are pressed hard to the ground. As long as lawlessness is the standard of running the country, rampant corruption will raise worse and worse. We cannot avoid as long as this lawless regime runs our nation this way because military regime is the source of all evils in Burma.
Thuzar Kyi, Burma

Corruption in Myanmar is a different story. It's much related with moral depravation developed and started since General Ne Win's regime. Frankly, it's not alone SPDC that is to be criticized for the whole corruption. Of course, it also succumb some extent by inheriting malignant notion for the country. As long as there is no checking or counter-checking authority that has full access and freedom to assess and deter the corruption, it will still exist regardless of any ideology or political philosophy.
Jones, Singapore

There is no way to control unless the whole governing system being changed.   Tin Maung Maung Thein, Pitsanulok, Thailand

As long as a group of people who are above the law, there will be corruption rampant in Burma. People, who are above the law, are Gen. Than Shwe's people. As long as lawless people running the country, corruption will be part of life. It will destroy the concept of the ordinary citizen for many years. It will be very difficult to fix it. It is because people will accept it as acceptable conduct since it happens too long in their lives. SPDC is not the only dictatorship in the world. However, SPDC is the most corrupt government in the world.
Zam Mang, USA

Corruption is rampant because Burma has a weak institution. Weak institution arises because of weak government. Corruption arises because rules and regulations cannot be established in Burma and the paid is low. It is perfectly justifiable to pay tea money to get things done because it is more efficient in that way. To get rid of tea money practices, Burma must have a strong institution which can establish trustworthy rules and regulations.
Myat Naing, Singapore

Corruption in Burma spills into India, Thailand and Malaysia. Before military rule in Burma, there was no need to bribe police officers in neighbouring counties. However, Burmese migrants taught them Burmese way of corruption. Now, in those countries, bribery is practiced as Burmese corruption spills into their backyards. That's how our corruption problem in the time of military rule is so bad. Corruption is the most effective product of military dictatorship of Burma.
Thet-Mar Win, Burma

Like father like son, Burmese people have lived under this circumstance for too long. Many sons and daughters behave like their fathers, Gen. Ne Win and Gen. Than Shwe. Unless the rule of law is reinstated, corruption will grow and grow. Even rape is no longer a crime if committed by military. Many innocent were killed by military people. However, killers got away with stained blood. If the military personnel are becoming the law, the real law has no place to rule. Then, corruption is just a way of life.
Salai Liandang, USA

Myanmar government need to hand over the authority to the people of Myanmar. Especially, their out-of-date policy is to throw out. If not, they all will actually die again someday by the anger of people.
Pongram Ahram, Myitkyina, Myanmar

It will destroy the concept of the ordinary citizen for many years.   Zam Mang, USA

Constantly rising of living cost, I do believe a lot of government employees are under paid compare to living cost. Therefore, many of the government employees put the food on their tables by TEA MONEY for their families. On the other hand, corruption is unacceptable. We also need to separate who is victim and who is opportunist of the broken economy. If poverty is not a crime, how can we say the cause of poverty is a crime!! However, there are a group getting rich by corruption, we should see them as opportunists. These opportunists are true criminals. They corrupt not only for food but to be wealthy. The best weapon to battle poverty is by improving economy and the best weapon to fight crime is a good function law. Magician probably can make ears grow on the wooden post by his magic, but no one is able to make Burmese regime to listen the good suggestion yet.
Tom Tun, Calgary, Canada

A small "Tea Money" has been a customary gesture of gratitude in our Burmese society. But it has grown out of proportion these days and being thoroughly abused. The first reason is obviously because of the rising cost of living. Second is that there is no action or punishment against this kind of bribery even the country's first family themselves expect this sweet bribery above everything else (millions of dollars can buy the family's favouritism). They simply think that it is something that they deserve. That is how drug lords in Burma become very close to Gen. Than Shwe's family. The last reason is that there is no freedom of press/journalism in Burma to name and shame these rampant corruptions going on in our daily lives. My experience; - During 1970's, a brother of mine who was in the army fought bravely against insurgency till he was half paralyzed on the hospital bed, in Putao. Then the regional commander Gen. Htin Kyaw flew in from Myitkyinar to inspect, in order to reward him "Thu Ra" title for his exceptional bravery. However, the welcoming breakfast for the general sadly lacked "Nescafe"(actually my brother, although being in the land of jade, naively failed to give welcoming presents to the visiting commander). As the result, the general left the scene in his chopper, fuming with anger, citing no "Nescafe" for his breakfast. Naturally, no title was to be rewarded either. I am sure; any sincere citizen would wish this dreadful practice be eradicated by means of "Naming and Shaming".
Khin Thitsar, Europe

Corruption arises because rules and regulations cannot be established in Burma and the paid is low.   Myat Naing, Singapore

The prisons in Burma are filled with good people while robbers are in power. In the time of these thugs and robbers, no one should expect good things but robberies and corruptions.
Van Mualcin, USA

Corruption is rampant from corrupted governing. This is how the military rulers in Myanmar control the country for such a long time in addition to their arms and ammunitions power. They plan and allow systematic corruption among military personnel, public servants (from minister to office boy) and to all who may be entrusted with some kind of work or authority. They encourage or create the corruption by one way or the other. Once anybody become involved in corruption or become corrupted, he will be under their complete control to whom they can take any action or not according to their liking. Now the whole country is corrupted in such a way that there is no way to control unless the whole governing system being changed. High cost of living, un-sufficient income, abuse or misuse of power, authority or even normal services leads the ones to be corrupted. First money for "TEA" called tea money later Money for "PALACE".
Tin Maung Maung Thein, Pitsanulok, Thailand

BSPP, SLORC,SPDC trained all civil servants and government contacts. The SECOND is the living cost is higher than income or earning. BSPP/SLORC, SPDC are temporary Government and not trust for themselves as public elected and do the business and took the money (under or negotiable amount) according to their getting right or power. 4. The whole military government's target is to get power, to do business with power, to give respect to their boss and do not consider for public affairs and NOT LOVING COUNTRY of Burma. By assumption, the MILITARY taught to PUBLIC for Corruption for their long life.
Aung Moung, Milwaukee, USA