In modern times, these civil servants, who have maintained their jobs despite complaints of low pay, are supported by comprehensive welfare benefits that also cover their parents and families.

But what happened to Sirote Sawasdipanich, the former director-general of the Revenue Department who was dismissed from his post yesterday, may have spooked many civil servants, particularly those high-ranking ones who have to deal directly with politicians.

The question raised is where the line should be drawn to ensure that civil servants' careers are not politically compromised.

We have believed that civil servants could not be politically compromised if they insisted on doing their jobs with integrity and not letting politicians dictate what they should say or do.

In this case, Sirote may have been judged by the public as the man with no integrity: apparently to please then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, he failed to properly tax those people in the Shinawatra and Damapong families for their share transactions.

One could say that, as a civil servant, he should have done what he was paid to do. He was deemed to serve the public, not the government. Therefore, he deserved the dismissal order.

But is integrity enough to defy political orders, particularly under a government such as Thaksin's, which received overwhelming public support?

During the past five years, we have witnessed a number of reshuffles at many ministries and they involved several high-ranking officials. Some officials complained about the reshuffles, which were apparently meant to clear hurdles for the government, but others simply went unnoticed by the public.

Indeed, if all were doing their jobs with good conscience, this misery would not have emerged. Importantly, if voters back the persons who are doing good for the entire country, most elected politicians would deserve more respect. Most should realise that they are in office for a short while, when civil servants are to be there until retirement age.

The problem is that not all are ready to subject themselves to ethical limits.

achara_d@nationgroup.com