Delivery of 1 million-thumbprint anti-corruption petition (Photo: AP)Tuesday, 10 June 2008
Chun Sophal
The Mekong Times
The Civil Society Against Corruption Coalition (CSACC), a group of 49 civil organizations, has appealed to all political parties competing in July’s parliamentary election to vow to pass the long awaited anti-corruption law if they win.
“We want the 11 parties joining the national elections to promise that they will adopt the anti-corruption law by the first NA session following the formation of the government,” the CSACC told reporters at a press conference held yesterday in Phnom Penh.
“I hope that all political parties will support the proposal because any rejection of the proposal could give the wrong message to voters,” said Sek Barisoth, director of Pact’s anti-corruption program. “I think that the law is a good basis for the fight against corruption.”
The anti-corruption law has been in the draft stage for several years.
Kek Galabru, president of Licahdo, a local human rights group, said corruption blights all sectors of society, including investment and tourism. “We requested that the 11 political parties promise because it is nearly the time for those parties to finalize their plan and policies prior to the election,” she said. “Our aim is to note down their promise and inform them if they do not do as they said.”
Sok Sam Oeun, executive director of the Cambodian Defenders Project, said that tackling corruption in Cambodia will bring many economic and social benefits because corruption pushes away both investors and tourists. “I think, according to the law, if political parties do not follow their promises [about the anti-corruption law], voters will know.”
At least four political parties – the Sam Rainsy Party, Funcinpec Party, Norodom Ranariddh Party and Human Rights Party – have pledged to adopt the anti-corruption law if they win the forthcoming election.
“The CPP has robust anticorruption policies, with the anti-corruption law listed in its rectangular strategy, so there is no need for a new promise,” said Nguon Nhel, vice-president of the National Assembly (NA). “We have finished drafting the anti-corruption law and it is waiting to be synthesized with other laws still to be adopted,” he said. “I would like to confirm that we will adopt this law in the coming mandate.”
CSACC, a coalition of 49 national and international organizations, recently collected over one million thumbprints to demonstrate the public’s concern over the ongoing wait for the anticorruption law.
Corruption costs Cambodia’s private sector an estimated US$330 million each year, excluding corruption in governmental institutions, according to a recent USAID study.
“We want the 11 parties joining the national elections to promise that they will adopt the anti-corruption law by the first NA session following the formation of the government,” the CSACC told reporters at a press conference held yesterday in Phnom Penh.
“I hope that all political parties will support the proposal because any rejection of the proposal could give the wrong message to voters,” said Sek Barisoth, director of Pact’s anti-corruption program. “I think that the law is a good basis for the fight against corruption.”
The anti-corruption law has been in the draft stage for several years.
Kek Galabru, president of Licahdo, a local human rights group, said corruption blights all sectors of society, including investment and tourism. “We requested that the 11 political parties promise because it is nearly the time for those parties to finalize their plan and policies prior to the election,” she said. “Our aim is to note down their promise and inform them if they do not do as they said.”
Sok Sam Oeun, executive director of the Cambodian Defenders Project, said that tackling corruption in Cambodia will bring many economic and social benefits because corruption pushes away both investors and tourists. “I think, according to the law, if political parties do not follow their promises [about the anti-corruption law], voters will know.”
At least four political parties – the Sam Rainsy Party, Funcinpec Party, Norodom Ranariddh Party and Human Rights Party – have pledged to adopt the anti-corruption law if they win the forthcoming election.
“The CPP has robust anticorruption policies, with the anti-corruption law listed in its rectangular strategy, so there is no need for a new promise,” said Nguon Nhel, vice-president of the National Assembly (NA). “We have finished drafting the anti-corruption law and it is waiting to be synthesized with other laws still to be adopted,” he said. “I would like to confirm that we will adopt this law in the coming mandate.”
CSACC, a coalition of 49 national and international organizations, recently collected over one million thumbprints to demonstrate the public’s concern over the ongoing wait for the anticorruption law.
Corruption costs Cambodia’s private sector an estimated US$330 million each year, excluding corruption in governmental institutions, according to a recent USAID study.
2 comments:
Ah Scam Rainsy rejected the Anti-Corruption a million times already because he can't stand any imperfection. Thus, it going to take a lot more times.
look, there is no such thing as perfection in a human being. i don't care who you are. expecting perfection in cambodia or anywhere on the planet is like looking for a needle in a hay stack, instead of finding the needle, they find the hays. common, please be realistic, people. what goes around comes around. compromise and acceptance is better than all out rhetoric and personal attack which does nothing good at all. thank you.
Post a Comment