Wednesday, 08 September 2010
By Marker Zhour
Letter to The Phnom Penh Post
Dear Editor,
Despite the oaths taken by officials from the newly formed Anticorruption Unit that they will fight graft, the ACU will probably still be perceived as ineffectual – in the words of an opposition Sam Rainsy Party spokesman: “oaths to preserve territorial integrity, to fight corruption, to protect national assets – these are not enforced in practice....”
As well, a senior investigator for the local human rights group Adhoc asserted that as long as ACU officials are members of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, it would be impossible to eliminate corruption in the Kingdom.
In interviews with the Post, students and grassroots activists who live on shoestring budgets expressed little hope that the newly approved anti-corruption law, as implemented by the ACU, will completely rid the Kingdom of corruption.
Too many instances of corruption are found in almost every government sector, but graft is especially problematic in areas related to public services, for example medical treatment, the judiciary, land management, traffic regulation, and even education and employment.
Because of this, corruption has become a part of the Cambodian identity – something that is known by all Cambodians and even abroad.
We, Cambodian citizens, really appreciate and support such unprecedented legislation as the Anticorruption Law.
But as I said before, we are worried because we know that many laws exist only on paper, especially those that are likely not to have any direct benefit for [government officials].
Many existing laws seem simply to be tools to serve the interests of government officials, rather than to work for Cambodia’s citizens or in the national interest.
We don’t want this condition to exist, but corruption has already prevailed in many cases. Now we are waiting to see how effective, transparent and just ACU officials are in executing this new Anticorruption Law, regardless of what oaths they’ve taken or vows that they have pledged.
Most cases of graft are typically buried in public entities for reasons such as: (1) insufficient salary for lower-ranking civil servants, (2) ambition and greed in the ranks of senior officials, (3) individualism rather than nationalism and, (4) networking by public officials for private business interests.
I know that these problems are not unique to Cambodia, but occur also in other developing countries.
In order to effectively implement the Anticorruption Law ... I support whatever ideas and procedures that are proposed by ACU, such as a drop box where people can lodge criticisms, a website, a property-declaration policy.
We roughly 14 million citizens are keeping our eyes on the ACU’s performance and are waiting to see its effectiveness and achievements. We do hope at least some changes will prevail.
Despite the oaths taken by officials from the newly formed Anticorruption Unit that they will fight graft, the ACU will probably still be perceived as ineffectual – in the words of an opposition Sam Rainsy Party spokesman: “oaths to preserve territorial integrity, to fight corruption, to protect national assets – these are not enforced in practice....”
As well, a senior investigator for the local human rights group Adhoc asserted that as long as ACU officials are members of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, it would be impossible to eliminate corruption in the Kingdom.
In interviews with the Post, students and grassroots activists who live on shoestring budgets expressed little hope that the newly approved anti-corruption law, as implemented by the ACU, will completely rid the Kingdom of corruption.
Too many instances of corruption are found in almost every government sector, but graft is especially problematic in areas related to public services, for example medical treatment, the judiciary, land management, traffic regulation, and even education and employment.
Because of this, corruption has become a part of the Cambodian identity – something that is known by all Cambodians and even abroad.
We, Cambodian citizens, really appreciate and support such unprecedented legislation as the Anticorruption Law.
But as I said before, we are worried because we know that many laws exist only on paper, especially those that are likely not to have any direct benefit for [government officials].
Many existing laws seem simply to be tools to serve the interests of government officials, rather than to work for Cambodia’s citizens or in the national interest.
We don’t want this condition to exist, but corruption has already prevailed in many cases. Now we are waiting to see how effective, transparent and just ACU officials are in executing this new Anticorruption Law, regardless of what oaths they’ve taken or vows that they have pledged.
Most cases of graft are typically buried in public entities for reasons such as: (1) insufficient salary for lower-ranking civil servants, (2) ambition and greed in the ranks of senior officials, (3) individualism rather than nationalism and, (4) networking by public officials for private business interests.
I know that these problems are not unique to Cambodia, but occur also in other developing countries.
In order to effectively implement the Anticorruption Law ... I support whatever ideas and procedures that are proposed by ACU, such as a drop box where people can lodge criticisms, a website, a property-declaration policy.
We roughly 14 million citizens are keeping our eyes on the ACU’s performance and are waiting to see its effectiveness and achievements. We do hope at least some changes will prevail.
18 comments:
patient, people!
GIVE THEM A CHANCE.
ល្អណាស់បក្សប្រឆាំងធ្វើអ្នកនយោបាយយួរៗទៅរកដីនៅមិនបានហើយថែមទាំងជាប់គុកច្រវាក់ថែមទៀតផងនេះមិនខុសអំឪពុករបស់ខ្លួនឯងនោះទេ។ឪពុកក្បត់ជាតិឥឡូវកូនក៏ក្បត់ជាតិដែរ។
RELAX 11:00 PM. and 10:32 PM
This is call concerned citizens giving inputs into a working process.
If you are not familiar with the process get up to date with it so you too can become productive member of our society.
Thank you,
Khmer person
Cambodian government hires bandits to arrest thieves..
ល្អណាស់ បក្សប្រជាជន
ធ្វើនយោបាយយួរៗទៅ អស់ដី
បក្សប្រជាជន ក្បត់ឪពុក ក្បត់កូន ក្បត់ជាតិ
OR COME ON ! GIVE IT 10 YEARS MORE!
HUN SEN WAS? IS? WILL BE? A HERRO!
HE SAVED US SO HE IS THINK HE IS OUR MASTER!
before: CFF vs. CPP
HRP vs. CPP
SRP vs. CPP
currently: ACU vs. CPP
NGO vs. CPP
HWO vs. CPP
A first place to start off fighting with corruption is from Judiciary System. Make sure a judge is not corrupted. How can judges charged and convicted someone if judges themselves are also corrupted. No one above the law.
to clean corruption in Cambodia means to clean Hun Xen, his families, and all of his criminal comrades, because corruption had never been boomed as it does in Hun Xen governement of leeches.
Corrupted People's Party passed a law on Anticorruption it become an Internalcorruption.
A charge on Sam Raingsy on border wooden sticks by the viet slaves is getting very tough on Khmer people to reclaim their lost land to viet encroachment.
Hello All,
I need help.
I am going to Cambodia with Dog.
I'l like to know where can I get Health Cert. in Cambodia so I can get him back to the states.
I ready appreciates.
Sareth
3:15AM you can have $20 back and party for free!!!!!FOOD and drink!
If your od is black look for me,I can give you $25!
Go to Psa Demkor near Intercontinantal hotel in the afternoon!
2:Am ok! I clean Bonary!!!!
corruption is a matter of reform, rule of law, good law enforcement, etc... it these, it won't go away any time soon, really!
Sareth,
If you bring your dog to Cambodia to help the ACU to enforce the law,make sure that when you take it back he/she is not contaminated with corrupted desease.
Ek Oudom
ah coupion team control as ah ant-corruption and they will be th corruption gang.
give them the benefit of the doubt as they try hard to reform and makes things better for cambodia. how can they win people's trust? imagine if you were to be a part of the committee, what or how would you do it differently, etc? it is easier said than done, you know! all on paper is better in the legal aspect of thing, really! we all should know better! no more lame excuses!
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