The State Inspection Authority plans to install special letter boxes nationwide aiming to create places for the public to file complaints or feedback regarding the illegal conduct or unsatisfactory performance of state officials.
The letter boxes will be installed at ministries, district and provincial administration offices, as well as at the offices of the authorities of major villages.
The move will also provide the authority with a legitimate basis to inspect and investigate state officials allegedly involved in corrupt activities.
State Inspection Authority vice-president, Mr Thongsy Ouanlasy, confirmed the plan this week
“It is believed that the best way to empower the authority to investigate, punish or prevent state officials involvement in corruption activities is by way of public complaint,” Mr Thongsy said.
He said with information from the public, the authority would find it easier to launch investigations into the performance of accused state officials to ascertain whether they were involved in corrupt activities or not.
He said if the authority found out there were sufficient grounds for believing corruption had taken place, it would seek cooperation from the sector concerned to punish officials in accordance with the law.
Mr Thongsy said the authority was unable to say exactly when it would finish installation of the letter boxes around the country, adding that the plan's implementation required sources of funding.
“We are still looking for funds to build and install letter boxes around the country,” he told Vientiane Times.
Mr Thongsy spoke to reporters after facing pressure from a number of National Assembly members who want the government and sectors concerned to combat corruption among state officials.
NA members have identified corruption as one of the key impediments to development in Laos .
Mr Thongsy admitted there were several cases of state officials being involved in corrupt activities over the past few years.
He said most of the cases involved officials abusing their powers for personal gain or that of friends or family.
“There are some officials who signed agreements with business people although they were unauthorised to do so,” he said
One case happened in Savannakhet where a forestry official signed an agreement allowing business people to cut down forest even though the government had ordered a stop to the activity.
The official was taken to court where he was sentenced to one year in jail.
Mr Thongsy said the authority had found a number of cases in which local authorities did not follow the laws and regulations when granting investment permission and land concessions.
This could cause a negative impact to local people.
He said the authority looked into the problems but was unable to address the cases of wrongdoing completely.
Sometimes local authorities at provincial and district level claimed that they were poor and needed capital to boost economic growth, justifying their decision to approve investment without following laws and regulations issued by the central government.
He said this might be tolerated as long as no individual corruptly received personal gain.
“We might consider these cases acceptable because they want to develop their areas,” he said.
Mr Thongsy said one of the major initiatives the authority would like the government to undertake was the establishment of a specific committee to fight against corruption.
The committee could be chaired by Prime Minister and provincial leaders, with a representative from every sector and state organisation.
He said the proposed committee would have power to oversee performance of state officials in every sector.
They been talking about this same topic for years and nothing has change. You can talk and talk and come up with plans to fight corruption all you want. Until they actually arrest someone and held them accountable for their actions... Corruption will continue in Laos and it has been for years.
They been talking about this same topic for years and nothing has change. You can talk and talk and come up with plans to fight corruption all you want. Until they actually arrest someone and held them accountable for their actions... Corruption will continue in Laos and it has been for years.
all they have to do is put their face on tv. freedom of the press baby. My cousin told me .they have too pay to get a good job and good pay. people that want to work they don't have money, that the part I don't get it. Laos has a law but never inforce it. it a shame for people feed on the a goverment system.
yeah ! businessmen have big pockets full of dollars or baht that they sow among officials who don't care very much about regulations and law as long as businessmen can give them money or presents : illegal gold mine in Xiengkhouang, but the newspaper didn't mention the the name and national of the owner of the company, the mine has an area of 100 quare kilometers that affect the living of lao people ... who is the official who allows the extraction of gold where the namgnum has its source ? what the government is doing about this serious lost ?
Another thing is the rubber plantation in Luangnamtha. WHo permitted the eradication of original forest trees to plant rubber trees... sadly along the rivers. It can have detriimental effect to the forest and river ecosystem which is very important to Laos considering that the country has water, except from the rivers.
If this things continue, Laos will become a barren land in the future.
But I must admit that this is a good way to start prompting local people to be more pro active and take responsibility for their own country. I hope this will be implemented soon and properly. I guess the letter writer should remain anonymous though!
( Letter Boxes to combat corruption in Laos) First of all, Let' start with them. from top to bottom, i don't mean all officials are corrupted don't get me wrong!. Secondly, The majority of Lao people don't know when and where the Aid money coming in ? and How it was spent.. The reason why they do it. it' because they them self want to show the world bank or Asian bank that they get serious about corruption, Oh!! Please....
