NGOs urge Government to pass Anti-corruption law

The draft of the long-awaited anti-corruption law is still with the Council of Ministers after being already revised by the Ministry of National Assembly-Senate Relation, and Inspection (MoNASRI). More than 30 NGOs conducted campaign of the “Clean Hand Treaty” petition since November 2005 and presented an anti-corruption petition of 179,000 signatures from citizens at the Council of Minister in order to call for reform of the passage of the long-stalled anti-corruption law, the establishment of an independent anti-corruption body and protection for private citizens who expose corruption.

In the effort to have an Anti-corruption law in Cambodia since 1994 which government stated that the passing an international standard anti-corruption law is a very high priority in its Rectangular Strategy for growth.

Hun Sen’s speech at Opening Remarks at the National Conference on Strengthening Good Government for Poverty Reduction and Development on December 14, 2004. He said that “To combat corruption, we have to formulate a well and flawless law as well as establish a mechanism to monitor corruption in order to ensure that the enforcement will result in fruitful outcomes through minimized as much as possible opportunities to engage in corruption, an encouraging public scrutiny especially through media that are professional and highly accountable. Therefore, we should continue to work carefully with all partners concerned in accordance with the existing rule of law. (Fighting Corruption in Cambodia, July 2005)

By the way, the NGOs also urged the National Assembly to revise the draft of the long-awaited anti-corruption law to ensure that it meets international standards. The NGOs said that the anti-corruption law does not comply with international standards and it appears strong but is in fact powerless. The NGOs added that the law should also include clearly defined measures to protect witnesses and victims of corruption, and requires all government officials to publicly declare their assets.

H.E Sok An, deputy Prime minister and minister of the Council of Ministers said at the Consultative Group Meeting on December 6, 2004 that “Our action against corruption must be coherent. Passing the law, for instance, is one of many necessary conditions to reducing this scourge. We shall also develop capacity to enforce. The Royal Government is looking forward to articulating a strategy and a program to fight corruption pulling together efforts now underway on a broad front from the Administrative Reform to the reform of public finances and sectoral reforms such as the management of natural resources (land, forestry and fisheries)”. (Fighting Corruption in Cambodia, July 2005)

According to Transparency International’s 12th annual corruption perception index, Cambodia is ranked 151 of 163 countries, which defines corruption as “the abuse of public office for private gain”.