The recent-released UN report reveals that corruption in the Asia-Pacific countries, including Laos, has the greatest impact on the poor. Although Laos has signed the UN Convention on Anti-Corruption since 2003, and has adopted the Anti-Corruption Law in 2006 by the Lao National Assembly, the prevention of corruption in many sectors and society as a whole is still ineffective. As admitted by Mr. Ounsy Sodlasy, Vice President of the Committee of Government’s Inspection, that in 2007 fiscal year Lao government lost revenue at least 100 billion kips due to corruption.
While corruption occurs in most sectors of the government, sectors that involved with revenue collection and foreign investment, especially those in charge of forest concessions, appeared to be committed corruption heaviest. As observed by Mr. Phandouangchit Vongsa, a National Assembly’s member, Lao people are waiting desperately to see the party and government’s capacity to conduct anti-corruption activities, especially in logging related sectors.
According a member of Legal Committee of Laos’ National Assembly,
Keyul Yothsayviboun, this negative situation in Laos stemmed from lacking many
factors including monitoring of people in the society as a whole, the
effectiveness of government investigation system, and the punishment of those
who are committed corruptions.
Listen to Songrit's report for further details in Lao.
