Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (28 September 2019): Solomon Islands, PNG

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

The U.S. Sees Taiwan’s Allies as Trade War Weapons—And Beijing Keeps Luring Them Away.  In addition to expected infrastructure projects, Beijing also agreed to maintain the aid Taiwan had supplied to the Solomon Islands via the rural constituency fund, according to a Solomon Islands parliamentarian. Such funds have been given directly to Solomon Islands MPs to use at their discretion, and have long been plagued by allegations of corruption.

https://fortune.com/2019/09/25/us-china-trade-war-taiwan-allies/

 

PAPUA NEW GUINEA:

Unlawful conduct stops ICA from carrying out duties. Chief Migration Officer Solomon Kantha has raised concerns on police failing to prosecute cases of corrupt immigration officers referred to them, and police officers colluding with unlawful non-citizens to prevent their deportation.

https://postcourier.com.pg/unlawful-conduct-stops-ica-from-carrying-out-duties/

 

To know more about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project please contact the team members:

Annika Wythes, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, UNODC, annika.wythes@un.org

Marine Destrez, Anti-Corruption Specialist – Pacific a.i., UNDP, marine.destrez@undp.org

Maria Lee, Peace & Development Administrative Assistant, UNDP/UNODC, maria.lee@undp.org

Indonesia students protest / Singapore business law / India loan bribery

Indonesia students rally against changes to corruption law.  Thousands of university students are staging rallies across Indonesia to show their opposition to a new law they say has crippled the country’s anti-corruption agency, after Indonesia’s parliament passed a law last week that reduces the authority of the Corruption Eradication Commission.

City News 1130: https://www.citynews1130.com/2019/09/24/indonesia-students-rally-against-changes-to-corruption-law/

 

Companies can implement policies to minimise risk of corruption (Opinion).  “As good practice, private companies are also strongly encouraged to implement their own policies on gift-giving to ensure that employees do not run afoul of the law. Companies can refer to Pact: A Practical Anti-Corruption Guide For Businesses In Singapore.”

Dr Yik Keng Yeong and Mr Heng Cho Choon/The Straits Times:  https://www.straitstimes.com/forum/letters-in-print/companies-can-implement-policies-to-minimise-risk-of-corruption

 

CBI arrests PNB manager, middleman in bribery case.  India’s Central Bureau of Investigation arrested a senior manager of Punjab National Bank (PNB) along with a middleman for demanding Rs 1 lakh (approx. US$ 1,415) bribe for the part disbursement of a Rs 7.92 lakh (approx. US$ 11,180) loan for the purchase of buffaloes.

The New Indian Express: http://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2019/sep/24/cbi-arrests-pnb-manager-middleman-in-bribery-case-2038460.html

Myanmar ACC's defense / Indonesia women legislators / Philippines laundering risk

Myanmar Corruption Busters Defend Poor Record Against Top Figures.  In response to complaints that the Myanmar Anti-Corruption Commission is only taking action against junior civil servants and not those in positions of power, chief investigator of the commission U Thant Zaw explained that as many as 75 percent of complaints it received were filed against the rank and file and not the upper echelons.

Htet Naing Zaw/The Irrawaddy: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-corruption-busters-defend-poor-record-top-figures.html

 

Women legislators must win public’s trust by avoiding corruption: Women’s empowerment minister.  “The women politicians that will sit in the House of Representatives for the 2019-2024 term need to demonstrate good performance and avoid corrupt practices, otherwise voters will lose trust in them, [Indonesia’s Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister] said.

The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/09/21/women-legislators-must-win-publics-trust-by-avoiding-corruption-womens-empowerment-minister.html

 

Barbers warns POGOs can be used for money laundering, drug trade.  The Philippines House Committee on Dangerous Drugs chair Robert Ace Barbers (Surigao del Sur) raised his concern over the continuing proliferation of offshore gaming hubs in the country, saying it could undermine the local anti-money laundering and anti-drug and criminality campaigns.

John Carlo M. Cahinhinan/Politiko: https://politics.com.ph/barbers-warns-pogos-can-be-used-for-money-laundering-drug-trade/

Indonesia rainforest links / Republic of Korea corporate governance / Malaysia CPI measures

Indonesia reboots effort to end corporate secrecy as anonymous firms destroy Papuan rainforest.  “The U.N. Convention against Corruption, ratified by Indonesia, encourages states to promote beneficial ownership transparency as a means of combating graft. If successful, these efforts may also have consequences in the forests of Indonesia, where investors driving deforestation remain hidden behind layers of corporate secrecy.”

The Gecko Project: https://thegeckoproject.org/indonesia-reboots-effort-to-end-corporate-secrecy-as-anonymous-firms-destroy-papuan-rainforest-87ad2a8f8a97

 

Why governance reform is key to make chaebol accountable (Opinion).  “To enact some semblance of control over chaebol [or large family-owned business conglomerates], the government has focused on cracking down on corruption and taking executives to court; however, this does not appear to be the sole solution to reforms. In fact, a focus on reforming the governance structures of these organizations may be a route to more lasting change.”

Eugene Kim and Kim Ah-jeong/The Investor: http://www.theinvestor.co.kr/view.php?ud=20190922000148 

 

Greater transparency needed in govt’s efforts to liberate M'sia from graft (Opinion).  “Countries which demonstrate greater transparency, disclosures and take proactive measures to counter corruption, especially in the public sector, will tend to do well in the Corruption Perception Index rankings.”

Transparency International Malaysia/Malaysiakini:  https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/492655

Bangladesh project delays / Myanmar ACC cases / Nepal towards prosperity

Graft to blame for project delays: Tazul.  Corruption is the major reason for delays and weak implementation of development projects, said Bangladesh’s minister for local government, rural development and co-operatives.

The Daily Star: https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/graft-blame-project-delays-tazul-1803979

 

ACC takes action against 122 under Anti-Corruption Law.  “[Myanmar’s] Anti-Corruption Commission took action against 122 civil servants, high-ranking officials and other staff including the two persons who have political power, from 2018 to 2019, under the Anti-Corruption Law, said Thant Zaw, Chief Investigator from the Prevention and Control and Investigation Department.”

Eleven Media Group: https://elevenmyanmar.com/news/acc-takes-action-against-122-under-anti-corruption-law

 

Anti-graft drive a must for prosperity: Yadav.  Nepal’s Minister of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Matrika Yadav stressed the need to launch a movement against corruption and to expand industries in the country, to realize the government’s goal of ‘Prosperous and happy Nepal.’

The Himalayan Times: https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/anti-graft-drive-a-must-for-prosperity-yadav/

Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (21 September 2019): PNG, Fiji, Solomon Islands

PNG:

Make PNG’s National Goals relevant again.  The [National Goals and Directive Principles] are not a panacea for institutional challenges like corruption. However, Professor Eric Uslaner, author of The historical roots of corruption, has noted the transformative effects of civic education in curbing the abuse of power in modern societies.

https://www.devpolicy.org/make-pngs-national-goals-relevant-again-20190918/

PM pledges economic independence for PNG.  “[Mr. Marape] admitted that PNG still has its short comings as a nation stating that issues such as uneven distribution of resources, lack of quality development, under performance of resources, squandering of resources through corruption and complacency, nonfunctional government systems and many more are prevalent.”

https://postcourier.com.pg/pm-pledges-economic-independence-for-png/

 

FIJI:

Former senior correction officers’ trial to begin next month.  Former Fiji Corrections Commissioner Ifereimi Vasu and acting Deputy Commissioner, Peniasi Kunatuba will now stand for a four-week trial next month after being charged by the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption for abuse of office.

https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/court/former-senior-correction-officers-trial-to-begin-next-month/

Digitization can eradicate black economy: Das.  FRCS Chief Executive Visvanath Das says unrecorded and untaxed economic activity will continue until the authorities digitally capture all financial transactions.

https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/digitization-can-eradicate-black-economy-das/

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS:

US to review reasons for Solomon Islands’ diplomatic switch.  “Actions and policies that foster corruption, subvert democratic institutions, and undermine national sovereignty are incompatible with the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific as well antiethical to the values the United States and its partners share with the Pacific Islands nations.”

http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201909180006.aspx

 

To know more about the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project please contact the team members:

Annika Wythes, Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser, UNODC, annika.wythes@un.org

Marine Destrez, Anti-Corruption Specialist – Pacific a.i., UNDP, marine.destrez@undp.org

Maria Lee, Peace & Development Administrative Assistant, UNDP/UNODC, maria.lee@undp.org

New Kickback podcast / Japan-Thailand bribery case / Indonesia anti-graft weapon

New Podcast Episode, Featuring Kieu Vien (Blog/Podcast).  “In the conversation, [Kieu Vien, the founder and executive director of Towards Transparency,] discusses the history of her organization, the corruption challenges facing Vietnam, some of Towards Transparency’s major initiatives, and the promises and limitations of the Vietnamese government’s recent anticorruption reforms.”

Matthew Stephenson/The Global Anticorruption Blog: https://globalanticorruptionblog.com/2019/09/17/new-podcast-episode-featuring-kieu-vien/ 

 

Former exec convicted of bribery in 1st plea deal case in Japan.  A former executive of Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Ltd has been found guilty of bribing a senior Thai official over a power plant project, in Japan's first case involving a plea bargain.

Japan Today: https://japantoday.com/category/crime/former-exec-convicted-of-bribery-in-1st-plea-deal-case-in-japan 

 

Forget KPK, we need a sharper weapon to fight graft (Opinion).  “Whatever tools we come up with, they have to involve wider public participation. We need to use free speech and internet technology to the full extent possible as part of any public campaign against corruption. The free and independent media, for one, should be part of the campaign, doing investigative reporting and uncovering corruption scandals”

Endy Bayuni/The Jakarta Post: https://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2019/09/17/forget-kpk-we-need-a-sharper-weapon-to-fight-graft.html