International Anti-Corruption Day, 2010: December 9, 2010

International Anti-Corruption Day, 2010

December 9, 2010

The United Nations Assembly, declared on October 31, 2003 that the 9th of December to be celebrated as World Anti Corruption Day each year. The first annual International Anti-Corruption Day was conducted in Merida, Mexico on December 9th, 2004. Since then each year it is convened to fight the corruption with full potential around the world.¹

The corruption has become a global problem. The globalization has brought the peoples of all countries in the world together and has enabled them to work together. This has facilitated all sorts of criminals also together and nowadays they plan their operations internationally and decide on their escape routes, parking the funds, illegal investments, money-laundering etc, evaluating the opportunities on international basis. The money amassed by corrupt means is passed on to safer parking places, Switzerland occupying the uno numero in this respect.

On December 9, 2010 the UN Secretary-General said² in his message on International anti-corruption day:

Corruption is a threat to development, democracy and stability.  It distorts markets, curbs economic growth and discourages foreign investment.  It erodes public services and trust in officials.  And it contributes to environmental damage and endangers public health by enabling the illegal dumping of hazardous waste and the production and distribution of counterfeit medicines.

The United Nations Convention against Corruption has helped the public sector to make progress in deterring these crimes.  Last year, the Convention's States parties, which now number 148, established a peer review mechanism to identify gaps in national anti-corruption laws and practices -- a major breakthrough that can help governments halt bribe-taking and the embezzlement of public funds.

The private sector's contribution is also essential.  Corruption acts as a hidden overhead charge that drives up prices and erodes quality without any benefit to producers or consumers.  Preventing corruption makes good business sense.  Increasingly, investors are factoring not only environmental, social and governance considerations into their decision-making, but sound ethical performance as well.

I call on business leaders worldwide to denounce corruption and to back their words with strict prohibitions against it.  They should adopt anti-corruption policies in line with the United Nations Convention and put in place the necessary checks to strengthen integrity and transparency.  I also urge corporations to work more closely with the United Nations on this issue.  In particular, they should consider joining the UN Global Compact, the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, which provides participants with tools to fight all forms of corruption, including extortion and bribery.

What we urge upon the public and private sectors, we at the United Nations must practice ourselves.  An ethical organizational culture is one of the best antidotes to corruption.  The United Nations Ethics Office promotes accountability, integrity and transparency.  A thorough policy protects staff against retaliation if they report misconduct or participate in audits and investigations that may expose unethical behavior.

The United Nations is also working to combat corruption in the conduct of its activities, including procurement, by ensuring individual accountability, collaborating with law enforcement officials, and investigating all possible instances of corruption that may arise.  On 8-9 December at UN Headquarters in New York, the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services is bringing together organizations from around the world for a conference aimed at strengthening the role of internal investigations in combating corruption.

On this International Anti-Corruption Day, let us all do our part to foster ethical practices, safeguard trust and ensure no diversion of the precious resources needed for our shared work for development and peace.

Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of UNODC, has said³ in his message on 2010 Anti-Corruption Day:

Corruption threatens security, hampers development and undermines democratic institutions, especially in the world's most vulnerable regions. It distorts markets, curbs economic growth and discourages foreign investment. In the public sector, corruption undermines public services and trust in government. It also enables illegal practices that can harm the environment and public health.

The United Nations Convention against Corruption, which has now 148 parties, provides agreed-upon anti-corruption obligations and guidelines for tackling corruption around the globe. Last year, the States Parties to the Convention established an innovative review mechanism to help countries identify and address gaps in national anti-corruption laws and practices. This is an important advance in the global fight against corruption that can help governments protect public resources to the benefit of their citizenry.

The private sector plays a key role in fostering development, but it is lagging behind the public sector in its efforts to stop corruption. In the past year, a number of countries have stepped up enforcement of anti-corruption laws, and we have seen high-level prosecutions of major companies, but many of these cases have ended in plea bargains. Companies have been fined billions, but that money has stayed in the States where the settlements were reached, it hasn't gone back to the countries from which it was stolen. Ordinary people are the losers. We need to address this integrity deficit.  I encourage the Working Group on Asset Recovery to look into this.

It is in the interest of the private sector to prevent corruption. Stronger economies and more prosperous societies are good for business.

There are plenty of incentives for the private sector to reject corruption. Above all, it is expensive. Corruption eats into profits, increases prices and reduces quality. But it is also immoral. It undermines business confidence and corporate integrity and destroys the reputations of respected companies.

What can the private sector do to match the public sector's progress in fighting corruption?  I challenge businesses to set the tone from the top with a zero-tolerance policy for corruption. Adopt anti-corruption policies in line with the UN Convention and put in place the checks and balances needed to strengthen integrity and transparency. Draw inspiration from the peer review mechanism of the Convention and monitor your performance.  And invest in the institutional infrastructure of the countries in which you do business.

I also urge you to work more closely with the United Nations and join the Global Compact, whose 10^th principle is to work against corruption.  Take part in our global anti-corruption campaign and use your leverage to foster ethical business practices.

Clean hands are good for business.

 

 

The G20 is an informal group of 19 countries and the European Union, with representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

 

 

 

G-20 was established in 1999. It is a Group of 19 Countries to bring together systemically important industrialized and developing economies to discuss key issues in the global economy. The finance ministers and central bank governors met in 1999, at the suggestion of the G7 finance ministers in response to the global financial crisis of 1997-99. Since then, there has been a finance ministerial meeting every fall.

The finance ministers and the central bank governors of the following 19 countries and the European Union, represented by the rotating Council presidency and the European Central Bank, constitute "G-20".⁴

1.   Argentina
2.   Australia
3.   Brazil
4.   Canada
5.   China
6.   France
7.   Germany
8.   India
9.   Indonesia
10. Italy
11. Japan
12. Mexico
13. Russia
14. Saudi Arabia
15. South Africa
16. Republic of Korea
17. Turkey
18. United Kingdom
19. United States of America

20. European Union

 

The G20 was created as a deliberative rather than decision-taking body, but one designed to encourage 'the formation of consensus on international issues’. However it was one with a policy focus, a mandate to promote international financial stability. Chair Paul Martin suggested it "will focus on translating the benefits of globalization into higher incomes and better opportunities everywhere," including working people around the world (Beattle 1999). Although concentrating on longer term rather than immediate policy issues, Martin declared: "There is virtually no major aspect of the global economy or international financial system that will be outside of the group's purview" (Beauchesne 1999).¹

Quiet appropriately, the G20 has adopted a landmark anti-corruption plan. In this context, Hillary Rodham Clinton, US Secretary of State, issued a statement⁵ on December 8, 2010 in which she has said:

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I join with our partners around the world to recognize December 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day. As we continue our common fight against corruption and recommit ourselves to the work ahead, we also recognize the significant achievements of the past year.

Last month, G20 Leaders adopted a landmark Anti-Corruption Action Plan to promote an open, rules-based environment worldwide. Implementing this plan will require cooperative efforts among our G20 partners, the private sector, and civil society organizations. The participation of emerging G20 economies is particularly important as they lay the foundation for generations of sustainable growth and prosperity.

The United States has made unprecedented strides over the past year to enforce our anticorruption laws and ensure our companies do not practice bribery or unfair practices in countries where they operate. This year, the States Parties of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) also launched a process to review implementation of the treaty. The United States is proud to be among the first nations to undergo a peer review, and we look forward to working with our partners in the UNCAC process to translate this global commitment to root out corruption from promise to practice.

Corruption stunts economic growth, damages confidence in democracy, and fosters a culture of graft and impunity that undermines the ability to operate in our interconnected world. Every country has a role to play as we work to advance our collective anticorruption agenda and institutionalize the highest standards of transparency. Together, we can ensure the integrity of our markets; improve our government institutions, and increase opportunity and prosperity for all our citizens.

Corruption in India

Quiet expectedly, this year’s Anti-Corruption Day is passing without any serious notice in India, though India is also one of the G20 nations. Let some of us, still having faith in the power of the people, still cherishing that noble sentiment called patriotism, still wishing and praying for the bright future and prosperity for our youth, rededicate ourselves to the sacred cause of eliminating corruption from our soil absolutely and once for all.

The anti-corruption day is of special relevance to India. The central government and most of the state governments have become known for their shameful scams of various kinds. In this nefarious activity of corruption, there seems to be no difference among the most of the political parties. The rampant corruption prevailing in India, for the present topped by the 2G spectrum scam involving 1,76,000 crores, has shown the politician in general as outright thieves in the minds of common men. And there is no outlet to express their anger and frustration, which is a dangerous thing for a democracy.

To make it worse, there is also no agency or mechanism that would bring the culprits to justice as speedily as the people would desire. They have seen enough in past that has wrecked the confidence of the people in the Criminal Judiciary system, which makes it more dangerous. They have seen that the agencies including the CBI make appropriate noises and finally everything peters out. Regarding the usual drama that takes place on the high-level scandals, NL Rajah says:⁶

WHENEVER THERE is “breaking news” of a scandal relating to criminal acts by the powerful or influential, an all too familiar pantomime unfolds. In the beginning there is the news outbreak; this is either followed by a stock denial or stoic silence by the person concerned; the Opposition or public interest groups are then on their feet with clamorous demands for an inquiry; a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe or a police inquiry is ordered; the powers that be then sanctimoniously intone that the law will take its own course; there is silence while the investigation is on; a charge sheet is filed and after eons, when the incident has been given a decent burial in public memory, we hear that the concerned person has been acquitted. Exceptions to this pattern, if at all they exist, are few indeed. Why so? The answer lies in recognizing a serious hiatus in our criminal justice system.

Whatever progress India has made in its post-Independence period, it has been in spite of its highly corrupt politicians! In this connection, the senior administrator P C Alexander has observed:⁷

Various measures to deal with corruption in elections, police department, revenue department, public works etc, have been suggested by experts, but most have been grossly ineffective as we have failed to create conditions favoring the success of such measures. He has suggested the following steps to be taken on a priority basis to control corruption in India.

1) Creating awareness among the people about their rights and duties as citizens;

2) Correcting the attitude of the government servants and making them realize that they are servants of the public;

3) Using schools and colleges for teaching the children about the rights and duties of citizens;

4) Cultivating proper value system among the people; (He has said that the people should learn not to respect those who have earned money by illegal means.)

5) Cultivating intolerance among the people with regard to giving mamool (periodical payments of bribe);

6) Politicians should not be corrupt and should not also shield corrupt persons.

He has concluded: “Ultimately the success or failure of eradicating corruption will depend upon the strength of will of the politicians… There has to be genuine will and commitment on the part of the leaders of our political parties if India is to extricate itself from the stranglehold of corruption and never again be named as ‘rotten to the crore’.”

Quiet expectedly, this year’s Anti-Corruption Day is passing without any serious notice in India, though India is also one of the G20 nations. Let some of us, still having faith in the power of the people, still cherishing that noble sentiment called patriotism, still wishing and praying for the bright future and prosperity for our youth, rededicate ourselves to the sacred cause of eliminating corruption from our soil absolutely and once for all.

References

1. 1. http://www.altiusdirectory.com/Society/international-anti-corruption-day.php
2. 2. http://www.unodc.org/yournocounts/en/about-the-campaign/sgs-message-on-international-anti-corruption-day-2010.html
3. 3. http://www.unodc.org/yournocounts/en/about-the-campaign/message-from-mr-yury-fedotov-executive-director-of-unodc-on-2010-anti-corruption-day.html
4. 4. http://www.g20.utoronto.ca/g20whatisit.html
5. 5. http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2010/12/152579.htm
6. 6. The State of Investigations, by NL Rajah published in Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad, November 30, 2010
7. 7. Rotten to the Crore? By P C Alexander published in Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad, December 8, 2010

A Cry of Agony

A Cry of Agony

K S VENKATARAMAN

For running the administration of a State, the Chief Ministers are compelled these days to opt for jumbo cabinets! This is criminal waste of public money. During the periods of emergency in States, we see that two or three administrators run the state administration better.

In these days of highly improved transport and communication, the whole world is becoming a global village. There is enormous scope for improving the standard of administration. Much speed and efficiency could be infused into the administration. The procedures in all the departments could be revamped and made easier and quicker.

Lowbrow Politics at the Cost of Efficiency

But usually the States are burdened with jumbo cabinets, as the Chief Ministers are under pressure by their party-men and high command. They become slaves of the hypocritical policies of Indian politics in general, and their parties in particular.

For example, all the parties and politicians would speak that the caste system is bad and that it should be eliminated. What prevents them from doing so? It is enough if the government does not recognize the caste system; it would die on its own in the context of highly developed modern mobility and interaction. But in practice all the politicians have vested interests in the caste system. They have already perpetuated it by reservations based on caste system. They intend not to give up this golden goose, as revealed by their decision to go for caste census. In formation of cabinets, more importance is given to the castes, rather than the individual’s ability.

In some states, the politicians would like to expand their business-political organizations, which are already mushrooming beyond limits, and build empires for themselves. So they are asking for formation of new states; and would mislead the credulous people to act as though they are asking for freedom from foreign rule! The impact of this is the Chief Ministers should think of including the persons from the point of view of regions or districts!

Where the honesty and efficiency should be the criteria, the caste, region etc., mostly replace them. Within the unwieldy cabinet, the Chief Minister would have to look for one or two really efficient persons and run the administration with their assistance. The rest, the majority of the ministers, are there because of extraneous considerations, enjoying the power and position; and very often misusing them and causing embarrassments and difficulties to the officials.

Just as a case of illustration, let us take the ministry of Andhra Pradesh formed on December 1, 2010. Obviously, the Chief Minister wanted to be guided by the need of good governance, as he said earlier, “Good Governance is my mantra”. He had to settle for a jumbo cabinet, thrust upon him for ‘political’ considerations. He had to accommodate a disgruntled leader within the party; he had to provide for the cravings of various castes; he had to appease those on a war-path for Telangana, making it to look like a freedom struggle. (Some wonderful ‘leader’ likened it to Kashmir struggle!

The net result, the new Cabinet drew 15 persons from Andhra (excluding the Chief Minister), 8 persons from Rayalaseema and 16 persons from Telangana regions. It had to accommodate people from different castes. It had to take into consideration, not the individuals’ patriotism and ability, but the views of various loyalists, viz. Jagan loyalists, Rahul loyalists, Sonia loyalists and so on! There has been no question of identifying India-loyalists.

In this tight rope-walking, where is the scope for evaluating the qualification, experience and talent of the prospective ministers?

Initially, the Chief Minister wanted to go for a smaller cabinet, leaving out the former ministers against whom there were corruption charges. Finally, he had to bow and settle for a ‘political cabinet’ of 39 ministers.

Even after having compromised so much, the Chief Minister did not get a contented lot. Two ministers have already resigned within 24 hours in protest, not on any national policy, but because they did not get the portfolio they demanded! They are aghast because they did not get as much as they wanted! What a national spirit! What a mentality of public service! What a graceful behavior of politicians, who have reached the level of cabinet minister of a State!

To say something about the scholarliness of the chosen few, the majority of them were not even able to read the oath of office and secrecy, though it was all in their mother tongue, Telugu! Two ministers took oaths as ‘Chief Minister’! This mistake elicited a mild smile from the Chief Minister and the Governor; a derisive laughter from the rivals; a cry of agony from those who are sad about the deteriorating standard of politicians in India.

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K S Venkataraman is the Associate Editor, Dynamic Youth Online Magazine. He may be reached through e-mail: dynamicyouth_development@yahoo.com