Laos PM wants greater efforts to fight corruption

Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith. - Starpic

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN): Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has advised inspectors to crack down on corrupt activities in their early stages and to publicly disseminate inspection results and the conclusions drawn.

Thongloun gave the advice in his address at a ceremony held on Tuesday (Feb 18) to commemorate 38 years of the Party and Government Inspection Authority. Deputy Prime Minister Dr Bounthong Chitmany, who is head of the Party and Government Inspection Authority (State Inspection Authority-SIA) and Anti-Corruption Organisation (Anti-Co) was also present.

During the ceremony, SIA and Anti-Co deputy head, Sinay Mienglavanh, briefed those present about important activities of the body over the past 38 years, especially establishing a special taskforce to investigate provincial “ghost” projects, overpayments, and repeated payment for development projects by ministries, organisations, and provincial authorities.

According to a news release from the government, an outstanding achievement was the investigation into the cause of the Xepian-Xenamnoy hydropower dam collapse, and addressing of the problem with the investors, which was completed following the guidelines of higher authority.

Thongloun praised the SIA’s achievements and said it reflected the responsibility of every sector in combating corruption, with the authority’s inspections strengthening public trust in and loyalty to the party and government.

Despite these achievements, Thongloun said the SIA should strengthen its role in anti-corruption across the country.

He noted that any apparent form of corruption needed to be addressed promptly to prevent it from proliferating.

He advised the authority to review its work and learn from the anticorruption practices of partner countries.

As for other red flag targets for inspection, the prime minister pointed to unlawful government-funded projects and those ongoing to prevent further violations of the law.

He called for the public dissemination of inspection results and the final decisions taken, commending outstanding contributors to inspection success and the punishing of wrongdoers.

Thongloun also instructed the authority to review the inspection regulations, amend poor stipulations, and to develop any legal instruments that were lacking. - Vientiane Times/ANN