Mon Oct 25, 3:03 AM ET Asia - AFP



HANOI, (AFP) - Vietnam will set up an anti-corruption agency following a series of scandals involving government and other officials which had tarnished the ruling Communist Party's reputation, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai said.


AFP/File Photo



"It is expected that an agency specialised in fighting corruption will be established," the prime minister said in a speech to the National Assembly.


"The agency will gather the will and the strength of the whole political system," he said.


"Corruption cases, especially big ones and those with special links between degraded elements in the state apparatus and bad ones in society, must be immediately discovered and eliminated," he added.


Khai provided no details on the agency's composition but according to a report in the English weekly Vietnam Investment Review, the new team would investigate corruption in all major cities and provinces and report back to the government by the end of the first quarter of 2005.


Vietnam's National Assembly opened a month-long session during which the issue of corruption is expected to be discussed.


The Communist regime has vowed to punish corrupt officials within its ranks, but critics say the crackdown is selective and some high-ranking cadres have acquired de facto immunity from prosecution.


During the past year, the reputations of the government, the party and some state-controlled companies have been hit by damaging revelations of embezzlement and greed.


The most recent scandal ensnared Mai Van Dau, the most senior of four deputy trade ministers, and included revelations that bribes were accepted from companies to secure quotas for garment exports to the United States.


Four ministry officials have so far been arrested, while Dau has "temporarily stopped working," according to state media.


In June, agriculture minister Le Huy Ngo resigned following another scandal.




http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/a...ft_041025070313

About time, hopefully this program will prove to some extent effective.
*Fingers crossed*
For the sake of Vietnam.

How can we be sure the the agency is not corrupt itself?

All governments are corrupt. Just to what degree is acceptable? At least now there's a governing body whom job is to moderate corruption.

Good news. Kill those bastards ASAP is the way. There's no need for an agency, if you suspect someone, drag them out of their beds and put one bullet in their heads and it'll be gone by morning.

my comment is on LV.

I think this is a good that we are fighting curruption.

Yes. For once I will agree with this cho'.

What the fu-k are you talking you lost little boy. How is that meet to be a reply for my comment?