Corruption provides breeding ground for organised crime - AG
Corruption undermines and endangers the stability and security of the
foundations of a good and honest society itself; it undermines the
institutions and values of democracy and ethical values and morality,
jeopardises sustainable development, the rule of law and the credibility
of Governments.
It also provides a breeding ground for organised crime, Attorney
General C. R. De Silva said.
He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Bribery and Corruption
Commission’s renovated Auditorium and Library in Colombo yesterday.
“Corruption is the use of abuse of entrusted power with the intent to
obtain private gain or gratification, either for one’s self or for a
friend or relative. This may include a failure or refusal to act when
such action is necessary or appropriate, or inciting another party to
take improper action,” the Attorney General said.
Corruption is not limited to bribery or other exchanges of value, but
it forms a pivotal backbone upon which the whole concept of the abuse of
power is made vehemently clear. The initiator is not the only guilty
party: anyone who knowingly or willingly participates in a corrupt act
is as guilty of corruption, he said.
Bribery and corruption are features that every Government in history
has had to take note of and treat with serious concern. World literature
is full of references to corruption raging from the ancient clay tablets
of Assyria 4,000 years ago to the most recent literature, he said.
Very few public officials begin their careers with the intention of
becoming corrupt, but some succumb to a sinister form of peer pressure
over time. Being placed in a position of significant political power can
be overwhelming, and the temptation to break rules for a perceived
“greater good” is always present, he said.
Although the predicament is large, it is not without probable
solutions. Leaving aside the commonplace practices of retributive
punishment and rehabilitation, other forms of preventive measures have
been highlighted. Grass roots level action often results in the most
productive outcome, Attorney General de Silva said.
The first and most important step to be taken would be to create a
vigilant, informed and sensitive public. Through the means of education
a certain level of integrity, veracity, an honour can and must be
instilled in society beginning from primary level right up to the
highest levels.
It is the task of all concerned to ensure that it is the right of
society to expect total integrity from all who hold office and that
nothing short should be received, he said.
Further to educational awareness, the value of a transparent form of
practice at all levels of administration may prove invaluable.
The free availability of information to the public, availability of
fora in which queries may be voiced and heard and like measures from
which may stem a sense of empowerment toward the public who in turn
functions not only as a check and balance against corruptive practices
but also in the form and capacity of deterrent against the same.
Such awareness, transparency and educative practices should also aim
at breaking down social stigmas that redress is available only for the
rich and powerful and reveal to the poor and underprivileged that their
position too is one of strength and not of weakness as is common
practice, he said.
Programmes of this nature should be structured and systematic,
far-reaching and extensive so as to provide an equal opportunity to all,
be it to make a complaint or merely to have one’s voice heard.
This will also aid in the prevention of bribery and corruption at the
lower end of the scale where even “village level” corruption may be
combated.
This again aids in the creation of grass roots level checks and
balances which will undoubtedly filter up and have a noticeable effect
on “heavy duty” bribery and corruption.
Together with these programmes and systems that may be put into
practice it is vital that an equally effective system of enforcement is
enacted.
This must in turn inculcate levels of protection for those officials
and complainants that may be involved in the counteraction of these
harmful practices, for fear of exercising the system is equally futile
as an ineffective system, or of having no system at all in place, the
Attorney General said.
US Ambassador Robert O. Blake said a recent study in Sri Lanka has
indicated that the GDP would have grown by at least two percentage
points in 2006 had corruption been prevented.
The Ambassador said the best way to combat corruption is for a
Government, to be open and transparent. The cost of corruption is
difficult to quantify, but there is little doubt that it has
dramatically negative economic and political consequences, Blake said.
“Corruption damages economic development and reform, impedes the
ability of countries to attract foreign investments, hinders the growth
of democratic institutions and concentrates power of hands for a few,”
he added.
He said the Sri Lanka anti-corruption programme was created by the US
Agency for International Development after the tsunami and was designed
to help minimise corruption in the distribution of the post-tsunami
assistance.
In addition to the renovation of the Bribery Commission Auditorium,
US also supported the publication of Let’s get rid of corruption, a
children’s book about corruption written by Sybil Vetthasinghe.
“We hope that this publication will raise public awareness and
understanding about the negative impact of corruption on the Sri Lankan
society. This book will inculcate in Sri Lanka’s next generation a
strong aversion to corruption,” he stressed.
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