September 5, 2024
VIENTIANE – Members of Laos’ State Inspection Authority and Cambodia’s Anti-Corruption Unit met in Vientiane on Tuesday to discuss state inspection work and efforts to combat corruption.
The meeting was attended by the President of Laos’ State Inspection Authority, Mr Khamphanh Phommathat, Senior Minister and Chairman of Cambodia’s Anti-Corruption Unit, Mr Om Yentieng, and other officials from Laos and Cambodia.
Mr Khamphanh welcomed the Cambodian delegation and talks ensued with the aim of strengthening engagement between the two sides.
It was noted that growing relations between the peoples of Laos and Cambodia as well as under the two government’s strategic partnership has bolstered friendship and cooperation between the two countries, indicating a positive future.
Mr Khamphanh outlined the Lao government’s work around state inspection and anti-corruption efforts and the intention to effectively monitor all aspects of state administration and government-funded development projects.
The State Inspection Authority is also involved in monitoring law compliance by mining companies as well as the management of these operations and their commercial dealings.
The Authority has worked to ensure that problems are resolved and that offenders are brought to justice in cases involving corruption, with more being done to weed out corrupt officials and expose illicit practices.
This year, the State Inspection Authority has interrogated 209 state officials about their activities, informed 112 people about the regulations they must follow, improved legislative processes at the National Assembly, monitored legislation in relation to the Party Central Inspection Authority and State Inspection Authority, and revised a decree requiring state officials to declare their assets.
From 2023 until the present, the State Inspection Authority has received requests to deal with 1,179 issues, and requests to investigate 65 issues in 2022.
The Authority has completed consideration of 485 issues and is continuing to address other problems brought to its attention.
The main causes of contention concern land use and ownership, houses, business operations, dissatisfaction with court judgements, regulations concerning government officials, Party members, and other rules.
The two delegations shared views on the challenges encountered in inspections and efforts to stem corruption, as well as misinformation circulated on social media and other online platforms.
The Cambodian delegation thanked the Lao State Inspection Authority for its warm welcome and expressed satisfaction with the meeting and their visit to Laos in general.