Corruption fight

Rights watchdog Transparency International made its debut yesterday at the National Anti-Corruption Conference on civil society engagement in fighting corruption. Transparency International’s Cambodia chapter was made official in July this year when it received registration approval from the Ministry of the Interior. Since then, it has launched a three-year strategic plan for a more accountable and transparent Cambodian society, said Rath Sophoan, its chairman. While speakers at yesterday’s event applauded Cambodia’s passage of the Anti-Corruption Law, Om Yentieng, president of the Anti-Corruption Commission was a notable absence at the conference. He was reportedly called away to attend a matter in the provinces. “We have a good working relationship with the Anti-Corruption Unit and we look forward to furthering our relationship and cooperation,” Rath Sophoan said by email. The American and Australian ambassadors stressed that the ultimate victims of corruption are the poorest. “Corruption…has the most serious ramifications for the most vulnerable citizens and nations,” said US Ambassador Carol Rodley.