Real Thoughts on Real Corruption

Without ideas like this coming from Nepal's best and brightest minds, Nepal will be finished.

CURBING CORRUPTION: THE INNOVATIVE APPROACH

“It is not that Nepal didn’t have the money,” said the young UNDP officer with a sinister sneer “Why do you think your leaders ride fat cars and walk on Persian carpets?” In fact, the only economic Index we seem to be ascending is the Corruption Perceptions Index commissioned annually by Transparency International. Ranked as the 47th most corrupt country on earth by 2005, Nepal enjoys the prestigious position of being more corrupt than historically corruption-ridden nations like Malawi and Libya.

So, whom do we blame for the decades of unprecedented corruption? Of course our initial finger pointing goes towards our leaders, and rightly so. Our philanthropic leaders have set an example for all charity workers worldwide; successfully dividing up the nation’s scarce riches, not only among themselves but to family members and friends alike. Domestic and foreign policy in the country lacked innovation because our judicious heads of state were busy spending all their creative input in managing their abundance of cash. Some hid it in their walls, some spent it on their daughters’ lavish weddings, some used it to buy apartments outside the country and of course some hid it in their water tanks. Although such dim-witted ones might have been exposed, the cunning, I’m sure, still hold large foreign bank accounts, from Indian banks to the impenetrable Swiss. (No favorites here. This problem affects both royal and SPA governments alike. It will require some cultural re-thinking and a sea change before the situation improves. Remember, we live just north of Baksheesh-Central)

Who could forget the nepotism? Army generals started promoting cousins and started sending the rest towards Maoist territory, ministers started appointing their relatives as ambassadors and national laws were twisted to favor a family member’s promotion in the government. All-in-all Nepal became a massive network of family run businesses. As the poor lay starving, even those that had worked so hard to get into power soon forgot their national duties.

So, how do we eradicate this crippling social illness? Many say that in the end it lies in the hands of our leaders and that their honesty and dedication decides the fate of the nation. True, yet how long are we willing to wait for the next Mahatma Gandhi or our very own Nelson Mandela? From ministers asking for ten crores to clerks asking for ten rupees, the culture of corruption has become deep-rooted in our society. Although every nation, from the most developed to the least, has their share of corrupt leaders, many of these countries are still prospering. By human nature one will try to exploit their position in power, so the solution comes in acknowledging that the system needs to be redesigned to keep the leaders on the right track. If there is room for corruption it will inevitably take place. Our country is corrupt and corruption flourishes because there are people in power who benefit from the present system. The answer is not to cross our fingers and pray that the leaders will be sincere but rather to blueprint an arrangement that would make bribery and fraudulence unattractive to persons of power.

The following schemes, tried and tested in other nations, are vital to ensure that corruption no longer impedes the crucial developmental work that is needed for the country to move forward:

First, an anonymous anti-corruption unit should be established. Often referred to as the ‘Hong Kong method’, this exceptional solution to corruption was adopted by the island in the early 90s. A secret team of corruption fighters, many of whom actually worked in the government offices and ministries themselves, caught acts of corruption in their own respective ministries with irrefutable evidence. Hence, not knowing who is an anti-corruption agent and who isn’t will play a psychological toll on individuals involved in corruption. Such a method will play head-games with government officials, and even if this small team of secretive informants doesn’t do their job, the idea that anyone in the office could be watching your move will deter officials from bribery and deceit. It’s like saying: if a driver knows where the cops are in the highway, he’ll slow down when he sees them to avoid a speeding ticket, but if the driver doesn’t know, chances are he’ll drive slow throughout the trip.
A person in power should know how long he or she is to remain in that position and should be appointed to a definite period of time. When one sacrifices their entire life for politics and finally comes to power for a brief stint of time they will obviously seek to milk the benefits of their struggle..... term wise selection of politicians and top bureaucrats is a must, not just for tackling corruption but also for long-term development and planning.

Secondly, the government should not fund anti-corruption agencies itself. The government and its politicians should have no hand in appointing or running the day-to-day activities of agencies such as the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), nor should it have the slightest clout upon such an organisation. The personnel involved in the anti-corruption task force should have no history, affiliation or relations to political parties. The solution can be establishing an independent organization with no association with the government or giving the job to organizations like CW (Corruption Watch) or TI (Transparency International). This approach has been taken by a handful of countries and also by the World Bank in order to monitor its money. When political leaders have the chance to pick the people watching over them or when the anti-corruption officers themselves start playing politics we will end up back at square one.

Third, a watchdog agency should be established to make sure that the main anti-corruption agency like the CIAA itself is doing the right job. This “watchdog for the watchdog” approach exists in various Asian countries where there is an anonymous taskforce established to track the work of the main anti-corruption organization and to make sure that the anti-corruption agency itself is not corrupt, which is often the case in Nepal. (I'd go one step further. Have this watchdog group actually research the connections between any anti-corruption official bringing charges and the person/agency that is being charges. No favoritism, family or grudges should be found.)

Fourth, the government should increase the salary of ministers and top bureaucrats. This technique was famously adopted by Singapore during the height of its economic instability and corruption in the late 80s. By paying the decision makers a large salary it took away their need to earn under the desk. Foreign aid and national income from industries like tourism and customs were put back into the nation without a large chunk being taken out of it from the powerful elite in the country. In addition, subordinates were found less likely to be corrupt if their bosses were faithful. Although the nation will loose money by increasing the incomes of these top officials, if we do our calculations right, the country can benefit greatly from this pioneering approach. (Interesting, but may serve to further drive an economic or class wedge between those who govern and those governed. Remember, we live just north of Caste System-Central)

Fifth, a person in power should know how long he or she is to remain in that position and should be appointed to a definite period of time. Corruption in most countries, especially ours, is often based on lack of job security. When one sacrifices their entire life for politics and finally comes to power for a brief stint of time they will obviously seek to milk the benefits of their struggle. Although such a step requires massive renovation of the political structure in Nepal, term wise selection of politicians and top bureaucrats is a must, not just for tackling corruption but also for long-term development and planning. (Term limits for politicians has been a blogdai favorite since we first logged on. They also are a great tool for increasing citizen participation in the election process and government in general)

Sixth, we must separate politics and bureaucracy. Post 1990, politicians started appointing government officials who would give them a commission once they were appointed to power. Certain ambassadors and consul generals would often give a portion of their corrupt earnings back to the political party that appointed them. Such “dalal politics” where politicians and bureaucrats do favors for one another has to be eliminated. In India where they have the same kind of unfaithful politicians from Bihar to Madhya Pradesh, politics rarely obstructs bureaucratic appointments or promotions. In this way, this emerging superpower of a billion is run efficiently not by politicians but by bureaucrats. Thus, detaching the bond between politics and bureaucracy will slowly alleviate corruption and nepotism from our own system.

Seventh, the deep-seated tie between our industrialists and politicians needs to be severed. From VAT regulations to fiscal strategies, many of our economic policies are geared towards favoring certain business moguls, knowing that there are benefits for the politicians for doing so. Whoever has come to power has ended up favoring his own business or the businesses of those closest to him. Monetary policies have to be reformed to make sure they favor the interests of the “average-Ram” and not favor the family and friends of the powerful.

Finally, the media, which has become the leitmotif of anti-corruption in recent years, has to abandon political agenda. It is unfortunate, but all of us know that some of our biggest media houses have political agenda and are giving the people what they want the people to know instead of what the people deserve to know. Media ownership along with the independence of editors must be under scrutiny to make sure they don’t turn a blind eye to reports of corruption or wrongly accuse political enemies of corruption. In a way, the media, as the supervisory body of society, has the greatest role to play in slaying corruption. ("Kantipur" always did sound like "Koirala-pur")

In the end, our Nepali cultural mindset of looking up to those that amass wealth and our tendency to agglomerate property for our sons, grandsons and if possible our seven generations also leads to corruption in higher offices. The four “pillars of integrity”; the justice system, watchdog agencies such as the auditor generals office, the media and law enforcement agencies should all work to uphold the nation’s dedication towards fighting corruption. Along with adopting novel approaches for combating corruption, we must remember that in an already deteriorating system, even if one “pillar of integrity” fails to be vigilant and do justice to the people of Nepal, the entire structure is at danger of collapse. (Absolutely brilliant. You need these "pillars of integrity" before you even have a chance at establishing any "pillars of democracy")

Although the same people whom we may call “fathers of corruption” are back in power today, they have been granted a second chance. If corruption and mismanagement of government was their greatest crime post 1990, correcting that mistake will be their greatest victory. (It depends on how well we can regulate the uncontrolled influx of foreign aid: A politicians favorite pig-trough. -=blogdai)

UN is one of the most corrupt organiztion. Socialists majors with - corporate generated money.

It is a platform where rich countries exercise their power in the name of UN. It is not united nations its few nations running the show. Their pay is based is in need ,not performance - I was shocked. That gives authority to make lavish pays and make the water more dirty, so no one can see in it.

United nations officer is one of the hyped careers in the third world. It is easy money as rich nations are funding it. These officers have been proven time and again of talking too much and no real impact. So- pal u must be in the old days where people believed that Uniteds Nations meant united nations. It was a good design by the powerfuld countries to do what they want. It could not stop against invastion but gave license to do it.

The word corruption should be replaced with bonus and incentives for performance. It can easily happen in countries like nepal where pay is flat despite difference in talent and performance.

PM to King, "Why do we have experts in Financial Management in the Corporates, but merely Economists in the Government?"
King to PM,"Simple, Corporates have money, we don't."

Where Nepali Police Boss Encourages and involve in Crimes and corruption:

The boss of Nepal Police uses his subordinates to perpetrate crimes. But the state is taking no action against him even after the crime cases have been reported in the media.

Crime of a Policeman: She lost her husband and a son when a police Inspector enjoying the protection of Chief of Nepal Police Shyam Bhakta Thapa killed them. The killer is at large, police can’t find him and they haven’t received compensation. And the boss is still enjoying the Nepali people’s hard money to fill his corrupt stomach.

Today’s Kantipur publishes a letter titled “Quite Inspector General” in its popular column “Letter to the Editor” with a photo of IG of Police Shyam Bhakta Thapa attached. The writer of the letter Deepak Raj Oli of Kathmandu raises very interesting and thought provoking questions and arguments that need to be addressed by the government and the police organization as soon as possible. He was responding to the series of news published in the daily about misdeeds, corruption and killings by a police inspector under the direct protection of IGP. “This case proves that there could be no fair hearing against corruption in the king’s rule. IGP Thapa is quite even after an allegation of this scale. Home Minister is unable to take any action [against him]. The impression on general public is that there is no organization to take actions against anyone. News on papers would have swift impact had there been a political government. Issues of corruption have been shadowed because of king’s direct rule. Such an environment has been created in which corruption is growing rapidly.”

“A Police Inspector can never make a big house [pic below which we first saw on the front page of Kantipur the other day] in an expensive area of Kathmandu like Bishal Nagar within three or four years of job. News has come that he has made many other houses like that. He has been officially charged of kidnapping people, brining them into the Police Headquarters and looting them. The quietness of Nepal Police has become a stark reality in such a regime even after the fact that Inspector did all those dirty things with the knowledge of IGP Thapa has been widely publicized.”

“How and which what morality the lower rung police officers work in a police force whose chief is like IGP Thapa? Honest police officers must have bowed their head in shame. My sympathy goes to those policemen who have to fight the guns and bombs of Maoists with poor training and inefficient arms.”

Here is background of the case:

A group led by Police Inspector Suresh Dhungana kidnapped two Nepalese of Tibetan origin on Magh 16 (Martyrs Day which is also the public holiday in Nepal), brought them in the Police Headquarters and looted Rs. 1.1 million from them. Inspector Dhungana enjoys a close relationship with the IGP. He is the son of IGP’s priest. IGP Thapa recruited Dhungana in Police Organization in 2055 BS when the former was DIG in Biratnagar. Dhungana works at the Personal Secretariat of IGP Thapa in Police Headquarters.

Kathmandu Police arrested two people including record holding Everest climber Pemba Dorjee Sherpa on the basis of victim’s complain. [Kantipur’s Khim Ghale first reported about this news on Feb 16 (Falgun 4).] They are being investigated by the police. Kathmandu Police was looking for Inspector Dhungana but couldn’t arrest him because of the protection he enjoyed from IGP Thapa. Investigating officers at the Kathmandu Police suspect Assistant Sub Inspector Kiran Joshi of the IGP’s Secretariat is also involved in the plot.

According to reports filed by journalist Kedar Ojha in Kantipur daily, sources say that Dhungana didn’t receive ancestral properties. But he bought a big house in Bishalnagar worth Rs. 9.3 million and was living there before this case came into news. He allegedly kidnapped a businessman in New Road last year and received a car as ransom.

Dhungana’s group used to roam around the country allegedly extorting money from businessmen. Two months ago a TATA mobile van driven by Dhungana killed two people (father and son) of Sapthari on Mahendra Highway. Sapthari District Police arrested and took him to Eastern Regional Police Office, Biratnagar. Citing his close relationship with IGP Thapa, Inspector Dhungana fired two rounds of bullets in the office premise and walked away. The family of the killed hasn’t got compensation as yet.

Senior police officers suspect that IGP Thapa is using Inspector Dhungana for illegal extortion of money from various businessmen. Kantipur’s Ojha quotes senior officials as saying that as IGP Thapa and Inspector Dhungana enjoy close personal and financial relationships, Thapa is always preventing investigators from taking action against Dhungana. It is believed that Inspector Dhungana has fled Nepal with IGP Thapa paving him save exit.


Inspector Suresh Dhungana, who, according to sources, didn’t receive ancestral property, bought a big house in Bishalnagar worth Rs. 9.3 million and was living there before this case came into news. Pic by Bikash Karki

It is widely believed that many corrupt folks occupy high positions in Nepal Police. They use the state machinery to do illegal things just as the IGP Thapa did in the cover the Inspector Dhungaha. There is no doubt that Inspector Dhungana is just a pawn of IGP Thapa. But the country is shocked, as letter writer Deepak Raj Oli suggests, and Nepal has become a land of lawlessness.

http://www.blog.com.np/united-we-blog/2006/02/27/nepal-police-chief-and-his-criminal-act/

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.... Indian intelligence unearths Nepali passport forgery racket in New Delhi:

By Gopal Khanal

NEW DELHI, May 6 - The Indian intelligence agency Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has uncovered a racket of Nepali passport forgers active in the Indian capital New Delhi.
Investigations have shown that the gang has already distributed fake Nepali passports to Indians, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis aside from Nepalis.

The forgery racket had come to light after the CBI arrested linchpin of the racket Dharma Raj poudel a week ago.

The CBI had launched an investigation following the airing of a sting operation by an Indian news channel into easily accessible fake Nepali passports.

The Indian intelligence agency also recovered four fake Nepali passports from Poudel.

It has said that terrorists, underworld overlords and thousands others could have already gotten their hands on such forged Nepali passports.

One among the four confiscated passports has the picture of Zahir Iqbal Misty, who had masterminded the 1999 hijacking of IEC 814 airplane with the name altered.

The other three have been issued to the name of Basanta Kumar Lakhe by the District Administration Office (DAO) Lalitpur, Om Prasad Poudel from DAO Morang and Dharma Raj Poudel Chhetri from DAO Rupandehi.

The name on the passport bearing the picture of hijacker Misty, issued by the DAO Kathmandu on July 14, 2004 however, reads Sudeep Khandekar. It was forged over a period of two days for a fee of Rs 30,000.

ASP R.S. Dhankar and DSP K.S. Thakur of the CBI have been assigned the investigation into the forgery racket and its leader Poudel.

"He (Poudel) has given some important information regarding the gang's accomplices and sources in Kathmandu and New Delhi, based on which we have launched an investigation into the racket," CBI sources said.

Investigations has also revealed that Poudel possessed fake stamps of a large number of Nepali authorities that issue passports and equipment to break open laminations.

"It appears that by simply replacing the photo, passports issued by whichever agencies can be forged," acting ambassador to India at the Nepalese embassy in New Delhi Tara Prasad Pokhrel told Kantipur.

An interesting facet to the case is the fact that it is mostly the Indians that are trying to get forged Nepali passports.

The passports with the names Om Prasad Poudel and Basanta Kumar were issued to Indian citizens and that both are in the CBI's contact.

The CBI has said that investigations would be launched into the both of them.

According to the CBI, fees for the forgery services differ for Indians, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis.

Poudel had told the CBI that the standard fee for a forged Nepali passport for Indian citizens was IC Rs 25,000, while it was IC Rs 50,000 for Bangladeshis and Pakistanis.

The Indian immigrations officials first got suspicious after passports with photos changed, smudgy signatures, careless scratching out of text and mistakes in the spellings of the agency that issued the passport began popping up which led the officials to arrest such passport holders and send them to embassy officials.

"Between mid-March and mid-April, 23 passports were tested for authenticity by the immigration officers. Such cases arise at the same rate in the rest of the months," third secretary at the Nepali consular office in New Delhi Jaya Bahadur Rai said.

Investigations have revealed that the racket is more active in nations with lenient visa regulations and in major out-bound transits like Delhi, Mumbai and Thailand.

Sex change, the forged-passport way

Meanwhile, the passport forgers’ gang and those involved in human trafficking have been found to change the gender of the person while distributing fake passports to them.
A lady was arrested at the Indira Gandhi International Airport while travelling with a fake passport.

Her fake passport, which earlier belonged to one Rajkumar Limbu, had been tampered with and the owner’s photo replaced by her own. The name on the passport—Rajkumar Limbu—had also been changed to Rajkumari Limbu to suit the gender of its new owner.

Likewise, it was found that manpower agents and passport forgers often returned their customers fake passports in return of their original ones.

Foreign Ministry demands answers; embassy expresses concern


After the Nepali embassy’s name was brought up in the racket, the foreign ministry has asked the embassy officials to provide details of the racket.

The embassy on Friday submitted a detailed report regarding the whole scam to the ministry.

The CNNIBN—a television channel—quoting the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that there could be possible involvement of the counselor and other officials of the embassy in the fake passport racket.

“The embassy expresses deep concern over such a news,” the acting ambassador Pokhrel said, adding, “It was a condemnable act to put on a news flash disgracing any foreign agency”.

The embassy faxed a detailed report to the ministry after a meeting with the concerned officials of the news channel and CBI.

First Secretary of the Counselor section Deepak Adhikari and Third Secretary Rai had taken information from CBI officials regarding the involvement of the embassy in the scam.

http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=108785


Nepal Embassy - New Delhi India:

Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi, India

Royal Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi, India send edits
Barakhamba Road,
New Delhi 110001
India
City: New Delhi
Phone: 91-11-332 7361,332 9218
Fax: 91-11-332 6857, 332 9647
Email: ramjanaki@del.2.vsnl.net.in

Nepali authentic passport can buy in New Delhi market in just Indian Rs 30,000.


watch video and investigation http://namasteeurope.com/news/index1.php?Action=Full&NewsID=2428