10th IACC – Prague, 2001
Workshop Report – Reinforcing parliamentary oversight: The role of NGOs, the press, the
political parties and the private sector (Part 1)
Chair:
Rick Stapenhurst, World Bank Institute, The World Bank
Panellists:
John Williams, Member of Parliament, Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, House of
Commons, Canada
- The Role of Public Accounts Committees in Parliamentary Oversight. The Canadian Example of
Networking Globally to Fight against Corruption: Introduction to GOPAC (Global Organization)
Son Chay, Member of Parliament, National Assembly, Cambodia
- Role of Opposition Party in Parliamentary Oversight, Corruption in Cambodia, and the
Importance of Regional Networking (SEPAC)
Augustine Ruzindana, Member of Parliament, Uganda
- Parliamentary Oversight and Corruption in Uganda and Introduction to the African
Parliamentarians Network against Corruption
Cecilia Romero Castillo, Senator, Mexico
Musikari Kombo, Kenya
Contribution by Rick Stapenhurst
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Parliament is the most corrupted institution in the country
Performance of the public sector and parliament in a country appear to be clearly linked
Presentation of some issues for discussion and debate: how can be Parliament more
transparent
Codes of conduct for Parliament
Towards full transparency in legislative votes
Towards transparency in electoral political finance
Contribution by John Williams
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The role of the Parliament, the abilities of the government
Global organisation of parliament against corruption: how to fight against corruption
Parliament is a supreme institution, fair elections should be guaranteed
Governments should prove their legislation through the parliamentary process, get
money from Parliament
Parliaments are not ineffective, some groups can corrupt a member of Parliament,
Parliament would thus become less and less effective
Public accounts in Canada: chair is from official opposition
Own experiences: accountability of Parliament
An officer in Parliament is not completely independent: big problem
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No pleasant experiences with Parliament working
Public accounts are picked up more times, again and again
Public account should me more transparent, also the processes in Parliament
GOPAC
All governments are still making accounts as previously; the main being to make research about
the role and responsibility of Parliament
200 parliaments of the world had a meeting in September 2001, which will happen next year as
well. People should be informed about parliament roles in anti-corruption processes
Contribution by Augustine Ruzindana
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Given real example about corruption and anti-corruption in Uganda
Information submitted about the African parliamentary network (in operation since 1999)
How civil society real reflects the Parliament (it has been looked at in this conference)
Parliament is not yet instructed on how to fight corruption
Parliament is not recognized
Corruption in political parties financing, in government, in Parliament
In Uganda, corruption is realised throughout the traditional instruments: in Parliament
committees
Very sector specific committees in the Ugandan Parliament represent a great chance for
spreading corruption
The other chamber of Parliament is considered as one pillar of the anti-corruption
process (with the judiciary)
Realisation of many reforms in most corrupted departments
In 1999 the first meeting against corruption was organised
Uganda is preparing a network which will be able to continue with the fight against
corruption, starting in Parliament, and is to be spread throughout all African regions
It is very important to clean up the governments here
African parliament network against corruption does not have a mailing address, they
communicate through fax and telephone - many countries operate in the same way
More members of Parliament are out of the country
In the African context, the conditions for better communications are very bad
It is very important to be invited to conferences like this one - very good experiences from
comparing corruption and anti-corruption experiences
It is necessary to clean not only the government, but also the leaders not only in Uganda,
but also in other African countries
Contribution by Musikari Kombo
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Kenya was a dictator state. The Constitution of 1992 represented a wind of change in
Africa, a change from a military regime to a democracy
Very interesting experiences - in 1997, Parliament was in opposition against president
Traditionally, the Parliament is making the decisions through the committees (problems
with committees)
Control of provisions is not on a high level
Public accounts are made through recommendations
The Parliament and also the management of the economy by the government should be
the way to make decisions
Massive corruption in Kenya: it is practised through the committees
The money goes through the Parliamentary committees, not through the executive
In spite of these difficulties, the Kenyan Parliament is united
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In 1997, the Kenyan Parliament launched an anti-corruption committee (the members of
which are travelling throughout the country, listening to many people and making reports
for the Parliament)
A "List of shame" was discussed in the Parliament
There are 15 members of the committee, but anyone who is interested can fight against
corruption
Executive and judiciary do make some decisions against corruption, but it is too hard,
they are not so interested in the anti-corruption process
Corruption is not necessary
The Prime Minister is an anti-corruption authority
Trying to come to Parliament and to bring in private members and speak with them about
the results of this anti-corruption conference
A meeting about corruption in Africa will be held 14 December in Nairobi
Contribution by Son Chay
"Cambodia and S/E Asian Experiences"
The effect of corruption in recent Cambodian history
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1970 - the fall of the monarchy
1975 - the fall of the republic
Corruption under the Khmer Roughe / the fall of communism
1997: the beginning of the fall of the current fragile democracy
New government was established in 1997
From 1993, Cambodia has been supported by the United Nations
Corruption destroys the country's stability
Up until 1997, money was power and power was money
Corruption in Cambodia today
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Lack of political will
Corruption in a wider sense: to maintain power
Weak parliament, weak speakers, weak administration, weak rules of procedure
Limited role and access of the opposition
Rule of Law = everything is ruled by the law
Parliament could not be so corrupt, because it does not have as many powers as in
democratic countries
Strengthening parliamentary powers is impossible in countries like Cambodia
Events in S/E Asian Region
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Indonesia: ousting of Suharto and Wahid
Philippines: Estrada´s impeachment
Thailand: declaration of assets - Deputy Prime Minister was forced to resign, Prime
Minister only carries on under a cloud of uncertainly
Malaysia: despite btw Mohathir and Anwar Ibrahim
Vietnam: dissidents Pham Que Duong and Tan Van Khue detained and interrogated
Contribution by Cecilia Romero Castillo
How can a Parliament work against corruption?
1. To think about many objectives - to modify laws as anti-corrupt (e.g. as checks and
balances) - the role of representations in this process. To control the government and
people within it. To maintain better communications with the media, with NGOs, loyalty to
party democratic principles.
2. What's going on throughout the parliaments all over the world? Among the politicians,
parliamentary corruption is the worst area of corruption. We could not start to fight
against corruption, if people believe that parliamentary members are the people who are
the easiest to corrupt. Bridges between citizens and governments - creating committees
and NGOs to start dialogue and to start fighting against corruption.
3. Sometimes we are confused with corruption. Corruption has to be fought with the family,
with ethics? Corruption comes into our lives and corrupts our institutions. If we want to
fight against corruption, we should start with us, we should be clean and transparent
ourselves in our lives, our work.
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We have to ask more MPs to present their papers, opinions and experiences at the next
conference.
We have to tell people about their roles in civic society and also political life. We will be
able to create seminars, found organisations against corruption. It will be a very good
source of experience for everybody.
Disscussion
Adrian Baboj: Are the reports about public accounts specific in Canada? What about trust?
John Williams: It is very difficult. There are 3 parliamentary centres interested in this.
Adrian Baboj: And what about the control system of public accounts?
John Williams: It is open, accountability in elections and processes against corruption can be
launched.
A participant from Uganda: Will more authority mean less corruption in our Parliament? How can
we realise this in parliamentary elections?
A. Ruzindana: Some people from organisations are members of the Senate, which is a really big
problem. Membership of Parliament will be more transparent, which will also be the case with the
elections.
A participant from Africa: How to ensure a balance of interests between ruling parties and the
opposition?
Musikari Kombo, Augustine Ruzindana: It will be a long process, but everything is open. It
depends on our countries, our people and on our will.
A participant from the United Kingdom: How can international institutions be useful in anticorruption processes?
Son Chay: They can be helpful, they have a very important position in this process. We have to
make sure that people want parliamentary democracy and are interested in the decision making
process.
Main Themes Covered
1. The role of Parliament in the fight against corruption
2. The role of members of state institutions, government, parliament and senate in the anticorruption process.
3. How to make clean and transparent decisions?
Main Conclusions
1. Very good legislative rules are the key element in the fight against corruption. People in
the legislative branch should modify the existing laws.
2. The Parliament is the supreme institution, which should take a closer look at anticorruption processes. It should be a co-ordinator in the process of cleaning up and
making transparent processes in society and political decisions.