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| Golkhadi | Posted
on 07-Oct-03 01:34 PM
Seven out of 10 countries have scored less than half marks on a corruption index that has Bangladesh bottom and Finland as the world's cleanest nation. "The whole world recognises that corruption impoverishes people all over the world... We cannot and we must not drop our guard," said Transparency International (TI) head Peter Eigen at the group's London release of its latest annual survey. The group said its 2003 "Corruption Perceptions Index" showed unacceptably high levels of public sector corruption in many rich countries but an even worse picture among poor nations where half scored less than three out of 10. After Bangladesh, the worst offenders were Nigeria, Haiti, Paraguay, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Georgia, Cameroon, Azerbaijan, Angola, Kenya and Indonesia - all scored under two. At the other end of the scale, after Finland, which got a squeaky-clean 9.7, the least corrupt were Iceland, Denmark, New Zealand, Singapore and Sweden. They all scored more than nine. The corrupting power of oil was evident in the bad showing of nations like Nigeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Libya, Venezuela and Iraq, the group said. TI picked out European nations Greece and Italy as having "worryingly high" levels of corruption. They came 50th and 35th respectively with scores of 4.3 and 5.3. The list of the 133 nations with sufficient data available was based on surveys of businessmen, analysts and residents' views of the prevalence of bribes and theft. The TI defines corruption as abuse of public office for private gain. While Finland and Bangladesh repeated their placings from the 2002 index, there were numerous changes in the list. The TI singled out the most notable improvers as Austria, Belgium, Colombia, France, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia, Norway, and Tunisia. On the flip-side "Noteworthy examples of a worsening are Argentina, Belarus, Chile, Canada, Israel, Luxembourg, Poland, USA, and Zimbabwe," Eigen said. Appeal For Kenya The full report can be viewed at Transparency International's website on www.transparency.org. The Berlin-based group hailed a soon-to-be-signed UN anti-corruption pact as an "unprecedented breakthrough" and urged rich nations to back governments of poor countries tackling the problem. It singled out Kenya's reformist President Mwai Kibaki as needing special support. "To turn Kenya into a country where corruption is not the order of the day requires sustained commitment at both the national and international level, both in terms of financial resources and practical support," Eigen said. Kenya came joint 122nd with Indonesia on a score of 1.9. Transparency International urged donor countries and international institutions to take a tougher line on corrupt governments by limiting financial support, and to blacklist any international companies caught paying bribes. Western governments must get serious on tackling their companies that bribe abroad, Eigen said. "Their bribes and incentives to corrupt public officials and politicians are undermining the prospects of sustainable development in poorer countries," he said. World superpower the United States came 18th - jointly with Ireland - on a score of 7.5. Iraq came 113th with 2.2, a score based mostly on data prior to the U.S.-led war that ousted Saddam Hussein. - REUTERS |
| thaag | Posted
on 07-Oct-03 03:13 PM
There was not enough data from Nepal, so it wasn't included. Otherwise Nepal would be right near Bangladesh....... |
| dautari | Posted
on 07-Oct-03 05:26 PM
Corruption HAS gone down in Nepal after the CIAA became active. At least in Kathmandu, it has. It has not eradicated corruption though. After CIAA crackdowns, people have started being extra careful while taking or giving 'ghoos'. Only the select few with friends at very high places are now enjoying 'corruption' as freely as they used to do before CIAA crackdowns. That is what is apparent. But the inside story may be something else. |
| KaleKrishna | Posted
on 07-Oct-03 06:44 PM
There is no money left for developement activies to be manipulated. The money and corruption in defence sector can never be sniffed by these TI. Ale ale raheko paisa hina bina parne aat, CIAA le khayeko cha, kehi maobadile taha paulan bhanne dar le rokeyekocha. Tesaile satheho, je bhaeta pane, data na bhaera hos, wa, bhrastari ma kame ayera hos Nepal is making significant improvement, hoina ra?? |