ACU officials Visit Japan

By Sok Lak

20 officials including three female officials from the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) left Cambodia to Japan under the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for students and Youths (JENESYS) program for eight days.

ACU officials will attend lectures on corruption countermeasures, ethics for public officers, current situation of crackdown on corruption in Japan and other topics related to Anti-corruption procedures with an opportunity to visit the Japan-Cambodia Parliamentarian Friendship league, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Yokohama City, and also visit Nagane Prefecture to better understand Japanese culture and local industry.

Masaki Kawaguchi, First Secretary of Embassy of Japan in Cambodia, said that the JENESYS programme is baded on a plan announced by Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, at the Second East Asia Summit (EAS), held in January 2007. The plan is to implement a 35 billion yen youth exchange programme to invite 6,000 young people from ASEAN countries, Australia, China, India, New Zealand and the Republic of to Korea to Japan every year for five years, with a view to establishing a basis for Asian solidarity by expanding youth exchange. Through this plan, the government of Japan has launched the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for students and Youths (JENESYS) Program in 2007.

He stressed that anti-Corruption is one of the important pillars of the Rectangular Strategy of the Royal Government of Cambodia, one to which the government has ensured its commitment through the Anti-Corruption Law that came in to force in April 2010. As anti-corruption measures are a key element of good governance and socio-economic development especially attract investment all countries around the world. The Government of Japan supports the effort of the Royal Government of Cambodia through the JENESYS’s program. “I expected that this program offer an opportunity for young ACU officials to deepen their professional knowledge through expert’s lectures and visits to various institutions in the field of anti corruption in Japan to anti-corruption in Cambodia effectively.”

H.E Kheang Seng, Vice President of Anti-Corruption Unit, said that JENESYS’s program is very important for anti-corruption officials since anti-corruption department need improvement and development of their skills while the expanding tasks occurred after anti-corruption official implement in country. “I hope all delegation try to study hard in program and gain good experience Japan to build anti-corruption unit stronger with effectively work”

After anti-corruption came into force in April 2010, Anti-Corruption Unit has achieved their first case in corruption. As noted, Top Chan Sereivuth, Cambodian former prosecutor in Pursat province was convicted of corruption and sentenced to 19 years in prison for extortion and receiving bribes to release timber smugglers from captivity. Three people who worked with him also received jail terms of 15, 16 and 17 years for their involvement in the crimes and ordered to pay compensation to victims

Orn Panhha, Head of the Cambodian delegation, said that it is good opportunity for all anti-corruption to learn lessons from Japan. “I hope anti-corruption official will gain new knowledge and new experience to share ACU as well as build department ability.”

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, May 22-28, 2011, Vol. 5, Issue 21, Page 9