Dictatorial governments, wars, the “bad influence” of a nearby power, but above all widespread poverty cause corruption, according to a 2007 report by Transparency international. The situation worsens in Russia and Central Asia. The fault lies with the multinationals.

Tokyo (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Corruption in impoverished nations is on the rise, fed by the “multinationals of wealthy nations” desire for illicit gains.  This is the picture presented by the 2007 Transparency International (Ti) report, which puts Myanmar in first place as the most corrupt nation in the world, together with Somalia. “These companies – states the report – consider corruption as a legitimate business strategy” to work in foreign markets and gain all kinds of advantages.

Also being charged are the “international financial institutions which allow corrupt officials to get rid of and launder funds”, the report continues citing examples in the Philippines and Nigeria, where company officials illegally gain millions.  Even conflict situations seem to spawn the phenomenon, such as in Iraq and Afghanistan which lie in 3rd and 7th place, and corruption flourishes under dictatorial governments as in the case of Myanmar.

 “An independent and professional judicial system is critical to ending impunity and enforcing the impartial rule of law”, says the report, while any improvement is “improbable” while impunity continues and corrupt officials protected.

40% of 180 States surveyed are classified as “very corrupt” and most of them are the worlds’ poorest nations.  Among them Uzbekistan (5th), Laos (10th), Turkmenistan, Cambodia and Bangladesh (14th), Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan (all at 20th position), but even Russia (35th along with Indonesia).

In the ex-soviet states of central Asia, the situation has worsened since 2006.  Miklos Marschall, regional director for Europe and Central Asia at Transparency International, maintains that this depends on “Russia’s increasing regional influence”, which is only slightly less corrupt than many of these countries.  “According to the opinion of the international business community, - he adds - the Russian public sector is pretty corrupt. And what is even [more alarming]: it is getting worse and worse, so there is no positive development.”

Good news for Singapore (177th), Hong Kong (167th) and Japan (162nd, better than the United States at 160th position), while corruption remains widespread in India and China (together at no. 101).

Huguette Labelle, Ti president, comments that corruption “absorbs immense resources that should be destined for healthcare, education and infrastructure”.  “But poor countries cannot carry the commitment to reform on their own” in order to eliminate nepotism and favouritism: the “donor nations” and wealthy countries must encourage this change and be on guard that their activities do not instead encourage corruption.

 

• ASIA
• CORRUPTION
• MYANMAR
• EX
• SOVIET
• NATIONS
• RUSSIA
• CHIAN
• INDIA
• POVERTY
• WAR
• ILLEGAL
• MULTINATIONALS