The 14th IACC conference in Bangkok, Thailand

The ending of a war may not necessarily mean the finale to all its problems for post conflict nations, which are trying to pick up the pieces after a bloody battle. As one crisis after another continues to take toll on some of these nations, yet another fresh crisis is enveloping them – their vulnerability to organized crime.

We had the pleasure of talking to Dimitri Vlassis, Chief of the Corruption and Economic Crime Branch at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, during a meeting with the social media unit held on the sidelines of the 14th IACC. He conceded that post conflict nations are absolutely more vulnerable to organized crime. “Organized crime develops, if not already present, it evolves and thrives by absorbing elements of the combatants.”

Citing an example, despite the irony of it, Vlassis shared an experience of a particular post conflict nation, where a local group had begun to rent out an armored tank on a daily basis for anyone who wanted to use it for any purpose.

Vlassis in discussion with the IACC Young Journalists

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As the 14th International Anti-Corruption Conference is coming to end today, its conclusion is highly anticipated.

The conference itself has been a market of ideas and information which over 1,200 paricipants from more than 130 countries shared and exchanged.

The theme of this conference is “Restoring Trust: Global Acion for Transparency”. One of the issues that has been talked about widely in the corridors was that everybody should take part in this fight. Others have been the experiences of some promising ways to promote transparency such as by Thai anti-graft commission or examples of cooperation in the construction sector, and many more new ideas, problems or threats that need to be addressed.

As the word “corruption” itself has a vague meaning, to what extent will policy makers and practitioners  be able to bring their ideas and experience into actions? Read more »

That is the question that Barry O’Keefe, Chairman of the International Anti-Corruption Council addressed in his opening speech at the 14^th International Anti-Corruption Conference held in Bangkok on the 10^th November, 2010.

“Leaders, politicians promise a lot, but do very little,” he said.  Therefore, we, the people, have lost faith in our leaders and in a way, in humanity.  Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Prime Minister of Thailand, added that youngsters inform him that they expect corruption in their society. Corruption is way of life.

Have we lost faith in each other? Do we really believe that corruption is a way of life?
It’s been a good three days at the conference and I’ve spent my time listening to people who’ve worked in the long fight against corruption. There are lawyers, academics, researchers, grassroots workers, and of course, individuals. Each and everyone is here because they care about corruption, they care about our future.

Now, how do we build trust, restore faith, refuse to be a bystander to corruption?

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Today, I asked a question to some participants: Who inspired you to fight against corruption? I find their answers very inspiring. That’s why i am posting this video.

I look forward to read your view as well. Who inspired you to fight against corruption? You could leave your answer as comment.