EFFECTIVE MECHANISMS TO PREVENT CORRUPTION,INSTANCES OF SUCCESSFUL AND UNSUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF
ANTI-CORRUPTION PREVENTION MEASURES IN THE LAO PDR
Phongsavanh Phommahaxay*

I. COUNTER-CORRUPTION ORGANIZATION
A. Status and RoleThe counter-corruption organization is a State organization that has the role of preventing andcountering corruption within the country by assigning the State Inspection Authority at the centrallevel and state inspection authorities at provincial levels to implement [this task].
The counter-corruption organization is an investigation organization and performs its duties
independently.
B. Organizational Structure
The organizational structure of the counter-corruption organization consists of:
1. [Counter-corruption organization] at central level;
2. [Counter-corruption organization] at provincial level.
 The counter-corruption organization at the central level has a status equal to a ministry. The headof such organization is appointed and removed by the same procedure as a member of thegovernment. The counter-corruption organization at the provincial level has a status equal to a
provincial division. The head of the counter-corruption organization at the provincial level isappointed or removed by the head of the counter-corruption organization at the central level,
after coordination with the provincial governor and city mayor.
C. Rights and Duties of the Counter-Corruption Organization at Central Level
The counter-corruption organization at the central level has the following main rights andduties:
1. To conduct studies relating to the prevention and countering of corruption, and thereafter tosubmit to the government for consideration;
2. To direct and inspect the implementation of activities relating to the prevention andcountering of corruption within the entire country;
3. To conduct activities to prevent and counter corruption among government staff within theentire country, especially government staff under the supervision and management of thecentral level and other government staff of organizations at the central level;
4. To conduct investigations into corruption by using measures that are defined in the law oncriminal procedure;
5. [During the period] when the inspection has yet to be completed, to propose the temporary
suspension [of a person under inspection] from his position or duty or [to propose that aperson under inspection] not be removed, appointed, or have his job swapped;
6. To liaise, coordinate, and cooperate with concerned sectors at the central and local level toperform its rights and duties;*

Technical Staff of the Head Division, Government Inspection Authority, Lao PDR.

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7. To consider, decide, and use measures against the inspected person as provided in the laws;
8. To summarize the results of activities for the prevention and countering of corruption, andthen to periodically report to the Prime Minister and the National Assembly Standing
Committee;
9. To exercise such other rights and perform such other duties as provided by laws andregulations.
II. THE ANTI-CORRUPTION INSPECTION DEPARTMENT
In 2007, the Anti-Corruption Inspection Department has established activities under thesupervision leadership of the State Inspection Authority at the central level and has the status androle as follows:
A. Status and Role
The Anti-Corruption Inspection Department is a state organization, and a technicaldepartment of the State Inspection Authority at the central level and has a status equal to the office,departments, and state organization at the central level.
B. Organizational Structure
The organizational structure of the Anti-corruption Inspection Department consists of threeDivisions as follows:
1. Inspection Anti-corruption Division
2. Investigation Division
3. Receiving Property Declaration and Property Inspection Division
C. Prevention and Countering of Corruption
1. Continue to study and propose that the Government acknowledge the legal acts implementing
anti-corruption; the law of state inspection shall be studied concerning the asset-debt declaration ofofficials.
2. Establish the policy-line dissemination of party, state regulations, especially the law of anticorruption and other law, which shall be related to officials, servants and all tribal people to beaware of damage and harm of anti-corruption, they shall be allowed to supply for the informationand participated in the inspection of interception and anti-corruption.
3. Propose that the Government establish and improve the central anti-corruption agency and the
local level to consolidate the organization, fully and efficiently recruiting the officials in eachdivision as required, and improve the qualification level for the officials.
4. To stipulate the project plan, procession and technique to conduct the interception and anticorruption activities completely, and assign the responsibility to the organization and the concerned
officials to implement the said effective project plan.
5. Increasing the inspection as soon as the corruption phenomenon is discovered, and modify the law
in response.
D. Conduct of Inspection
In 2010-2011 year, The Government Inspection Authority and Counter-Corruption
Organization at the central level and provincial level have conducted the inspection 101 target. We
can discover that much state property was damaged, and so on.

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ANTI-CORRUPTION PREVENTION MEASURES
By implementing responsibilities defined in the law and regulations, the Government
Inspection Authority has contributed great efforts in preventing, countering and addressing thecorruption practices as follows:z Administrative organizations at all levels have propagated and educated their personnel and civil
servants to grasp and understand the law, regulations and the Government’s order, especially thelaw and anti-corruption, by various means such as organizing workshops or seminars at various
levels in both central and local levels, and through the print and broadcasting media;z Organizational restructuring, enhancing mandates and good governance mechanisms at theMinistries and some organizations;z Improving the policy towards staff and civil servants in order to gradually improve living
conditions such as salary systems, social welfare policy, and defining the uses of government
administrative budget and other policies.
IV. THE PROVISIONAL PLAN ON THE ANTI-CORRUPTION ACTIVITIES OF THE
GOVERNMENT INSPECTION AUTHORITY OF LAO PDR IN THE YEARS AHEAD
To enhance strong points and improve the weaknesses mentioned above, the Government
Inspection Authority has a provisional plan on anti-corruption activities as follows:
1. Advocate and raise awareness of laws and relevant legislation related to activities on
preventing and countering corruption by organizing seminars and widely disseminate theoutcome through the media;
2. Strengthen public administration at all levels, deploy staff according to job description,
determine a clear mandate, rights and duties; study and implement appropriate policy toensure transparent performance;
3. Study how to improve the strength and comprehensiveness of the steering or supervisioncommittee, supporting mechanisms and the mandate of the Anti-Corruption
Organization at central and provincial levels;
4. Establish a strategic plan on countering corruption for 2011-2020 and a decree on
declaration of property of civil servants;
5. Revise some laws and legislation to comply with the implementation of the International
Convention;
6. Cooperate and share lessons on prevention and countering of corruption activities withregional and international friendly countries as well as international organizations.

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