CIAA will try three former police chiefs – Om Bikram Rana, Hem Bahadur Gurung and Ramesh Chand Thakuri – as the main accused in the scam. The anti-graft body will also try former AIGs Shyam Singh Thapa, Dipak Thangden and Deependra Bista, DIG Ramesh Bikram Shah, SSP Shyam Bahadur Khadka and former DIG Deepak Kumar Shrestha for abetting the fraud. Two contractors – Michael Rider, the director of the London-based Assured Risks that supplied the APCs and other logistics to the Nepali peacekeepers, and Shambhu Bharati, a local agent of the same company, are also under the CIAA scanner.
Fighting corruption has become one of the most urgent tasks facing the nation and the government today. Battling malpractices and abuse of authority has become more necessary than ever before as it is clear that the nexus between and among bureaucrats, politicians and criminals is becoming dangerous for Nepal’s democracy. The country has in no uncertain terms gained for itself the dubious distinction of being one of the most corrupt countries in South Asia. With a score of 2.2, Transparency International (TI) placed Nepal 146th out of 178 countries that were surveyed and ranked in its Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) last year.
Political instability, lack of political will and ineffective anti-corruption initiatives are some of the major factors for corruption in Nepal. Over the years, the corruption rate has increased thereby giving the country an embarrassing blow in the international arena. Thanks to the political elite who believe in interest-oriented rather than nation-oriented programs and policies, corruption is now embedded in Nepal’s governance system.
Of late, the media has exposed a few scandals involving high-level government officers and politicians who have blatantly embezzled state funds and amassed huge wealth. The cases reveal complete lack of a sense of accountability and ethics among those in power and who hold important government positions. The general public must join hands with the media to oppose corruption of all sorts. We must draw lessons from our neighbors where strong public pressure against corruption has compelled governments to act on it and parliament to pass anti-corruption legislations. This is needed to protect the very fabric of our society.
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