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December 14, 2009, the Coalition
for Integrity and Accountability-AMAN- Transparency Palestine- launched
the National Integrity System Study (NIS) during its yearly celebration
of International Day for Combating Corruption. The event was held in
Ramallah and Gaza under the slogan “A Functioning National Integrity
System is Immunity to Palestine”.
One of the
most prominent recommendations that emerged from the study was to
maintain the level of commitment shown by the various Palestinian
parties to adhere to the NIS as the basis for implementing the
comprehensive National Plan for Combating Corruption, adopted in
December 2007.
Additional commitments required, that
relate to NIS, include promoting accountability and transparency in
public work; work towards revising and or issuing Palestinian
legislations that coincide with provisions of the United Nations
Convention against Corruption; establish an independent commission
against corruption (an Illicit gain Commission).
Recommendations also dealt with tender issues within institutions as
well as avoidance of conflict of interest and protection of whistle
blowers among other issues.
As for the Palestinian Judiciary,
recommendations of the study called for the respect of this authority
and the importance of
its independence, especially from
interference from the executive authority and its security apparatuses.
The study also called for the
continuation of support to maintain the
image that emerged by the Palestinian Central Elections Commission and
its role as a neutral tool in conducting general elections. Finally if
called for support for the State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau
and to guarantee its independence.
The recommendations touched upon the
role of civil society by calling on organizations to enhance values of
integrity and accountability in its institutions as well as to play a
role in raising awareness in the Palestinian society. It also called on
CSOs to develop and implement codes of conduct at work.
Finally, recommendations concerning
local governmental bodies called for an increase in transparency of all
its procedures, including its final audit and annual budgets and to
implement codes of conduct drafted especially for local government
employees and boards.
Dr. Azmi Shuaibi, Commissioner for
Combating Corruption at AMAN, stated in the opening session of the
festival that “we are here to discuss the NIS study, which is one of the
studies conducted simultaneously in three other Arab countries and are
sponsored by the Transparency International”. “The purpose of
conducting these studies is to form a general idea about the reality of
the systems of integrity at the Arab level and examine the possibility
of adopting a national integrity system as a preventive strategy for
long-term fight against corruption” said Dr. Shuaibi.
He added that “the issue of fighting
corruption is scattered within the Palestinian Authority as there is no
specialized institution within the framework of the Authority for this
purpose despite the existence of a public prosecutor; security services
and a police force”. In addition, “investigations dealing with
corruption seem to disappear when it comes to individuals in power hence
many cases are lost in this regard”.
Dr. Shuaibi explained that the study defines
strengths and weaknesses in the “immune system” within the Palestinian
community. It also aims at building a culture of intolerance for
corruption by urging the general public to inform on corruption acts
immediately and without delay.
Hanan Ashrawi, Chairperson of the board
at AMAN, said that, AMAN, since its establishment ten years ago, has
succeeded in creating a culture that refutes corruption. And now it is
contributing to the building of a national integrity system which is the
most important requirement for good governance.
Dr. Ashrawi added that during the past
ten years AMAN also continued to contribute to the development and
strengthening of the capacity of civil society organizations in applying
integrity, transparency and accountability at work. It conducted dozens
of training courses on financial standards and sound management
systems. It also carried out public education campaigns on the dangers
of corruption as well as provided mechanisms of controlling it.
Within the same context, Dutch
representative to the PNA and one of AMAN core program funders, Mr. Jack
Twais, said he spoke on behalf of his government and that of the Norway,
that the basis for a sustainable development is the trust built between
the institution and the public.
Mr. Twais reaffirmed that creating an
anti-corruption culture and the protection of public funds and public
property, in addition to combating nepotism and wasta is critical to
attaining transparency. He also said that developing the role of civil
society in monitoring public institutions is equally critical when one
is trying to enhance transparency and accountability in any society.
Heads of Parliamentary blocs at the
Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) who were invited to comment on the
study agreed that strengthening the role of integrity and transparency
is crucial in the fight against corruption.
Mr. Azzam al-Ahmad, head of Fatah's
parliamentary bloc stated that it is impossible to benefit from the
study’s recommendations by building sound institutions before we have
political stability, first and foremost to be free from the Israeli
occupation.
Mr.
Al-Ahmad also stressed the danger of the internal split describing it as
the worst form of corruption embodied in having two authorities, two
governments, and two entities. Another phenomenon of corruption,
according to Al-Ahmad, is the international funders whom he deemed as
sponsors of corruption in Palestine.
Khalida Jarrar, head of the List of
Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa at the PLC, emphasized the need for reform on
condition that it be purely Palestinian and not externally imposed. She
also said that the Palestinians must struggle for a democratic
Palestinian society that is transparent in nature.
Mr. Jamal Nassar, representative of
Hamas criticized
the study in general saying that the research did not include the Gaza
Strip and this was done without justification. He called for revising
the study to include Gaza.
Mr.Qais Abdul Karim, head of Al-Badeel
at the PLC said that the study is considered a draft document for the
fight against corruption in Palestine and is vital to implement it in
the systems of institutions in the various sectors of society.
Abdel Karim added that the document did
not include the situation in the Gaza Strip in regard to corruption
hence the recommendations did not address methods of dealing with it.
He called for a sincere political will in order to effectively implement
the recommendations. He also stressed the importance of having a
Legislative Council that is recognized by all in terms of reference and
that it should not be a tool in the struggle for power.
For his part, Mustafa Barghouthi, head
of the Palestinian National Initiative “independent list” stated that
the most prevalent forms of corruption in Palestine are nepotism and
favoritism and not theft of public funds which is faction based
favoritism, which the report avoided looking into.
Barghouthi added that the PLC is the
most effective body to fight corruption and that marginalizing it is the
greatest crime against the Palestinian people.
At the end of the festival AMAN’s Integrity Awards were distributed to
this years winners from the various sectors in the Palestinian society
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Transparency Festival and Integrity Awards 2009
