Fighting against the false arguments of hostile and reactionary forces about the work of preventing and combating corruption and negativity in Vietnam today

Illustration: tuyengiao.vn

Identifying the plots and sabotage tricks of hostile and reactionary forces and the current status of anti-corruption and anti-negativity work in Vietnam in recent times

Corruption and negativity cause many serious consequences, especially seriously affecting public resources, distorting justice and social equity, and reducing the people's trust in the Party, the State and the socialist regime. Our Party and State always have high political determination and are determined to prevent and overcome corruption and negativity, considering them "internal invaders" that must be resolutely fought and eliminated. However, hostile and reactionary forces have been making many distorted arguments, through cunning and sinister tricks, to deny the Party's leadership, efforts, determination and important results in the work of preventing and combating corruption and negativity, which must be resolutely fought and rejected.

In recent years, hostile forces have increasingly used forums, blogs, fanpages, Facebook, Youtube, TikTok, etc.; reactionary pages such as Viet Tan, Chan Troi Moi Media, RFA Vietnam, BBC News Vietnamese, etc. to sabotage the fight against corruption and negativity in our country. The subjects who sabotage our Party and State are reactionary groups of Vietnamese people abroad and Vietnamese individuals in the country who have been bribed by foreign right-wing forces. Participating in this force are also people who follow ideological trends and political lines contrary to the values of socialism in Western countries; opportunists, people who are ideologically and politically degraded in Vietnam. In the country, they encourage and motivate a number of dissidents, those dissatisfied with the regime, to operate fiercely and actively with many tricks. This is an extremely vicious plot, trick and argument aimed at dividing the Party and State; between the Party, the State and our People; Spreading skepticism and wavering about the fight against corruption and negativity, aiming to cause disunity, making people lose faith in the Party, the State and the socialist regime, promoting "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" within.

In practice, the fight against corruption and negativity has achieved very important results in recent years. The document of the 13th National Party Congress assessed: “Policies and laws on corruption prevention and control have been gradually improved, including for the first time the expansion of corruption prevention and control to the private sector. The work of corruption prevention and control has made great strides, achieved many positive and clear results, creating a strong ripple effect throughout society, receiving the people's approval and appreciation, and being recognized by international organizations” (2). According to the Report at the National Conference summarizing the work of corruption prevention and control in the period 2013-2020, 131,000 party members have been disciplined, including many cases related to corruption. Prosecuted, investigated and examined more than 1,900 corruption cases with 4,400 defendants, including 18 officials under the Central management who were criminally prosecuted. Since the beginning of the 13th Party Congress term, nearly 4,200 cases/7,572 defendants have been prosecuted and investigated for corruption, position, and economic crimes (of which 455 cases/1,054 defendants have been prosecuted and investigated for corruption crimes). Disciplined 50 officials under the Central management, including 08 members and former members of the Central Party Committee, 20 generals in the armed forces.

In addition to the achievements, the fight against corruption still has limitations, as our Party frankly assessed: “The work of preventing and combating corruption and waste in some localities, ministries and branches has not had clear changes; the work of preventing corruption in some places is still formal. The detection and handling of corruption and waste is still limited, especially the self-inspection, self-detection and handling of corruption and waste within agencies and units is still weak; the situation of harassment and negativity in some agencies and units in the administrative and public service sectors has not been pushed back. Corruption and waste in some fields and areas are still serious and complicated, with increasingly sophisticated manifestations, causing outrage in society. Corruption is still one of the dangers threatening the survival of our Party and regime” (3).

Our Party's viewpoints and policies on the fight against corruption and negativity

Firstly, preventing and combating corruption is an important, regular, urgent, long-term, difficult and complicated task; it must be carried out resolutely, persistently, continuously, “non-stop”, “non-stop” at all levels, sectors and fields; with solid, positive, proactive and focused methods. Build a strict prevention mechanism to “make corruption impossible”, deter and punish severely so that “no one dares to be corrupt”, ensure “no need to be corrupt” and integrity so that “no one wants to be corrupt”. The XIII Congress document clearly states: “The work of preventing and combating corruption and waste is a particularly important task in the work of building and rectifying the Party, building and consolidating a clean and strong political system, and consolidating the great national unity bloc” (4). To concretize and develop the Resolution of the 13th National Congress, the Central Steering Committee on anti-corruption and anti-negativity issued Instruction No. 25-HD/BCĐTW dated August 1, 2022 on a number of contents on anti-negativity work.

In this spirit, the work of preventing and combating corruption is raised to a higher level, truly becoming the task of the entire Party, the State apparatus, socio-political organizations, and people's organizations, expressed through three issues: resolutely and persistently fighting to prevent and repel corruption and waste, with higher political determination, stronger, more thorough, and more effective actions; closely combining active prevention with proactive detection, strict and timely handling of acts of corruption and waste, covering up, tolerating, abetting corruption, interfering with, and obstructing the fight against corruption and waste, with no forbidden areas and no exceptions; promoting the combined strength of the entire political system and the entire people, synchronously implementing political, ideological, organizational, administrative, economic, and criminal measures.

Second, continue to promote and improve the effectiveness of propaganda andeducation work, creating self-awareness and high unity of will and action among cadres, party members and people in preventing and combating corruption and waste. The Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress clearly stated the guiding viewpoint: "Continue to promote and improve the effectiveness of propaganda and education work, creating self-awareness and high unity of will and action among cadres, party members and people in preventing and combating corruption and waste" (5). Therefore, propaganda work must clarify and deepen the political determination of the Party and State in preventing and combating corruption and waste; Make people see clearly that Party rectification and strict handling of many erring cadres and party members does not "slow down" development, but on the contrary, it further purifies and creates real strength for the apparatus and cadre team, consolidates and strengthens people's trust, creates new motivation and new spirit to successfully carry out all tasks, and creates high unity in will and action of cadres, party members and people.

Third, focus on directing the development and improvement of Party and State policies and laws on preventing and combating corruption and negativity. Our Party emphasizes: "Promote the development and improvement of Party regulations and State laws on socio-economics, on inspection, supervision and prevention and combat of corruption and waste" (6), so it is necessary to build a strict prevention mechanism to "make corruption impossible". In particular, it is necessary to have a strict prevention mechanism to make corruption and negativity impossible and to improve the effectiveness of law enforcement. Review and supplement working regulations and leadership mechanisms at all levels, ensuring publicity, transparency and democracy in management, leadership, operation and enforcement. Encourage and protect cadres who dare to think, dare to speak, dare to do, dare to take responsibility, dare to innovate, dare to face difficulties and challenges and be resolute in actions for the common good. Perfect the mechanism to control power in areas prone to corruption and negativity; prevent and combat ideological, political, moral and lifestyle degradation.

Fourth, strengthen inspection, supervision, party discipline, tighten discipline and administrative order; build a contingent of cadres with sufficient qualities, capacity and prestige, equal to the tasks in the new situation. Party committees and organizations at all levels must: "Strengthen inspection, supervision, auditing, investigation, prosecution, trial, execution of judgments, early detection, strict handling of corruption and waste cases" (7) to promptly detect, resolve early, prevent violations from the beginning; carry out inspection and supervision work more strongly and resolutely to promptly detect, prevent and handle corruption and negative acts. Strengthen supervision of party organizations from top to bottom, supervision from bottom to top, promote the role of mutual supervision at the same level, strengthen daily management and supervision of party members and leaders. Strictly handle according to party discipline and administrative discipline, union discipline and legal responsibility.

Comprehensively inspect the work of cadres; focus on inspecting and supervising cadres showing signs of corruption and negativity; many public opinions reflect and denounce corruption and negativity; leaders and managers at all levels and cadres planned for leadership and management positions. Reorganize the apparatus, streamline the payroll, associated with restructuring the team of cadres, civil servants and public employees and innovate salary policies; build a team of cadres at all levels, especially at the strategic level, with sufficient qualities, capacity and prestige, equal to the task. Power is always at risk of "degeneration", corruption is a "congenital defect" of power, so it is necessary to establish a mechanism to control the exercise of power over people with positions and powers according to the principle that all power must be strictly controlled by mechanisms; power must be bound to responsibility, where power comes, so does responsibility, the higher the power, the greater the responsibility.

Fifth, improve the effectiveness of detecting and handling corruption and negative cases at all levels, in all sectors and in all fields. It is necessary to focus on leadership and direction, creating strong changes in detecting and handling corruption and negative cases at localities and grassroots levels, overcoming the situation of "hot above, cold below". Focus on directing inspection, examination and auditing in areas with complicated problems, public concerns, and areas prone to negativity and corruption. Speed up the verification, investigation and handling of economic corruption cases, especially serious and complicated cases, of special concern to public opinion; resolutely handle them strictly, promptly, in accordance with Party regulations and State laws, with no forbidden areas, no privileges, no exceptions. Have appropriate mechanisms to encourage and promptly handle information discovered, reflected and denounced by people. Actively verify and promptly apply measures to seize assets, freeze accounts, and thoroughly recover corrupt assets during inspection, examination, auditing, investigation, prosecution, trial, and execution of judgments; encourage criminals to voluntarily compensate and remedy consequences in corruption and economic cases.

Sixth, continue to improve the organizational structure, improve the effectiveness and efficiency of agencies and units with the function of preventing and combating corruption and negativity. Strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency in the fight against corruption and negativity of the Central Steering Committee and the provincial Steering Committees on preventing and combating corruption and negativity. In particular, those who work in preventing and combating corruption and negativity in general, and those who directly work in functional agencies to prevent and combat corruption and negativity in personnel work in particular, must be truly honest, clean, and exemplary in keeping themselves and respecting integrity. In addition, it is necessary to promote reform of salary policies and implement good treatment regimes, improve public ethics and professional ethics. Build a team of cadres who work in preventing and combating corruption and negativity who are truly courageous, truly honest and clean; not subject to any dishonest pressure from organizations or individuals; or any temptation or bribery.

Solutions to continue to fight against wrong and hostile views on the work of preventing and combating corruption and negativity in our country

Firstly, improve the effectiveness of Party leadership and State management; correctly identify, proactively fight against, and effectively refute the false arguments of hostile and reactionary forces.

This is a fundamental, important and decisive solution in implementing the work of fighting, preventing and defeating the plots of hostile forces. Clearly identifying the plots, purposes, forces, means and sabotage tricks used by hostile and reactionary forces to distort the viewpoints and achievements of the fight against corruption and negativity will help the entire political system have timely and effective solutions to smash their plots and tricks, maintaining political, economic and social stability. It is also an effective way to improve the effectiveness of the Party's leadership and the State's management of personnel work, so that "corruption and negativity cannot, dare not, need not, and do not want to occur".

Theoretical and ideological work must go first, anticipate, and not create an "information gap" for hostile forces to exploit, distort and sabotage. Party committees, authorities, and functional agencies must develop strategic plans, tactics, and organize forces in a systematic and scientific manner in the struggle and refute; regularly innovate content and methods, and further enhance combativeness, persuasiveness and effectiveness. Therefore, it is necessary to have the participation of the entire political system and all classes of people; in which, taking the lead are cadres and party members, with the core force being Steering Committee 35 at all levels... creating an increasingly large and effective network of struggle to refute the false arguments of hostile and reactionary forces about the current fight against corruption and negativity.

Second, raise awareness and responsibility of cadres, party members and people in the fight against erroneous and hostile viewpoints.

Each cadre and party member must improve their ideological stance and have a strong political stance to identify and resolutely fight against the wrong views and wrongdoings of hostile and reactionary forces. Regularly propagate and mobilize the people, especially ethnic minorities and people in remote and isolated areas, to grasp the plots and tricks of sabotage; not to be provoked or drawn into mass protests and petitions or unintentionally exploited by hostile forces to sabotage the Party and the State. Party committees and authorities at all levels, media agencies, newspapers, reporters and propagandists, regularly propagate the views and guidelines of the Party and the policies and laws of the State, and achievements in the work of preventing and combating corruption and negativity in our country.

Third, innovate content, diversify forms and measures to fight against the wrong viewpoints of hostile and reactionary forces.

Innovate and supplement the content of the struggle on the basis of firmly maintaining the viewpoints and principles of the Party and the State; be flexible, adaptable, and humane in methods; publicize and make transparent the Party's viewpoints, policies, and laws of the State, and the results of preventing and combating corruption and negativity, contributing to creating healthy and consensual public opinion. Use mainstream media channels and social networks to reach the masses, both propagating and exposing baseless distortions of hostile forces. Raise vigilance, strengthen prevention and repel the degradation of political ideology, ethics, and lifestyle, and manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" within the Party. Diversify the struggle activities, establish and use technical measures, and prevent effectively. Resolutely and promptly handle organizations and individuals who violate Party and State discipline, without forbidden areas or exceptions.

Fourth, organize and build forces to participate in the fight against erroneous and hostile viewpoints.

It is necessary to build a force with strong political will, high theoretical level, deep understanding of the work of preventing and combating corruption and negativity; capable of expressing and debating persuasively, with enthusiasm, courage, and determination to fight to protect the Party and the regime; to be the core and vanguard force in the fight, refuting erroneous and hostile viewpoints. Regularly review, grasp and closely manage the internal political situation, especially the political ideology of cadres, party members and people. Proactively develop plans and contents of the fight; promptly forecast the situation; promote the role of forces, leading cadres, scientists, journalists and a large number of enthusiastic and courageous collaborators to join the fight. Regularly evaluate the implementation process to promptly detect and prevent deviant and erroneous thoughts, not allowing hostile and reactionary forces to collude, entice and take advantage.

The work of preventing and combating corruption and negativity is a particularly important task in the work of building and rectifying the Party and the current political system. Therefore, it must be carried out synchronously, following the motto clearly stated by our Party: "Awareness must be mature, ideology must be clear, determination must be great and methods must be correct" (8). Therefore, identifying and fighting against erroneous and hostile views on the work of preventing and combating corruption and negativity in Vietnam today is extremely important; contributing to consolidating and enhancing the trust of cadres, party members and people in the Party, maintaining solidarity and unity within the Party, social consensus, preventing and repelling the degradation of political ideology, ethics, lifestyle, and manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" within the Party./.

————

Note:

(1),(4),(5),(6),(7) Communist Party of Vietnam, Documents of the 13th National Party Congress, Volume I, National Political Publishing House - Hanoi, 2021, pp.25, 193, 194, 194, 195.

(2),(3) Communist Party of Vietnam, Documents of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Volume II, National Political Publishing House - Hanoi, 2021, p.54, pp.192-193.

(8) Speech by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong closing the 4th Central Conference, 13th tenure.

Source