Nghe An: Strict action to be taken against officials and Party members involved in gambling.

(Baonghean)-In recent years, gambling has been on the rise, with many sophisticated forms and methods. Notably, the increasing number of officials, civil servants, and Party members participating in gambling is having a negative impact on the public...

Complex developments, sophisticated tactics.

According to statistics from relevant authorities, gambling cases account for a relatively high percentage compared to other types of crime (approximately 15% of criminal cases), second only to drug-related crimes and property theft. The number of gambling cases/individuals discovered and arrested by the provincial police in 2014 and 2015 was nearly one-third of the total number of gambling cases/individuals discovered and arrested in the previous ten years (from May 2004 to December 30, 2013).

In addition to traditional methods, gamblers have begun to apply information technology and scientific and technical advancements (gambling via the internet, through mobile communication systems), making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to detect and apprehend them.

The individuals involved in gambling were arrested by Vinh City police in Nghi Phu commune during Special Case 416B, April 2016 (Illustrative image).

Gamblers employ numerous cunning tactics to evade authorities, such as: organizing mobile gambling on public transportation; gambling in hotels and secure houses with guards and surveillance cameras; and setting up camps in remote mountainous areas. They even exploit festivals or celebratory occasions to gamble, negatively impacting the nation's customs and traditions. Sadly, the involvement of officials, Party members, and civil servants in gambling seriously damages the reputation of Party organizations, agencies, and the government, creating negative public opinion.

For example, Mr. Nguyen Duy Nho - Standing Committee member of the District Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Tan Ky District People's Committee, along with 3 other officials, were caught red-handed and prosecuted for gambling; Mr. Ho Ngoc Mai - Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Director of Bac Nghe An Irrigation Company Limited, was caught red-handed by the Provincial Police for gambling and fined 1.5 million VND.

Dismiss from office and expel from the party those officials involved in gambling.

Given the complex situation surrounding gambling, on January 4, 2016, the Provincial Party Committee issued Directive No. 02-CD/TU, requesting all departments, agencies, mass organizations, district and city Party committees, and subordinate Party committees to strengthen efforts to prevent and combat gambling. On April 28, 2016, the Provincial Party Committee's Inspection Committee issued document No. 118/CV-UBKTTU, requesting Party committees and inspection committees at all levels to intensify propaganda efforts, strengthen inspection and supervision, establish hotlines and suggestion boxes for reporting violations, and strictly handle cases of gambling violations in accordance with the law.

Most recently (June 6, 2016), the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 15-CD/UBND assigning specific tasks to functional agencies and Party committees at all levels to strengthen the prevention and fight against gambling.

This demonstrates the resolute stance of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee in combating and preventing gambling in the area. Mr. Truong Hong Phuc, Secretary of the Do Luong District Party Committee, stated that unifying the disciplinary measures for officials and Party members involved in gambling in any form will overcome the tendency to show leniency and "slap on the wrist," which causes concern and doubt about the strictness and fairness of the law among the people.

Evidence seized by authorities in a gambling case.

In Do Luong district, officials and Party members found participating in gambling are strictly punished to ensure Party discipline and order. Specifically, in 2015, Do Luong had 7 Party members disciplined (dismissed from positions, expelled from the Party) for participating in gambling, including 3 Party members holding positions: Mr. Nguyen Cong Hoa, Vice Chairman of the People's Council of Thai Son commune; Mr. Nguyen Van Son, Head of the health station of Trung Son commune; and Mr. Nguyen Hai Duong, teacher at Primary School 2 of Dai Son commune.

In the first six months of the year, disciplinary action was taken to expel from the party and dismiss from office one party member, Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh, Secretary of the Party branch of Hamlet 8, Quang Son commune, for participating in gambling.

The Party Committee of Do Luong district has also developed a specialized resolution on strengthening the Party's leadership in the fight against social evils, including gambling, to declare war on this vice.

In Tan Ky district, following the arrest and prosecution of a member of the District Party Committee Standing Committee and Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee for participating in gambling, on November 3, 2015, the Tan Ky District Party Committee issued Directive 02-CT/HU on strengthening the Party's leadership in preventing and combating gambling in the district, and implemented a commitment signing program involving Party members and the general public in all neighborhoods.

Many gambling cases involved large sums of money in high denominations.

Mr. Bui Thanh Bao, Secretary of the Tan Ky District Party Committee, said: "The directive has received the support and approval of cadres, Party members, and the general public. We require the entire political system to participate in the fight against and prevention of gambling, expanding the forms of receiving denunciations, and providing hotline phone numbers of comrades in the District Party Committee Standing Committee and district police leaders to all 268 hamlets and villages in the district."

Specifically for officials and Party members, anyone who participates in gambling, regardless of their position or rank, will be severely punished; there will be no precedent and no exceptions. In the first six months of 2016, the Tan Ky District Party Committee's Inspection Committee disciplined (dismissed from office, expelled from the Party) the Chief of Police of Nghia Thai commune and the Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Tan Long commune for violating the rules that Party members are not allowed to break, including participating in gambling...

Besides the involvement of all levels of government in combating gambling in the area, every official, Party member, and citizen needs to enhance their role and sense of responsibility in monitoring, detecting, reporting, and actively cooperating with functional agencies in preventing, stopping, and eradicating this vice.

Khanh Ly