Ignite the flames of corruption - The Party regains the people's trust.

Not stopping at resolutions or strong speeches at conferences and meetings with voters, in 2017, many major cases were brought to trial, and a series of high-ranking officials were dismissed or imprisoned awaiting trial.

The press also heated up page by page, issue by issue, with sharp observations and comments, showing that the Party's fight against corruption is entering a fierce phase, bringing hope to the people in the political determination of the country's leaders.

High level of determination

2017 was a year in which even the most indifferent person to the country's political life could not remain indifferent to the daily figures and events reported and commented on by the press. This was especially true for information about the Party's fight against corruption.

After more than a year on the run, Trinh Xuan Thanh, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Petroleum Construction Corporation (PVC), has finally returned to face trial.

From there, authorities prosecuted a series of individuals at the Vietnam National Petroleum Group (PVN), culminating in the prosecution and arrest of Mr. Dinh La Thang (former Politburo member, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of PVN) and Dinh Manh Thang (Chairman of the Board of Directors of Song Da Petroleum Joint Stock Company), Mr. Thang's younger brother.

This is seen as a strong affirmation of the Party's determination in the fight against corruption. It shows that there will be no forbidden zones in this arduous battle against internal enemies.

Every economic crime, every collusion between vested interest groups and those in positions of power who are corrupt and sell their souls to the devil, will have to be paid for.

Once power is corrupted, instead of using it to serve the people and the nation, those in power, lacking integrity and influenced by materialism, will act biasedly, contrary to the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's laws and regulations. They will seize lucrative projects, manipulate resources and public assets to make them their own, or those of their faction, private property.

By simply directing its subsidiary, PVP Land, to divest its stake in the Nam Dan project, Trinh Xuan Thanh received 14 billion VND as a kickback from his partner, Xuyen Thai Binh Duong Company. Thanh's group received a total of 49 billion VND in kickbacks after a few signatures, but the land owned by the state-owned enterprise plummeted in value from 52 million VND to 34 million VND per square meter.

With a kickback of 49 billion VND, this company must surely expect to recoup many times that amount. Similarly, when Mr. Dinh La Thang signed the decisions to allow PVN to invest in Oceanbank, requiring member units of the group to open accounts at this bank, causing PVN to lose 800 billion VND, who can be sure that those signatures were not related to the hundreds of billions of VND that Oceanbank paid in extra interest?

With 5 (out of 12) loss-making projects, PVN is leading the list of large-scale projects impoverishing the country, leading to the prosecution and arrest of four former CEOs: Dinh La Thang, Nguyen Xuan Son, Nguyen Quoc Khanh, and Phung Dinh Thuc.

The man who received the death penalty is preparing to stand trial along with several dozen subordinates after the Supreme People's Procuratorate issued an indictment prosecuting the defendants on two charges: intentional wrongdoing and embezzlement of assets.

Even retired senior leaders of the Vietnam Rubber Group have not escaped prosecution. The Ministry of Public Security's investigative police have issued decisions to prosecute, search warrants, and preventive measures against five defendants, including Mr. Le Quang Thung - former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Group.

At the Vietnam Chemical Corporation (Vinachem), where four projects suffered heavy losses, a number of the corporation's leaders were disciplined with warnings and dismissed from all positions. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Ho Thi Kim Thoa was also dismissed due to scandals related to asset declarations and directing the privatization of enterprises, which allowed her family members to acquire a large majority of shares in the companies where she previously worked.

Once-famous banking tycoons like Ha Van Tham, Pham Cong Danh, and Tram Be... some are in prison, others are being prosecuted and awaiting trial.

Boosting public morale

The fight against corruption and waste, the attack on vested interests, and the dismantling of crony capitalism are becoming increasingly fierce. As General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said, "Once the furnace is hot, even wet wood will burn."

The Party's resolute stance in thoroughly addressing corruption crimes has been met with public approval. This is because the struggle is not merely aimed at punishing an individual or a group of criminals, or uncovering other corruption leads.

More importantly, these cases provide us with valuable lessons to improve our laws and address loopholes in financial, monetary, and banking management. The Party also has the opportunity to reflect on itself, build and refine its principles and procedures for training, managing, supervising, selecting, and utilizing Party members in key leadership positions.

The people want to see concrete actions to ensure justice is served. Furthermore, the people want to see the image of the country's leaders as exemplary role models in their lives.

According to Vietnamnet.vn