[Vnbiz] Intel Vietnam refuses to pay bribes

Tue Aug 14 21:39:40 PDT 2007

Anh Hoanh and CACC,

1.	The OECD member countries adopted a Convention on Combating Bribery
of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions in 1997.

2.	Corruption in Vietnam, as elsewhere, is often systematic.  So I
guess that an institutional approach to corruption may help enlighten the
problem.  Having said this, I do not mean to underestimate the fact that
ethical individuals/citizens are jewels in every society.  But as Nam Cao
stated [almost hundred years ago] in the famous Chi Pheo "tao muon lam nguoi
tu te, nhung ai cho tao lam nguoi tu te" (I want to be a good person, but
who allows me to do that???).  Within my limited circle of
friends/acquaintances, I already know MANY public officials in Vietnam who
have relatively high ethical standards and want to be good citizens.  But
it's the fact that they are operating in a system that is known for high
level of corruption.  The system has not been mature enough to facilitate
them to do what they want -- life is a matter of choice, and I can well
understand one's choice of survival before ethical.  If the US has FCPA,
Vietnam has an Anti-corruption Law too.  And I just mentioned, Vietnam seems
not lack ethical officials/professionals either.  There must be something
else, apart from legislation, and individual citizens, that makes the system
the way it is.  An open-ended question, to which I have no answer.

Rgs,

Lien

  _____  

From: vnbiz-bounces at mail.saigon.com [mailto:vnbiz-bounces at mail.saigon.com]
On Behalf Of Tran Dinh Hoanh
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:55 AM
To: vnbiz at vietlinks.net
Subject: Re: [Vnbiz] Intel Vietnam refuses to pay bribes

Dear brother Andi,

The US Foreign Corrup-tion Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) prohibits U.S.
companies, their subsidiaries, as well as their officers, directors,
employees, and agents from bribing "foreign officials" (and also requires
U.S. companies that issue debt or equity to maintain internal accounting
controls and to keep books and records that accurately reflect all
transactions).   It means that even if the payment is considered legal in a
foreign country under the law or normal practice of that country (such as
the customary "boi duong" or "gifts" in Vietnam), it is still illegal under
the US law if it violates the FCPA  and the American violator will be
prosecuted in the US court, even if the payment is done in a foreign
country.  

As far as I know, only the US reaches its citizens that far.  Other
countries will let its citizens do whatever is considered legal practice in
a foreign country.   

I don't understand why we have to talk about Iraq.  I oppose that war
because it is stupid.  But it is not about oil, or at leadt not about oil
only.  (/11 attack on the US is real, and if Bush over-reacted in Iraq, that
would be easy to understand.  :Let's stay with what we can prove by facts. 

I am not saying that American companies are not corrupt,  Some of them do,
and I did talk about the Banana Republic often in this forum.  However, many
US companies will not engage in corruption practices overseas because US
companies have many ethical lawyers like me. 

Have a great day!

Hoanh

On 8/14/07, AD Marshall <admarshall at gmail.com> wrote: 

[ Vietnam Business Forum ]

Dear Anh Hoanh,

Could you please expand a bit on your statement, "The US is the ONLY country
in the world that has the anti-corruption practices act", to explain whether
or not this means the US is (a) the only country with anti-corruption laws,
(b) the only country with effective anti-corruption laws, (c) the only
country with one set of laws specifically called the "Anti-Corruption
Practices Act" or (d) some other meaning?  The wording and grammatical
mechanics of that statement seem to invite misinterpretation in the USA's
favour. 

I initially wondered about this because i remembered that while living in
Hong Kong over 1990-1994 that territory had already instituted a very
rigorous set of anti-corruption laws complemented by an enforcement
infrastructure that was world-renowned for its effectiveness.  And,
according to Google searches on the American Bar Association, US
anti-corruption laws seem to date from 2000.AD <http://2000.ad/> , though i
didn't have time to confirm that conclusively. 

Next, i was reminded of the curious naming of the Operation Iraqi Freedom
which avoided the then most prevalent keyword of the Bush Admin's pro-war
propaganda, "liberation".  It would be just too revealing to call the US
invasion of the sovereign state of Iraq, "Operation Iraqi Liberation" (OIL).
No?  

Just joking.  But around the rest of world not dominated by the Fox network
and other pro-US-Bush-Admin media i think it's been pretty obvious from the
beginning of the US invasion of Iraq that that war has always been primarily
about controlling oil supplies and resultant wealth (and pollution).  

Often less obvious have been self-serving links between the Bush Admin', Big
Oil and the Bush family's ties to the Saudi regime, Dick Cheney's
Halliburton, which was virtually granted a monopoly on repairing the damage
the Bush Admin' has been causing in Iraq, along with arms dealers like
Carlyle (with its long, well-documented Bush-family ties to the Saudi bin
Laden family).  (Cf
http://www.google.com/search?q=bush+family+arms-dealers+oil-companies , in
particular "'Frauds-R-Us' - The Bush Family Saga",
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3308.htm , which has entries
about both Halliburton and Carlyle.  Otherwise, if you're not a rabid neocon
<http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=neocon>  , just watch or
read Micheal Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11".)

Now, if that's not yet another example of the USA's long history of highly
sophisticated INSTITUTIONALIZED corruption, i don't know what is.  

Like the leadership debate, there seems to be yet another glaring gap
between principles and practice when we discuss anti-corruption efforts.  

But how do we measure and rank institutionalized corruption?  Because most
accepted international corruption indices (now also "indexes") are based on
legal definitions of corruption most will have difficulty measuring
corruption based on legal loopholes or institutionally accepted practices
that allow corruption to leak in legally. 

Still, just to get an idea of how the US ranks on corruption,
internationally -- without counting the institutionalized corruption
inherent in political campaign contributions, media patronage, etc -- see
for example the "2006 Corruption Perception Index" of Transparency
International wherein the US ranks 22nd, after Chile. [
http://www.transparency.org/content/download/10825/92857/version/1/file/CPI_
2006_presskit_eng.pdf ]

Also, i did stretch my free time a bit to use the US-dominated World Bank's
Governance data to construct a chart of 20 arbitrarily selected nations'
"Corruption Control" rankings, including the USA and Vietnam.  I'd suggest
it's significantly revealing of the USA's position.  I posted it here:
http://govap-sighgone.blogspot.com/2007/08/twenty-nations-ranked-by-corrupti
on.html 

I'd also submit that the VNExpress report (BeLow) on Intel's anti-corruption
role primarily highlights most news media's foci (now also "focuses") on
news involving what the TV ad-industry calls "Jiggles & Jolts", ie
representations of sex, money, violence, etc, to attract and hold viewers
attention.  Jiggles & Jolts sell the news just like they sell TV game shows.
Just as your own anti-corruption efforts went unreported, Anh Hoanh, i'm
sure hundreds of other laudable efforts before Intel's have just not been
judged "news-worthy".  

Last but not least, i'd suggest we should not forget the pervasive impact
bribes still have in the editorial choices of Vietnam Inc's PR Department,
ie, the nation's entire state-owned news media. 

Just yet another couple of dong's worth -- for whatever that's worth (max
VND16,198/USD according to Vietcombank, at
http://www.thanhniennews.com/exrates/index.php , but VND16,200/USD at a Go
Vap jewelry shop, yesterday).

With regards,
AD

On 8/15/07, Tran Dinh Hoanh < <mailto:tdhoanh at gmail.com>  tdhoanh at gmail.com
> wrote: 

[ Vietnam Business Forum ] 

Dear CACC,

According to this VNExpress article, Intel Product Viet Nam has signed with
the management of the Advanced Industrial Zone of HCMC a memorandum on
business ethics, rules of conduct and "saying 'no' to corruption."  This is
the first momorandum of this type in Vietnam.  The US General Consul in HCMC
also signed this momorandum. 

And I am very a happy that this is a US-based company.  The US is the ONLY
country in the world that has the anti-corruption practices act that
prohibits its citizens to engage in corruption practices overseas.  When I
was in Vietnam, I was solicited into many multi-million-dollar deals with
under-the-table payments required.  I refused all of them (which made some
of my solicitors very upset and kept me poor).  But I told them, 
"I am an American lawyer.  My job is to teach my clients to keep the law.
And the US law is very clear: 'No payment under the table, no kickback, no
bribe.'  Sorry, no deal."

I hope that US companies will happily follow Intel to lift up the American
ethics torch overseas.  And I am very happy to see that the US government is
involved in this ethical effort.

Have a great day!

Hoanh

__________ 

http://vnexpress.net/Vietnam/Kinh-doanh/2007/08/3B9F9342/

Tha;) ba, 14/8/2007, 20:25 GMT+7

Intel Via;t Nam ta;+ cha;i ha;i la;

Chia;u 14/8, Intel Product Via;t Nam DC# kC= va;i Ban Qua:#n lC= Khu cC4ng
ngha; cao TP HCM (SHTP) ba:#n ghi nha; va; Da:!o Da;)c kinh doanh vC quy
ta:/c a;)ng xa;-, cC9ng nC3i khC4ng va;i tham nhE)ng. DC"y lC la:'n Da:'u
tiC*n ta:!i Via;t Nam, ma;t cC4ng ty vC cF! quan nhC nF0a;c kC= va;i nhau
ma;t vD 

  _____  

n ba:#n nhF0 va:-y. 
> Intel VN nha:-n gia:%y phC)p tD
<http://vnexpress.net/Vietnam/Kinh-doanh/2006/11/3B9F042F/>  
  _____  

ng va;n lC*n 1 ta;7 USD

Ta;ng giC!m Da;c Intel Via;t Nam Rick Howarth, GiC!m Da;c SHTP Nguya;n
DC,nh Mai vC tC"n Ta;ng lC#nh sa;1 Ma;9 ta:!i TP HCM Ken Fairfax, cC9ng kC=
trC*n ba:#n quy ta:/c ga;c ca;'a cC4ng ty Intel, Da; 

  _____  

 ghi nha; trC!ch nhia;m xC# ha;i ca;'a mC,nh. 

Ba:#n quy ta:/c na;i ba; Intel cam ka:?t 5 Dia; 

  _____  

m. DC3 lC hoa:!t Da;ng kinh doanh va;i tinh tha:'n trung tha;1c vC chC-nh
tra;1c; tuC"n tha;' phC!p lua:-t trong ma;i tC,nh hua;ng; mC4i trF0a;ng lC
m via;c cC4ng ba:1ng vC khC4ng phC"n bia;t; nhC"n viC*n Intel lC m via;c vC,
la;#i C-ch cC4ng ty vC trC!nh xung Da;t; cC9ng nhau ba:#o va; tC i sa:#n vC
danh tia:?ng doanh nghia;p.   

Ta;ng giC!m Da;c Intel Product Via;t Nam kC= vC o Ba; quy ta:/c a;)ng
xa;- ca;'a cC4ng ty. a:"nh: P.A.

Theo DC3, Intel vC SHTP tha;a thua:-n, sa:= Dia;u tra vC cC3 nha;/ng hC nh
Da;ng thC-ch ha;#p Da; 

  _____  

 gia:#i quya:?t nha;/ng va:%n Da; liC*n quan Da:?n quy ta:/c a;)ng xa;- nC
y. TrF0a;ng ha;#p phC!t sinh nha;/ng va:%n Da; liC*n quan Da;i tC!c nhF0
DF0a vC nha:-n ha;i la;, tia;n la:!i qua:#, hay ba:%t ca;) hC,nh tha;)c nC
o va; via;c tham nhE)ng hay cC!c hC nh vi sai trC!i khC!c... cE)ng DF0a;#c
Intel vC SHTP thC4ng bC!o cho nhau hoa:7c bC!o cho cF! quan cha;)c nD 
  _____  

ng. 

Intel cE)ng cam ka:?t ma;- thF0a;ng xuyC*n cC!c la;p hua:%n luya;n nhC"n
viC*n va; Da:!o Da;)c vC phC!p lua:-t, ga;-i ba:#n sao ghi nha; Da:?n
nha;/ng nhC cung ca:%p cE)ng nhF0 kia; 

  _____  

m tra via;c tha;1c hia;n. 

NC3i khC4ng va;i tham nhE)ng khC4ng da;

Cng Rick Howarth ka; 

  _____  

, DC# cC3 la:'n nhC"n viC*n Intel DF0a;#c Da;i tC!c ga;#i C= ha;i la;
Da; 
  _____  

 Da:!t DF0a;#c ma;t tha;a thua:-n ha;#p Da;ng. Sa;1 via;c ba;
 phC!t hia;n, Dia;u tra vC nhC"n viC*n vi pha:!m ba;
 sa tha:#i. "Ma;%c DC-ch chC-nh ca;'a ba:#n tha;a thua:-n ghi nha; va;i
SHTP lC chC:ng tC4i mua;n nC"ng cao tC-nh minh ba:!ch ca;'a mC4i trF0a;ng
Da:'u tF0 ta:!i Khu cC4ng ngha; cao TP HCM", C4ng Ta;ng giC!m Da;c Intel
Via;t Nam nC3i. 

GiC!m Da;c SHTP Nguya;n DC,nh Mai cE)ng kha:3ng Da;
nh, sa;1 ta;1 nguya;n ca;'a Intel DC# kha;-i xF0a;ng via;c thC:c Da:)y
ma;t mC4i trF0a;ng Da:'u tF0 sa:!ch, xC3a ba; nha;/ng hC nh vi tiC*u ca;1c
nhF0 tham nhE)ng, ha;i la;, la:!m da;%ng quya;n la;1c Da; 

  _____  

 mF0u la;#i cC! nhC"n... 

NhC"n viC*n Intel cE)ng na;i tia:?p theo sa:?p. a:"nh: P.A.

Theo C4ng Mai, tha;a thua:-n cha;ng tham nhE)ng va;i Intel mang la:!i giC!
tra;
 ha;#p tC!c nhia;u ma:7t cho ca:# 2 bC*n. PhC-a Intel ca:/t gia:#m DF0a;#c
nha;/ng chi phC- khC4ng ca:'n thia:?t trong quC! trC,nh hoa:!t Da;ng, xC"y
da;1ng thC nh cC4ng mC4 hC,nh chi phC- ca:!nh tranh vC tD 

  _____  

ng hia;u qua:# kinh doanh ta:!i Via;t Nam. CC2n SHTP cE)ng DF0a;#c cC!i
la;#i lC ta:!o mC4i trF0a;ng thua:-n la;#i cho cC!c nhC Da:'u tF0 trong khu
cC4ng ngha; cao vC tD 
  _____  

ng tC-nh ca:!nh tranh va; lC"u dC i. 

Trong khi DC3, Ta;ng lC#nh sa;1 Ma;9 ta:!i TP HCM Ken Fairfax thC, nha:%n
ma:!nh thC4ng Dia;p, ngay ca:# nha;/ng cC4ng ty ca:!nh tranh nha:%t trong
ngC nh cC4ng nghia;p ca:!nh tranh nha:%t (cC4ng ngha; cao) ca;'a tha:? gia;i
cE)ng cC3 nhu ca:'u pha:#i hoa:!t Da;ng cC4ng ba:1ng, lC nh ma:!nh; mC C4ng
ga;i lC vD 

  _____  

n hC3a doanh nghia;p. Trong khi DC3 phC2ng cha;ng tham nhE)ng Dang lC
ma;%c tiC*u quan tra;ng ca;'a chF0F!ng trC,nh hC nh Da;ng ChC-nh pha;'
Via;t Nam vC ca:# Ma;9 Da; 
  _____  

 xC"y da;1ng mC4i trF0a;ng kinh doanh minh ba:!ch vC hia;u qua:#. 

Cng Hen Fairfax ka;3 va;ng ra:1ng, ba:#n cam ka:?t ca;'a Intel Di tiC*n
phong sa:= tra;- thC nh khuC4n ma:+u Da; 

  _____  

 nhC"n ra;ng ta:!i Via;t Nam, ta:!o nC*n ma;t na;n kinh ta:? vC xC# ha;i nD 
  _____  

ng Da;ng, ca;-i ma;-, bC,nh Da:3ng. 

Intel Dang Da:'u tF0 1 ta;7 USD vC o Khu cC4ng ngha; cao TP HCM Da; 

  _____  

 xC"y da;1ng nhC mC!y la:/p rC!p vC kia; 
  _____  

m nghia;m chC-p bC!n da:+n la;n nha:%t tha:? gia;i. NhC mC!y Dang trong
giai Doa:!n xC"y da;1ng, khi chC-nh tha;)c hoa:!t Da;ng sa:= ta:!o ra
khoa:#ng 4.000 via;c lC m vC mang va; kim nga:!ch xua:%t kha:)u 5-6 ta;7
USD/nD 
  _____  

m. 

Phan Anh

-- 
Tran Dinh Hoanh, Esq., LLB, JD

Washington DC 

-- 
AD (Andi) Marshall
eMail: admarshall at gmail.com
Zone: ICT (IndoChina Time, GMT/UTC+7) 
Web: http://admarshall.googlepages.com/ 
Post: HoChiMinh City (ex/or SaiGon), VietNam
Quote: "Love all, trust a few. Do wrong to none..." 
Source: Shakespeare, 1623, "All's Well That Ends Well"
Get it at Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/2246
<http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/2246> 

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Washington DC 

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