Hanoi (VNA) – The discussion of the draft Law on Denunciations(revised) on May 24 as part of the 5th session of the 14th National Assembly saw different views on such forms of denunciations as viatelephone or email.

While agreeing that it is an urgent need to adopt the law, manydisagreed over whether to accept denunciations through phone calls or emails.

The deputies who support the expansion of forms of denunciation to fax, emailand phone calls pointed out that the use of information technology has becomecommon in most areas of social life and in State management. They noted thatmany denunciations of wrongdoings by government officials, public employees andState agencies by means of social networks or other electronic forms, thoughyet to be officially recognised, have greatly contributed to the fight against corruption,crime and other law violations.

Meanwhile, those who insist that only two forms of denunciation – inwritten form and in person – as stipulated in the current law, argued that ifother forms of denunciation are allowed, it may result in rampant and inaccuratedenunciation, causing difficulties to State agencies in processing thedenunciations and dealing with denunciators who provide wrong information.

 Deputy Nguyen Thanh Thuy of HauGiang province cited the report on the implementation of the current Law onDenunciations, which showed more than 60 percent of received denunciations wereinaccurate, 20 percent contained both wrong and right information and only morethan 10 percent were accurate. Thus the deputy said allowing other forms ofdenunciation will make it difficult to control and handle all thedenunciations.

 However, deputy Nguyen Huu Cau ofNghe An province cited Clause 1 of Article 15 of the 2005 Law on CorruptionFight and Prevention, which allows reports of corruption by phone, online andother forms as stipulated by law.

“The National Assembly has allowed such forms of denunciation for 13years, so why should we leave out them in the draft law,” he asked, adding thatwe should not avoid something just because it causes difficulties to State agencies.

Another issue that drew great attention during the discussion was therights and duties of denunciators and officials in charge of handlingdenunciation.

Deputy Nguyen Van Man of Quang Binh province suggested that there shouldbe punishment on officials who showed irresponsibility or handled denunciationsagainst the law which resulted in material loss or harm the mental health andhonour of the denunciator.

Many opinions agreed with the draft law which stipulates in Clause 1 ofArticle 48 that not only the denunciators but also their spouses, parents andparents in law, adoptive parents, own children and adoptive children aresubject to protection under the law. -VNA