State employees fuel illicit sex in Vietnam
HANOI - Booming prostitution in
communist-ruled Vietnam is being
fueled by corrupt state cadres who
now comprise the majority of
customers, official media reported on
Monday.
Anti-social evils chief Nguyen Thi
Hue, in an interview published in the
weekly Vietnam Investment Review,
said campaigns to eradicate illicit sex
services had failed as up to 70 or 80
percent of customers in 'bia om', or
cuddle beer joints and karaoke
parlours were state employees.
Prostitution has boomed in Vietnam
as the country introduced reforms to
allow the creation of a market-style
economy. Sex is available in many
bars, restaurants, massage parlours,
hotels, karaoke spots and on the
street.
``The situation is now serious,'' Hue
was quoted as saying. ``It has been
well organised and developed in a
sophisticated manner throughout the
country, partly to service
high-ranking state employees and
officials.''
``I can say that those who come to
'bia om' are corrupt people because
they have to steal state money to pay
for their dirty and expensive
entertainment activities,'' added Hue,
whose department comes under the
Labour, War Invalids and Social
Affairs Ministry.
Vietnam launched a high profile
campaign against the social evils of
prostitution, drugs, gambling and
corruption in early 1996. But heavy
rhetoric, periodic raids and television
and poster campaigns appear to
have had little impact.
Hue said the Police (Interior)
Ministry had files on some 185,000
prostitutes nationwide, and that at
one point last year some 30 percent
of all sex workers in this country of
79 million people were thought to be
under the age of 16.
She added that with so many state
officials involved in prostitution it was
impossible to tackle the problem and
called for tougher penalties for
prostitutes, pimps and customers.
``If we close down hundreds of bars
and karaoke spots and put the
remainder under control, tighten
management over state employees
and enforce tougher punishment
against sex-related activities, 80
percent of the problem will be
solved,'' Hue said.
Official media reported recently that
Hanoi city authorities were
considering publishing names and
addresses of anyone caught
red-handed with prostitutes.
Reuters - May 31, 1999.
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