Recent Paradise Papers leak is another effort to freeze dirty money laundering by corrupt people around the world. The Panama papers were primary source of worldwide campaign to freeze and stop all those money laundering and this Paradise Papers are hoped to aide more effective steps to pro-poor advocate by the groups of Investigator Journalists.
Cambodia has been seen over 300 individuals including 25 businessmen found who have used this channel to launder their dirty money in Cambodia. As noted, starting from the top leader (PM) to many of his cohorts and other patronage elites/links, are believed to vastly launder money in foreign networks especially they are found on both Panama Papers and Paradise Papers. And the world is organizing a “Black List” for those corrupted.
According to the Guardian news outlet, there are main reactions following:
Main reaction so far
Here’s a round of the key reactions so far to the first revelations in Paradise Papers:
- US Senator Bernie Sanders has has attacked the billionaires and corporations exposed by the Paradise Papers. He said they showed how they “get richer by hiding their wealth and profits and avoid paying their fair share of taxes”.
- Theresa May has refused to commit to a public register of the ownership of offshore companies and trusts. Responding to a question from the Guardian about the revelations, May said progress had already been made. She added: “We want people to pay the tax that’s due.”
- Mel Stride, the financial secretary to the Treasury, said there were many “legitimate reasons” for using offshore trusts. After being asked an urgent question by Labour on the Paradise Papers he accused the opposition of creating an inaccurate picture of all people using such trusts as being “eye-wateringly rich” or tax dodgers.
- The European Commission has called for swift action on tax evasion including a blacklist on tax havens. Pierre Moscovici, the European commissioner responsible for tax, said he was outraged but not surprised by the revelations.
- Green MEP Eva Joly, the deputy president of a European parliamentary inquiry on the Panama Papers, has demanded the UK be denied access to the European single market as part of the Brexit negotiations until it tackles tax havens. She said: “The EU must be firm in the Brexit negotiations: no access to the European single market for the UK if it continues to act as a tax haven on our doorstep.”
- Donald Trump’s commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, has denied misleading Congress, after the papers exposed details of his interests in a company doing business with a Russian firm controlled by members of Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. He claimed the papers revealed nothing improper.
- Jeremy Corbyn has said the Queen’s tax affairs should be subject to the public inquiry his party has called for into tax avoidance. His office was earlier forced to clarify a statement from the Labour leader after he appeared to suggest the Queen should apologise after the papers revealed that part of her wealth was invested offshore. His spokesman said: “Jeremy did not call for the Queen to apologise, but said anyone who puts money into a tax haven to avoid paying tax should.”
- Republic, the campaign for an elected head of state, has called on the Queen to be honest with the public over her financial affairs.Margaret Hodge, former chair of the public accounts committee, said the Queen’s advisors had sullied the reputation of the monarchy.
- More than 700 prominent Indians have appeared in the Paradise Papers including several members of the main opposition Congress and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Jayanta Sinha, India’s minister of state for aviation, is the highest ranking politician to appear. He denied the activity disclosed had been conducted for personal gain.
If you are a global citizen, or at least act locally, you could join with avaaz.org to sign petition (click link) to End-Tax-Havens now.