A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
(Full Story)
Search This Blog
Back to 500BC.
==========================
Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Government strategy to bring about promised change is needed
The
two main factors that caused a change of government in 2015 are
reappearing at the present time. The first is the feeling amongst the
religious and ethnic minorities that the government is not doing enough
to protect them. During the period of the former government the
minorities even felt that the government was opposed to them. This was
on account of its inadequate efforts at post-war normalization and the
growth of religious intolerance. The election of the new government came
as a great relief to the minorities. Their sense of fear and jeopardy
lifted in large measure. Even though the military presence in the North
and East did not significantly diminish there was a revival of civilian
institutions. The government no longer came across as being a hostile
entity.
Unfortunately at the present time, instead of consolidating this trust
the inaction and negative posturing by some leaders in the government is
eroding trust. Today, there is a growing sense of disappointment about
the government amongst the ethnic and religious minorities and also
amongst large sections of the ethnic and religious majority population.
This is on account of failure to honour promises made. During the 2015
election campaign the two main themes of the opposition leaders who now
head the country were the eradication of corruption and the restoration
of the Rule of Law. There was widespread belief that the previous
government had breached the bounds of corruption. There was also
widespread fear of the impunity with which the former government leaders
wielded their powers over life and death.
The first sign of governmental backtracking on the two main issues that
determined the course of the 2015 elections was the issue of corruption.
The promise that the 19th Amendment to the constitution brought, and
the independent commissions that it set up, have been virtually negated.
At the initial stages the appointment of an empowered Bribery and
Corruption Commissioner gave confidence that those great social ills
would no longer reign as number one in public life. However, the delays
to take forward the corruption cases against those of the former
government who had already been convicted in the court of public opinion
dented the mood of optimism. The belief in the anti corruption mission
of the government took another body blow at the resistance to
investigate the Central Bank bond scam.
UNTENABLE JUSTIFICATIONS
The common justifications given by the government for the slow progress
of the cases involving past corruption is that gathering evidence takes
time. The legal cases have to be prepared carefully to prevent them from
failing in the court of law. This is also the justification given by
state officials when they are asked why the murder cases involving top
journalists and sports personalities are not being pursued with the
determination that they ought to be. However, the government was elected
with a mandate to ensure the Rule of Law. It needs to give priority to
delivering on the mandate which they sought from the people. Instead the
government leaders who promised to make a change for the better for the
country appear to be politically paralysed.
The whole point of leadership is to make a difference and carry one’s
own support base. The government leaders promised to make a difference
once they were elected. They need to deliver on their promises. But now
they appear to be giving priority to preparing for the next round of
elections when the two parties who formed the government coalition may
end up as rivals again as they were before the formation of the National
Unity Government. The same attitude of giving priority to prevailing at
the next election can be seen in the government’s hands off attitude
towards the problem of inter religious violence. Particularly concerning
to the ethnic and religious minorities have been the insidious attacks
against their places of worship and business.
There are incidents of violence against the religious and ethnic
minorities being reported on an increasing basis from different parts of
the country. Sometimes these incidents are not even reported in the
mainstream media which leaves the majority of people knowing little of
the problems that their fellow citizens in another part of the country
are experiencing. Muslim places of worship and commercial establishments
have been the special targets for attacks. Similar incidents of
violence are taking place against Christians from small evangelical
churches, which are most vulnerable to attack, as their places of
worship are not frequented by a large population. Some of them are
engaged in activities which are provoking to sections of the larger
population. But the practice of violence against them cannot be
permitted.
UNACCEPTABLE GAP
The government’s failure is to take concrete action to stop these acts
of violence. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that the
government will pass new laws to deal with the problem. But there are
existing laws that permit the police to take necessary action. The Bar
Association has called on the police "to take all security measures to
ensure that these attacks against racial and religious communities do
not occur and the Attorney General to expedite the prosecution of all
suspects in appropriate circumstances for offences under Chapter XV of
the Penal Code and the provisions of the ICCPR Act, irrespective of
their social status." The government needs to muster up the political
will to appoint the correct people who will command the confidence of
the law enforcement agencies to ensure that the Rule of Law prevails.
The government also needs to deliver on its other commitments. It
promised constitutional reform and it promised to implement transitional
justice. Where constitutional reform is concerned the government
promised to change the executive presidential system, the electoral
system and the devolution of powers. There are news stories of
discussions taking place and reports being submitted but without
concrete progress in evidence. Where transitional justice is concerned
the government promised to establish a Truth Commission, An Office of
Missing Persons, an Office of Reparations and a Special Court for war
crimes. The government asked the UN for two more years and got it, but
since then nothing more seems to be happening.
There is today an unacceptable gap between what the government has
promised and what it is delivering. This inaction is sought to be
justified on the grounds of politics. One is to say that with two
parties that are traditional rivals at the helm, there is no consensus
on which way to move. Another is to say that the government cannot
afford to antagonize the Sinhalese majority. The problem is that the
government is being strategic about remaining in power and viewing
future elections. On the contrary it needs to be strategic about
delivering on its promises. If it fails to bring about the changes that
it promised the coalition for change that contributed to bring it to
power may not survive till the next election.