Let ethics win

Thursday, 6 October 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SRI LANKA heads to the polls once again on Saturday to vote in a fresh election, but with the same old problems. The backdrop of campaigning has been turbulent and fraught with a multitude of election violations that the authorities had no means to stem. The usual blatant politicisation, abuse of State resources and covert campaigning has put the election on the unsavoury side of the law and even cast doubt over whether the Matara and Galle elections will even be held as planned.

Media reports have come thick and fast over high numbers of election law violations. While there have been no deaths so far, the sheer scale and repetition of the violations are discouraging. Perhaps the most disturbing of all these is the fact that the Deputy Elections Commissioner admits that the 18th Amendment has eroded what little power he had to stem abuse of State property, giving clear indications that democracy in Sri Lanka is in grave danger.

The Government has promised new houses if slum dwellers lose their homes and shops if they are removed, but increasing evidence has shown that these poor people are allocated new homes and shops depending on their political affiliations. Even though this is nothing new in Sri Lanka, the fact that a more considerate political culture has failed to emerge despite economic growth is disheartening. Moreover, lack of good governance also leaves room for poor people to be even more victimised and that is a grave situation.

Take for example the allegation that 25 original shop owners of the Nugegoda shopping complex were not given new shops because 20 outsiders had been granted them by politicians, some of them top level. Consider the fact that the Police are reported to be engaged in allocating these shops despite the fact that is does not enter into their mandate.

Think of the fact that dozens of poor people are left without a livelihood and nowhere to turn because ministries and other public representatives are too focused on increasing their own power or purse.

In five days two people died in Police custody in Sri Lanka, a statistic that a country cannot be proud of at all. Using the Police to relocate people according to the whims of politicians results in their relationship with the people getting damaged. In fact this can clearly be seen in the incidents in Dompe and other areas where disgruntled people have attacked Policemen and Police stations. Since the Police are politicised, they too end up becoming victims. People are afraid to speak against relocations because they fear the Police.

Today the Cabinet of Ministers is releasing a National Action Plan for the protection and promotion of human rights. This should not be just a media stunt or something that pertains only to Internally Displaced People. It must be a shield for the people lost in the “development” process carried out by the Government and other parties; a tool that can be used for the protection of everyone in this country.

Election campaigning ended at midnight, but the people still have time to make up their minds. Let this election be new in that public representatives are selected on their ethical behaviour and commitment to do what is right for the people.