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Politicians and professionals

Recently the Organization of Professional Associations has become rather active in the political front. It has come out with its own solutions to some of the problems facing the country. It had even drafted a draft Amendment to the Constitution.

This, we believe, is a positive development. The professionals constitute a vital segment of society. It augurs well for the country when professionals get down from their ivory towers and espouse the cause of the people.

However good intentioned it may be we have certain reservations about a proposal made by the OPA as regards the composition of the proposed Constitutional Council.

For example, a press release issued by OPA President yesterday said: "But we insist that the five eminent persons to the Constitutional Council should be recommended by the civic societies, rather than the appointment of the politicians including the Executive President."

In our opinion, the OPA in counterpoising politicians and professionals is guided by a wrong presumption that all politicians are bad and biased while all professionals are good and independent.

The politicians, especially legislators are more representative of the people than professionals. The Executive President is elected by the entire country.

It is unfair and undemocratic for the OPA to demand that politicians be deprived of the right to nominate members to the Constituent Council.

As is further evidenced from the press release, the OPA has no objection to the Prime Minister or the Leader of the Opposition nominating persons from a list submitted by civic society organizations. In the opinion of the OPA the Executive President should not do even that.

There is only one conclusion that can be drawn from this demand. The OPA does not recognize or respect the mandate of the people. In fact, by agreeing to empower the Leader of the Opposition to nominate members and by denying the same power to the Executive President, the OPA is in fact suggesting to empower the loser as against the winner. This is a clever way of subverting the people's verdict.

It is common knowledge that the majority of members in most professional bodies are not active. It is only a select few, often with political links that are active and control the Executive Committees. In matters outside their specialized fields they cannot claim to represent more than a few dozen persons.

It is a myth that technocrats could deliver goods better, but this is not to devalue their importance or to belittle their contribution to society and its development.

In a politically polarized society there cannot be apolitical persons, whether they be technocrats or civil society leaders or neither.

There are enough eminent persons who despite their personal politics could be expected to conduct themselves in an exemplary manner in the Constitutional Council. It is for the political leaders elected by the people to identify them. The professional bodies could also assist the politicians in providing them with necessary information.

But it is undemocratic for the professionals to usurp the powers of the legislators who are elected representatives of the people.

• Editorial of  The Observer - 18.9.2001:
  'Terrorism' and negotiations

• Voice of the Sinhala and Tamil Media
  Editorials from Sinhala and Tamil Newspapers
  of 18.9.2001

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