Monday, 29 March 2004  
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Severe indictment

The Supreme Court opinion that the Inland Revenue (Special Provisions) Tax Amnesty Act No. 10 of 2003, as amended, violates the Constitution, states that the State has suffered an enormous loss by the Amnesty Act granting immunities and indemnities to persons who have contravened the laws and defrauded public revenue.

The opinion by a Bench of five judges of the Supreme Court gives tremendous strength to those crusading for cleaner public life.

It states that the Amended Tax Amnesty Act No. 10, is inconsistent with Article 12 (1) of the Constitution which guarantees every citizen equal protection of the law.

The Supreme Court has pointed out that the steps taken by the Government to give a tax amnesty of Rs. 200 billion to cronies, while saying there is no money to give the Samurdhi allowance to the poor or increase the salaries of the poor and taking away the fertiliser subsidy, came under heavy protest from the people.

This is a severe indictment on the Government.

It is very unfortunate that the United National Party, the major constituent of the UNF, has not learnt its many bitter lessons from the past, but continues to make the rich richer and the poor poorer.

Time and time again, the UNP has been kicked out of office for its nakedly cronyism, nurturing the corrupt.

The people of this country are undergoing severe hardship. They embrace all sections of the community, all except the crony capitalists who operate hand in glove with equally corrupt politicians in positions of power, who have taken to politics not to serve the people, but to serve themselves.

On April 2, the people will have the opportunity to elect a clean, caring and sharing Government.

Libya's transformation

Colonel Moamer Kadhafi's historic handshake on Friday with British Prime Minister Tony Blair signified Libya's arrival on the world stage after years of isolation. Libyans experienced untold hardships as a result of tough economic sanctions imposed in 1992 by the international community. Libya has abandoned its Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) programmes and embraced the West after secret talks with the UK and the USA.

After a landmark meeting three months after Libya's decision to abandon WMD, Blair, the first British Premier to visit Tripoli since 1951, spoke of "real hope that we can build a new relationship with Libya".

According to Blair, the Libyan leader recognised "a common cause, with us, in the fight against al-Qaeda extremism and terrorism, which threatens not just the Western world but the Arab world also".

Libya was ostracised by the West for its alleged support of international terrorism. The 1988 Lockerbie bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 is still fresh in most people's minds. Libya is paying compensation to the families of the 270 victims. This incident was a major factor that led the West to tighten economic sanctions against Libya.

The credit for changing Libya's fortunes for the better should go to Kadhafi, Libya's leader since 1969 who was often dubbed a maverick in international relations. He had the courage to abandon destructive programmes that would have compounded the Libyans' misery. Libya's decision is the most significant recent victory against the proliferation of nuclear and other WMD.

Libya has realised that terrorism poses a serious threat to all civilised nations. Global terrorism networks such as al-Qaeda have no regard for human life, Occidental or Oriental. In the words of Libyan Foreign Minister Abdelrahman Shalgham, al-Qaeda posed "a real obstacle against our progress, against our security... against change in the region".

Libya, and the Western world, have another compelling reason to work together: 36 billion barrels of oil reserves and 1.314 billion cubic metres of gas reserves. Shell has already signed an exploration deal worth US$ 200 million with Libya, which is considered a highly attractive country for the oil giants because of low recovery costs, the quality of oil and its proximity to European markets.

Libya's metamorphosis from pariah to partner is an example for those nations that still continue to amass WMD. The world will be a lot safer if they can follow Libya and eschew such destructive tendencies.

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