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| Tuesday, 30 March 2004 |
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Letters | |
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Transparency is a valid requirement for the maintenance of credibility in whatever national election held in any democratic country. Therefore, it is a paramount principle that all parties involved in the present election should definitely keep in mind in order to convince the people at large from whom they are seeking a mandate. This question came into my mind because I had the opportunity to work in the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) from May 2001 to May 2002 as a District Electoral Officer in East Timor. During this period I was able to take part in the Assembly Elections held in August 2001 and the Presidential Elections held in April 2002. I was fully involved in the whole process from the nominations to the counting of votes in these elections held in East Timor under the auspicious of the United Nations and gained a first hand experience in the conduct of elections with total transparency. In Sri Lanka until the introduction of the preferential voting system in 1987, all elections to Parliament and Local Government institutions were held with the participation of both dedicated public officers and majority of democratically oriented candidates who commanded an utmost respect. Until then, election violence was a rare occurrence and especially the decade beginning 1960 and 1970 witnessed a purely democratic and transparent process which the public accepted in unanimity and confidence. Unfortunately, the violence and unruliness that prevailed after the introduction of the Provincial Councils as well as the Preferential Voting System was a dreadful experience for the voters, polling staff and also the candidates who contested on democratic principles. Another major change that contributed to the political culture of this country so vastly is the Republican Constitution introduced in 1972. Until the legalising of this Constitution, all the officers of the public service of Sri Lanka were coming under the purview of the Public Service Commission that was set up under the Soulbury Constitution. However the change that took place in 1972 had done away with the provisions that were entrenched in the earlier Constitution and they were replaced with a different PSC which reduced powers and the public servants were placed under the purview of the Cabinet of Ministers. It would be seen that the pre-Republican era and the post-Republican period, as far as the PSC is concerned, happened to be a complete contrast. It is very much seen today that the public displeasure found towards the present day public service as well as the poor performance in the system is as a consequence of this change. This situation is very much relevant to the election process because it is the public service of the country which contributes in a big way in the conduct of elections in our country. In this background, it would be seen that almost every election held since the 1980 decade is criticised vehemently by several organisations that are watchdogs in the election process. Also in the some cases, the position called Senior Presiding Officer is downgraded, abused and humiliated in the very eyes of the public and so much of thuggery and violence at the polling station was taking place due to the weakness of this character who is statutorily empowered to the hilt and assisted by police escort but his personality was reduced to a level of 'inaction' when he is expected to be 'in full of action'. This is one of the most important areas where new thinking and better arrangement is made as far as the work inside a polling station is concerned. In those elections held in the past, it was alleged and investigations are going on as regards certain presiding officers having had a hand in nefarious activities. Unless a secure and foolproof system is adopted at the polling station, especially in rural, vulnerable areas where communication is poor; fair and just election will never take place. P. HEWAWASAM, via email Unlike in the past it is interesting to note that many people seem to engage in critically analysing the merits and demerits of political parties that have entered the election fray, to be able to come to a decision as to the party their votes should be cast. Many appear to be of the view that the present government is like Nero playing on his fiddle when Rome is burning. So many trade unions staging strike action affecting the day to day life of the people does not seem to bother the government leadership. The trump card played before the people is the CFA concluded with the assistance of the Norwegians and some pressure on the LTTE by the international community which has brought about a halt to the armed conflict for the past two years, but the LTTE broke away from peace talks a year ago and has since presented their own set of peace proposals on which the government leadership maintains a stolid silence, raising doubts in the public mind. The chief beneficiary of government policy is the corporate sector which has made some headway over the past two years, enhanced by a tax amnesty for more than several hundred billion rupees which otherwise would have come to the government coffers and made use of to solve many burning questions of the day. It is very unfortunate that the farming sector has been treated with some indifference even though wealthy countries such as America, Japan, the EU etc. subsidise farming in a big way. The previous government lost in the last election mainly because the people were not satisfied in the way the war was being conducted. The army high reps resorted to bribery and corruption neglecting the soldier. The economy too declines making matters worse. But it was a common man friendly government and wanted the results of development work to go down to the poorest of families, which was not favoured by the corporate sector. The JVP now a democratic political party which boasts of honesty and integrity has formed and alliance with the SLFP and it is hoped that this alliance will rule the country to the satisfaction of all communities. Their commitment to the abolition of the Presidential system and change the election system should bring them full support to achieve this end. I. P .N, Kalutara Ceylon chamber of Commerce has hastened to send its members a copy of a document titled "Physical infrastructure development plan" which is a part of Regaining Sri Lanka prepared by the UNF government. According to the circulation letter, Members of JBiz has discussed the content of this book with the Prime Minister on February 9, 2004. More than a month after the meeting, they have realized the importance of sending this to its members. May be they wish to educate their members on the development projects of UNF government before the general election. Members are wondering whether there is a hidden agenda behind the sending of this document. One thing that governing body of CCC must realize is that there are members belonging to different political parties in CCC and hence they must try to be neutral when performing their duties of CCC. A.J., Dehiwela May I please have your indulgence to quote a few sentences from the book "Between Tears and Laughter" by Lin Yutang for the edification and enlightenment of the public who at present are at a crossroads in their journey to go forward. "Every age has its buffoons and the buffoons make you laugh. Great men make great mistakes and small men make small mistakes. Then the great men love to point out the small mistakes of the small men, while they do not want to have their great mistakes pointed out by the small men. A mistake is something which is the privilege of the great men to commit and of the small men of this earth to point out after they are dead. Death comes and the buffoonery is over and we take the historical view. "Dead men tell no tales and answer no arguments, and dead censors, delete no pages from the books of posterity; so let them have the pleasure of deleting them now. We can already smile at the mistakes of Neville Chamberlain and of all the league of Nations officials in the decade, because now the mistakes are irretrievable and pointing them out indicates a fine historical sense. "On the assumption that all our dead ancestors and all the great statesmen of the earth are fools or buffoons except those still controlling our lives we can go safely. The great thing about teaching history is that we must teach history but must not let history teach us". ARUL, Colombo 13 Violation against the underprivileged Breakdown of Health Services, an unkind threat to life and serious Human Rights violation against the underprivileged. Any intelligent villager from deep rural village understands that when the Parliament is dissolved, the caretaker Government cannot decide on any salary increase to Government servants and if any salary increase is acceded to during the caretaker period such action would be construed as a contravention of free and fair election culture. GMOA's intransigence in continuing with the strike astonishes the world and put to shame the concept of cultured trade unionism. The strike has already caused havoc amongst the poorer section of the people. It has resulted Colombo South Teaching Hospital and Ragama Hospital stopping admission and attending to patients. The Colombo National Hospital is also apparently under threat to suspend its functions very soon. This is a serious human rights violation. According to the news sources one pregnant woman who tried to enter Kalubowila Hospital was refused admission and she delivered the baby at the gate to the hospital premises. Is the present misfortune of poor, the outcome of ruthless trade unionism or cause of confrontational politics? Whatever it could be, there are human values to save, ethics to follow, human rights to protect and above all to conform to Hippocratic oath. Should not physicians "refrain from causing harm or hurt: and to live an exemplary personal and professional life?" To quote from ancient Greek physician Hippocrates or later versions. "You do solemnly swear, each by whatever he or she holds most sacred. That you will be loyal to the Profession of Medicine and just and generous to its members. That you will lead your lives and practise your art in uprightness and honour. That into whatsoever house you shall enter, it shall be for the good of the sick to the utmost of your power, your holding yourselves far aloof from wrong, from corruption, from the tempting of others to vice." The said oath, which is a guide to conduct medical profession throughout the ages, is solemnly pledged in entering the healing profession and still used in passing out ceremonies. The honour endowed on the physician and accepted by him has to be kept and maintained above all conditions and under all circumstances. We have requested the authorities to please intervene in this brazen injustice and serious rights violation causing to the people and take necessary action to ensure that hospitals resume their normal work soon. If a political solution is difficult, their good offices could please be used to secure immediate relief of health facilities from WHO sending the world Institution an SOS immediately. LIONEL GULAWITA, Diriya Foundation - Human Rights Committee |
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