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Women in politics

We reported yesterday that Cabinet approval has been granted to a proposal by Women's Empowerment and Social Welfare Minister Sumedha G. Jayasena to increase women's representation in local Government institutions.

According to this proposal, one third of each nomination list will be allocated for women candidates. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and the Cabinet have agreed to this proposal and appointed a Cabinet sub committee to find out how this could be worked out.

This is a move in the right direction as women's representation at local Government level is less than two per cent. This is a minuscule figure, considering the fact that women comprise 51 per cent of the country's population. Our South Asian neighbours have done much better in this respect, with India's 'women in local government politics' rate being 33 per cent.

There is no plausible reason as to why we cannot have more women in politics. Sri Lanka was a pioneer in granting voting rights for women.

The country's education system and social norms also do not discriminate against women, unlike in many developing countries. Sri Lanka also holds the distinction of having the world's first woman Prime Minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Her daughter, President Kumaratunga, is the first woman to rise to the position of Executive President of Sri Lanka.

The Women's Empowerment Minister's proposal will give women a bigger say in decision making at the grassroots level. Giving them a leadership role in local government affairs will augur well for development and social welfare activities throughout the country. Women do know more about the development and welfare needs in their villages and their election to local government bodies will bring them closer to the public.

Local government bodies are the stepping stone to higher echelons in politics. Only a handful of women are in provincial councils and in the current Parliament. The entry of more women to local government bodies will hopefully pave the way for a bigger representation of women in Parliament.

Several trends in our political culture could be keeping women away from the hot seats. Violence is rampant during election periods and some candidates are known to use strong arm tactics to browbeat others in the fray. Many women feel intimidated in such a political climate.

Under the present electoral system, vast sums are required for propaganda campaigns. Only a few candidates can afford such an undertaking. This could be another factor that keeps more women away from the political arena.

Political parties must take the lead in reversing these negative trends. It is envisaged that the proposed electoral reforms would lead to more peaceful and less costly electioneering. Along with such developments, political parties must open their doors to more women, especially from the younger generation (aged 18-35). And local bodies are perfect for that first step in politics.

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Return to true love

Love, they say, makes the world go round. For a 72-year-old Malaysian man it came full circle when he remarried his first wife after 48 years. That is, after tying the knot with 51 other women in between.

According to our news report this former policemen described as a friendly and easygoing charmer became a national celebrity of sorts after he remarried his first wife who is 74. They were first married in 1957 but divorced a year later after having a daughter.

The feat did not enter any local record book. Not that it mattered to our old boy. His method is simple. "If I like a girl I ask for her hand in marriage. I don't like flings." He also does not believe in having more than one woman at a time.

Now for a 72 year old man to seek the hand of his first wife after a full 48 years of promiscuous living is unique to say the least. Here was a man who had been constantly looking for fresh pastures all of a sudden deciding to turn the clock back and seek comfort in the arms of his first love. Now what could this mean ? Was there something in her that he missed in his union with all those women for nearly half a century ?

Our pal is a rolling stone if ever there was one. But one that gathered plenty of moss. Among his wives were an English woman and two Thais. What spice to his life. It goes to show that all one needs is pure love to keep one's engine running. It has no substitute for all the Viagras. Here is a man who had redefined polyandry.

There are yet among us societies where marriage bonds do not exist but nevertheless they live as communities in peace and harmony sharing the bounties of nature and the fruits of labour. Polygamous living is as old as time. But with the evolution of man and advent of civilisations ancient practices gave way to more a organised society. However man's primordial instincts surface now and then.

In our present day tension ridden society most crave for diversions. Love they say is the best elixir for youth and dissipator of stress. Sociologists have traced the high rate of crime and violence in present day society to this overpowering stress. Perhaps our Malaysian friend is a victim of this tension.

And he used the best available outlet. The fact that he returned to his first wife shows that there were no hard feelings whatsoever. It is like the return of the prodigal. Make love not war may have been his motto.

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