Uprooting corruption: Mother Lanka’s dream

Corruption has been the bane of this country over the past four decades. Earlier, the political turf of this country had fine political players who were men and women above board. Yet we see some of them on that turf, playing under trying circumstances because, all political players are not the same.

Top political players with brilliance do not believe, they are above the law. They play the game, in keeping with the rules and regulations of the sport, while the ‘cocky’ unorthodox think, they are a species above the law. Therefore, corruption in a country at many levels, begin with the ‘lop sided’ conduct of such political creatures.

Today this column is devoted to describe corruption and corrupt politicians. And, the psychology of corrupt politicians in the political scene. Can we deny the fact that today we have ignorant politicians who tend to think that Land, Justice, Law and Order and, even Highways belong to them?

The law enforcement authorities have to think twice before they move into action against corrupt politicians who violate the law of the land. That psychologically unstable tendency of corrupt politicians, have given rise to rampant corruption and irregularities at many levels in this country.

To put the country on the correct track, politicians found to be corrupt, should be first tried at the level of political parties, they represent. Because, they have entered politics, promising to serve the people obtaining nomination from those respective political parties. In the past, Heads of State believed in the practice of setting up Tribunals and Commissions of Inquiry to try corrupt politicians.

It proved to be an absurd exercise. It wasted more public funds and the valuable time of judges who presided over such Commissions of Inquiry and Tribunals.

In the end, at times, the culprit politician got away due to lack of evidence. Or, rarely we ever saw a politician, trapped before the law to be stripped off of his civic rights for a period of seven years. At times, some Commissions of Inquiry were designed to take political revenge, to wipe out strong opponents from the political scene.

Stripping of civics rights for a certain period, to politicians found guilty, did not appear to be the appropriate punishment. What happens if an ordinary citizen robs State property? Then the normal law of the land is applied to mete out punishment without delay.

The question that arises is, if there are charges of corruption against politicians, why cannot they be tried before the normal law of the land. Are they an exclusive breed, a species quite different to human beings or godly creatures, to be tried in a more dignified manner before Commissions of Inquiry, with the State having to bear all costs?

In reality, corruption is corruption, and an offence, whoever the offender could be. And, the statute of Commissions of Inquiry are designed in a manner that such Commissions could only make recommendation and not punish offending politicians.

Even to deprive a corrupt politico of his or hers civic rights, the recommendation of the Commission of Inquiry has to go before the Legislature, to seek two thirds majority of the House, which, in any opinion is an impracticable process under the present PR system of electing Members to the Legislature, as no single party could muster an absolute majority in the House.

Before the eyes of justice, deprivation of civic rights of a corrupt politico is a blind punishment as, no provision is made to seize the illegal wealth he had amassed through corrupt means.

It’s a futile exercise in the end, with the State spending colossal sums of money on Commissions of Inquiry, Staff, Salaries to the Members of the Commissions. The people of this country, have never heard or witnessed of any confiscation of property or wealth of the few politicians found guilty of corruption by the Commissions of Inquiry in the past.

At times, the period of such Commissions of Inquiry are extended to comply with the request of the Defence to call more witnesses for evidence. It then looks like the beggar’s wound. If by chance, the Government of that day is toppled bringing fortune into his misfortune, the offending politician does not need Saint Paul at the gate for permission to enter heaven.

In an attempt to change that wasteful trend of events, a fresh chapter was put in place, a year ago by the SLFP leader, President Mahinda Rajapaksa to try corrupt politicians.

He directed the SLFP General Secretary to initiate an inquiry into allegations pertaining to a Western Provincial Council Minister, who was being tried under the normal law of the land. That was a move to be greeted warmly. A three member committee of the SLFP was appointed to probe the allegations against this provincial minister.

In addition, the SLFP General Secretary was empowered to quiz that politician. A modus operandi of that nature at political party level does not involve state funds. The President, by that action set the precedence for other political parties to follow.

Corruption is a menace that needs to be nipped in the bud. Today corruption looks turned into the extent of a terminal illness. Even some members of the Police are frequently accused or charged for corruption.

That was even highlighted in the reports of the Commissioner of the Department, investigating Bribery and Corruption. In politics, corruption should be eliminated at grass roots level, starting from the Pradeshiya Sabhas’, where corruption seems to be rampant.

It is alleged that in certain Pradeshiya Sabhas’ both the ruling party and the Opposition, jointly bless the award tenders in contravention of the statute bypassing tender procedures.

It’s time that leaders of all political parties follow the precedence set by President Rajapaksa to try corrupt politicos’ at party level and expose them to the public.

Such a process will also help political parties to clean the stables. If not, corrupt politicians throw ill earned money at election time, to get on the good books of the party leader.

When a political party accommodates ill earned money into party coffers, the party leader becomes voiceless, when allegations are made against the Member concerned, who had funded his party campaign during polls.

Corruption could be described in many ways. In this country, we have politicians who live on, and possess forged birth certificates to prove they are younger than others. Even such forged dates of birth are indicated on their Marriage Certificates. They have also obtained DPL Passports producing forged birth certificates.

In case, they are defeated at polls or decide to retire early, such Members are also eligible for a Parliamentary pension. Such issues had been highlighted in the media time and again but, authorities have failed to take action.

When a blind eye is turned on such corrupt practices, the offender could seek nomination again on forged documents to be a Peoples’ Representative, which a serious social crime in a democratic nation. Certainly and accurately, the law of the land does not provide for duplicity and forgery.

Last week, the newspapers reported an incident where a young police officer had taken a woman police constable (both married) to a hotel and videotaped their private meeting inside that room. Later, the police officer had circulated the video tape among his friends and, a copy of it had reached the newspaper offices.

The woman police constable had reportedly offered herself for a favour in response, from the said police officer. Doesn’t that tantamount to corruption? What action has been taken against the culprit? When questioned, a senior police officer said a complaint must be made to investigate.

Does the Police raid illegal liquor hideouts on complaints made all the time? When cases backed by video evidence are brought to the notice of the Police, why rely on or await complaints?

In the case of the young police officer and the woman constable, neither of the two would complain, because they have had an understanding to commit the wrong act, they had performed.

And, both being married, they are compelled to safeguard their married lives at all costs. Be that as it may, the public expect a higher level of discipline and better moral standards from law enforcement authorities.

Over the past few years we’ve witnessed several incidents of corruption involving politicians. Some politicians in the city and suburbs who claim to be devoted towards the causes of the down trodden, have had the audacity to stoop to low levels of selling roofing sheets donated to the poor by other Governments. Can they deny that fact? Police investigated several incidents of that nature.

But, we do not know the exact outcome, as we still see those politicians continuing in politics like free birds. Some of them accused of having committed such heinous crimes on the down trodden, are characters with enough resources, who wielded the power to suppress investigations.

The leaders of the political parties represented by those politicians are aware of such criminal acts by those members but, are reluctant to act, because they have accepted ill earned money from such members to fill empty party coffers.

No wonder the party leader looks a scarecrow in the face of those hungry Eagles who plunder any thing at hand, and fly high without shame. It is those culprits who claim to be the patriotic politicians of Mother Lanka.

If politicians claim to be patriotic, the questions they should ask themselves are-” What have I contributed to my country?”- “Have I firmly stood for the urgent national needs of my country?’-. Very few would be able to answer those two questions in a sincere and honest manner.

All politicians must realize that corruption should not be allowed to turn into an insuperable obstacle that would deny the people and the nation of progress. Opportunities of the people become limited in a society where corruption is rampant.

The unquestioned duty and responsibility of the politicians are to address the needs of the masses. As long as inequality, unemployment and poverty are allowed to prevail with other social ills, the politicians too have no future in a social set up of that nature.

How many of our politicians know the importance of the diversity of one nation that ought to share a common sense of patriotism? How many of our elected representatives have an Agenda for the people who voted them into office? The world is changing fast and Scriptures turn the other way at times.

Likewise, when politicians have no vision for the people, it is the politicians who perish and, not the people. Because, all dreams of politicians do not turn into reality all the time. Most of them explode, causing disaster to the future of politicians who are known to be corrupt.

The clarion call and the need of the hour is to uproot corruption at all levels, to establish a just and fair nation, for the benefit of the people. Certainly, politicians are aware that-” Power Corrupts and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely”. Those who are ignorant to that fact cannot call themselves politicians of the people.