Karu slams Executive Presidency - A reply

Methsiri Cooray - Attorney-at-Law

Reference the above titled article which appeared in the Sunday Island on November 1 it was said at a recent seminar at OPA where that there was increasing calls from all sectors to abolish the Executive Presidency.

I do not agree with this notion.

Consensus of opinion among all professionals was the APRC should have recommended the abolition of Provincial Councils (approved white elephant) a ladder of devolution (which term means no real power to ordinary citizen at grassroots level, but more funds and power to provincial councillors and bureaucrats) instead of recommending abolition of Executive Presidency that too with the concurrence of only TNA and Muslim Congress. “holds immense power not afforded to any other leader in the world”.

Leaders in democracies wield enormous powers, depending on personality and character for instance a so called senior minister, a former Prime Minister who had given up Cabinet portfolio still, or upto recent times wielded enormous power in Singapore with his son being the unofficial PM.

Musharaff in Pakistan in civilian garb, a former head of army wielded power. He dismissed Chief Justice and judges and suspended the Constitution. Even Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike a Prime Minister, democratically elected, head of Cabinet under a Westminster set up wielded immense power using Emergency Regulations.

“Executive Presidency has rendered Parliament, the highest democratic institution in the land redundant”

The over mighty Executive President of JRJ dwarfed the other two branches of government, judiciary and legislature, but even he had to keep the undated letters of resignation of Parliamentarians in pocket.

The vote for the 13th Amendment all Parliamentarians were kept in five star hotels in Colombo. Even at monthly Emergency regulation debates and annual Budget time all parties are sent scrambling for their party men. It is a numbers game and each MP, each vote counts.

It is rumoured that consideration passes at important debates. To obtain a 2/3 majority in Parliament even now is the aspiration of the Executive President in power.

“Executive has moved to decimate the opposition.”

More correct would be to put in colloquial terms, Opposition and Opposition members have decided to play ball with President. His own conduct/example proves that those who have joined the President has the freedom to move in the other direction and can aspire to the former position held in the position.

“Power is vested in those individuals in the inner circle”.

This is the eternal truth under all Presidents specially under JRJ and Premadasa specially under the latter where a significant part of the party and MP in Parliament rebelled and initiated an impeachment motion and under whom he was, in the so called inner circle. This is not peculiar to President Rajapaksa or his Executive Presidency.

The 17th Amendment is totally flawed in that ethnic ratios are inbuilt, inherent provision within it. No Independent Commission can be the panacea for all our political problems. It is a question of political culture built over past two to three decades and majority of candidates (their education, attitude, vision) who aspire and get elected to our legislature as at present.

Finally the bottom line, the promise to abolish Executive Presidency in 180 days forgetting the beginning of his essay.

“Country has watched politician after politician ascending this seat of power promising to abolished” What in the bet anyone will buy it this time. Not certainly under RW.

Not sure under so many other aspirants.

Justification/rationale of the author JRJ, that it is needed for rapid economic development holds good today too.

War on terror could not have been won if not for the Executive Presidency. The present incumbent MR did it when others clothed with same authority could not do so.

Come the second term, which he will easily win, he will finish the war on hunger and poverty. The country will handsomely give MR that opportunity. He will not fail the Motherland and its citizens.

Karu J’s grievance could not be with the institution, but its incumbent. In MR’s case why should he have doubts. He is proved winner all the way. There is the ghost of JRJ behinds KJ in the Island article on November 1.