Beating about the bush

The election campaign is entering its second half. Three weeks have elapsed. Yet what is apparent from the campaign is that candidates have still not yet settled down to real problems of governance which they would advocate. No candidate, except perhaps the Left Front candidate has issued his election manifesto. Not that people would consider them seriously, for the Sri Lankan electorate is famous for its indifference to manifestos.

We have seen the fate of many such manifestos in the past. A notable example is the Manifesto of the UNP in 1977 which promised to build a virtuous society (dharmishta samajaya) What was actually delivered was a society highly dependent on the market where the greed of profit reigned supreme with ethics and morals taking a back seat.

Mark Twain once spoke of three types of lies- lies, damn lies and statistics. Looking at the developing electoral campaign we could , with apologies to Mark Twain, paraphrase it as lies, damn lies and election promises. We still remember the promises that were given to get rice from the moon, supply eight kilograms of pulses per capita and so on and so on.

Now there is on stage a candidate who promises anything and everything asked for and not asked for. The list of promises is fairly long. It includes a wage rise of Rs 10,000 per month for public servants and Rs 12,500 for estate labour, a monthy stipend of Rs 2,000 for unemployed graduates and Rs 2,000 for senior citizens over 60 years of age.

He has suddenly turned philanthropist and promises to disburse santhosams to such an extent that it is a moot point whether the State coffers would be sufficient to complete his handouts.

There is a Sinhala adage that whatever the speaker may say the listeners should listen sensibly. The intelligent voters, who constitute the majority, are not going to fall for such cheap campaign gimmicks. Nevertheless, such talk is soothing to the ear and is often repeated in the belief that even a fraction of the gullible might fall for it.

There is no scientifically worked out policy that has been put forward. Such handouts cannot appear like manna falling from heaven. They should be part of a wider program which would show the ways and means of obtaining funds for such massive disbursement and its maintenance over the years.

Another gimmick employed by the politicians countering the incumbent government is to trade charges against prominent personalities and their families without any basis. Looking at the gravity of the charges one wonders why they were not brought out earlier and the people informed duly.

Whatever the defects there may be and whatever lethargy there may be among the relevant authorities Sri Lanka has several mechanisms under which such charges could be investigated and offenders punished. There are Parliamentary procedures such as No Confidence Motions, Select Committees of Parliament etc.

There are also other legislative remedies like covering the loopholes in the existing laws to trap corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. One could also go to the Bribery Commission or the courts asking for redress. There is also the possibility of taking recourse to public interest litigation.

If these measures that are available are not used by the accusers one may conclude that dearth of evidence to prove such allegations may be the real cause why those who accuse do not resort to the above mentioned constitutional methods to rope in the corrupt politicians and public servants.

The question that interests us here is what would remain at the core of election propaganda if these allegations and promises are taken out? Nothing.

That is why it could be safely concluded that the campaign is largely a one that is beating about the bush without grappling with the real issues before the country and the people.