On the Jeanne Thwaites Formula of getting clean candidates

Ranil Wickremesinghe looks like an unfit, unskilled, reserve goalie in an under 13 soccer team facing up to a penalty kick by Ronaldo. He can’t save a goal even if his life depended on it. He’s let so many slip through his legs over the past six years that it is a wonder he’s still out there in the field. He should have retired or been retired a long time ago. But then again, as Team Manager, Team Owner, Team Captain and Team Coach he can pick himself and play any position I suppose. In the end though, it’s his supporters that get played.

It looks as though some sense has managed to seep through the thick layers of arrogance; he’s virtually admitted that he lacks the leadership skills to keep the rank and file together and elected MPs from crossing party lines. He has obtained, like his uncle JR, undated letters of resignation from all candidates contesting under the elephant symbol.

I am surprised that Ranil has not asked his new found pal (whom he wanted to impeach not too long ago), Sarath N Silva, why he (Sarath) had opened the gate for dissident MPs to rush out and side with the enemy. Sarath of course has no shame but his shamelessness is another article that I promise will get written soon. The man of the hour is Ranil Wickremesinghe.

At some point, someone will cross over, and if Ranil and the UNP take him/her to court, that person will be able to make a compelling case I am sure that the purported ‘letter of resignation’ was obtained at duress. The basic norms pertaining to contractual agreement stand violated in the process and the act and a court that does not throw out such a petition as Ranil and the UNP would submit in the event someone crossed over would be creating a serious and dangerous precedence. It would make it legitimate for all employers to obtain undated letters of resignation from all applicants for all jobs as ‘normal practice’ in the matter of selecting candidates.

Ranil Wickremesinghe

Don’t get me wrong. I do understand Ranil’s dilemma. It is just that this is not the way for the UNP to go about resolving the matter. Nothing short of a change of leader, democratization, a sense of integrity and ability to take the pulse of the nation and its citizens would lift that party from the abyss into which Ranil has driven it.

No, my problem is different. I am wondering why Ranil (when was issuing orders to those seeking nomination) did not ask them to perfect and submit an asset declaration form. He needed to do this because he is saying that UPFA ministers, from the President downwards, are corrupt and are enjoying lavish lifestyles thanks to kick-backs, pilfering and what not.

Of course, an independent and teethed commission to inquire into allegations of bribery and corruption would be useful, but the absence of such a body doesn’t mean that politicians should not bare their all to the public. No, not that ‘all’, but details of wealth (in all forms), theirs and that of immediate family (we know that stashing away money in the accounts of vaults of kith and kin is a frequently used devise, ask Sarath Fonseka - he was caught, others were not!).

Let me put it in baby language.

Dear Mr./Ms. Politician, if you tell us that you have Rs. X today and if you have Rs. Y the day you leave office, and if there is a difference, you have to explain to us the difference Y-X (assuming that you’ve gained). Indeed, you ought to declare how much you have periodically, say once a year, so we can keep track. It has all got to be audited (yes, we need an Independent Audit Commission as well).

Ranil Wickremesinghe clearly doesn’t think that an exercise such as asset declaration is useful (he probably has reasons, for he is not given to submitting accounts after elections). This does not mean that candidates have to desist from declaring their assets either. I know that Shiral Lakthilaka, Colombo District UNP candidate, declared his assets when he contested for the Provincial Council (he didn’t win; does that say something?). It is a responsible move and a good selling point too, candidates need to understand.

Declaration of assets is not enough. We know, for example, that there are lots of politicians under various clouds. There are many names mentioned in the COPE report. Politicians whose names are in this and other reports as well as other allegations can say ‘let the law take its course, I am convinced of my innocence’. Not enough for me. They know the charges and they can come clean by making a public statement refuting all allegations. They spend millions and millions of rupees to trash cityscapes with posters and cutouts, and therefore can easily afford to take a one page ad in a single newspaper for this purpose.

Jeanne Thwaites, award-winning author and friend, sent me an email recently about the issue of getting decent candidates. This is what she said.

“I had a great idea a couple of years back but it was pooh-poohed all around. I thought that we should be required to write names of any politicians and government servants of a certain level up thus:

Write just the name if the person has not had a dishonesty charge; Write the name with one asterisk after it if a change of dishonesty is current, but not proved;

Write the name with two asterisks after it if a charge of dishonesty has been proved.

These name should not be written any other way. There should be a place on the internet where we can look up a name we are about to write, and find out its current status.

At least let’s know for sure what is going on.”

I think this is a great idea. We would make it more interesting by assigning colours for various no-nos. For example, dishonesty can be ‘marked’ in green, theft in blue, rape in red, thuggery in purple, uncouthness in yellow etc. Yes, there will come a point when every candidate has his/her name followed by an asterisk because tainted opponents can un-taint themselves by getting others accused of dishonesty, but if such a website was moderated by a set of citizens of high public standing, it can be made to work.

Such a panel would investigate allegation and determine whether an asterisk is warranted in the manner of the Supreme Court granting Leave to Proceed in the matter of an FR application. It will force named politicians to submit compelling evidence that charges are false, offer explanation adequate enough to un-cloud themselves and to apologize in the event of having done wrong and open themselves to both forgiveness and salutation in the eyes of the public.

It is not just about Ranil Wickremesinghe not being serious or not knowing where to start. It is a general condition of and accusation that can be levelled at all party leaders. They are just not serious enough about corruption. I mean, in getting rid of it! This is where the individual candidates can be pro-active and different. We are not seeing much of it. This is why we, as the voters, need to be pro-active and different. We need to get really serious about corruption.

I know nothing about developing websites. I know nothing about legal processes and mechanisms that can activate and make effective Jeanne Thwaites’ proposal. If anyone is interested, write back. Let’s see if we can make this happen. In the very least we won’t have to watch people like Ranil Wickremesinghe embarrass himself and his party as goalie. That should be something, right?

[email protected]