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Men & Matters Headlines all my life... wasn't it Arthur Christiansen, a Fleet Street legend, who chose those four words for the title of his book? His best-selling autobiography in fact. Correct me please if I got it wrong. Anyway, here's a headline that caught my eye just the other day - page 7, the Daily News, the first newspaper I worked for, a humble parliamentary reporters, and Parliament was just down the road from Lake House, Beira Lake that is. Hence the popular nickname Beiragedera, the favourite target of the Marxist left, then a vigorous movement, which had produced the finest of parliamentarians - Philip, N. M., Colvin, Leslie, Bernard... yes Bernard was surely the last of them, not Vasu or Batty. And yet both keep the fire alive, revolutionary fire... in words of course, meaning that they, like their leaders, tried to do what Fidel Castro did in the Carribean and failed. Was that a left-handed tribute to the Asian masses and their unswerving commitment to democratic ideals? Not at all. South Asia, then known as the Indian sub-continent, produced an intellectual elite brilliantly brain-washed by their British tutors. And so we produced Jawaharlal Nehru, Krishna Menon, N. M., Colvin and Pieter (Leslie was not Oxbridge or London). Devoted parliamentarians, all with N. M. who had mastered Erskine May. And so, back to the headline which has much to do with politicians, parliamentarians and the press. The three 'P's', if you like. Journalists should not insult their profession Mr. Ekanayake, I must remind you is the Forestry and Environmental Minister. What has provoked the minister? Is journalism an environmental hazard? Some members of the Editors' Guild certainly think so. Whatever the answer, the Newspaper Publishers Society, led by Dr. Seevali Ratwatte (Upali Newspapers) has decided to establish a Journalism Training Centre. The Minister, interestingly, spoke at a 'training camp' for provincial correspondents of the Matara, district. Three fronts That is the question? In the conventional war, which we call parliamentary democracy, it is the UNP, the greens. The traditional foe from the time the UNP elite decided that the son of the grand old man, father of the nation, must wear the mantle. And thus, parliamentary politics was soon dominated by a dynastic factor. Bandaranaikes vs the Senanayakes, until Rukman who really didn't have the stomach, for it, quietly retired to the pavilion, not available for selection. (How persistently that (cricket) metaphor intrudes. 'Media personnel should speak the truth to the country and should be disciplined by a selfmade ethics without being a stooge of any one. He or she should work in such a way that the respect and honour of the profession was protected at any cost'. He must have surely said 'at ALL cost', Mr. sub-editor, sir? Sorry, madam, sir... Yes, a written or unwritten code. As for the professors or the universities, Dr. Gamini Corea who chaired a committee appointed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, inquired into this problem, and report that had all the admirable qualities we associate with our internationally renowned. All that the President or Minister need to do is to read, learn and inwardly digest. Implement the Corea report, if you are really committed to this task. Media front Of the three the media is the most powerful since it is part of a global power, a power that the twice elected President of the world's sole superpower has learnt to respect and fear. To start with, it would be nice... and wise... if the Information Minister invites an organisation like the Editors' Guild for an informal (off-the-record, perhaps) exchange of views. Otherwise the PA-Media encounter and increasingly rough exchanges will be part of what Henry Jayasena described in this paper the other day as' the culture of cock-fighting'. Rare honour It was a privilege to be a member of a group that could entertain him in his favourite club, the CAPRI. Political rights of the citizen As a citizen of the country I believe that it is increasingly necessary for us to be not only concerned but also to act positively to regain in elementary form or help towards establishing a free and fair environment tor the enjoyment of Political Rights, a privilege of the citizen. Several of the elections held within the last 30 years or more have not only taken the voters and the country towards increasing violence, but has also taken away the fundamental right of the average citizen to enjoy his Political Rights. A few concerned Women's Groups/Organisation and Senior Citizens efforts to raise concern recently received only lip service attention. Many are well aware of the last three elections for Local Government Bodies and the Provincial Councils, some of which had virtually turned into battlefields. It is the obligatory duty of all political parties to co-operate, organise and network in a manner that could help the voters to elect their representatives without fear, foul play and violence, if otherwise, the consequences could be serious for the whole country. It is imperative that all political parties, big or small, be treated equally and fairly and that all political parties agree to create the most conducive conditions for the voter community at the next Provincial Council elections and thereafter. In a multi-party Democracy each citizen has an equal right to political conviction and party affiliation. Provisions The Constitution The Constitution provides for a Parliamentary Commissioner called the Ombudsman (in England there are Ombudsmen for the Local Government bodies too) with power to investigate any public and private complaints of an administrative nature against government authorities. In Sri Lanka these complaints need to be channelled through an M. P. The status of the citizen and the constitutional obligation of the government (of whatever political party) is clear. Those who govern cannot afford to give excuses and vague declarations to backtrack on citizen's rights. There is an obvious urgency and priority on the part of the government to provide for the socio-political environment conductive for the enjoyment of fundamental freedom. The Sri Lanka Constitution of 1978 made a further contributory move to enhance the freedom of the individual by enabling the individual to seek redress against administrative injustices through the Supreme Court of the country and procedure stipulated in Article 129. Political rights is the right of citizens to change their government (of whatever political party) peacefully and to exercise this practice periodically, by free and fair elections held on the basis of universal suffrage. Almost 10 years after the use for a limited franchise in Sri Lanka, universal franchise was extended in 1931 (Britain in 1928) at 21 years, now reduced to 18 years. The use of the franchise is by secret ballot. Secrecy as measure of free choice. Furthermore Political rights express the right to seeking candidacy as a means of providing wider choice in the selection of candidates in a truly representative democracy. However in the real situation this does not happen in Sri Lanka. The incredibly apprehensive atmosphere created before and after elections by politicians and their supporters do not encourage the entry of the most suitable candidates. Such choice being limited means that the country does not enjoy the widest possible representation featured in a free society. Political intimidation, violence, rumour mongering, abduction of candidates (one woman candidate in Maharagama as reported in the media), poll card snatching, impersonation, violation of elections laws openly after nominations, bribery in various forms, prevent the many law abiding and most suitable individuals from seeking candidacy. A 60% youth population and women continue to remain in the periphery as voters and not as participants in the centre of decision making. In the current situation the political and moral injustice to women who comprise over half the population of the country is unpardonable. A population of 52.3% is not est. (provisional statistics C.B.). Representation of women in Parliament has never varied between 4-6% and 1-2% in Local Government bodies. India has in its several States sanctioned 33% representation for women in the Panchayats local government bodies and women are now on the path to establishing 30% allocation of seats in the Loka Sabha Parliament. Denmark has 59 women out of the 179 Members in Parliament. 43% of the Swedish Parliament and half of the Cabinet are currently composed of women. The British Labour Party won 120 places for its women candidates on a women friendly vote and new party manifesto. In Sri Lanka the Women's Charter that received Cabinet approval in 1989 has still not been enacted. A 40% allocation for youth in party candidates lists for Local Govt. Bodies proposed by President Premadasa with an amendment to the Local Govt. Bodies Act did not prove successful for many young men and women for the aforesaid reasons. The law does not differentiate between men and women but political parties do. Sitting Members of Parliament of Local Bodies never give up politics or make way for others. On the contrary they celebrate 25 - 50 years of Political Service! Women's entry into politics is not welcome at all, they are taken seriously only before elections inreadiness to obtain their votes. Most women are not encouraged to go into politics in a violence-ridden environment. They are not for violence and not with goon squads either and cannot relate to undemocratic practices that have become the order of the day. 34 women candidates short-listed for candidacy in the districts gave up their efforts half-way. At a pre-election discussion they confessed that their life and their families were made unbearably miserable by gangs known as 'arakku mobile' and 'kunuharupa mobile'. The practice referred to full drunk goon squads who came in open vehicles surrounded their houses or paraded up and down uttering filth and abuse at the candidates and their family members until the women withdrew from the fray. Complaints to the Police had gone unheeded. Many of them had used their own impromptu devices for self protection. Several had carried 6-10 inch knives in their handbags when out on campaign visits, never done before. Many are of the view that sitting representatives do not want new contenders, and allegedly many of them are politically vulnerable, without credentials, background, or ability. At this point it is particularly important to understand the position of women. A large number of women are willing to exercise their political rights and take to politics to serve their country at the centre of decision making but are unwilling to sacrifice family time and resources to fight violence or resort to violence as the means of entry. The general view that Politics is an area for men only is no longer convincingly acceptable to women. Women have entered 'men only' fields and performed successfully. Women's organisations Women's organisations such as the Sinhala Kanthabhivurdhi Sangvidanaya (S.K.S.) have risked life and limb since 1986 to implement welfare and rehabilitation projects in the North and East. Developed countries without prejudice consider half the population - women - as a national resource and a potential storehouse for the future, one that cannot be excluded from representative government in a true Democracy. The time has come for every political party to reconsider corrective measures and actively participate to create peaceful political process for both women and men to be justly representative of the people of the country, once called 'a little Democracy'. Let us next examine the behavioural attitudes of the voter. The voter exercises his political right to vote but the large majority are actually unaware that the use of the secret ballot means actual people's participation in governance. Article 3 of the Sri Lanka constitution clearly states that sovereignty constitutes of the people and the franchise and that 'sovereignty is inalienable from the people'. In such context free and fair elections for the maximum participation of the citizens becomes an absolute necessity. It is primarily the function of the state to provide the best conditions for voting at elections. In many parts of the country the voter is a politically marooned feature. Organisations that monitored violence, observers, party candidates and political supporters have brought out horrendous stories about threats of life and family members of opposing political sentiments for the mere act of exercising the franchise. Sri Lanka once had one of the highest polling percentages in Asia but no longer. The numbers voting have reduced and the number of spoilt votes have increased considerably. It is always easy to pour forth criticism from Government to Opposition and Opposition to Government, but for many reasons it is an escapist attitude and becomes problematical. Discussion Rivalry A few sample surveys showed that over 50% of women voted against the wishes of their immediate family members though asked to do otherwise! Women were unwilling to barter away this prestigious privilege - the franchise. Increasing election violence has positively contributed to discouraging women voters and the elderly from going to vote. A decrease in polling levels must be taken note of Sri Lanka's polling has varied between 72% - 87%. The latter being a remarkably high rate comparatively. The voter polling levels in both USA and Britain have fallen too. Non Government Organisations have commenced urging voters to register themselves annually simultaneously with motor car registration in the USA. Flouting of elections laws have almost become the norm in Sri Lanka. The 48 hour ban for party meeting before election day is openly flouted. Polling agents of the opposition parties are driven away from polling booths by the use of violent tactics. Many complaints also surface during the counting of votes. Reports on candidates interference, intimidations of counting staff, repeated requests for recounts are frequent. Display of party banners, party posts and other forms of party advertising with 200 yards of the polling booths. [Continued tomorrow] |
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