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Anguishing Sri Lanka at the CROSSROADS

by Dr. S. Narapalasingam
From the bitter reactions of different sections of the civil society to the disgraceful incidents that occurred in Wayamba during the run-up to the January 25 Provincial Council election and on the polling day that led to some positive developments in February, it is possible to see a silver lining in the dark clouds that have been hanging over Sri Lanka for quite some time.

Any honest person knows this was not the first time elections had been rigged, making representative democracy in Sri Lanka illusory. Nor was democracy undermined in the past several decades solely through election rigging. However, never before has the country has witnessed so openly the resentment of sections of civil society to the denial of free and fair election.

Sri Lanka's anguish has multiple roots which developed over the years as political power lost its noble objectives. It became a vehicle for achieving narrow aims beneficial to the ruling party. It was made to be manipulable for selfish reasons.

The electoral malpractices and political violence are only some of many glaring consequences of manipulating power for partisan and other narrow benefits. What appeared earlier as mere symptoms of one major illness had developed as connected ailments. Hence to ease the suffering and make the country robust all these need to be removed. The ensuing analysis is intended to highlight the nature and the magnitude of the efforts involved. Some by their nature will require sustained efforts over a long period for elimination.

Wayamba - Another Episode

The shock from Wayamba poll was extremely painful because people's hope of a reasonably free and fair election following the pledges given by the present rulers in 1994 was dashed by unscrupulous politicians and their goons acting defiantly violating the laws and accepted norms of civilised behaviour. Although extra 15,000 police officers were deployed throughout the NW Province to maintain law and order on election day, they were unable or unwilling to prevent the flagrant violation of the election laws in the province of only around 1.4 million registered voters. More than 12,000 public servants were employed by the Commissioner of Elections in the 1,160 polling stations and 118 counting centres.

Despite the assignment of large number of officers to conduct the poll, the fact that it was marred by various corrupt practices showed the power of the forces that worked to undermine the electoral process. The Commissioner of Elections admitted at a conference of the general secretaries of the contesting parties that 212 polling stations had been invaded by armed gangs who forcibly stuffed the ballot boxes. Earlier following the raid on some post offices which resulted in the robbery of polling cards, police protection was given to postmen as well.

Rise in Violent Crimes

According to the Police, there has been a steady increase in the number of killings reported in the past several years. Incidents of murder, rape, disappearances or armed robberies occur almost daily in some part of the island. 910 killings had been reported in 1998 outside the Jaffna, Vavuniya,, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara districts. The majority of the 247 killings recorded by the police in the north and south in 1998 had been attributed to LTTE and other armed groups operating there. Violence has grown in all parts of the island as a result of poor policing and law enforcement.

Violation of human rights within the police and security services was tolerated by governments to achieve their immediate objectives. The inducements provided by their political masters for functioning according to their wishes made it difficult to enforce discipline within the services. Those who carried out the unlawful acts were also like their political masters doing them for expediency. Morality, religious precepts, discipline and norms of civilised conduct all receded consequent upon the enormous greed for power, position and money.

There were many instances where existing laws and official codes of conduct had been violated with impunity. In some cases the culprits had even be rewarded by the authorities for their misdeeds, even after they were found guilty and fined by the courts. The fines too were paid on their behalf by the government. These practices gave the impression that one would not be punished for unlawful acts carried out to please the rulers and even some gains could be got under the system of political patronage. The system was beneficial to both the covetous politicians and the daring offenders.

The horrible practice of murdering "suspects" seized illegally and disposing of the bodies in mass graves, rivers and lakes or in piles of burning tyres did not disappear completely even after the authorities had no intention of tolerating it. This is evident from the mass graves in Suriyakanda and Mamadala (God knows where else) to the recent one in Chemmani, Jaffna. The spectre of mass graves will haunt the blessed land for many generations.

The erosion of public confidence in the law enforcement system is also due to the undue delays in bringing to justice those alleged to have committed crimes. In many instances the culprits were not arrested. This deficiency is widely believed to be due to the decline in efficiency in the police force. Political influence, lack of motivation and corruption are believed to be the main reasons for the deterioration in the efficacy of the service. There is also the nexus between sections of the force and criminals of the underworld.

A retired Inspector General of Police told recently : "Police collusion is the key to the disturbingly increasing rate of violent crime." This seems to be also the view of some senior officers currently serving in the police force. It has also been reported pressure is exerted by Parliamentarians to obtain the release of arrested criminals. The problem of insufficient number of officers to perform normal police duties given the demands of the ongoing war in the north-east originated only recently. This shortage must be viewed in the context of the factors that gave rise to the rise in the crime rate. Obviously, the final solution to the problem of growing violent crimes does not lie in expanding the police force under the existing structures and political control.

The brutality of some killings recently reported in the newspapers cannot be attributed to institutional failings. Certainly, these show the complete disregard for human life and values by criminals and the release of the beastly instinct in them. The world in which such people live has no rules to obey. Often at the time of committing horrendous crimes, they are not in their normal senses. This also in some measure can be ascribed to the failure to deal with the growing problem of illicit liquor and drugs.

Violence in the North-East

The gun culture is a recent phenomenon in Tamil society and has its roots in the failure to solve the ethnic problem that surfaced when the Tamils feared that their separate ethnic identity in Sri Lanka was being threatened by the Sinhala Only and colonisation policies of successive governments.

Political killings started with the murder of Alfred Duraiappa, which was not condemned by the then leaders. In fact, the impression was that they condoned it. With the emergence of Tamil militancy not only the established political parties with democratic credentials lost their importance but also violence was glorified. The latter provided a favourable climate for more violence. When the groups had developed their own internal structures as in a conventional authoritarian regime, indoctrination helped to encourage and justify violence.

The escalation of violence as a result of fierce confrontation first between the government forces and the rebels and later amongst the Tamil rebel groups themselves, led to the breakdown of society's internal structures. In this environment values and culture eroded. The presence of the war conditions for many years has had a damaging influence on the minds of youths.

Violence is still seen in the internecine struggle for dominance in different parts of the north-east. Recently, two Tamil groups have been launching attacks on each other in Vavuniya over business rivalry and wielding power. Although, they have abandoned violent means of achieving the political goals they depend on weapons to operate in the north-east. Many Tamils have perished in the infighting amongst the various armed Tamil groups. From the brutality of some killings, it is clear those sanctioning or condoning them have no respect for human life.

Recently, a decapitated human head was found lying in a drain in the heart of Jaffna town, which later was reported to be that of a youth killed in retaliation for the murder of a leading member of one of the Tamil groups operating there. The body was recovered a week later from a cess pit in Nelliadi. How many Tamils would have wished to acquire this wild culture as a price for seeking political power through warfare?

The terrible effects of living in a sustained climate of violence have been highlighted by Prof. Daya Somasundaram in the concluding chapter of his illuminating book - Scarred Minds - The Psychological Impact of War on Sri Lankan Tamils. He has observed: "The society is in the grip of a spiralling vicious cycle of violence and counter-violence, terror and counter-terror. But violence only breeds more violence: It brutalises the practitioner, fills the victim with a longing for vengeance, conditions the minds of growing children to think only in terms of violent means and to resort to violent solutions."

Customs, attitudes and behaviour were influenced by the value system cultivated and safeguarded ardently by previous generations. Family members generally tried to meet the standards set by their elders, who were eager to see the integrity of the family remained high to command the respect of others in the community.

Education was valued highly by the society and this meant that discipline had to be enforced in homes and in schools. Not only the parents and elders but also the teachers of the bygone era took special interest in building the character of the children. Behaviour of youngsters was closely watched even outside the homes and schools. The extended family system also helped to achieve this aim. The communal structures that secured obedience to laws and codes of civil conduct collapsed after the war intensified.

The war in the north-east also created opportunities for some outside the region to exploit the situation through corrupt means for personal gains. The corrupt practices not only worsened the moral decay but also helped to commit violent crimes. Some crimes in the south have been attributed directly and indirectly to army deserters. Recently, some soldiers were suspected of staging a mock attack on their own army camp with the intention of stealing weapons during the commotion.

Soulless Democracy

Undoubtedly, the failures of successive governments and political leaders to uphold justice and fairness in conducting public affairs and act responsibly have largely contributed to the present predicament. These indicate the neglect of moral principles in their actions for which they are not accountable to any body in the democratic system as it functions in Sri Lanka. The variance between their declared commitment to morality in politics and contradictory actions is also part of this weakness.

Politicians were able to act contrary to democratic principles and undermine the rule of law in Sri Lanka because the civil society neglected its responsibility. Had the sections of civil society presently calling for peace, rule of law, human rights and independent commissions to oversee the police, judiciary, public service and elections been alert and as active as they are now, the politicians would not have found it easy to abuse the freedom and the democratic system the country obtained in 1948. Reliance on Machiavellian strategy to seek and hold on to power has caused several related maladies from which the society is presently suffering and it is not possible to get rid of any one without eliminating all.

Making Democracy Real

The conventional view that reforming the constitution and strengthening the legal framework are sufficient to deal with the malaise is fallacious. It would have some basis, if the democratic institutions are functioning satisfactorily and the rule of law not undermined by undisciplined and political interference. Constitutions and laws by themselves do not operate in any society; they must be made to function.

Implementation is one area that is very glaringly deficient in Sri Lanka. Not in all cases the reason is wilful negligence by governments. Selective implementation of laws and policies does not promote good governance. In many cases, it also reflects the lack of honesty. Established rules and codes of conduct were observed conscientiously in ministries and departments before the politicising of the public service. Subsequently, political patronage has inspired administrators to follow the dictates of politicians rather than the rules.

Ethics in politics and moral values in general have reached very low levels. Hence, there is the need to inspire people in all walks of life to respect and observe moral standards. It is the policy makers and chief administrators who by their honourable conduct should inspire others in government to observe ethics in the discharge of public duties. This is not easy unless the leaders themselves consciously act towards the evolution of a decent political culture.

The aspirants from the two main parties to the office of chief minister in the Western Province Council have pledged to conduct their election campaign according to the norms of democracy and human decency. If the same conviction and courage are forthcoming from other leaders, then the desired change in the political culture will not be difficult.

The initiative and sustained effort towards the development of a culture based on ethics must come primarily from religious and civic leaders. This unlike constitutional reform is a long-term process but critical for making democracy more meaningful to the society. Any delay in starting the process will only make the task more difficult later.

Ethics have a collective dimension, where the elements of morality are applied to the activity or effort of a group. Like medical doctors, lawyers, preachers and teachers, politicians too must observe ethical standards, in whatever capacity they serve the people. The voluntary observance of ethics by individual members never works in practice. Political system in Sri Lanka has been functioning too long without the built-in controls to deter the abuse of powers. The responsibility to see that politicians wielding power observe ethics rests ultimately with the people.

Importantly, in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country the constitution should also serve as an effective instrument to unite the diverse groups. Both the 1972 and 1978 republican constitutions have ignored this aim. If the weaknesses in the present constitution are allowed to remain, the prospects for lasting peace and political stability will be bleak. In this case, the climate for investment and economic progress will also be unfavourable and Sri Lanka will remain an impoverished country.

There are several reasons for amending the present constitution. Wayamba has highlighted only one important area relating to free and fair elections. Sri Lanka has suffered in many ways by the protracted war in the north-east. The point has been reached where it is useless to argue and assign blame on one side or the other for the protraction and escalation.

Political settlement of the conflict has been delayed because the two main political parties have not been willing to cooperate for reaching a just and fair solution acceptable to all the communities. The war has created conditions suitable for undermining democracy and the traditional values of both the Sinhala and Tamil societies. Early settlement of the ethnic conflict is a necessary condition for making headway in any concerted effort to strengthen the feeble democracy.

Some Hopeful Signs

The effective role the highest court is performing in safeguarding democratic principles and the fundamental rights of citizens gives hope for rejuvenating the democratic process. This optimism is based on the recent judgments of the supreme court in several fundamental rights cases. It must be acknowledged that certain provisions in the constitution such as the protection of fundamental rights of citizens have made it possible for afflicted persons to seek justice and redress through the court.

As mentioned at the very outset, Sri Lanka has never heard the voices of so many civic groups, including women's organizations calling for the recognition and protection of basic human rights, the rights of women and children and democratic freedom. Many groups are also campaigning passionately for peace, good governance, media freedom, unity, rule of law, social justice and racial equality.

The zeal seen recently by various independent elections monitoring groups is a positive development towards safeguarding democracy. Even prominent leaders of different religions in an unprecedented move have come together to voice their concern about the growing violence in the country, violations of democratic principles and the neglect of the rule of law. The contribution of the media towards the accomplishment of these objectives is also significant.

Although much remains to be done to restore fully the rule of law and democracy in Sri Lanka, there has been some headway, which cannot be dismissed as insignificant considering the appalling conditions that prevailed not very long ago. These curtailed the freedom to articulate opposing views. Even the judiciary came under threat. Extra-judicial killings and punishments were carried out by commissioned officers with impunity.

The accounts of the unlawful and inhuman manner "suspects" were seized by the police and security personnel during that time indicated the extent of the transgression permitted then. The presumed "loyal" followers while masked identified the troublemakers. More often than not personal vendettas were in perspective. The use of unmarked vehicles to seize "suspects" also began during this period. All these were done with the full knowledge of the authorities. Although the mass fear-psychosis that prevailed then in the south has now disappeared, the fear of being robbed, molested and even killed still remains largely due to inadequate policing and law enforcement.

The fervour to regain democratic rights visible in the south is not apparent amongst the Tamil community as a whole. In their present predicament, the overriding concern of the Tamil people is to regain first the conditions to enable them to live without the harassments and fear that have been agonizing them for many years. At present with no early political solution to the ethnic problem in prospect, this too is of immediate concern. It would be unfair to assume they are not interested in regaining their democratic rights, which they lost back in 1981. The determination shown by many Tamils to exercise their voting right against threats and many difficulties in the limited 1998 local government elections indicates their yearning for democracy.

April 1 - Judgment Day

In the aftermath of the outcry of various groups and leaders to the violence and electoral malpractices witnessed in Wayamba, the following developments have emerged:

- A consensus is unfolding among major political parties on the urgent need for electoral reforms. The preference seems to be for a hybrid of the first-past-the post system and the proportional representation system on a district basis without the preferential vote system.

- The leaders of contesting parties will be responsible for seeing the members and supporters adhere to all the laws and rules relating to the conduct of elections. The parties will take appropriate disciplinary action against any of their members who violate this directive.

- A high-powered Monitoring Committee will formulate plans and procedures to ensure free and fair elections. The committee will consist of representatives of all the political parties contesting the elections headed by the President.

- A Presidential Commission has been appointed to inquire into alleged malpractices and abuses during the Wayamba election. The Commission is to submit its report within two months.

The significance of these moves to the future of democracy in Sri Lanka depends on whether or not the parties can act in accordance with the understanding reached and whether the same spirit will prevail in reaching consensus on other major issues confronting the country. Their sincerity will be tested initially on April 1. If the Wayamba experience is not repeated, it will be a major achievement and herald a better future for Sri Lanka.

Concluding Remarks

Forward thinking is needed to shape the country's political system and its economy. Sri Lanka is way behind other countries that are anxious to take forward the democratic process based on broad partnership between the government and the people. Devolution of political power is considered imperative for involving local communities in the democratic process.

The political system loses its democratic credentials, if it ignores the rights of ethnic minorities, social justice and the inclusion of all social and ethnic groups. Unless some bold decisions are made now, Sri Lanka's woes will continue into the twenty-first century. The country can ill-afford to postpone further the hard decisions that must be taken to change course away from the ruinous path hitherto followed by successive governments.

The writer is a former Additional Deputy Secretary to the Treasury.

The Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Commemoration Lecture
Political dynasties of South Asia

The full text of the speech delivered by Mr. Anura Bandaranaike at the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Commemorative Ceremony

It gives me great pleasure in joining such a distinguished gathering in the historic city of Karachi, at the invitation of The Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institution of Science & Technology. I deem it an honour to address you this afternoon on the subject of Comparative Impact of Politics of Dynasties in South Asia".

The formation of the Institute of Science & Technology perpetuates the memory of an outstanding leader not only of Pakistan but also of South Asia. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto boom to one of the aristocratic families of Pakistan was indeed a remarkable personality. He studied at Berkley, California, and then at Oxford graduating in International Law. At the age of 30 he became a Minister and he arrived at the Presidency of his country with painful patience. President Bhutto transformed Pakistan from a brutal dictatorship to a functional democracy. His commitment to democracy was firmly expressed in what is popularly known as the "Testament of Bhutto", which he wrote sitting in a prison and confined to a lonely cell, awaiting his execution.

"Fundamental and grave issues on Pakistan's future existence will have to be settled by consensus of the newly elected representatives in a free and fair election held without delay".

Twice elected by the people of Pakistan with unprecedented majorities Zulfikar Ali Bhutto stood to his powerful personality and lived a legacy that still endures. Oriana Fallaci seasoned and independent interviewer who has had 5 interviews with President Bhutto and her impressions of him were "Intelligent, born to charm while at the same time nourished by culture, memory, flair. He is undoubtedly on of the most complex leaders of our times and the only interesting one his country has so far produced. The only one moreover capable of saving Pakistan at least for a while".

Imprisonment

The imprisonment, the torture and the sham trial orchestrated by a brutal dictator, surpassed even the infamous Spanish Inquisition Undaunted by the years he was jailed and with the imminent possibility that he will be executed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto stated ....

"I did not kill that man. My God is aware of it. I am big enough to admit if I had done it. That admission would have been less of an ordeal and humiliation than this barbarous trial. I am a Moslem. A Moslem's fate is in the hand of God Almighty. I can face him with a clear conscience and tell him that I rebuilt his Islamic state of Pakistan from ashes into a respected nation".

I stated earlier that the legacy of Bhutto endures, and this endurance was mainly because of the sacrifices and the commitment of his daughter Benazir, the first elected woman Prime Minister of an Islamic nation.

I have had the pleasure of personally knowing President Bhutto and his daughter Benazir who is a close and dear friend. Therefore I consider it a personal honour to have been given this opportunity of paying a tribute to a great son of South Asia.

South Asia is indeed a rare and unique region, which cannot be compared with other parts of the world. I say this because of the unique phenomenon of the impact of political dynasties in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on the destinies of their respective nations, since independence 50 years ago - a role they play even to this day. In our region history has recorded the rule of Royal families, princes and sultanates over centuries like the many Royal families that ruled over the destinies of Europe and the United Kingdom. Dynastic families such as the House Of Hanover, Hapsburgs, the Tsars of Russia and the Tang Dynasty of China controlled the destinies of nations over long periods of history. The role of families devoted to public life is, therefore, not a new phenomenon . But there is a significant difference in that since we gained independence the political dynasties of South Asia have been freely elected by the choice of the people time and again unlike the autocratic dynasties that ruled over Europe, Russia and China amongst other countries.

Sri Lanka

Let me commence with the experience of my own country, Sri Lanka. We gained independence in 1948 and Two Families, The Bandaranaike's and Senanayake's have ruled Sri Lanka for over 35 years. Out of our 50 years of independence the first Prime Minister of Ceylon, as it is then known, the late D. S. Senanayake, considered the Father of the Nation ruled from 1948 - 1952 and after his untimely death his son Dudley Senanayake was elected by a massive mandate and subsequently he was elected Prime Minister on 4 other occasions.

My father, the late S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, who parted from the ruling United National Party and formed The Sri Lanka Freedom Party was swept into power in 1956 with a land slide majority and ruled Ceylon until 1959, when he was cruelly assassinated. Though there were many senior members in the government, the party turned to my mother. Much against her personal wishes, a house-wife untrained in the art of politics was forced into the political arena and she became the world's First woman Prime Minister in 1960, some 6 years before Indira Gandhi was elected Prime Minister of India. My mother has been Prime Minister from 1960 - 1965, 1970 - 1977 and from 1994 to the present day. Though she succeeded my father she was never groomed to be his successor unlike the Nehru's of India where the father groomed his daughter Indira and she in turn groomed her son Sanjay and then Rajiv.

Personalities

In Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto never intentionally groomed his daughter Benazir to be his successor. As in Sri Lanka his party turned to Benazir to carry forward the torch that her father lit and she became Pakistan's daughter of destiny. Similarly in Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of a newly independent nation did not groom his daughter to succeed him. As in Sri Lanka and Pakistan the Awami league of Bangladesh turned to his daughter Hasina to lead them and most recently in India, a congress party lead by colourless personalities since Rajiv's tragic death, turned to his widow Sonia, who like my mother was a reluctant housewife forced by circumstances to shape the destinies of their countries.

Assassination

When you look at the whole region of South Asia there is a thread that runs through the fabric of it's modern history. As if designed by the hand of God or the Hand of destiny in each of these countries it was the cruel hand of murder and assassinations that lead many of our generations to take to politics. In Sri Lanka a grieving nation turned to my mother; in India after the brutal slaying of Indira Gandhi a stunned nation gave her son a mandate that was not even given to his grandfather. After Rajiv's murder a dejected and defeater congress party turned to his foreign born wife Sonia, mainly because she was Rajiv's wife. In Pakistan after the cold blooded murder of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto the forces of freedom turned to his daughter Benazir to lead them to democracy and freedom against a cruel and bloody dictatorship. In Bangladesh after the wholesale massacre of the Mujibur Rahman family, Hasina like Benazir had to lead the battle for democracy and freedom once again, against a cruel and brutal dictator.

In that tragic sense our families have all suffered at the hands of assassins and cold blooded murderers. This has lead to the perpetuation of what is popularly known as political dynasties of Southern Asia.

We are not alone in that sense. In Argentina, President Peron was succeeded by his wife although not by popular choice. In the United States after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert would have been surely elected President if he was not murdered. In the Philippines once again the reluctant house-wife and widow Corazon Aquino was forced to lead the forces of democracy against a relentless dictator, becoming the first woman President of her nation. The dynastic story continues with Khaleda Zia in Bangladesh, Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar and Megawati Sukarnoputri in Indonesia. In my country my elder sister Chandrika was elected President by a landslide in 1994 and my mother continues to be the Prime Minister.

Pakistan

Turning to Pakistan, some may predict that the Bhutto Dynasty is over. Nothing is further from the truth. When her father was murdered her opponents voiced similar sentiments as today. But Benazir was elected the first woman Prime Minister of that state not only once but twice and before long certainly for the 3rd time. She represents a unique tradition. With her intelligence, charm, sophistication and political acumen and leadership skills Pakistan's destiny is in safe hands.

I quote from the San Diego Transcript titled Benazir Bhutto A Lesson In Political survival;

In her more than two decades of pubic life, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has survived everything from the death of her father on a hangman's scaffold to imprisonment, exile and two depositions of her own government by conservative political elements.

Although much of her country has been rendered ungovernable due to sectarian fighting, leading her mortal enemy and current Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, to call for the imposition of Islamic Law, Bhutto is unbowed.

"I'm reminded of the scene in Dante's "Divine Comedy" where the hottest circle in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral during moments of great moral crisis," Bhutto said Saturday before nearly 4,000 people at INSIGHTS'98. "There are goals and values on this Earth worth fighting for."

If they had to choose one word to summarize Bhutto's career, both as the first female elected Prime Minister in the Islamic world and as the voice of Pakistan's secular opposition, most observers would pick "struggle".

Weeks after she returned from her studies at Harvard University and Oxford, her father, then- Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was overthrown by soldiers loyal to Gen. Zia - Al-Haq.

Both Benazir and Zulfikar were imprisoned and the latter ended his life at the business end of a hangman's noose. After Zia and the American ambassador to Pakistan were killed in a mysterious bomb attack on their plane in 1988, Benazir assumed her father's mantle and eventually his job.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I had no desire to enter public life," Bhutto said." I had wanted, as a young university graduate, to pursue a career in journalism or the foreign service."

As fate had a different path in mind for the Radcliffe alumna, she turned her efforts and talents to improving social programs in her country, which had long ranked a distant second to military spending.

"This was not an easy task at a time when the military government believed that a woman's place was in the home and behind the veil," Bhutto said, adding that the death of Zia did little to discourage opposition to her government by the country's conservative religious and political elements.

"The overthrow of the government was branded a religious mission by some of the political parties, "she said. "Although my opponents fulminated, calling me an idiot and an Israeli agent, the people supported me."

In August 1990, Pakistani President Ishaq Khan dismissed her government and she spent the next three-years in opposition.

"The result was anarchy and chaos," Bhutto said." Pakistan was on the verge of being branded a terrorist state in 1993".

After she was reflected in October of that year, Bhutto's government built more than 24,000 primary and secondary schools around the country and brought electricity to nearly all of the nation's villages.

"When you have two countries and two sets of laws, you have misunderstandings," Bhutto said, dismissing the indictment as political gamesmanship. "Yes, in South Asia there have always been charges and countercharges of corruption, but it's important to look not at the charges but at the government's performance."

I do not think that any family in this region involved in politics has suffered as much as the Bhuttos. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hung after a disgraceful trial. His two sons died under tragic circumstances, Benazir and her mother Begum Nuzrath Bhutto were under house arrest for may years and today case after case have been filed against Benazir, while her husband suffers in jail. A twice elected Prime Minister of Pakistan was ousted in constitutional manoeuvres of the worst kind. No government in this region has descended to the level of confiscating a passport of a former Prime Minister. This relentless persecution deserves our strongest condemnation. In the face of political humiliation of this magnitude it speaks volumes for Benazir's guts and tenacity that she relentlessly pursues her battle for justice and for Pakistan. We all wish her well!.

In a sense the Bandaranaike's, the Nehru's and the Rehman's have also suffered in multifaceted ways. My mother's civic rights were unjustly removed for 6 long years preventing her from contesting the Presidential elections in 1982 and my sister, the president of Sri Lanka, lost her husband in a brutal assassination 10 years ago.

In India both Indira and Rajiv were assassinated and Sanjay died of a fatal air crash. Indira was jailed time and again by the Moraji Desai government, taken to courts on trumped up charges and prevented from sitting in parliament even after she was elected at a by-election. Hasina too had her share of political humiliation. Jailed and placed under house arrest under several dictators she fought back with tenacity and to final victory.

Perhaps, in a sense our families under seige both politically and personally have fought back with determination and dedication and the best in us have surfaced in the worst of times.

India

Turning next to India we see the most populous democracy in the world turning time and again to one family. Of 50 years of independence the Nehru dynasty has ruled India for over 40 years. Though it is true that Jawaharlal Nehru groomed Indira- as his successor and in turn Indira groomed Rajiv as her successor, Sonia was never groomed as his political successor or a potential leader. Though Sonia was a foreigner and a non-Hindu the tradition conscious Congress party turned to her because she was Rajiv's wife. Today she leads a resurgent Congress party and judging from recent state election results the return of the Congress under Sonia, is only a matter of time.

Pakistan and Bangladesh had to unfortunately face the calamity of military regimes, under ruthless dictators time and again disrupting all norms of democracy and freedom. In the testament of president Bhutto he says...

"I if a coup-de-tat becomes a permanent part of the political infrastructure, which means the fall of the last petal of the last withered rose. It is the end".

Fortunately India and Sri Lanka have been spared this agonizing experience.

But Sri Lanka had its own share of a failed military coup in 1962, two major Marxists insurrections in 1971 and 1988 and a debilitating civil war in the North which has claimed the lives of over 50,000 people. Amongst all these odds our people and our political structure have been able to sustain democracy and freedom. Yet in our region democracy and freedom hangs on a thin line. Sri Lanka recently witnessed the most atrocious affront to democracy at the provincial council elections in the North Western Province where the government politicians marched into polling booths with armed men and stuffed ballot boxes and stole the election. Perhaps we have achieved another first, amongst many other firsts to have polling booths sealed and closed at 9.00 in the morning and a total poll exceeding the number of registered voters! The entire nation has concluded that the election was the most horrendous and fraudulent election in the history of Sri Lanka and the President herself admitted that serious rigging had in fact taken place and had to form a committee of all political leaders to ensure a free and fair election of the next provincial elections to be held in early April.

I gave you this example to illustrate to you that democracy though established in the whole of South Asia, except for Bhutan has been threatened by the evil forces of dictatorship and conspiracies, as you in Pakistan know well.

It is true that the names of the Bhutto's, the Nehru's, the Bandaranaikes and the Rehman's of South Asia are a magical force and carries with it a great deal of charisma and national and intentional acceptance. Without a shadow of a doubt. Yet, the magic of the dynasties is not the eternal passport to power. In India, Indira and her son Sanjay suffered an ignominious defeat in their own constituencies in 1977 and were sent to the opposition for the first time in Indian History because the constitution was violated, the opposition arrested and freedom assassinated. Subsequently Rajiv Gandhi himself was defeated. The Bhutto's have lost elections in Pakistan, then the Bandaranaikes have suffered several electoral defeats and so have the Rehman's of Bangladesh. Though our

respective names have carried us to power, because of our mistakes the people have rejected us as we have witnessed so many times in this region. It is my view that leaders must recognize the mistakes they have made and correct it. Specially when history is involved and history is something in movement, in process, like life. History in fact is life itself.

The best examples are perhaps the return of Indira Gandhi after her colossal defeat in 1977 after a short period of 2 years and my own mother who lost her civic rights for 6 years and waited in opposition for 17 years and resumed to power at the age of 80. In the case of Pakistan unjustly removed from power Benazir Bhutto was able to return to power again. Though the political dynasties of South Asia have been rejected by the people time and again those very people have turned back to the dynasties. This has happened in our entire region.

If I may be permitted to touch on a personal note, I feel privileged and honoured to have known most of the members of the dynastic families at a very personal level. I was the personal guest of Prime Minister Bhutto in 1975 and I have had the privilege of having a private one to one discussion with him over lunch in Islamabad, where I have witnessed a political maestro reminiscing on his hopes for his Pakistan and the Asian region. I still remember he had a mysterious sadness locked in his eyes and there was something shy about his smile. He personally arranged a tour of Pakistan which I greatly enjoyed. He was my mother's guest in Sri Lanka and Benazir as a young girl accompanied her illustrious father. In 1997 I celebrated 20 successive years as a member of Parliament and Madam Bhutto was the guest of honour and her gracious presence added much colour and prestige to the event. I have also been her guest in 1991 when she hosted a meeting of SAARC opposition leaders in Karachi and I had the occasion to meet her in London and in India. I consider her first as a sincere and a dear friend. When Madam Bhuto addressed a large and distinguished gathering in Colombo, 1-1/2 years ago, in a thought provoking speech she stated that we have both met many times in the opposition and added "Anura, we have to stop meeting as members of the opposition and we must meet soon in power. Today, I reciprocate by saying, Madam Bhutto I sincerely hope your wish is realised in the shortest possible time.

I have had the fortune to be closely associated at a personal level with the Nehru family. When I was 10 years old I visited India with my mother and had the opportunity of living for 5 days at the residence of Prime Minister Nehru. Whatever one may think of him, he was truly a political colossus striding the intentional stage. He was my father's friend and they shared a warm friendship before and after independence. This friendship continued between my mother and Indira Gandhi and subsequently between Rajiv and myself. In their own ways they were remarkable personalities with whom I have shared some wonderful moments.

I have also met Sheikh Mujib once and was impressed by his humility and candor. Prime Minister Hasina is a close friend and I got to know her well when I was an Election Observer at the last elections which she won some 3 years ago. In her sense our families have been linked by tragedy, by victory and defeat and by enduring friendship passed from generation to another. That is something which is remarkably unique.

Another curious but tragic comparison of these dynasties is that assassination and murder had been carried out by the very persons these families helped. My father was murdered by a Buddhist monk whom he had personally helped. Prime Minister Bhutto was cruelly imprisoned and murdered by the very man whom he promoted as a chief of the Pakistani Army. Rajiv was murdered by the separatist Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka whom he greatly assisted with the Indo Lanka agreement in 1987. Sheikh Mujeeb was killed by his own army generals, and President Zia Ul Raman of Bangladesh by his very own army and you Madam Bhutto was manoeuvred out of power illegally by the very man you helped to become President of Pakistan.

It is perhaps the twist and turn of history that our families have been linked in so many ways at times by the cruel hand of fate.

In spite of the tragedies suffered by our respective families we have achieved many firsts unprecedented in the history of the world. My father entered the Guinness Book of records when he polled 94% of the total poll in his own constituency and mind you, it was a free and fair election and not a rigged poll. My mother was the first woman Prime Minister in the world and my mother and I sat together in Parliament which was another first many years before Indira and Rajiv sat in the Loksaba and today another first has been created where the daughter is the President and mother is the Prime Minister.

Sri Lanka has a unique distinction of being ruled by the people's choice by a father, mother and daughter, the Nehru's of India have created world history by ruling the world's most populist democracy for 3 generations for over 40 years. In Pakistan Madam Bhutto has created another world record by being the first elected head of an Islamic state. Bangladesh equalled the record of electing a father and then a daughter to lead them.

Many argue that dynastic politics has been the bane of our region. I beg to disagree !. Indeed our respective families have made mistakes, taken wrong decisions and made faulty judgements. After all we are not demi Gods but human beings. For these perceived mistakes we have been punished by the people, which is their right.

Sometimes we ask ourselves whether we have done right. Our follies have caused the lives of members of our families, others like Madam Bhutto and myself have had the fortune to stay alive and sit in opposition whilst others have been imprisoned or exiled. History will be the final judge and hopefully that judgement will be kind. In spite of these rejections the people of our region have turned back to these same dynasties to lead them, again & again.

The best and the most recent example is India. Tired of the long rule of the Congress party India turned to the Bharatiya Janatha Party and a new Prime Minister who does not belong to a dynasty. Though, Prime Minister Vajpayee is a brilliant politician and a fine gentleman he presides over a coalition of disparate parties who have their own weird agendas and a nation that is tearing itself a part with Hindu fundamentalism rearing its monstrous head.

Tired of unworkable coalitions of sheer opportunism India is turning back to Sonia Gandhi and her congress party although she is of Italian origin. The magic and the mystique of the Nehru name, still endures. And without doubt in Pakistan though every effort is being made to humiliate you and drive you out of politics, Madam Bhutto, you will endure and will be called by your people to lead them in the new millennium. Both times I was your guest you have been in opposition and the next time I visit Pakistan you will undoubtedly be the Prime Minister !.

In conclusion, I thank the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science & Technology for having invited me to address you this afternoon which I consider as an honour. I would like to thank all those who were involved in my visit for their generosity, hospitality and their warm friendship.

Last but not least I would like to thank Madam Benazir Bhutto for her kind and warm words in her address. It was a great pleasure to meet you once again and renew our friendship in this historic city of Karachi.

Legal Watch
Women's Rights and Regional Justice

by Nayana
The inherent tension between the globalization of human rights and claims by nation states to political and cultural sovereignty tend to become most acute in relation to women's rights.

This is because what one might (for want of a better term) call secular political -repression, i.e. a general denial of democratic freedom, is usually not gender discriminatory. Measures that are specifically discriminatory against women, on the other hand, are often sought to be justified by traditional religious or cultural norms. Within the South Asian region some degree of culture based discrimination against women is discernible in most societies, but an acute problem has arisen in Pakistan, with a concerted attempt, since about 1980, to extend the field of applicability of Sharia law (or what its proponents clai