“What about all the declarations of assets which by now must amount to huge pile of files lying like skeletons in some dark cupboard on the banks of the Diyawanna? Whose hands are clean enough to demand that they be sent to the Bribery Commissioner for investigation.”_____________________
by Francis Pietersz
(April 06, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Those who think that a National government is going to solve any of our problems are living in a fool’s paradise. This is borne out by the experience of "National Governments" we have up to now. Surprised? Yes indeed, we have had a most perfect National Government for many years now - when it comes, that is, to the privileges and perks that our so called "servants" have given themselves at the expense of the half-starved house-holder.
All parties, of whatever hue, have acted in perfect harmony and accord when it comes to increasing their allowances and pensions, giving themselves all kinds of perks from duty free luxury vehicles (which many of them sell off promptly at a huge profit); employing their kith and kin not only as private secretaries - a prerogative that is quite acceptable - but in various other positions as well in their Ministries, complete with a whole range of parallel luxuries from vehicles to mobile phones etc, etc. etc. They picnic ion the banks of the Diyawanna Oya on subsidized meals at our expense having cynically told us that we too could buy bread at RS. 5 - remember? The only party that has distanced itself from this ruling "National Government" - which may be described more appropriately as a "National Conspiracy" is the JVP which should command our respect for that alone if for nothing else. "more strength to their elbow" is what I say, for as long as they continue to do so
What about all the declarations of assets which by now must amount to huge pile of files lying like skeletons in some dark cupboard on the banks of the Diyawanna? Whose hands are clean enough to demand that they be sent to the Bribery Commissioner for investigation?
A national government will only extend the perfect consensus that now exist regarding their privileges and perks to more serious matters like bribery, corruption, and abuse of power. Who then will save us from our "saviors" who come to save us by "submerging their differences" in the "National interest"?
No Sir. A truly healthy democracy can thrive only if we have both a strong government and a strong opposition that is on constant watch against corruption and abuse of power on the part of those who rule.
What we need is not a "National Government" but a national consensus between the democratically elected Peoples Government and the democratically elected Peoples Opposition on matters of grave national importance such as the conduct of the war (or negotiations to end it) and on the revision of the constitution - no more and no less. It would seem that the JVP has will be left to play the role of the Peoples Opposition. It is to be hoped that they rise up to the occasion. If they do they will deserve the fullest support of those who wish to see an end to the misdemeanors of the political parties who may piously set themselves up as a "National Government" in spite of their dismal track records.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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