There is no weaker opposition but a weaker civil society

| by Robinhood

( August 17, 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) There is a widespread speculation that the Rajapakse administration has strengthen its authoritarian power due to a weaker opposition. As a political analyst I don’t see there is a weaker opposition but I see a weaker public service, a politicized judiciary, corrupt police, a synthetic ruling legislature which does not represent the actual mandate of the general public and a weaker civil society which has given the authorization power to the executive to work for the best interest of preserving power forgetting the people who elected them.

There is a widespread criticism the opposition leader is violating the party constitution and prolonged his leadership by another six year term. There are allegations that the working committee of the party is consist of friends of the opposition leader who don’t have the capacity to lead the party to win elections. There are allegations within and outside the party that the leadership has continuously lost 17 elections from the year 2002 and he don’t have the required capacity to lead the party and win the confidence of the general public and party supporters to win in coming elections so that the party leadership should change.

We wish to reiterate from the recent past there are no free fair elections held in Sri Lanka. From the day the election date is notified up to the polling day there are state resources misused by the ruling party, unregistered voters, no polling cards, abuses, violations, attacks and killings of political opponents, candidates and voters which prevents the people from voting and to represent of the actual mandate of the people. There are reports that the elections results are rigged and manipulated electronically. Owing to this there are no credible investigations conducted by the state mechanism to stop these elections violence and malpractices. These violations are mostly triggered by the ruling party in power against the opposition.

The only alternative to stop this election violence and abuses is to establish the 17th amendment which can bring the independent commissions which can consistently monitor the electoral registration and election process in a free and fair manner. In 2001 when UNP came to power there were 60 people killed during the general election and up to now the main opposition has not met any free and elections or held under the 17th amendment. Though there are many persuasions from the joint opposition for last 12 years to legislate the 17th amendment the government or the president has never given any consideration to establish the 17th amendment which is detriment to the MR administration. The LLRC too has recommended the importance of legislating the 17th amendment in order to uphold democracy but the Rajapakse administration has failed to establish the above but prioritize the 18th amendment to uphold the executive power within 24 hours which indicates the best interest of the Rajapaksa administration.

In a situation where there is a dishonest head of state who is a commander of the three armed forces and the police, a politicized judiciary, a corrupt legislature, a biased national media and a manipulative elections commission all of which unanimously protect the corrupt executive how can a democratically elected opposition overrun the above and seek due process? In a circumstance where the law of this country is not free and fair and not equitable for its citizens and the people of this country cannot keep faith in a politicized judiciary and a corrupt ruling legislature which promotes corruption and lawlessness how a democratically elected opposition can be blamed for not winning elections.

There are lawyers and x UNP MP’s who criticize the UNP leadership unable to win elections have failed to speak about the importance of the 17th amendment and holding elections after the 17th amendment which would justify their criticism. Sometimes these nincompoops of lawyers just speak to the gallery unable to criticize in a professional manner.

If a counties head of state who is the commander of the three armed forces is above the law and if the chief justice and the judiciary is undermining the law and if the democratically elected government behaves in an arbitrary and authoritarian way not working for the best interest of its citizens but protecting its power it is a sorry state of affair.

The Rajapakse governance has ruined all its public service bodies from the parliament to the local government, from the chief justice to the attorney general, from the IGP to the constable to the lowest level comparing with previous governments.

The administration has become so ostentatious that it displays its governance by broadcasting its public services in the media to the general public to prove its good works. There is no government in the history of Sri Lanka which has governed so cheap in the health sector to bring down expired blood platelets. All public services heads, secretaries, foreign service has become political appointments who are lackeys of the head of state who waits for opportunities to earn a quick buck during their tenure. The corruption has become such a low that inferior fuels are imported from black list companies out of tender procedures.

The citizens of the country has become senseless numb stooges watching the actions and acting of political lackeys stooping to the lowest waiting for an opportunity for appointments and make a quick commission. The people’s strength of character is transformed into a defenseless and powerless state.

Under this circumstance there is no way a democratically elected opposition and the citizens can expect due process from judiciary of Sri Lanka. When the arms of the democracy are paralyzed there is no way an opposition can seek justice from the judiciary and the legislature unless a people’s rebellion.

The people of Sri Lanka do not need a head of state/politician that should adopt thuggery politics when required or who seeks or keep the help of thugs to be used when required but a professional statesman who works for the country, consider all ethnicities as Sri Lankan’s and create just a society who respect humanity and justice.