| by K S
Sivakumaran
( December 14,
2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) I endorse the following concluding paragraph
of your editorial dated December 13, 2012, ---
"The President
has a choice. He could act like an ordinary politician, pack the panel with
yes-men, get the result he wants and impeach the CJ. He is, no doubt, capable
of doing so. Or, he could rise above partisan politics and act like a real
statesman by appointing to the proposed panel members who are truly independent
and impartial, giving them a free hand and respecting their decision even if it
goes against the interests of the government. It is not only the PSC report
that should be scrutinised; the whole PSC process needs to be evaluated dispassionately.
Two governments tried to impeach Chief Justices in the past, but in vain. The
just concluded PSC process was based on bad precedents they set. The time has
come for the present government to rectify them. That is the challenge before
President Rajapaksa."
It is high time
that the President rises above being a mere politician to the stature of a
statesman and truly proves that he deserves to be honoured by all Lankans and
respected by the international community.
To do this he must
first be strict in enforcing law and order, apply the Rule of Law, get rid of
racist elements in his government, move away from prejudices towards the
Western world and adhere to a Non-aligned foreign policy, remain above
suspicion in regard to family bandyism and nepotism, as first steps.
He should continue
his already begun progressive ideas not forgetting the immediate plans in
solving the political, economic and social problems of the minorities,
particularly the Thamilians in the North, and also among some sections in the
East and West.
Having paid 100
percent attention to the above he should consider establishing a Constituent
Assembly to draw up a new constitution in consonance with 21st century needs,
looking forward to a New World devoid of discrimination and resting on past
laurels in history and the like.
Most law makers of
recent times are not properly educated and are a single track- minded people.
They may be educated in their mother tongue but they are totally ignorant of how
fast the world moves. Lack of knowledge of English is a great handicap. Man on
the street might have the right to vote and exercise his democratic rights, but
that doesn't mean he is capable of understanding world politics, thinking only
within the narrow confines of his own mother tongue.
Majority mentality
may indicate power but it is not real power. Real power rests on updated
knowledge and a world view. The new generation, I am hopeful, understands the
foolhardiness of the so-called politicians bred on prejudices and superiority
complexes and therefore will change the tables to the utter frustration of the
old guard and drive the country to be on par with the rest of the world. We
have too much relied on isolation with an outmoded sense of nationalism.
There is still hope
and hopefully saner minds among our politicians will master the art of
governing a globally thinking young people.
 I endorse the following concluding paragraph of your...){kind=link}