Safeguarding democracy

Elections are round the corner. Everybody is talking about democracy, human rights, good governance etc. Perhaps they may be marketable commodities. At least they are good subject matter for election rhetoric.

Though everyone pays lip service to democracy, the gap between word and deed is so large that the discourse does not go beyond the surface. Besides, there is democracy and democracy. What one perceives as democracy is different from what another would perceive.

That is why our attention was drawn to a thoughtful comment by Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris on the dangers to the democratic way of life and the democratic value systems.

Prof. Peiris is an internationally recognised scholar on Law and Constitutional Affairs. His words cannot be dismissed offhand. Let us try to understand what he says.

The party system, he says, is the cement that binds the different institutions of the constitutional system such as the Executive Presidency, the Parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers. It is this common binding factor that gives stability and continuity to the democratic system.

The appearance of a contender for Presidency from outside the party system brings him into dispute with these various institutions, the Professor points out. A party man has the constant support of the party and its institutions. It gives him strong links in civil society too. In the absence of such contacts and support a non-party contender, if elected could not guarantee stability.

In the present instance, the Opposition candidate has to perform a tight rope walk on account of the diverse and contradictory positions taken by his different promoters. For example, the UNP is for neo-liberal economic policies as was epitomized in the Regaining Sri Lanka project.

The JVP, the other principal supporter of the contender is opposed to neo-liberal economic policies. In politics the UNP holds conservative and pro-capitalist positions as opposed to radical pro-socialist policies of the JVP. The UNP welcomes Robber Barons and the JVP opposes them. On the National Question the UNP is for the 13th Amendment plus while the JVP is opposed even to the 13th Amendment.

The UNP is for closer cooperation with the West and imperial powers while the JVP is against it. The UNP is for privatization of state enterprises but the JVP opposes it. Even on matters of culture the diverse constituents of the United National Alliance differ fundamentally.

It is unbelievable for them to agree on a common minimum program except on matters of a personal nature, decided more by emotions than by reason. Even if they do so the trouble will begin the moment the program is being implemented. What would follow would be anarchy and chaos. An outsider trying to reshape the system without the mass base of party support would surely be inviting anarchy.

There is another factor. The Presidency is the highest office in the land. One must have good political acumen and experience to deal with both local and international issues that affect the country. Just as Rome was not built in a day a politician who could perform at the highest level cannot be nurtured overnight. Making of a President is not like hatching a chick. The good old professor is perfectly right, the democratic system is at stake in the current election.

Knockout the cut-outs

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered the IGP to remove his cut-outs and posters displayed in public places. He has also instructed the IGP to strictly enforce regulations to this effect in the Elections Ordinance.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is known to everybody including children. There is no need for such massive display of his cut-outs and portraits. A pertinent question that arises is for whose benefit are these cut-outs. In most cases the local politicians place their own images also in the display. Actually they are promoting themselves under the guise of promoting the President. When politicos with dubious records place their images by the side of the President it is the latter that gets affected. Such images tend to associate the President with actions to which he was not privy to or which he does not condone.

They should instead of embarrassing the President who stands tall anywhere, earn for themselves public respect and affection through service to the community. When will they learn to stand on their own without leaning for support on someone else?