Editorial

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We in the media have to face the brunt of these laws. We were thrown into the whirlpools of censorships-the sealing of newspapers-like in the case of the Davasa Group from 1974 -77-incompetent authorities and our inability to independently or objectively cover certain situations like the bloody war of the North and East. These and other forms of muzzling or harassment have severely infringed on our right to the freedom of information and communication which we exercise on behalf of the free citizens of Sri Lanka.

Political parties are known to play well, the game of politics with emergency. The SLFP and the left parties oppose it when in opposition and propose it when in government. The UNP is no better.

On Friday the emergency comes up for renewal by Parliament.

One of the positive features of J.R. Jayewardene's much taunted 1978 constitution was the requirement for Parliament - as the representative of the sovereign people -to approve each month the extension of this collection of draconian little pieces of law .

This was a throw back to the SLFP led UF coalition imposing emergency regulations in 1971 and continuing with it right upto the 1977 elections without as much as a by -your- leave from anybody.

Already the nationalist voices like S.L. Gunasekera have sent out cautionary notices outlining the dangers that would befall the nation if the emergency is defeated in Parliament on Friday. Hamstrung as the PA is in a minority government the technical possibility of such a defeat is omnipresent .

The Sunday Times has in its news pages detailed the consequences that flow from the sudden absence of emergency in the present context. The most recent view is that the main opposition UNP would consider abstaining from voting against the motion to extend the emergency paving the way for the extension to infact take place.

We commend the UNP's stance simply because of the disastrous consequences that could follow, especially with regard to the war with the LTTE. At the same time we call for amendments to these all embracing, all encompassing tit bits of laws that undermine the entire fabric of democratic governance which has nothing to do with the war.

We no longer have a rule of law . It is subjugated and undermined by the rule of emergency. What crimes are committed via emergency regulations in the name of liberty! What is the purpose of constitutions and amendments when many of its provisions are subjugated by jackboot of the emergency?

While some argue that the emergency regulations be confined to the North and East, we need to be aware that the LTTE's tentacles spread to Colombo and its environs as well.

But why should emergency regulations be used to baton charge university students? There's even an emergency regulation making it an offence to have an LTTE press release. That is the absurd extent to which the emergency has descended in some instances.

So not only should the government and the opposition study ways and means to push through constitutional reforms to re- establish an independent police, judicial, public service and an election commission, but they should also rummage through the volumes of emergency regulations which have become a dangerous way of life in this country. The parties need to review the convenient albeit undemocratic way of governing through these tit-bits of dangerous legislation and take steps to purify the democratic way of life which the ordinary people of our country value and cherish.

The Political Column

Editorial/ Opinion Contents