Toeing the line, corporate style
By Random Access Memory (RAM)
Professor Rajiva Wijesinhe wrote the winding up column in a leading newspaper with an apology to his readers this week. He is giving up since the assurance given to him that whatever he writes will not be tampered without his consent is now not honoured. Cheers to those of the likes of the Professor who will not compromise on the basic tenants of integrity.
We live in our little world here in Sri Lanka, where the body corporate often practices advocacy following an interesting and unique recipe. Reports and letters written to policy makers on policy reform or to be published for public knowledge and benefit are said to be first sent in draft form to the final recipients. This is to determine if the contents do not contradict with the will of the political authorities and the officialdom before they are signed and resent. What is unpalatable is deleted or modified to be palatable. It is thought that direct approaches at advocacy may hurt the feelings of those we associate, no matter if the positions taken are right or wrong or how strongly the corporate feels about the content. Colombo indeed is a small place. That approach purportedly not only finds favour but also wins the hearts of those that matter. And that seemingly is what matters, for the truth can be bitter to swallow and may even hurt the purse strings in the long term.
What is dangerous about these approaches is the unintended but deep impact it has on the rule of law. Lawlessness is bad for business and is often talked about at many a business forum.
In spite of all that talk, we keep on seeing some interesting developments that plague us all the time. They sometimes go unnoticed and are thought of as being insignificant. We must not forget that it is the little droplets of water that make the wide, vast ocean.
Take the case of the retired official in the education sphere that drove a vehicle till last week to supplement his pension income. After an accident involving a pedestrian at Dehiwela, he was assaulted and killed by a mob, which took the law into its own hands. It may have been a coincidence, but the media reported immediately thereafter that the authorities want to test the roadworthiness of drivers over 60 years of age through a medical examination. Indeed a sound initiative to prevent the taking of innocent lives on the roads, but is it only those challenged by mature age that cause accidents? What about the rest of the mess that we see on our roads, including traffic policemen who direct traffic to move on with the red lights shining brightly behind them. That leaves the drivers wondering whether the lights deserve a response at all.
More importantly what about the erosion of the faith people have in the ability of the authorities to squarely implement the rule of law? We are told that the LTTE slayings of its opponents and informants is not within the gambit of the ceasefire agreement but the lives of the politicians in Colombo are. Is not the value and protection of human life a core element in the implementation of the rule of law? We see politicians being slain at their homes and at the very doors of law enforcement authorities itself. We hear of the shootings at hotels and the fisticuffs of the kith and kin of politicos. What about the hypocrisy seen all around us when a blind eye is turned on the ill doings of loyalists?
A friend from abroad once commented that Sri Lanka would take off on the road to prosperity the day it begins to restore order and discipline on the roads, the body politic and the body corporate. Setting sound examples all around is no doubt the way to go.
What we need are standards. We need standards that are not only of the ISO type or that discussed at seminars and forums with no follow up.
We need standards less complicated and basic to be applied uniformly, consistently and without fear or favour. Cast, creed, friend, foe, supporter or not should not matter. The body corporate can give the lead by beginning to be brave and bold. After all the engines of growth must fire strong and makes good business sense too.
The body corporate needs to be at the forefront to ensure that the rule of law is re-established. This cannot be done through compromises, being the so-called 'good buddy corporate type' and blindly toeing the line. If turning a blind eye to one issue and only take on another, is the favoured method then that is a sure recipe for non-proliferation of the rule of law.
May the body corporate take courage and provide the needed leadership for the sake of our motherland.
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