Letters to the Editor

The circus continues with no Constitutional Council in sight
The presidential election is round the corner. But the Constitutional Council (CC) which is recommending members to the five Independent Commissions (National Police, Elections, Bribery and Corruption, Public Service and Human Rights) appears to be powerless due to the non-appointment of its members by the political leaders.

The Prime Minister, the Speaker and the Opposition Leader are responsible for nominating five members to the CC with the consensus of the minority party leaders and independent groups represented in Parliament. Thereafter they have to obtain Presidential approval for the selected members. But this does not seem to be happening even though the term of office of some Commissions (National Police and Public Service) is due to expire in early November. On the other hand the CC has not been functioning since 2004 after the President rejected one of the nominees appointed by the opposition.

Sri Lanka has had bitter experiences of election malpractices. This has become worse after the 1978 Constitution that introduced the Executive Presidential system to the country. It is no secret that the ruling party politicians have abused power in numerous ways especially using public resources for their propaganda activities. The opposition always demands free and fair elections. But it may not succeed until they make a genuine attempt to implement the Independent Elections Commission that has been given wide powers by the 17th Amendment to the Constitution rather than relying on the Commissioner of Elections to conduct free and fair elections.

If not for the JHU monks who filed a fundamental rights application before the Supreme Court seeking presidential elections this year, the UNP would have still been operating their Jana Bala Meheyuma for the presidential election. At the same time the Commissioner of Elections did not make any statement to the public regarding his stand on the presidential election. I feel if the Public Service Commission had been functioning properly with wide powers, the Commissioner of Elections could have done his duty without any fear as no political leader or minister could directly or indirectly interfere in his duties.

It is clear that the whole public sector in the country has been politicized.
How can we face a major election without the above commissions that are vital for the conduct of free and fair election? The police officers would also be able to do their duties fearlessly if the Police Commission was functioning properly. In like manner, if other commissions were also functioning properly, we would not need international monitors to observe the election. Why do we depend on international monitors who are just like our peace facilitators without any power to take action?

Monkey, Polonga and a double close shave
The article entitled “Man in Monkey Business” in The Sunday Times of September 4, brings to mind an incident about 38 years ago when I was serving at the Puttalam Chest Hospital.

For one person to experience a close shave is common. But when two persons meet with danger at the same time and narrowly escape it is unbelievable. For a double coincidence is a rare phenomenon which I’d like to call ‘a double close shave’.

A friend of mine who owned a coconut estate in Puttalam wanted me to help him to shoot the monkeys that were destroying his crops. A single day’s shooting normally kept them away for at least six months. But one monkey, a ferocious one at that, with a gun-shot injury under his neck was a persistent nuisance. Several estate men who had tried to shoot him and missed had been attacked and severely bitten.

We were determined to get at this lone monkey. Taking no chance we planned to get him from as close a range as possible.

On a Sunday afternoon we left for the estate armed with a shot-gun and a .22 rifle. After searching for about half an hour we noticed the ‘fellow’ seated on a branch enjoying a ‘thambili’ he had plucked. My friend and I moved stealthily from tree to tree and closed in on him. As we got close he looked in our direction but we took cover behind a tree. Undisturbed, he continued with his stolen drink. I pulled the hammer of the gun in readiness to fire but my friend beckoned me to move forward.

Stepping forward I trod on a charred coconut shell which made me look down. Lying coiled there was a polonga (Russel’s viper). Almost in reflex I stepped back and fired at the reptile. The force of the shot lifted the snake off the ground. It struck me on my forehead and fell a foot away – dead. A single step forward would have been fatal for me. Hearing the gun-shot the monkey charged at my friend probably in panic. Fortunately, my friend was ready for him. With a single shot he got the monkey. Had he missed, the brute would have taken a chunk off him.

Both of us returned home thinking of the close shave we had with danger. It could well have been a different story altogether – with my friend disfigured and myself fatally bitten by a polonga.

Why can’t our candidates be more like him?
As our presidential elections draw near, it would be of interest to study the personality of the newly elected President of the Islamic Repubic of Iran and see how our candidates measure up against Mahmoud Ahmedinejad.

Mr. Ahmedinejad was a dedicated public servant with a doctorate in civil engineering. He ran a clean simple campaign; he did not rely on western style election gimmicks which our local politicians are now leaning towards. Mr. Ahmedinejad concentrated on issues close to the hearts of the people; employment opportunities, ending corruption and nepotism, and ensuring that the revenues from the country's oil resources are used for the benefit of the people.

He is neither a politician in the conventional sense, nor smooth talker, but has a track record of rendering service to the people both as governor of Ardebil province and as mayor of Teheran. He had earlier been a commander in the Revolutionary Guards, and served for many years at the war front.

In his two years as mayor of Teheran, he transformed the city. Immense landscaping work has been done throughout the sprawling metropolis, so that it now resembles a huge park. The traffic gridlock has been eliminated with a carefully calibrated policy that regulates flow into the city. Even in dusty South Teheran, where the poor reside, there has been a massive tree-planting programme. Parks have sprung up everywhere and potholes have been repaired.

As mayor, he does not shy away from donning the orange uniform of a sweeper and joining the city crew in cleaning work. And he continued to drive an old Peykan instead of going around in a Mercedes, as has become the habit of some officials in Iran. His door was always open to the poor while he shunned the rich who are adept at wheeling and dealing and manipulating high officials for personal gain.

Our local presidential candidates may not have all the qualities and track record of Mr. Ahmedinejad but at least if they concentrate in providing employment opportunities, ending corruption, halting wasteful expenditure in appointing several ministers and working hard for peace the voters will be more than satisfied. Avalanches of colourful posters pasted all over town are not going to impress the voters.

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