“Integrity Pledge’- The challenge of business leaders

Cast aside for a moment the definition of ‘terrorism’ in the Oxford Dictionary and Wikipedia. Enquire with an open mind, whether terrorism is limited only to the dastardly acts committed by the terror groups like al Qaeda, Khmer Rouge, Islamic Jihad and LTTE? Their acts can, without any doubt, be clearly identified as acts of terrorism. The use of force, arms and the entire the power of state to control or eradicate terrorism may be justified by sovereign states, the law and the society.

For a moment ask whether the followings repressive acts can also fall within an extended classification of ‘terrorism’:
Acts of excessive force that result in;

- A little boy having to save his baby brother's life by putting his intestines back into his torn belly and hold him till given medical attention

- A man on his knees to beg for his life before having his brains blown out on the road in the middle of the morning

- A priest to be abducted, tortured and killed for daring to stand up to authority pleading for medical help for his parishioners

- The plight of people held in the prisons with hundreds cramped into a tiny space with no proper sanitation facilities sharing their living space with cell mates who have contracted chicken-pox

- A young girl whose parents are abducted and the girl assaulted the night before appearing for a public examination with a bruised and battered body

- The sorrow of the women who send their men to war and are unable to even give them a decent burial because their bodies have been burnt on the battlefield to downplay the casualties

- Blatant violations of human rights with no action, even when evidence clearly identify the wrong doers

- Child conscription by para military groups

- Acts of violence by para military groups in areas controlled by state forces

- A leader of a para military group being given a diplomatic passport to illegally emigrate

- Legislators misbehaving openly, and carrying out acts of violence, use un-parliamentary language and brandish fire arms to intimidate people

- Elections being rigged, state property being misused and the people denied the freedom of choice

- The judiciary finding reasons not to use the power of the law to assure that human rights are respected and upheld

- The police watching on attacks on private property and individuals who support a party not in power

- Fiscal responsibilities being openly violated and the nation committed to burdens of debt which it cannot bear in the future

- Unproductive and wasteful public spends and failure to allocate national resources to priority areas of infrastructure that serve people and support elderly, disadvantaged and poverty stricken communities

- Structures and systems that do not facilitate people conducting business with the state in their mother tongue

- Networks with the underworld to terrorise innocent people, and lead/shelter those engaged in the distribution of narcotics and dangerous drugs

- Denial of educational, training and development opportunities to develop human capability and meet job market opportunities

- Acts of corruption that plunder public property and resources allocated for public good

- Denial of the right to information

- Harassment/control of media and journalists

Are the above (which has happened) not acts of terrorism on society and should they be responded in a similar manner?

It is timely for a new commitment from the private sector leaders and society to change and commit to ‘good governance’.
On December 9, the International Anti Corruption day, Transparency International Sri Lanka, launched an ‘Integrity Pledge’ for ‘Good Men/Women of Sri Lanka’ to commit to publicly. And it reads I, with great determination pledge to live and serve as an honourable and incorruptible Sri Lankan with a deep sense of accountability, responsibility and transparency in my personal, professional and occupational life with the noble purpose of passing on to future generations a nation ennobled by integrity, dedicating myself as a pioneer in upholding democratic values, human rights and duties unsullied by forces that impede human and national progress. Wise Old Owl appeals to business and Chamber leaders as part of their 2008 New Year Resolution to go before a mirror, to look in to their conscience and erase the past and then commit to the above pledge publicly, executing it in one or more of the following ways,

1.In a group, as a committed community of members of a Chamber

2.In a group, as a committed community of directors, partners and senior managers of their business undertaking

3.In a group, as a committed family watching over each others commitment

Which would thus be a clear public demonstration of the private sector’s commitment to ‘good governance’ and the leaders’ commitment to society as ‘good men and women’.