The Army venturing into civilian domain

2013-07-22 

The retiring Army Commander, General Jagath Jayasuriya, is reported to have told a section of the media that the Army is planning to enter profit-making ventures and that Cabinet approval is being awaited to start these activities. The General is reported to have specifically mentioned construction works as an area that the Army could handle profitably. He had cited countries such as Russia and China where the State gets involved in such activities by using the armed forces.

As mentioned by the General, the Army may be able to execute projects with profit, because unlike the odds faced by civilian contractors, the Army would not have many overheads to meet, with almost all heavy equipment already in its possession and paid personnel too readily available. Of course one needs to agree that in projects handled by the Army, there would be strict military discipline with no delays in their execution, which is absent when projects are handled by civilian contractors who have to discipline construction workers to get the best of the wages paid to them and also make a profit.

But the question is, is it ethical for the Army, which has all resources at its command, and personnel who have to be paid anyway, to bid for construction projects that are normally won through competitive bids and executed by civilian contractors? In instances where international tenders are called for heavy construction work, such as overhead bridges and so on, foreign construction firms based in Sri Lanka tender for the same, and execute the project using renowned local construction contractors.

There are instances, especially during a calamity when the Army is brought in, to render emergency relief – that is to repair the damage caused within the shortest possible time with the least inconvenience to the people, which is to be commended. But otherwise, the Army encroaching into civilian activities cannot be encouraged because it disturbs the livelihoods of civilians. It will result in thousands of civilian employees engaged by companies that undertake construction losing their employment, causing misery to them as well as their families.

Days after General Jayasuriya's announcement of the Army's intention to undertake profit-making ventures, the European Parliamentary Delegation that is currently in Sri Lanka, following a visit to the North, while commending the physical development taking place there, had pointed out that the involvement of the military in economic activities has hampered the growth of the Northern economy.

In projects handled by the Army there could be less transparency regarding procurements and so on, due to the military weight behind and the secrecy involved, whereas in contracts handled by civilian contractors, the contractor will ensure that items are bought from the cheapest source, with pilferage not taking place. That would not mean that these things are entirely absent in contracts handled by civilians, to meet which deficiencies, an additional percentage is added to the quoted figure at the time of bidding.

The General's statement that Russia and China involve their armed forces in development work looks a little intriguing as these are countries that are not democratic in the true sense of the word, though over the years they have mellowed to fall in line with modern day global requirements. Russia and China are countries spread over a large land mass with huge populations and huge armies.

They are highly industrialized, with the State spreading its tentacles into every sphere of activity. They are powerful and have a say in global affairs. The discouraging factor however, is that these countries do not tolerate dissent.
But Sri Lanka is an acclaimed democracy, enlightened by four great religions, where democratic traditions are highly valued, though off and on there have been moves to turn and twist it to meet the requirements of certain egoistic individuals.

To blindly follow such countries would be to lower our stature in the eyes of the democratic world.