Sirisena Govt. has inherited a ‘financial mess’ - US

March 26, 2015 

The US government said on Tuesday that it was exploring the possibility of increasing its assistance to the Sri Lankan government to help it tackle issues like governance, accountability, commerce and “much more”.

Addressing the house foreign affairs committee subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal said that after the “dramatic opening” created by the election of President Maithripala Sirisena in January, the US is willing to assist the new government.

The US government cut down its grants and spending in Sri Lanka over the past few years during the previous regime of Mahinda Rajapaksa, which alienated its western allies by forging close ties with China.

“We have expressed our support for the new government’s focus on strengthening its democracy, rebuilding its economy, and pursuing meaningful reconciliation, and strongly signalled our commitment to rebuild US-Sri Lanka ties,” said Biswal.

The US government said that Sri Lanka was facing the problems of corruption, cronyism and divisive policies that threatened to divide and destabilise the country.

Biswal said that the United States was willing to help the Sirisena government which has inherited a “financial mess” and a “difficult road on accountability and reconciliation” from its predecessor.

“I want to reiterate the assurances made by President Obama and Secretary Kerry that the United States looks forward to deepening our partnership with Sri Lanka and working with them to advance democracy, prosperity, and dignity for all Sri Lankans,” stated Biswal.

Biswal said that the US was “encouraged” by the current Lankan government’s pledge “to create a credible domestic accountability mechanism to address the end of the war and foster reconciliation between the North and South”.

The gap between the United and States and Sri Lanka widened during the past five years after the Sri Lankan military defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels, ending a three-decade war.

Since the end of the war, western nations led by the United States, have been calling for investigations into alleged war crimes, which the previous government refused to conduct under the supervision of international investigators.

Biswal said the current Sri Lankan government has “welcomed” the US assistance “to address ethnic grievances and fight corruption”, Khaleej Times reports.

Ex-Lankan President to head task force for reconciliation of Tamils

COLOMBO, March 26, 2015

Sri Lanka's newly-elected president Maithripala Sirisena (R) seen with former President Chandrika Kumaratunga (middle) and Ranil Wickramasinghe.

Former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga will head a special presidential task force to identify urgent reconciliation needs of the minority Tamil community, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Thursday.

“We are focused in achieving communal and religious harmony,” Mr. Wickremesinghe said.

The new government has set up a dedicated office for reconciliation under the Chair of 69-year-old Ms. Kumaratunga, the country’s first woman president.

The Presidential Task Force on Reconciliation (PTFR) would identify urgent reconciliation needs that require immediate solutions. The PTFR would also consider proposals from citizens for the purpose.

Ms. Kumaratunga was the fifth President of Sri Lanka, who served from 1994 to 2005. In November last year, she formally announced her return to active politics.

The Tamil Tigers were engaged in an “armed conflict” with Sri Lankan government forces for nearly three decades, but were militarily defeated in 2009. The conflict killed at least 100,000 people, mostly Tamils.

India has been pressing Sri Lanka to take more steps to ensure reconciliation with Tamils.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Sri Lanka, he had urged the Sri Lankan government to ensure early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment, a 1987 constitutional provision on greater autonomy and go beyond it in the reconciliation process.

“We believe that early and full implementation of the 13th Amendment and going beyond it would contribute to this process,” Mr. Modi had said.

Why A Referendum Is Necessary For 19A

By Kusal Perera -March 26, 2015

Kusal Perara

There are politically important and serious reasons why this piece of legislation called the 19 Amendment has to go before the people for their direct approval, before it becomes law.

1. There was no transparency, no accountability in the drafting process. It is an accepted democratic practise to have the process of drafting a constitution as an open, people based process. This left the people totally out of it in every way.
2. This parliament lacks any legitimacy having deformed the will of the people as decided at the 2010 April elections and therefore holds no moral right in representing the people anymore.
3. The installing of this government with Ranil W as Prime Minister is a contradiction in Constitutional provisions, where the President is expected to appoint a PM in his belief holds the majority in parliament. No one would dare say, President Sirisena believed RW with only 41 MPs could command a majority in parliament. Their private agreements though campaigned for during elections are not Constitutionally valid, unless RW commands a majority as required by Constitution.

As such, the following brief explanations can be of importance in arguing for a Referendum in adopting the 19A that is now in parliament.

1. The promise during the whole presidential election campaign was for democratic governance; explained further as one that would be transparent in every aspect, would hold itself responsible to the people and thus would be accountable to all decisions made and their implementation. “Yahapalanaya” was explained as such.
2. The promise was also to curb the Executive Presidency to an extent it could be held responsible to the parliament and therefore would be working in liaison with the cabinet of ministers, while the President would be equal as any citizen before law, with immunity removed.
3. The Constitutional Amendment called the 19 Amendment was to be adopted in parliament to effect such change, including a Constitutional Council to establish commissions that would be truly independent without any pushovers by the executive as before.

These were the main and major promises that laid the basis for the victory of common candidate Sirisena. In swearing in Ranil W as PM immediately after his own swearing in as President, he only kept his promise made to the voters as agreed between the two of them, that in turn installed a new government which holds no majority in parliament and is not Constitutionally valid.

With a government installed in parliament without a people’s mandate through an election now affecting Constitutional Reforms sans any public consultations too, the present parliament cannot be substituted for the people.                                                        Read More

The end justifies the means?

Thursday, 26th March 2015

New situation has created problems for the middle classes. Unlike workers, middle people in the bourgeoisie society are looking for fundamentals. Proletarians are more pragmatic, they can identify the tricks played by the masters and they wait for the final results. Also, they cannot afford to cry after lost dreams and they have to take positions according to the balance of forces in the class struggle.

Many in the middle sections of the urban society trusted the lawyers who drafted the 19th amendment. Suddenly trust placed on Jayampathi and Weliamuna means nothing. They only draft but the power to finalize rests with others. Neither the Manifesto nor the personal assurances constitute the final definitive statement.

Anti fascistic mass movement

When one see the real balance of forces they are gravely disappointed by this betrayal of trust by the leadership of the anti fascistic mass movement. However the real oppressed, workers and minority communities, have to check the balance sheet. Both Ranil and Maithri are rugged politicians, shrewd and patient. They are also victims of fascistic cruelty practiced by the fallen regime. Whether one is associated with liberal politics through Asiatic wisdom or from western masters they are bound to deliver some form of liberty and equality. Ok, from a Marxist point of view, those are illusions to cheat the people. But there is the compulsion of a delivery.

"What? Do you not openly condemn this breach of promise of 100 days in the strongest possible terms? After being cheated four times in the past do these cheats think we are going to put up with this sort of treachery again? NO is NO. Down with Sirisena the liar! Did not your manifesto says, Executive Presidency with its unlimited powers will be abolished." Shout, screaming in the same tone, the middlemen in pain. We can understand their feelings. But the truth is that the fascistic gang also screaming; they could feel the isolation.

Abolition of Executive Presidency

Those who are involved in the drafting of the 19th Amendment assure that it provides for the abolition of Executive Presidency, nothing less. The document given to the NEC certainly indicated that radical move. The original draft of the 19th Amendment-not what was gazetted - basically does away with the Executive Presidency. What was gazetted will only prune the powers of the EP. The EP system will remain.

The change was brought about due to pressure from JHU, Nimal Siripala and a section of SLFP. They threatened to block the passage of the bill by 2/3 rd majority. Due to these protests the Government was forced to resort to the well known way of getting the required numbers by offering ministries. Now balance of power is such leaders can revert back to the original draft. It can be passed even if the JHU and few others like Wimal vote against.

According to constitutional pundits two major Amendments will be necessary to vest executive power with the Cabinet answerable and accountable to Parliament. Those will be (1) PM to be the Head of Government and (2) President to act on the advice of the PM. Therefore Ranil and Maithri are still in a position to push through this, though not in the way people expected.

'Change' not abolish

The mandate of the people is to be respected in a dubious manner. Can we say that Ranil-Maithri duo was able to use a tactic to isolate the fascistic gang and take the democratic revolution forward? This is the reality that middle man cannot see but the oppressed, proletariat and minorities cannot miss.

Apparently two leaders want to avoid any change that needs a referendum. Specially Maithri says he won't touch any article in the constitution that cannot be changed without recourse to a referendum. That means articles known as entrenched provisions of the constitution should not change. This includes not just Article 2 (Unitary State) and Article 9 (that gives foremost place to Buddhism) but also Article 3 and 4 which have to do with the exercise of sovereign powers. Any reduction of powers to the Executive Presidency will have an impact on Articles 3 and 4 and would normally require ratification at a referendum. However this has been negated already by Mahinda rule. The infamous judgment of Shirani Bandaranayake for 18th amendment allowed the fascistic ruler to pass the 18th amendment without a referendum! This could help Maithri and Ranil to sail through amendments to the Executive Presidency without going for a referendum.

But the point is these things will not happen unless masses intervene and create a favourable situation. The pressure for NOT to abolish the Executive Presidency and accept only 'reform', is still strong. They claim that the manifesto uses the word 'change' not abolish. If these arguments are not countered, I have a feeling that the 'reform' can only go as much as removal of few extremely reactionary features of the executive presidency. In fact it may stop at removing of 18 Amendment or slightly more than removing 18 Amendment. So, we cannot blame anybody except the leaders of the mass uprising that removed the fascistic regime if this will be more or less reverting back to the pre-18A Constitution.

Failure to confront re-emerging fascistic forces immediately will be the beginning of the down-slide. If leaders don't confront and stop nonsense of dragging decision making and implementation now, they are finished.

In politics there is only one moral code that is valid. That is, the end justifies the means. We all like to say that should not be the ethical principle in an arena of human welfare. But unfortunately in the course of struggle, leaders are compelled to take decisions on the above mentioned moral principle.

In the final analysis there is nothing significant or strategic to change the course of history. Changes occur when conditions are mature. We are going through such a period.

This is a moment where all progressives should grasp to bring about the radical change that the country is crying for. Tactical gains are important, but the determination for a significant change should be the power that drives us to commit ourselves to go forward.

Three Current and Former Presidents of Sri Lanka have Pledged No Accountability

Thursday, 26 March 2015 

On March 24th, 2015, the Prime Minister of Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) sent a letter to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Honorable Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, bringing to his attention and raising concerns about the statements of the three Sri Lankan Presidents denouncing the international investigation. The letter strongly urged the Commissioner to voice his disapproval at such statements.

In the letter, it is stated inter alia

Former President, Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse(2005-2015) stated in an interview for Time magazine, that he opposed the international investigation, as you are well aware. He stated:

“It is like Cassius Clay fighting a school boy…they [the international community] can’t knock us down.”

On 12 March 2015, the new President of Sri Lanka, Mathripala Sirisena, said to the BBC, “We are ready to get advice and their opinions for the inquiry, but I don’t think we need any outsiders because we have all the sources for this.”

This sentiment was echoed most recently this week by another former president, Chandrika Kumaratunga (1994-2005), who said that calls for an international investigation were “insulting” in its implication that the country was unable to do this independently.

The letter, cited the 2015 Human Rights Watch World Report, which stated inter alia

(T)he government continued its longtime practice of refusing to investigate or prosecute credible allegations of torture, including sexual violence, against suspected LTTE members or supporters in custody.”

The letter further stated that there is no tangible evidence to suggest that the government of Sri Lanka will do anything other than remain intransient in its grant of impunity to perpetrators and its efforts to circumvent the will of international community.

In conclusion, the letter commended the High Commissioner’s Office diligence in its work.

The TGTE has also launched a Million Signature Campaign in fifteen languages, calling the UN to refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The TGTE calls upon the international civil society to participate in the Campaign (www.tgte-icc.org).

The Campaign will end on the 1st of September, 2015.

Visuvanathan Rudrakumaram
Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE)
+33-699-33-2705 or + 44 - 7896 - 588-369

Aluthgama Riots; Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied

By Mass L. Usuf -March 26, 2015

Mass L. Usuf

“While it is difficult to claim with authority as to who was behind these riots, it is important to note that the signs of organization and orchestration were evident. The transportation provided for looted goods, the weapons that the attackers had at 6.30 pm, their access to glass bottles, petrol, and long sticks and iron rods and lengths of bicycle chains, the pieces of metal canisters that we saw and photographed, dispel any possibility of a spontaneous conflagration”. (Report on Aluthgama riots and its aftermath. Law & Society Trust, December 2014).

A disgraceful account indeed of a systematic and orchestrated spate of violence on the 15th and 16th of June 2014. Further reading revealed the outrageous complicity of the preachers and the protectors. Here is an eyewitness’ narration :

“First there was one group that came and this group was led by two monks. They threw stones and broke all the windows of the house. Then 15 minutes later another group arrived. Then a few minutes later, a third group came. They were the worst, they broke and smashed and burnt down everything. Later when we were trying to put out the fires there was another group that came – a group of young boys – maybe 15 years old. The STF chased them away. There were others who came with their faces covered and took the stuff from the houses put them into bags and carried them out.

The witness also stated that the STF was in the vicinity and when he ran to ask for assistance when the house was burning he was told that they had come for some other work and could not help him. He had gone once more and he was told, (Malli Umbalah karagaththu deval umbala bala ganilla). “Malli, these are things that you created, so sort it out yourselves.” (ibid).

Monks and the Police

A qualitative analysis draws an amazing contrast!   The people normally trust their preachers and take them as their guides. The above account is the consequence of the so called “guidance” given to the people by the racist and inflammatory speech by Ven. Galagodaththe Gnanasara Thero. Shockingly there were also monks who led the mobs of destruction and killings. Monks whose wish is “sukhino vā khemino hontu” meaning, “May all beings be happy and safe”. The preachers who follow the four immeasurables (Brahmavihara) :metta (loving kindness), karuna (compassion), mudita (sympathetic joy or empathy) and upekkha(equanimity).   Right in the centre of the theatre was the Police force whose Mission according to their Website is, “Sri Lanka Police is committed and confident to uphold and enforce the law of the land, to preserve the public order, prevent crime and Terrorism with prejudice to none – equity to all”.Read More

The Bond Issue Controversy: An Analysis

By Sam Samarasinghe and Dushyantha Mendis-

 on 03/26/2015 

The issue of government bonds on February 27 has raised a huge controversy, involving questions as to the competence of the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), and also allegations of insider dealing. The government has been slow to respond to the public outrage the controversy has evoked. This article tries to explain the intricacies of the issues involved in this controversy. We believe that a more informed public will be better able to hold accountable those who are responsible for the events that occurred and thereby contribute to the cause of Yaha Paalanaya.

The Bond Issue Controversy an Analysis by Thavam Ratna

Comments on Sri Lanka President Sirisena’s maiden visit to China

by Col. R. Hariharan

(This article is an elaboration of answer given to an international news agency’s question on President Sirisena’s visit to China on March 25, 2015.)

Question

( March 26, 2015, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) President Maithripala Sirisena’s Chinese visit is starting later today (March 25, 2015).  This visit comes after his government’s willingness to strengthen ties with neighbour India with leaders of the both countries visiting each other’s nation within a month and the suspension of Chinese aided Colombo port city reclamation project.

Comments on Sri Lanka President Sirisena’s Maiden Visit to China by Thavam Ratna

SF’s Promotion Is A Symbolic Act Of Militarization: Dr. Dewasiri

March 26, 2015

Academic and social activist Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri says the recently awarded Field Marshall title toSarath Fonseka is a ‘politically motivated move’ and says it is a symbolic act of militarization.

DR. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri

Dr. Dewasiri points out although there is no doubt over the fact that Fonseka was subjected to great injustice under the Rajapaksa regime, the question however remains as to whether awarding this title was the best way to compensate for the injustice he faced.

“Those who are shedding tears for the ‘injustices’ allegedly faced by the Rajapaksa today under the present government, are behaving as though they are not aware of what happened to Fonseka following the 2010 Presidential election or to retired Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake. The question, however, is whether this is the way to compensate for such injustice,” he said while adding that he perceives this promotion as a symbolic act of militarization, which was one of the main criticisms against the Rajapaksa regime.

He also said the move is problematic in the context of SF being a major political player in the present political scene and added that it is interesting to see how the Tamil community would perceive this move.

China offers Sri Lanka olive branch and warnings

President Xi Jinping worked to mend relations with Sri Lanka on Thursday as Chinese state-run media warned the island nation’s new government against shutting off billions in investments from Beijing.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena is on his first state visit to Beijing since taking office in January and is working to renegotiate more than $5.3 billion-worth of Chinese deals signed by his predecessor.

He has already suspended construction work on a major Chinese-funded “port city” commissioned by his predecessor Mahinda Rajapakse, who relied heavily on China to rebuild the country’s infrastructure during his decade in power.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) welcomes Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena to a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, on March 26, 2015 ©Feng Li (Pool/AFP)

At the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Xi spoke of “a new era in the traditional friendship between China and Sri Lanka”, telling Sirisena: “Mr President, you are an old friend of the Chinese people.”

China wants to “push forward, genuinely helping each other in our strategic partnership”.

For his part Sirisena recalled his first trip to China in 1983, “at the invitation of the Chinese Communist Party”.

After the leaders’ meeting, Chinese assistant foreign minister Liu Jianchao said both countries were committed to improving economic ties.

Sri Lanka has complained that it is paying too much interest on the Chinese loans funding its infrastructure development.

The $1.4 billion “port city” land reclamation scheme in Colombo suspended by Sirisena was also considered a security risk by neighbouring India.

Liu said Sirisena described issues around the port city scheme as “rather temporary”. “He said the problem does not lie with the Chinese side” and that he hoped the project could continue “after things are sorted out”, he added.

Sirisena’s remarks could not be immediately confirmed and Chinese officials could be working to downplay the port review.

China has said any disruptions to the project will spook foreign investors and an op-ed in the Global Times, a paper affiliated with the Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily, reminded Sirisena that “Sri Lanka needs foreign investment more than ever”.

"A consistent policy is crucial for attracting foreign investment," wrote Lan Jianxue, of the China Institute of International Studies. "Sri Lanka’s strategic goals will be better guaranteed if Colombo can integrate them with China-backed projects."

Sirisena has also ordered a review of other Beijing-financed projects and loans amid allegations of corruption.

Sirisena made India — rather than China — his first foreign trip after winning elections in January, seeking to rebuild ties with Delhi.

India was reportedly furious after Chinese submarines were allowed to dock in Colombo last year when Rajapakse was still in power.

Beijing has been accused of seeking to develop facilities around the Indian Ocean in a “string of pearls” strategy to counter the rise of rival India and secure its own economic interests.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) hosts a meeting with Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena (R), at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, on March 26, 2015 ©Feng Li (Pool/AFP)

Lanka court orders inspection of Rajapaksa’s brother account

 March 26, 2015

A Sri Lankan court on Thursday ordered the southern town of Galle to inspect the bank accounts of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the former defence secretary and brother of ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

A magistrate court in Galle had on March 9 issued an order preventing Gotabhaya — the powerful defence secretary under his brother’s administration — and three others from leaving the country until the conclusion of investigation.

The court also impounded their passports, police said.

In January, shortly after the defeat of the President Rajapaksa, a ship carrying 12 container loads of weapons was discovered in Galle.

The ship was carrying over 3,000 automatic weapons, including machine guns.

A probe is on to locate thousands of weapons, that have disappeared from the inventories of Sri Lanka’s security forces and are thought to have been transferred to individuals, according to investigators.

The security firm has said its floating armoury was legal and authorised by Gotabhaya.

The private company — Avant-Garde Security Service — which maintained the armouries had provided security to ships against the Somali pirates.

It was alleged that the Sri Lanka Navy had lost income due to the floating armouries maintained by the company.

SRI LANKA: New government lacks credible strategy for eliminating corruption

March 25, 2015

One of the promises of Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, as common candidate at the last presidential election, was the elimination of corruption, i.e. something the last government was steeped in. Elimination of corruption is therefore a major objective of his newly elected government. His catchwords were Yaha palanaya (good governance), which itself implies radical elimination of corruption. Today, 75 days into his palanaya (rule), there is hardly anything that the government can claim as an achievement, save for announcements of some inquiries initiated and some restrictions imposed on a few persons to prevent them travelling overseas.

There is nothing to be surprised about this outcome. The new government did not have and does not have a well thought out strategy on the elimination of corruption. It has merely attempted ad hoc actions and broadcast a lot of public statements, rather than work on an overall strategy that can lay the groundwork for the elimination of corruption.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) pointed this out to the new Finance Minister, through a letter written on the very day of his appointment. The relevant portion of the letter dated 13th January 2015 to Hon. Ravi Karunanayake M.P., Minister of Finance is quoted below:

“…The establishment of a genuine commission against bribery and corruption

That, in the post-independence period, Sri Lanka never made a genuine attempt to establish an effective commission against bribery and corruption is beyond dispute. Even the British, by the time they left, had not taken steps to ensure the existence of such a control mechanism. However, in Hong Kong the economy began to develop, the British did differently. By the time the British colonial rule ended in 1997, there was already in existence a solid, established, Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC). The decisive step was taken in 1974 and, within a few years, it achieved its aim. Today, Hong Kong is a society with very limited bribery and corruption.  The greatest strength that provides stability for Hong Kong is the existence of this effective corruption-control mechanism. By now, it has sunk into the consciousness of the people of Hong Kong that corruption is the most destabilizing factor in society, and that it should never be allowed to raise its head again. Despite Hong Kong’s political sovereignty being handed over to the Chinese in 1997, the efficiency of the Commission not only remains; it is, in fact, improving. The ICAC is able to prosecute officers holding the highest positions and some of the richest company owners too.

Once again, the key difference between talk of ending corruption and condemning the colossal corruption of the Rajapaksa family and the action needed to establish an effective corruption control system is the provision of the necessary budgetary allocations for the functioning of an effective commission. An effective commission should have its own investigating capacity, which means that recruitment of police officers on secondment basis to the commission should be brought to an end. This is one of the critical factors to the success of the ICAC in Hong Kong. The control of information leaks in ongoing investigations cannot be achieved as long as the staff of the anti-corruption commission is not independent of and delinked from the policing system. The control of bribery and corruption in the policing system is the first step towards the establishment of the rule of law and the expansion of corruption control to other sectors, including the private sector. A further requirement of an efficient system of corruption control is highly trained investigators and the availability of forensic and other technological facilities. It follows that the establishment of such a commission is not possible without considerable investment by the government through budgetary allocations.

The resources are now available for effective corruption control. What is needed is the transfer of this know-how to Sri Lanka, taking practical steps to achieve this transfer. While the change in attitude requires the political will of the government, the Ministry of Finance can make it possible to take these practical steps. If, in the coming years, the corrupt tradition, which permeated the last regime, were to continue, part of the blame would have to be accepted by the Ministry of Finance. On the other hand, if this great task were to be achieved, it would be to the highest credit of the foresight and political will of the Ministry of Finance….”

It is time for the new President and the Prime Minister, and all their advisors, to take a hard look at the nature of the institution called the Commission against Bribery and Corruption in Sri Lanka. This Commission, by its very structure and design, is outdated. The model it follows is one that has been abandoned in every country where there are successful results in the area of elimination or reduction of corruption. Sri Lanka’s Commission is just a bullock cart and such a vehicle cannot produce results in this age of space travel and rapid communication.

Leaking of information

The greatest weakness of the Sri Lankan Commission against Bribery and Corruption is the huge space available within this set up for leaking information on actual investigations. Particularly when the “big fish” are involved, leaking of information is inevitable. The remedy adopted to plug leaks in successful models of corruption prevention is to remove the anti-corruption body from having any links to the police. The Sri Lankan Commission against Bribery and corruption employs police officers in their investigative functions. No doubt there are efficient and honourable members of the police who also do their job efficiently. However, within the overall framework, even these good officers have to work with other officers and that is the manner in which information leaks can occur.

Basically, the AHRC’s criticism is that the new government has not yet seriously contemplated an effective strategy that could achieve the successful results some other countries have achieved. As Albert Einstein once said, it is foolish to do the same thing and expect different results. However, this is exactly what the new Government is engaged in.

Once again, the AHRC urges the new President and the Prime Minister to take a serious look at the strategy they have been following and to make the necessary changes that will enable the government to do the job of eliminating corruption in an effective manner.