Political crab walks

Editorial-July 18, 2013

SLFP General Secretary and Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena often laments that some local government politicians involved in criminal activity have brought the government into disrepute. Addressing a public meeting in Polonnaruwa on Wednesday, he said he had no answers to questions that hectoring journalists asked him about errant Pradeshiya Sabha members and chairmen accused of various crimes.

Minister Sirisena should be commended for addressing the issue of ruling party local government politicians’ involvement in anti-social activities, without trying to defend the indefensible. But, that does not mean there are no criminals at the other levels of government. It is only the small-timers who get caught; the higher echelons are too big to be netted. A fish rots from the head down. There is no way discipline among lower rung politicians could deteriorate if the higher-ups set an example to them and discipline them whenever they transgress the law. At present they are enjoying the freedom of the wild ass.

The SLFP General Secretary’s candour needs to be appreciated, but one wonders whether he is trying to have the public believe it was only after being elected that the local councillors he flays without naming, from time to time, metamorphosed into monsters. It is common knowledge that they were nominated to contest elections in spite of their criminal track record. Therefore, the party cannot absolve itself of the responsibility for their sins.

When a party nominates notorious rapists for elections and people vote for them, it is only natural that women and children become their victims. The same goes for other criminals like robbers and murderers. The blame for their crimes should be apportioned to those who vote for them as well. Regrettably, affluent anti-social elements have a better chance of being returned than decent candidates.

The near collapse of the rule of law and the attendant culture of impunity which has lamentably evolved under successive governments over the past few decades have stood the violent elements in the garb of politicians in good stead. That a few ruling party local concillors have been prosecuted for their crimes should not mean that the law applies equally to one and all and the government does not interfere with the legal and judicial processes. It only allows some sprats to be caught so as to dupe the public into believing that the police and the judiciary are free from political interference and the rule of law prevails.

Instead of lamenting in public, Minister Sirisena ought to exert his influence to make his party act against the criminals within its ranks; he should speak his mind at SLFP Central Committee meetings and call for tough action against them. With them as its elected representatives, that party needs no enemies. Nominations for the upcoming PC polls are currently being processed by all political parties in the fray. Will Minister Sirisena and others concerned about their party’s wellbeing bring pressure to bear on their leaders to deny nominations to political dregs? Other parties, too, should screen their candidates carefully.

Meanwhile, the SLFP General Secretary should tell the public whether any disciplinary action has been taken against the unnamed politicians who, he admits, have committed crimes and thereby ruined the image of the party. The SLFP is notorious for farcical disciplinary inquiries which predictably exonerate culprits so long as they are in the good books of the powers that be. Only those who fall from grace have to fear disciplinary action.

When senior politicians censure their juniors for misconduct and ask them to mend their ways, we are reminded of the fable where a crab, while moving sideways, tells his offspring to walk straight.