Accountability, President Mahinda Rajapaksa And The Lord Buddha
By Hema Senanayake -November 19, 2013
Hema Senanayake
“Accountability” is an important word in international law and international relations. The effect of this word and the principles that impart by that word is truly important at least to every human being on this planet. The simplest meaning of accountability is the answerability by any person for his or her mindful action. This simple definition differentiates the principle of accountability from the principle of The Rule of Law. The rule of law relates to an institutional system while the accountability relates to an individual.
When President Mahinda Rajapaksa or anybody quotes Lord Buddha to make a point that resonates well with me. But if somebody quotes Lord Buddha to negate the principle of accountability and the accountability to the rule of law it would not resonate well with many true Buddhists, I guess. In his speech at the inaugural meeting of the Commonwealth Head of States president quotes the Buddha and says “Let not one take notice of faults of other’s or what they have done or not done. Let one be concerned only about what one has done and left undone.’ (End of quote). He quoted the relevant Pali verse too, but the above quoted English translation of the verse does not give the real meaning of the original Pali verse of the Buddha. This is a different point I just make to caution the speech writers to the president. The point I want to make is; “why the president quoted the said quote?’ Was it to negate the principles of accountability or to uphold the principles of accountability?
Grease Yaka Rides Again In The East?
November 19, 2013 |
Sparking fears of a re-emergence of a ‘grease yakka’ phenomenon in the Muslim dominated Eastern villages of Nintavur and Kalmunai, villagers on Monday apprehended several STF personnel in civil clothing who were prowling around the area at night.
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa
The group was apprehended by village vigilantes on Monday night who had been on the alert following a series of robberies and crime in the area after dark. A decision had been reached by villagers in the area to demand identification from any strangers roaming around the village after 9 p.m.
Clashes had ensued between the villagers and STF personnel in civilian clothing after one officer had been unable to prove his identity.
The group was handed over to the police who released the STF group, angering the villagers.
A harthal has been held for the past day, resulting in the Ampara Kalmunai road being impassable for several hours. The villagers of Nintavur are reported to have burnt tires and organised a general strike in protest at the police inaction. Police have fired tear gas to disperse the protestors.
