Posted on November 27, 2009 by srilankalawlessness
“People are faced with the problem of trying to save themselves from a political system that is that has virtually destroyed all the basic public institutions within the country. What the people need to express their vote for, is not to give a further assent to a system that is destructive of the nation but in order to destroy the system as it exist now and to return back to democracy.”
…………………………………………………………………
In Sri Lanka now everybody’s discussion is about the presidential election which is to be held by the end of January 2010. All Sri Lankans will be exposed to the harassment of excessive propaganda on this issue in the coming two months. The heat in this discussion is not about some of the country’s major economic, political and social problems. It is more about an individual who may become the all powerful person within the country. In the Sri Lankan political system, the executive president virtually enjoyed absolute power very much like the monarchs of feudal times.
The election that is held prematurely two years before its time is made with the hope of exploiting victory over the LTTE for the purpose of getting a second term for the incumbent president. He is challenged by a joined opposition which is seeking a common candidate . The likely candidate is the former army commander whose claims are based on leading the military in the final struggle against the LTTE. Both will try to claim the highest powers within the country on the basis of this military victory.
However the country’s major problems now are the instability of the economy , solving growing unemployment and extremely difficult living conditions that are faced by the people throughout the country. More than any other time, the common problems of all communities, Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and others, have surfaced as against a peculiar problems of any particular community. Read more »
Filed under: Depatment of Election, Sri Lanka, civil society, civil war, corruption, justice, media, police, politics, rule of law | Leave a Comment »
Posted on November 9, 2009 by srilankalawlessness
Presidential and parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka are expected in the coming months. The government’s approach is to rely on its victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to consolidate its power for a further term. Its statements do not indicate any significant changes to existing policies or programs.
In previous presidential elections, the government promised to abolish the executive presidency. However, it is approaching the coming elections with a view to consolidating the power of the executive president.
Meanwhile, all opposition parties have placed the abolition of the executive presidency in their manifestos and high on the agenda of their party platforms. However, they have not explained what power arrangements would Read more »
Filed under: Constitutional Council, Depatment of Election, Sri Lanka, civil society, civil war, human rights, politics, rule of law | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 19, 2009 by srilankalawlessness
The people of Sri Lanka have always looked forward to the rainy season, which generally begins in October and ends in January, as it brings many blessings. It brings much needed water to the paddy fields and assures food for the year to come. It also fills the reservoirs. Many of the blessings for the year ahead also depend on rains from the heavens.
However, for the nearly 300,000 people in camps for internally displaced persons, the expectation of rain this year will not create such feelings of joy. In fact, for them it will bring enormous adversity. Leaking roofs, overflowing gutters and swamp-like conditions are what they will have to expect. Their relatives living outside, the people of goodwill in the country, Read more »
Filed under: Human Rights Commission, IDPs, Sri Lanka, civil war, human rights | Leave a Comment »
Posted on October 6, 2009 by srilankalawlessness
The opposition politician Ranga Bandara’s house was burned to cinders on the evening of the 4th October. Sometime earlier, the house of another opposition politician, John Pulle, was similarly raised to the ground.
In any place where the rule of law exists, even to a basic level, this kind of action would be deemed incredible. However, in Sri Lanka the event is treated as yet another trivial event in the political ’samsara’. There will be a few noises and the government will promise inquiries but in all likelihood no serious action of any credible nature, in terms of criminal justice, will happen.
In a rule of law state this kind of attack on politicians is a most unlikely event for the following reasons:
Prevention
The policing system of the country has its own capacity to detect crime and to prevent such attacks. The strength of a rule of law system is that it has sufficient Read more »
Filed under: Sri Lanka, corruption, crime, justice, police, politics, rule of law, violations | Leave a Comment »
“People are faced with the problem of trying to save themselves from a political system that is that has virtually destroyed all the basic public institutions within the country. What the people need to express their vote for, is not to give a further assent to a system that is destructive of the nation but in order to destroy the system as it exist now and to return back to democracy.”
