People's representatives and their doings

Most level headed non partisan people who are not slaves to any political party appear to be disgusted and disillusioned with the present state of party politics in this country. They often denounce politics as the dirtiest game on earth. This may be too harsh an expression but the fact remains that politics is a dirty game, in the light of what is happening all round.

It is not the politics that should really incur their wrath but the politicians who misuse and manipulate politics and play poli-tricks to suit their own interests and personal aggrandisement.

What is most deplorable and annoying is the display of authoritarian attitudes by some politicians who indulge in political manoeuvreing and misconduct in their personal pursuits to the detriment of the ordinary people who had voted them to political power.

As is evident to most people, the root cause for such misuse of power by certain politicians including some of those in ministerial rank is the delegation of excessive - almost unlimited - political powers and overall administrative authority to do whatever they wish in their constituencies for which the ruling hierarchy exercises very little or no control. That being so, most politicians seem to consider themselves as almighty beings not subject to the law and order system which they could override at their will and pleasure.

Since there are no checks and balances imposed on them, these politicians - the so called people's representatives - have taken upon themselves the sole authority to interfere in and manipulate even the day to day running of government and semi-government institutions, particularly in the outstations overriding the duly appointed heads of those sectors who are vested with the responsibility for orderly conduct of such institutions.

This is a glaring feature in the case of police and provincial administrations. Most parliamentarians and  even the provincial councillors try to meddle with government agencies and give illegal orders either to harass innocent persons who are not to their liking or help criminal elements, boot leggers and underworld ruffians who happen to be their political and personal supporters. Law enforcement officials and even certain heads of departments are so helpless and spineless that they are compelled to obey such orders for fear of reprisals.

Most politicians with the exception of a few with good breeding and educational attainments, seem to display arrogant, overbearing attitudes even in their general demeanour. Their insatiable greed for all luxuries, worldly possessions such as residential mansions and high powered motor vehicles for every member of the family, goes to prove  how they flout all norms of public morality and decency.

These are some of the contributory causes for the disenchantment prevailing among the general public and the widening differences between them and the politicians.

During the former State Council days and early period of the parliamentary system, members who were elected by the people were truly  exemplary people's representatives who carried out with care and understanding   the genuine and reasonable wishes of their constituents. Those early parliamentarians were well bred and educated, devoid of selfish motives, unlike today when any Tom, Dick and Harry could get elected to provincial councils and parliament, the only criterion being the possession of money and influence of party officials.

In Britain where it is said there is no written constitution but only age old conventions, the members of parliament scrupulously obey the country's law and order system and are openly subject to punitive action by the law enforcers.

On the contrary in our country there are some parliamentarians  and other legislators who have been accused or charged for criminal and other nefarious activities, but carry on regardless without any punitive action being taken against them.

It is the moral duty of those who run the government to legally punish and discipline such miscreant politicians; or else it might come to a situation where people would be constrained to hate the very sight of a politician whether in the ruling or opposition parties.

It is these types of conceited, corrupt and self seeking politicians who would cause the ruination of whatever political party in power.

There are some well meaning, good hearted politicians but they too would sometimes be branded as masqueraders by enraged people who will not be able to differentiate the good from the bad, in the prevailing political complexities.

R. M. A. B. Dassanayake

Matale

Disgusting reaction of Museaus old girls 

I refer to the disgusting reactions of various past pupils of Museaus College, Colombo which appeared in a recent edition of The Sunday Leader. Due to other urgent commitments I am rather late in responding to this matter.

To put in a nutshell, if the past students of Museaus College have been taught to use words such as "bitch" and "dog" on their fellow women, then this "excellent school" with an "excellent background" has produced past students of low calibre. Since Lord Buddha has taught his followers maithri, karuna and ahimsa the behaviour of the so called old girls of Museaus is revolting. If this is not so, how come that the past students use such terrible words as 'bitch?' There seems to be something radically wrong with the school, its principal, teachers and prefects, and even the students as well.

I do not know the real truth about the Anuthara story. But I do know that irrespective of what really happened, it was altogether wrong on the part of the prefects, teachers and the principal to have treated her so badly so as to make her commit suicide.

To the past students of Museaus who wrote to Ranee Mohamed calling her a "bitch" and condemning her wholesale, all I could say is, grow up - at least now!

Journalists are there to investigate and report on matters where there has been injustice, indiscipline, etc. Journalists are simply doing their job and they should not be judged in a wrong manner. If not for newspapers and journalists, I am afraid, the status of this once beautiful country would have plunged to very low depths and the rest of the world would call us the "teardrop" of Asia!

To Ranee Mohamed, I have just this to say. Go on with your good work, come what may. You are only doing your duty, not only as a reputed and excellent journalist, but more importantly as a citizen of Sri Lanka. For all your trouble, you might be found fault with by various individuals and groups, but  when the moment comes for you to close your eyes to this sometimes wicked world, you will definitely have the satisfaction and happiness of knowing that you have not lived your life in vain!

Sunil Fernando

Kottawa

Dress code for mothers

It is rather distressing to note that government and semi government schools have included a `dress code' for the ladies who wish to meet the principal or call over at the office. All females are requested to be clad in saree - oblivious to 'how' you wear the saree!

I am a Burgher and I do not and have not worn a saree. Hence, isn't this discrimination to force non-saree wearing folk to wear this attire ?

I do admit that this measure would have been taken in lieu of the way certain parents dress but if what the government wants to do is to maintain the Sinhalese culture then why don't the men dress in national costumes when they call over at schools ? Why are the men folk dressed in 'Burgher attire?'

What they should have stressed on is that ladies are covered properly. High neck long dresses or pants are far more decent than the saree that shows the body. I must also stress that I have seen many mothers, including teachers who wear their sarees very low, exposing their midriff area in a 'hipster' style which is so disgraceful.

Then what about those saree jackets with plunging necklines and the sleeveless jackets? How is it that women with such indecent exposure are permitted into the school premises whereas women who are covered from head to toe are not permitted? Do the school authorities think that the saree is the most appropriate?

In a country where the President stresses that there are no barriers between races there should be freedom for the women folk of other races - be it Burgher, Muslim or Tamil to wear their choice of dress, which of course  should be worn decently. They certainly seem to have forgotten this important point when  imposing a 'dress code' for mothers.

Annoyed Citizen

Defending the IGP... a reply 

I have seen your editorial calling the IGP an idiot for the way he has been conducting himself in many instances when he should have stood up to uphold the law. I was not surprised to read the response from Mr. Carlyle de Silva, an ex police officer taking exception to the manner of your writing. The latter confesses that he had not been fortunate enough to have worked for the present IGP or to know him. Judging by the performance of the IGP as reflected in the developments that have come to the public domain, I feel that Mr. De Silva should feel fortunate in not having had the opportunity.

In fact, Mr. De Silva is not unaware of the events that have brought disgrace and public contempt on the police service; the recent and the more disgraceful ones being the arrest of astrologers for making ominous predictions, those of Vaas Gunawardene and the Angulana killings. They are becoming too numerous to recount. His stance is that the police service is a holy cow which should not be ridiculed because of its association in the fight against the LTTE.

Going by the recent performance of the police could it be that the security forces won the war in spite of the police. It has been brought to light that a Senior SSP  had collaborated with the LTTE and had been put in charge of arrangements at the last Independence Day celebrations at which His Excellency was present. Surely, the IGP should have known his men better.

The latest invitation to ridicule is the revelation made in parliament on September 10 of a howler made in a report to parliament on suspects who have died (or killed) while in police custody. The shock came not in the enormity of numbers, though known to be incredibly so, but making the impossible, possible. According to the report, one of the suspects who died had committed the offence for which the arrest had been made a few days after his death!

This howler was spotted by a JVP MP and had obviously not caught the eye of the IGP. Would it not be better for the country if the MP and the IGP exchanged their positions? After all, it is a requirement that the Head of the Department, in this case the IGP, should personally handle the replies to questions in parliament. Or could it be that it was the ghost of the dead man who committed the offence a few days after the death? Beware, IGP, the ghost may visit you and the officers who bumped him off, while in police custody.

Cyril Boteju