POLITICS

When 'good' conduct became a foul word

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti Our Lobby Correspondent 

Fireworks were predicted as the 13th parliament assembled on Thursday (22) given its number difficulties and the political manipulations, but it turned out to be one of the most despicable demonstrations by the country's newly elected peoples' representatives who if nothing else, showed the flagging quality of MPs themselves, that too at the inaugural session that dragged on for 11 hours merely to elect a speaker to the House.

What was more horrifying was the ungoverned conduct of the newly elected self congratulatory government MPs who were full of rhetoric about ushering in a new political culture but resorted to shamelessly hurling abuse, gesturing and flinging documents in absolute rage at the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) members, the saffron clad Maha Sangha who sat there, stunned by the unfolding drama.

In stark demonstration of absolute low conduct giving lie to their lip service to serving the Pancha Maha Balavega that includes the Maha Sangha, the PA-JVP collective behaved in an abominable manner that would make any right-thinking Buddhist monk hereafter fight shy to be associated with the lot that tried to bulldoze their way with them, failing which they resorted to abusing those who are revered by Sri Lankan society.

A doomed parliament

The 13th parliament, it seems is a doomed one, and one that is hell bent on setting negative records and trends. Besides the government collectively heaping abuse on elected monks, it also took some 10 hours to elect a speaker to the House, making many muse why 10 million voters should even bother to go through a painful election process to elect 225 members who cannot even elect a speaker sans political warfare.

In a truly divided House, the election of a speaker was a battle royale, but fought in the most demeaning way with the ballot having to be conducted three times to reach a final result and four ballot papers having to be issued.

The morning began quietly enough, but it was known that 'Operation: Election Of Speaker' was underway with the UPFA securing the support of two bhikkus to vote for their candidate to avoid losing the very first battle in the House.

However, the very divisions lent colour to the legislature as the saffron robed monks of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) entered serenely to occupy their opposition seats, while 22 verti-clad parliamentarians of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) brought in a northeastern flavour making the House unique, but one that has absolutely polarised in opinion.

Galleries too were packed to capacity as the battle got underway with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse proposing Communist Party stalwart D.E.W. Gunasekera's name while former Speaker Joseph Michael Perera proposed former Leader of the House, W.J.M. Lokubandara for the hot seat.

But what made the tussle a battle for supremacy was the government's manoeuverings and even attempts to browbeat in order to secure the post at any cost. It appeared that the UPFA had tried every trick in the book to get the two rebel JHU members to support them and even been willing to spend some money to have two SLMC members lend support.

With two names cropping up, Secretary General, Priyani Wijesekera as per standing orders called for a ballot and soon the House began to throb with excitement with both sides showing signs of anxiety.

Trouble began when Wijesekera read out Section 4 of the Standing Orders of Parliament specifying the manner of voting - by legibly writing the candidate's name and placing the MP's signature.

JVP's Wimal Weerawansa, beaming from government front rows, wished to know whether it was necessary to also write the voting MP's name to which she answered in the negative. But MP Bandula Gunawardena sprang to his feet and declared that the MP's name too should be included.

But Weerawansa shot back, "That is only at Sussex" - the venue where Gunawardena conducts his A/L tuition classes in economics.

As the House galvanised into action, Opposition Chief Whip Mahinda Samarasinghe insisted that the vote be taken sans delay while Consumer Affairs Minister, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle demanded that the ballot paper already issued should be collected and fresh ones issued.

The astounding reason given by Fernandopulle for this breach of practice was that two MP monks having allegedly given their marked ballot papers to a UNP MP - a remark that earned a rousing denial from UNP ranks, also making the seven JHU monks walk out in disgust while Weerawansa, Mahindananda Aluthgamage and debutant Sripathi Sooriaarachchi from the government benches collectively thundered that it must be a secret ballot.

Accusations

Shouting and thumping commenced with the majority of government MPs accusing the Sangha of pandering to the UNF and perhaps the first session of the 13th parliament would also be remembered for the UPFA's lack of respect for the Buddhist clergy as well.

As the credibility of the MPs was brought into question, the harassed Secretary General, Priyani Wijesekera said to ensure a fair ballot she would issue a fresh ballot paper by calling each member, when SLMC Leader, Rauf Hakeem, angry and red in the face, alleged that serious aspersions were cast on the Maha Sangha and to avoid further insult, to call upon members individually.

The first monk to address the new parliament, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero stood up next to state the JHU stance of not supporting either candidate and said that the party was not responsible for the two renegade monks. "We don't vote and do not wish to accept ballot papers," declared the monk, which was greeted with government jeering while the new Premier, Mahinda Rajapakse silently sat while the appalling theatrics continued.

Opposing the issuing of a fresh ballot paper was Mahinda Samarasinghe, furiously declaring that since a vote had not been conduced, there was no provision for the issuing of a fresh one, to which Wijesekera responded by saying her wish was only to ensure a fair poll and transparency.

With legal opinions being thrown about the issuing of a fresh ballot paper, there stood Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Thero who had no chance to express that the party would accept the position if unanimously offered while a group of vociferous UPFA members including Dilan Perera, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Wimal Weerawansa and Sripathi Sooriaarachchi shouting themselves hoarse demanding a fresh ballot paper, eventually made the  monk take his seat, further demonstrating that the bhikkus have truly opened a Pandora's Box by daring to enter the legislature where good conduct is a bad word.

Angry exchanges followed while the silenced monk walked up to the Secretary General to discuss the issue of fielding a JHU candidate while other monks watched the unfolding scene with shock and dismay.

There stood Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero once more, voicing the monks' collective shock at the appalling behaviour of elected members. "We never expected such conduct. We are Buddhist monks and are expected to be treated as such. We returned to the chamber to announce our willingness to accept the position of speaker if consensus was reached between both sides. But here's warfare that disgusts and baffles," declared the Thero and then commenced the voting at 10:45 a.m., with only the renegade monks, Ven. Aparekke Pannananda Thero and Ven. Kathaluwe Rathanaseeha Thero casting their votes along with other MPs.

Tension

The voting ended by 12:30 noon and tension grew further with the likes of Jeyaraj Fernandopulle querying whether they could watch the votes being counted.

The result put both contenders on par with 108 votes each excluding eight unused ballot papers and one spoilt vote. With the announcement for a re-poll, suddenly the focus fell on the abstaining monks as the 'king makers,' and rushing to the bhikkus to lobby support were government MPs who with flaying arms and expressive gestures tried to win their favour. Some adopted a menacing stance, pressurising the monks to vote with them while the monks themselves, quietly stood their ground and refused to support sides.

The second vote began at 1:25 p.m., in the same laborious way and with the loyalties of an opposition MP being doubted, following the single spoilt vote, the next bout of government hysteria was unleashed by UNP's fair member Chandrani Bandara who turned her vote in Lokubandara's direction as proof of her loyalty. All hell broke loose as government benchers followed her and sat in the middle of the isle in protest, accusing the UNP of defeating the purpose of conducting a secret ballot.

In their eagerness to vouch their loyalty, the UNP MPs, Bandara and W.B Ekanayake both showed their ballot papers which was in poor taste, and adding to the chaos, the Secretary General declared it was the duty of the MP to safeguard the secrecy of his/her ballot to which Wimal Weerawansa raised strong objections stating that it defeated the purpose of conducting a secret ballot.

Protesting MPs began shouting slogans and accusing the UNF and the mob inside the well included Pavithra Waniaarachchi, Dilan Perera, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, S.M. Chandrasena, A.D. Lalkantha, Mahinda Amaraweera, Rohitha Abeygunawardene, Jayaratna Herath, Duminda Dissanayake and more.

While showing one's ballot is a terribly flawed way of proving loyalty, it proved much less when Aluthgamage decided to sit on the ballot box, shaking his feet as if it was the most natural place to be seated - not heeding Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thero's call to show better conduct.

The shouting match, a terrible demonstration of low conduct by government rankers, led the second ballot to be suspended with Premier Rajapakse failing to instill some discipline into his ranks who simply refused to budge and sat there in protest.

Lobbying for the bhikkus' support began once more with the UNF being led by Ravi Karunanayake, Mano Wijeratne, Ranjith Aluvihare and the likes, while Premier Rajapakse himself next approached the monks with his screaming group of MPs to save the day for their respective parties.

Third round

At 4:45 p.m., the stage was set for the fourth ballot paper to be issued and the third round to be conducted, this time the ballot box being firmly fixed on the speaker's table. Wimal Weerawansa at this point insisted that not only should the ballot include the name of candidate and MP's signature, it should also be folded in such a manner that its secrecy is upheld, to which Rauf Hakeem rejoined that if a ballot was revealed and the Secretary General objected to such, that would amount to a violation of the MPs rights, no less!

"The MPs come up here, hence there is no problem," assured a perplexed Wijesekera.

More shouting followed as did more lobbying, and when the voting started, it seemed that the monks had decided to maintain their neutrality by employing a tactic. When voting proper began at 6:40 p.m., Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha and Rev. Athuraliye Rathana Theros both voted, while the government ranks sat dejectedly, defeat written on their faces but still hurling accusations at the monks.

At 7 p.m. the counting concluded, making W.J.M. Lokubandara the winner of the keenly fought battle by a mere one vote and MPs Joseph Michael Perera and Rauf Hakeem ceremonially escorted him.

If Lokubandara's victory brought all shades of opinion including that of the monks, the northern and estate Tamils and Muslim members together, thereby making it a decorated victory, it sadly lacked the decency such a vote should ensure.

The defeated government accused the JHU of all types of political villainy and ridiculed the saffron robes, throwing their letters of appointment as MPs towards the monks, all of which eventually ended up in front of Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero's desk as the monk raised serious doubts about the JHU's ability to work with the government in the future if such low conduct persists. What the government conveniently forgot in denegrating the monks is that it is they who started the ball rolling by hijacking two monks to vote for the UPFA candidate, compelling the JHU to cast two votes for the opposition to maintain their stated balanced stance.

Lokubandara, having taken oaths and administered the oaths of all other 223 MPs as per custom, said that he felt honoured to be the Speaker of such a multi-faceted, multi-hued parliament but wistfully added that he would have preferred if there was consensus on his election rather than a battle.

"A beautiful combination"

"This house has two conventional parties, the JVP representing the youth, the TNA representing the northern Tamil voice, the JHU for the Sinhala Buddhists, the CWC for the Tamils of Indian origin and the SLMC to give voice to Muslims - all in all a beautiful combination. Let's make this work," urged the new Speaker.

When congratulating the monks, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe did give fair warning to the House. He said that what happened in the House should not be repeated and monks who represent this country's heritage should not be insulted in this manner, though there may be differences of political opinion.

An angry Wickremesinghe provided food for thought when he said that Sri Lanka's tolerance should be celebrated for having elected the JVP into parliament. "This parliament is diverse and it is a unique parliament in every sense. The JVP, that represents the youthful voice is here, saying sadhu sadhu to the bhikkus in an insulting manner. Do not forget the fact that it is the tolerance of the people of Sri Lanka that has made you enter this House, despite the fact that after Kalinga Magha, it is this very group that has killed more monks than any other."

Warning

Sounding a further warning note, he added, "If we cannot gather, discuss and disperse peacefully as did the Lichchavi Kings, this country and this parliament are doomed. Then there will be a King Ajasath who would eventually destroy the kingdom, so let us prevent that," he said.

With the deputy speaker and a deputy chairman of committees yet to be elected, considering the pitfalls entailed, there is little hope that this parliament would conduct itself democratically and smoothly.

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