The Sus-scrofa of Lankan Politics
Dilrook Kannangara
Many have tried to equate the dominant characteristics of each politician
to a kind of species. Of course LTTE terrorists call themselves ‘tigers’
and the Sinhala mythology refers to a lion. Apart from this categorisation,
there exists other means of division such as doves and hawks, ostriches
and eagles. There are a few more not so elegant classifications including
bats, foxes, eels and cobras. Then there are mules and hinnies –
another common classification of weak personalities. Donkeys and asses
cannot be forgotten as regards politics of any country and elephants,
buffaloes, dogs, worms and swine are not uncommon either. However, if
there is a Sus scrofa among them it got to be the most ungrateful politician.
Unfortunately there is such a creature among the lawmakers of Sri Lanka.
His ungratefulness has been legendary and so is his opportunistic behaviour.
He is one of the very few scavengers who had gone begging behind the
leaders of the UNP, SLFP, PA, UPFA and LTTE. His meekly submission to
the terrorist leader when the terror leader was mercilessly gunning
down this politician’s own voters is nothing but despicable. Although
he assigned all rights of representing his voters to the LTTE a few
years back via a MoU, he continues to seek their votes to survive. He
has openly engaged in subversion most notably when he amassed a crowed
to attack the STF recently. However, he escaped scot-free!
Women started burning themselves in front of his house alleging that
he had exploited them! Although he has been an utter failure not only
in the district he comes from, but also in another district, he continues
in active politics. After what he engineered in 2001, he can never step
into his own district, let alone contesting an election there! Although
he contested the last General Election, he failed to get elected on
the basis of preference votes. Nevertheless he clings himself into his
political party even after it scattered into pieces following intense
internal battles.
But the biggest ungrateful piggery is his attempts to vote against the
budget after consuming ministerial benefits for almost a year just like
a swine recycling dirt again and again! Instead of making national demands
pertaining to the budget, these politicians try to extort personal and
communal privileges. Thereby they try to commit a fraud on the other
communities and hence should never be allowed. Land issues are faced
by the whole population and solving the problem of landlessness only
among one community while the others remain landless amounts to noting
short of racism. If the government clings onto power by sustaining this
type of political pigs, it will be for its own detriment. Instead they
should be stripped off their ministries, benefits and security so that
people can approach them better.
On a larger scale the election system that allows destructive political
elements to enter the legislature must be obstructed. The executive
presidential system has given them too much bargaining power at presidential
elections. Therefore this unsuitable setting must be corrected as soon
as practical. There is little sense in bypassing the legislature by
an all powerful executive president who can overrule anything and everything.
Instead the parliament must be strengthened. The tried and tested first-past-the-post
system without changes is undoubtedly the best. This system has worked
perfectly well in most democratic countries around the world and Sri
Lanka should better go back to this system. It ensures that only productive
politicians are elected to serve the electorate and those who serve
the interests of the LTTE find no means of getting elected. Also it
allows no room for excuses for underdevelopment, etc.
It is not surprising how the lawmakers elected in a defective election
system (as in Iraq) strive to protect it so that they can get re-elected,
hide behind ministries and neglect their electorate and adopt completely
irrelevant political ideologies to serve anyone but voters. Under a
first-past-the-post system any politician wishing to get re-elected
must ensure development and electoral welfare no matter he is a capitalist,
socialist, communist, communalist or a federalist. Even the FP that
harped on communalism had to bend down to strike a coalition deal with
the UNP in 1965 to carryout development work in the North-East after
years of neglect.
Alternatively the number of bonus seats for each district in the present
PR system can be increased. This ensures that a parliamentary majority
can be obtained by the winner. It also prompts parties to integrate
together than disintegrate into many smaller groups. Such a system will
also make sure that true national political parties get their due share
of seats. This change can be made without substantially altering the
Constitution for which both the UNP and the SLFP could agree. Also race-based
politics and political demands must be made illegal in the Constitution.
In the short run, the JVP must unleash its power that can simply bulldoze
opportunistic politicians at the third reading of the budget. The government
on its part should ask the opportunists to fly a kite than give in to
racist demands; if not cut down now that will result in further racist
demands in the future. When these opportunists find that they cannot
survive without ministerial security and perks, they will come back
to the government anyway without demands.
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