The simple
reason that the majority voted for Maithripala Sirisena, was that he promised a
return to a period of the Rule of Law. PURE AND SIMPLE.
Why was that?
The Majority in the Country were convinced that the Law was NOT being enforced
fairly, and they looked forward to a period when we could have recourse to the
Law to find relief in law for any grievance that we may have be it Civil or
Criminal.
There are many
with very short memories, who seem to forget that the Law had become an Ass and
we were desperate to change the status quo, and did not know how. Mercifully
there was a window of opportunity, called a Presidential Election, and there
was a platform of hope, which people took advantage of, and were able to change
the status quo, to return to a period of “All are equal under the law” from a
period when there were many above the law!
I would
challenge any sycophant to say there were NO favorites outside the law under
the previous administration. Don’t we remember the days when elected officials
were protected by the Govt. from prosecution, and the Police became villains if
they so attempted to prosecute, and faced dismissal or transfer to Siberia if
they wanted to enforce the Law!
I hope RAJAPAKSE
loyalists do not engage in selective amnesia about this period. Despite the
minor hiccups, which due to the freedom given to an irresponsible media, sound
like major ones, there is an overall sense of progress to a BETTER form of
Government. We must value this freedom, and not pooh pooh the great strides we
have made in such a short while. The fact that the 100 day program has not kept
to time is NOT altogether the fault of the Govt. it is also due to the irascibility
of those opposed being highlighted in the press and media, due to their loud
and boorish behavior.
We expect a statement
of Statesmanship from the President at 9pm tonight, highlighting his commitment
to enforcing the rule of law, and that no one is outside the law. He must
reiterate to the people that they must get used to State Institutions
functioning independently of the Govt. and that people do not have a right to
question the fundamental rights enshrined in the present Constitution, except
in a Court of Law.
He must remind
the people that he was elected on this promise, and that steps that have been
taken are in keeping with that promise, no matter what misinformation the
members of the previous regime opposed to a change in status quo may try to
imply.
There are even
people of the previous Govt. who go around saying that the present period is a
reversal of progress, when it is anything but, and due to the complete absence
of criticism of the previous 10 years people were blissfully unaware of the
daily misdeeds of that Government which are only gradually coming to light, and
will take a little while for the law to take its course, and the true extent of
the crimes reaches the people.
The great strides
taken in these 100 days must not be overlooked, as people are comparing with
the 10 years of (blind to the people ) misrule, it is a daunting challenge to change the mindset of
the people.
Let us not forget human nature when accused of crime is to first deny, and then finger point at the accusers. Therefore don't be fooled by statements that hold NO value in truth, from accused.
1 comment:
There were political favorites under UNP governments. Much more than under MR rule
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