Sunday Leader Editorial

Stop Locking Horns

11th October 2015

Ugly scenes once again broke out on Thursday in the chamber of parliament where the highest standards of political decorum are expected to be maintained. Frequent outbreaks of misconduct are occurring in this new parliament, which resemble some regrettable scenes that took place in the previous parliament as well.

This does not augur well for Sri Lankan democracy, the new government or even for some members of the opposition who are veteran legislators.

The Speaker Karu Jayasuriya with party leaders should do some serious thinking and make moves on this issue.

Some attribute this increased machismo of parliamentarians to televising parliamentary debates. Changes in the behaviour of persons brought about by TV cameras – even among children – are known and it is undeniable that they do affect the behaviour of politicians as well. While television debates would bring people’s representatives closer together, some politicians may resort to unorthodox behaviour for  public attention.

Some political analysts have said that disruption of proceedings of parliament occur more frequently with TV cameras in the chamber than in its absence.

However much parliamentarians have been criticised for their conduct both within and outside the chamber of parliament, people expect the maintenance of high standards in keeping with the supreme legislature of the land. Criticism levelled at them is mainly on the grounds that their conduct has not been in keeping with expected standards of the people.

Politicians are basically political animals with or without parliamentary sanctity attached to them. Thus their political behaviour would be largely determined by their interests and interests of the party. And the result of clashes within the chamber and subsequent walkouts are partly a result of the polarization between the government and a faction of opposition MPs, excluding MPs of the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Parliamentary democracies function the world over on a degree of understanding between the government and opposition. The Opposition’s function is to oppose the government with the criticism and prevent – if necessary – passage of legislation through methods permissible governed by acceptable norms. If the Opposition continues to obstruct the government, then parliament cannot function. It could lead to the fall or resignation of the government or parliamentary paralysis bringing governance to a halt.

The government too has a duty to accommodate opposition members as far as possible and abide by parliamentary laws and regulations.

These are well known parliamentary practices, which even the man on the street is acquainted with, having experienced parliamentary democracy for 67 years.

The present parliament is polarized to an extreme extent with the militant section of the opposition comprising part of government making bitter criticism and not evincing an inclination to cooperate. The government too has been harsh in its attitude and not readily accommodative. The atmosphere between the two sides has been crackling for some time and the periodic clashes in the chamber are the outcome.

The tension in parliament is not only the result of political differences surfacing in the House. There are many probes being initiated by the government to probe the activities of the previous regime.

Having alleged widespread abuse of power, corruption and nepotism during the rule of the last government as well as during two elections campaigns, the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government is compelled to probe the allegations made. Some say it is being done with relish.

The opposition should not harbour grudges for investigations being initiated. Some of the alleged offences are estimated at costs in billions of rupees. But it is axiomatic that these investigations should be done fairly and not being propagandized while the inquiries are on and before a verdict is passed.

Meanwhile, there is also a serious allegation being levelled against the new Governor of the Central Bank. This too should be investigated and Prime Minister has assured that it would be investigated by a Select Committee of Parliament.

While the big bosses come to grips it is obvious that bystanders who are innocent should not be victimized. The Opposition alleges it has been done at the Central Bank while the Prime Minister has denied victimization.

Both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are experienced politicians and administrators. They know the disastrous fall out of wrong and bad decisions and the benefits of unbiased corrective action. Opposition defenders of truth and justice going to the defence of the corrupt could be the ruination of their credibility.

Both the National Government and opposition know very well that what is at stake is the Sri Lankan nation. If this stupid locking of horns between the opposition and Government continues, the people who elected them will suffer.