Many who are entering politics now are corrupt - Prof. Wijesooriya | Sunday Observer

Many who are entering politics now are corrupt - Prof. Wijesooriya

25 August, 2019
Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya
Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya

At the 2015 Presidential election, the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) led by the late Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera championed the idea of a common candidate with the hopes of ensuring extensive political reforms in the country. Though Sobhitha Thera is no more and his hopes for good governance have been left unfulfilled, the activists of the movement continue in their struggle to achieve reforms in the country’s political system.

According to the Co-Convenor of the movement, Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya, one key condition will have to be fulfilled by any Presidential candidate hoping to gain their support. “He will have to resign from his political party prior to handing over nominations,” the Professor said. According to him, the decision was taken through the lessons learnt from the last Presidential election.

Wijesooriya believes that only a non-partisan candidate would ensure the abolishment of the Executive Presidency which is the ultimate aim of the civil society group formed by Sobhitha Thera. While promising to continue to stand for the Thera’s beliefs, the group also released a declaration on Friday (23) at the BMICH. According to Wijesooriya, the candidate they support will have to adhere to the proposals put forward by the group.

This week, Wijesooriya sat down with the Sunday Observer to discuss the upcoming elections, the break down of the rule of law and a number of other timely topics.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q. We are facing yet another Presidential Election. Were the efforts of the NMSJ to abolish the post in vain?

A. In 2015, prior to the Presidential election, Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera strengthened the NMSJ to bring about important political reforms needed for the country. Unfortunately, the Thera was not able to bring all the reforms he expected into fruition. These demands are still valid today. The Thera spent a good part of his life talking about the need to abolish the Executive Presidency and its dangers. The common candidate we backed at the time has become proof of the Thera’s fears. Once power is vested with one individual the rule of law is affected negatively.

This may be our last chance to abolish the executive presidency. An individual who seeks to come into power with the intention to rule forever or to handover power to his family will not abolish the Presidency. He will ensure he regains the powers curtailed by the 19th amendment.nThe 19th amendment could be abolished and institutions like the Constitutional Council done away with. We urge people that this is a dangerous situation.

Q. Can abolishing the Executive Presidency alone ensure political reforms?

A. The most important thing is for the rule of law to be established in the country. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) must be able to arrest wanted suspects when they complete investigations without any hindrance. In the current political system, investigators cannot make decisions independently. They must request permission from the President, Prime Minister, Subject Minister prior to making an arrest. If a country’s leader orders the CID to refrain from arresting a wanted suspect, it is the public’s money used for investigations that is wasted.

There are reports on how a number of cases are stuck at the Attorney General’s Department. The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has only filed a handful of cases. There is an invisible hand. The public wonders if these are independent institutions.

Many of those who are entering politics now are corrupt and involved in illegal rackets. They have no capability to enact laws to benefit the people. They formulate laws which benefit their unscrupulous activities. As a result, politicians are above the law. They have weakened the law of this country. This must change. Institutions must be made independent. The political practices and tradition which modern-day local politicians have done away with must be restored for the rule of law to prevail.

Q. You say a majority of those entering politics today are corrupt. Then why can’t academics and professionals such as yourself enter politics to ensure these reforms you strive to take place?

A. Today, a lot of money must be invested to become a politician and get elected even at the local government level. You need financial strength to provide for supporters and the propaganda machinery. Therefore, a common man cannot manage this and enter politics in the current political system. Only those who have earned a vast amount of wealth through questionable means can enter the political arena. This system must change. Even elections reforms are being done according to the agendas of various political parties and groups. These reforms must take place and election laws modernized so that civilized people’s representatives can be elected.

Q. Some political parties have become victim to family bandysm with undemocratic tendencies according to some political commentators. What is your opinion on this?

A. Politicians have distorted the structure of political parties over time. They have become possessions of their leaders and their families. Party positions are handed according to their whims and fancies to consolidate power. Mahinda Rajapaksa, during his tenure as Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Chairperson, handed over the post of Treasurer to Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan (Karuna Amman) depriving an SLFP stalwart of obtaining that post.

It is also clear that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has now been formed to ensure a Rajapaksa family rule. The SLPP cannot be labelled as a political party. I am not sure if its Chairperson G.L. Peiris is aware if he is in the party or not. He is merely a white robe of purity used by the party leadership. Instead, the SLPP appears to be the legal legacy of the Rajapaksa family.

If a group is to be identified as a political party, it must have democracy within the ranks. Ranil Wickremesinghe has been the United National Party Leader for a long time. He seems to be the UNP leader for life. If there is democracy, any party member must have the opportunity to rise up within the ranks.

Q. What is your opinion on the SLPP’s choice of candidate for the upcoming Presidential election?

A. Gotabaya Rajapaksa has entered the Presidential race through a number of fraudulent means. He has not publicly proven if he has relinquished his US citizenship. It is also alleged that he has obtained a National Identity Card and a passport in an illegal manner. How many times was he required to appear before courts over numerous allegations of criminal activity and corruption? Each time, he used his power to obtain the protection of the law. No other person has been accused of a large number of crimes and corruption. But the law does not seem to apply to him.

If he has created a backdrop where he is immune to the law, people must think deeply about how he may govern the country.

Q. A prominent Bhikkhu was quoted as saying the country’s President should be a high borne and noble individual from a feudal ancestral background. What is your take on this?

A. It is unfortunate that a Bhikkhu should say this. Does this mean then that only those of noble birth can become Bhikkhu’s as well? Then the outcast Sunita’s of Buddha’s time would not have been able to become Bhikkhus. These statements can only result in the decline of the Bhikkhu Sasana and the Dhamma. Many religious leaders have begun to talk about politics. It’s clear these statements are being made for future benefits they hope to obtain from these politicians.

Minister Sajith Premadasa declared that he would construct 1,500 stupas in Sri Lanka. Can the country afford this? We are a poor country riddled in debt. The Mahanayakas should collectively oppose and reject such moves as this is not the need of the hour. It is their moral responsibility. This is the type of politics our religious leaders should engage in.

Q. You were left apologising to the people about your choice of candidate for the last Presidential election. How will you identify the correct individual to back this time?

A. This is the issue of Sri Lanka’s distorted politics. There should be a mutual trust between the public and politicians. Local politicians have no morality. They easily break the trust of the people. We supported a candidate with good intentions. If he failed to deliver the promises, then we must apologise. We cannot absolve ourselves. At the time, people were being abducted, they lived in fear, their freedoms were being curtailed, so we had to take this stand. Prior to 1978, we can certify that a majority of politicians were of good character. Unfortunately, we are not able to do that now.

Q. What qualities or qualifications should a candidate have to gain your organization’s support?

A. We believe the country needs a national candidate. Even if he is a political party member, we expect him to resign from the party prior to handing over nominations.

This is because we believe he will not be able to stand for political reforms if he has to consider his political party’s needs and agendas. When President Maithripala Sirisena attempted to introduce constitutional reforms, it was those in the SLFP that pressured him and held him back. We do not want a repeat of this. Also, the individual should not expect to come into power again or keep power within the family. He must herald in political reforms and retire gracefully from politics. Only then can this country go forward.

Pic by Saman Sri Wedage 

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