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Don`t torture the public
Thursday, 8 September 2005 - 2:11 AM SL Time
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If Sri Lanka has achieved self-sufficiency, it is in political circuses. Hardly a day passes without a display of political gimmicks by one party or another. May Day is the worst, when politicians lead workers by the nose, straddling their backs. At other times, party supporters fill in for workers and shoulder political derriere of their choice in public. They seem to enjoy playing beasts of burden to their political masters so unashamedly. Is it that he, who coined the not-so-complimentary sobriquet, swinish multitude, had Sri Lankan hoi polloi in mind'
What is at issue, however, is not incorrigibility or servitude of the multitude. It is the suffering that the public is subjected to because of roadshows. It was only a few weeks ago, that the UNP completed its grand march from Devinuwara to Colombo, having caused tremendous inconvenience to the people, mostly the tsunami affected, all the way for days. (The tsunami victims must have wondered where on earth those marchers had been at the hour of their need following the disaster.)
On Tuesday, the SLFP held a mammoth rally bringing the city to a grinding halt. It took four to five hours for motorists to leave the city or cross it. Some parents informed us that their children had returned home as late as 8.00 p.m. from school. Many must have missed their flights. And the roads leading to the National Hospital were blocked. The traffic police were totally disoriented, having been caught on the hop. They were standing at busy intersections chock-a-block with vehicles, not knowing what to do. They were lost in a sea of vehicles. Buses that had come from far away places carrying SLFP supporters to the city were parked on either side of the streets, restricting the already hampered flow of traffic. It was a veritable political tsunami.
On other days as well, whenever a political event occurs, road users become the first casualty. For example, Dean`s Road is notorious for the political stages constructed right across it ever so often, a sign of political asininity on the part of organisers. It is open for vehicular traffic only if there are no political meetings. A similar situation prevails in several other places inside and outside the city. The Nugegoda junction near the super market is a favourite venue for politicians, because it is usually congested and, therefore, they have a captive audience.
Apart from political rallies, during Avurudu (it lasts at least till Vesak!), public roads are converted into a velodrome, where other road users are shoved off into the wayside gutters by the rowdies who race in trishaws and motorcycles alongside the cyclists. Flag-waving ruffians threaten motorists and frighten them into leaving them a wide berth. The law abiding have to either give in or get beaten. Worst of all, leading these thugs sans helmets are the traffic police!
Massive crowds, no doubt, boost politicians` egos. But of what use are political processions where papara bands and dances by drunkards and hermaphrodites steal the show' Crowds are, on the other hand, deceptive. Neither the UNP nor the SLFP is any match for the JVP in terms of crowd shows. The JVP can easily hold the biggest and most attractive rally in the city or elsewhere. But it is nowhere near the two main parties in so far as votes polled at an election are concerned.
It is time we took stock of this chaotic situation and calculated the economic costs involved. On Tuesday for example, tens of thousands of litres of precious fuel were wasted, as vehicles had to crawl on low gears or idle for hours on end and a countless number of precious man hours lost. The state is absorbing the heavy losses incurred by CPC to the tune of billions a year. This year alone CPC`s projected loss due to the government`s decision against effecting fuel prices hikes is 20 billion rupees. JBIZ President Kingsley Bernard has placed the total annual economic loss due to traffic congestion at 100 billion rupees! Political rallies and other events that aggravate traffic jams only add to this staggering loss.
The SLFP has expressed regrets over Tuesday`s mayhem. It is a step in the right direction. Next time around, it must make sure its processions won`t torture the public and deal a body blow to the economy. The UNP should do likewise. So should the JVP and other parties responsible for road closures because of their political rallies. Enough is enough!
To them we say: Don`t torture the public!
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Source(s)
• Independent Journalist
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malship
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1194
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7 Sep 2005 22:24:14 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Torture the public, this never happens in a Buddhist country, goes against the fundamentals of Buddhism. |
jayas
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21
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8 Sep 2005 11:24:00 GMT Report for Abuse
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It has been happening within our societies.Law cannot stop such things by introducing rights similar to western countries.They cannot be controlled by force or power but within human heart. Now a days it is hard to find human hearts, all are spoiled, laminated by power craziness, money.Animal hearts are better..Within our own societies see the differences-caste, money, job,colour, race and parties.All are fighting for nothing. All these politicos are spoiling our resources. Some do nothing. Know nothing.They are strangled in the power net. Cannot come out.
At least one good leadr can change the whole by being a role model. Can do , without going into arm struggle. Not only in Sri lanka, but round the globe.Ultimately for what?For few years living. |
aritha_spice
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 322
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8 Sep 2005 16:54:07 GMT Report for Abuse
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This is a good article to protest at the never ending series of political road shows in Sri Lanka that become a hazard to residents and businesses of especially Colombo, that have to bear the brunt of it all. Are these politicians blind to the fact the this city is our financial capital and such road shows like this negatively affect the business environment of the city?
Although I certainly commend the author of this article for his views, which I very much agree with, I must disagree with the manner in how he addresses certain sections of our society, namely people of transgender, by referring to them in the more cruder term 'Hermaphrodite' and by denigrating this group of society. People of transgender, and those of other sexual minority groups have constantly been at the brunt of unfair discrimination from this so-called liberal and tolerant society of ours. Journalists especially, who use the right to freedom of expression and other freedoms such as choice, etc. should be supportive of groups using these freedoms for actions that pose no direct or physical harm on others. By openly publishing material that directly or indirectly negatively portray already discriminated groups,journalists are showing disregard to the very rights that they are exercising.
The vision of a free society,is not just one where you have the opportunity to elect one's leaders, but a society where every man and woman who live with peace to others,can live without harassment, and discrimination for what and who they are, and where they are respected for the very fact of humanity. |
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