 Return to LNP
This News Site:
Lanka Newspapers is the largest Sri Lanka News forum online. Thousands of Sri Lankans from around the world gather here daily to discuss current news events of Sri Lanka. Join Today!
|
|
|
Needed: A strong Opposition
Tuesday, 30 January 2007 - 5:09 AM SL Time
|
|
|
The root cause of most political ills afflicting this country since 1970 has been the absence of a strong Opposition. A weak UNP-led Opposition was no match for the strong United Front government (1970-77) guided by a discarded shibboleth. During that period, the country witnessed the first JVP insurrection and the government extending its term arbitrarily by one year.
The 1977 general election saw the decimation of the SLFP and the emergence of a monolithic UNP regime, which railroaded anyone on its way into submission and ensured that it would be free from resistance in all spheres of its activity. In 1982, the UNP made a mockery of parliamentary democracy by replacing a general election with a referendum, which was rigged to the core to extend its term by six years. The democratic Opposition never recovered and the executive presidency dwarfed all democratic institutions including the judiciary. Houses of Supreme Court judges came to be attacked, as judgments they delivered were not in favour of the ruling party!
The absence of a strong parliamentary Opposition created a political vacuum, which the ultra radical elements with an anarchist agenda moved in to fill. There was a bloodbath with tens of thousands killed in the late 1980s in addition to those who perished in the North and the East strife. Southern terrorism replaced democratic Opposition.
It was only in 1991 that the Opposition was revitalised to some extent?that, too, thanks to a split in the UNP following an abortive impeachment attempt. In 1994, the UNP was relegated to the Opposition by the PA`s victory and until 2001, it was plain sailing for the Kumaratunga government. Although the UNP-led UNF was elected to power in that year after mass crossovers from the PA, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe`s government had to play the role of an Opposition party rather than that of a ruling party vis-à-vis the powerful presidency held by the PA. The tussle between the two institutions ended with the UNF government being sacked and the SLFP-led UPFA being elected in 2004. The country reverted to a weak Opposition and last Sunday`s crossovers have debilitated it further.
Unlike from 1970 to 77, when the Head of state was answerable to Parliament and had to sit therein, today, the Executive Presidency, which is above Parliament, panders to the dictatorial tendencies of a ruler. Remember, President J. R. Jayewardene audaciously declared that the only thing he couldn`t do was to make a man a woman and vice versa! President Premadasa had no qualms about being a dictator and acted like one, until his untimely demise in 1993. President Kumaratunga, who was magnanimity personified at the beginning of her first term, became, as is only too well known, Premadasa reincarnated?sans his managerial skills?towards the latter stages.
Today, we have a smiling President. But, the presidential smiles are rather deceptive. We have seen such saccharin smiles before. President Rajapakse is beaming from ear to ear, as it is plain sailing for him at present with jumbos jumping on to his lap. But, there is no guarantee that the executive presidential powers won`t cause him to go the same way as his predecessors.
Although attempts are being made in some quarters to have us believe that there is a strong Opposition in terms of numbers, the ideological differences and animosity that the parties in the Opposition have towards one another are likely to stand in the way of their co-operation. The UNP, the JVP and the TNA are not likely to make common cause on any issue, let alone taking on the government jointly. The JVP cannot be expected to act as a real Opposition party as it is technically a part the ruling coalition and obviously doesn`t want to resort to an effective anti-government campaign for fear of helping Ranil return to power in the process. The TNA is a single issue party or a pressure group, whose raison d`etre is promoting the LTTE cause. It is blind to the democratic needs of the people. The burden of being an effective counter to the government therefore rests on the UNP.
Another revolt is reported to be in the offing in the grand old party with the Reformists who have chosen to stay back being poised to resume their campaign for intra party democracy. Unless the situation is brought under control in the party and another split prevented, the country will be without a real Opposition force.
It looks as if we were going to revisit the same setbacks that democracy suffered during the past 37 years for want of a strong democratic Opposition.
But, unfortunately, be it in the ruling party or in the Opposition, it is not the interests of the country that matter but those of a few individuals.
|
|
|
justman
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 804
Member Profile
|
30 Jan 2007 00:26:32 GMT Report for Abuse
|
| JVP might be an effective opposition to the government as they have the people and the country in heart and mind.They are not politically matured enough to raise all the issues of the state.It would be wise to raise any grievances or issues with them,for them to take it up with the government at the Parliament.At least through them one could question the government or one could approach the state at the Parliament level.At present,we the ordinary citizens are very much detached from the ruling politicians,unable to lobby one's concerns.People Like Mr Anandasansaree must approach them and advise them,but not on the ethnic issues as we are too occupied with it,and the other matters of good governance has been neglected. |
sarathk
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 65
Member Profile
|
30 Jan 2007 18:19:45 GMT Report for Abuse
|
| Can we remember jvp, during 1971 & 1983,they cannot be Democratic,they can be insurgents.no way they can lead the opposition |
wijeyesinghe
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 928
Member Profile
|
30 Jan 2007 18:34:45 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Agreed.
It is a preferred option to have a strong opposition but what if there is none available?
RW is a loss case
JVP are killers
JHU therefore is the only option |
tigeress19
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7555
Member Profile
|
30 Jan 2007 18:39:59 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Needed: A strong Opposition
cart before the bull?
the present constitution needed a change before you even think of a strong opposition!
can the president answerable to the parliament? in other word to the public? |
|
Search All News and Discussions