Sunday Island – Editorial
Initial moves in displaying enticing arrays of polls promises are already being made by prominent politicians and the public could not be faulted for being both bedazzled by the promised ‘goodies’ and of being cynically dismissive of them. Given their current economic hardships, sections of the people are bound to be taken-in by these promises, for, ‘hope springs eternal in the human breast’. On the other hand, the more discerning among us could not help but be skeptical about these promises because the experience of the public down the decades is that such pledges are of an aery-faery, unreal kind.
Currently, Sri Lanka’s democracy is the ‘talking point’ both locally and internationally. In fact it is our conviction that democracy itself and the extent to which it is developed or otherwise in this country, should be the debating point in any polls campaign. This, political leaders as well as the public are obliged to do because it all has to do with this country’s future. ‘The things of the stomach’ are, no doubt, of primary importance and they should be the focus of public attention, but whether these things will be on our tables is very much dependent on the effectiveness or otherwise of governance and the quality of governance is determined by the nature of a country’s political system. It is the experience of humankind that, whatever its limitations, democracy serves the people’s legitimate needs best and we have no choice but to keep democracy, in the truest sense of the word, ticking.
Unfortunately, for countries such as ours, the general interest in democracy does not go beyond voting periodically and this is a chief contributory factor in the declining quality of local democracy. We do not believe that polls are only about voting in one’s favourite political party or persons or that they revolve entirely around politicians’ promises, which, mostly, cannot be kept, but with the accountability of those holding public office. Out of the latter would come good governance and out of quality governance would come things that are essential for human survival.
We are not ‘speaking from on high’ in broaching these issues because there are enough and more perceptive sections among the people who are already bringing them up and are commenting on them in the most enlightened fashion. In fact, a common complaint by some people now is that they are not accessing sufficiently the information that concerns them most. These sections are deeply concerned that most of the media are not in a position to provide their information needs and this gives us the encouragement to persist in calling on the government to help in creating an environment that would enable a free and responsible media to function.
The time is ripe for the totality of the public to view this question of the Right to Information dispassionately, objectively and unitedly. There needs to be a bipartisan approach to studying and advocating this issue because the Freedom or Right to Information is integral to the functioning of democracy. Who could keep the wheels of democracy humming than an informed and questioning public?
It should be plain to see that a questioning public would not only be not mesmerized by the false promises of politicians but would be most discerning in who they vote into office. Today, Sri Lankans are notorious for not only their short memories but for also their great ‘magnanimity’ towards wrong-doers of particularly the political kind. It is on account of this local capacity to forgive and forget, that politicians with the most shaming track records are repeatedly voted into office and go on to play a significant role in even governance.
In a way, then, the more gullible sections of the public bring their earthly travails on themselves by failing to call those who assume office, to account. On the other hand, they cannot be faulted excessively because the systems are not in place to keep them well informed and educated on the issues that concern them. It is for these reasons that the public needs to appreciate the need for information and education. To the extent possible, they need to question and probe all aspects of their public existence that closely impinge on their well being.
We are aware that not all sections of the political establishment are oblivious to the need to have an informed public. But those campaigning for the public’s need for more information and education on the questions of the day, should not only increase but close ranks against those who are opposing this just cause. Besides, the political elite needs to realize that governing, in fact, would be very much easier, meaningful and result-oriented with the right man or woman in the right place. This would only be possible if the public elects its representatives with a clear understanding of their merits and this in turn would depend on whether the public has greater access to information.
Today, one of the most urgent issues that needs addressing is public and private sector corruption. Some politicians who have been occupying the pulpits of power for decades figure in well authenticated reports on public sector corruption. But one should not be surprised if they are voted into office once again because of the celebrated ‘magnanimity’ of some local electors, which in turn has its roots in a lack of information. Besides, the elector is a victim of the indifference of the ruling class to the need to educate its public.
The less informed the public is, the more diminished in quality would be our democracy. Needless to say, the plethora of current governance issues has its origins in a democracy which is emasculated and debilitated. Thus, it would be in the national interest for a public education programme to be launched by the state, which has as its aim the bringing into being of a better informed and rights-conscious public.
A ruling class which is preoccupied with power politics and dismissive of the information needs of the public is only laying the foundation for prolonged social and political instability. We call for rationality and wisdom on the part of those who govern because short-sightedness has proved a blight of this country over the decades. We need to make a clean break with the past.