A Plea for Good Governance! – By Oscar E V Fernando
- Human Rights (H R) surveillance agencies both local and international spot violations-though their reports often come to much criticism due to prevailing divergent ideological views that clash-thus contributing to turmoil in a country. This has to be vigilantly watched by civil society groups with the welfare of the broader society in mind.
- The drama enacted by Sri Lanka’s various groups at the UNHRC in Geneva bears witness to this!
- HR violations since independence, that have marred good governance in our country are a dime a dozen-commencing with alleged violation of the right of one individual who was denied candidature of premiership, in the fifties-thus opening floodgates for a flow of HR violations.
- From fifties all governments have been smeared with accusations of communal HR violations marring the image of Good Governance they intended, but was actually thwarted by extremists of various sorts.
- Some affected communities who were denied rights due to bad governance have borne it valiantly and others have left the shores-disgruntled-but wowing to return with dignity!
- It is not all who bore violations mildly, as they resented such governance with a vengeance-leading to bloody and drastic results.
- The result of this dissent by minorities affected by violations was-that no government could bear the epithet of Good Governance-due to violations prompted by extremist groups.
- All such governments have contributed to warfare-not welfare-inside the country, and also have made the country debt ridden-a subject vociferously discussed and very evident today-with ominous results!
- It is worth pondering as to how long extremism can hold a forward march of a country at Bay!
- A National Policy-embedded in the Constitution covering all aspects of our society and nation, to be adhered to by all incoming governing bodies irrespective of political hues.
- A deep insight into minority HR violations in a broader international perspective-with no historical prejudice or bias-a serious matter that had marred good governance over the past three score and ten years-dragging the country into this present plight-overlooked by those sitting pretty. Whilst in this state of complacency it is worth pondering;
- That the shadow of a majority falling on minorities is inevitable and also is a matter to be accepted by minorities graciously-but if rights of minorities are denied for whatever cause, the simmering shadow of a revolt, due to their gathering animosity, will fall on such a majority-thus stifling the forward march of the country-as continuously exemplified since the fifties and highlighted even today nationally and/or internationally.
- Other concepts that contribute to Good Governance are-COPE and Public Accounts Committees now revamped for timely sittings unlike in earlier years where these committees sit a long way after accounts are published and presented to the Auditor general-leaving sufficient time for culprits to make a quick getaway from the shores by the time committee sittings commence: these committees and the Auditor general are also now-given teeth for threatening punishment!
- Another development for Good Governance is the availability of the Constitutional Council to appoint all heads of public institutions avoiding appointments by politicians-as far as it goes!!
- Good Government can also be hampered by a partial media with own agendas-which would therefore need instant counter propaganda.
An important aspect of Good Governance is the refined separation of-legislature the parliament-executive the bureaucracy and an Independent Judiciary, which is deemed the Rock Stone of Democracy.
This plea is made to politicians of all hues by the writer, an Octogenarian plus, and Former-Chief Internal Auditor Plywood Corporation-Director Finance Sri Lanka Foundation/Human Rights Commission/-Board Member SLF and Member Human Rights Task Force.
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