CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

There is Political corruption even in the Democratic West , USA and Japan. Sri Lanka did not invent it, least of all Mahinda Rajapakse.

By Charles Perera

In evaluating the government of the President Mahinda Rajapakse and level criticism against it, one has to take into consideration that there is no democratically elected government in the world where parts of its land is occupied by a ruthless group of terrorist and waging a war against the sovereign state with the intention of breaking away a part of it to form a fascist regime, except in Sri Lanka.

In such a situation what has a responsible government, got to do ? Should it ignore the terrorists and get along with curbing corruption in the government, and provide consumable articles, bought in the world market where the prices are soaring high, at an affordable price , and reduce the cost of living, or equip the army with modern arms to effectively defend its territory and the people against a well armed terrorist ? If the President had resorted to the former he would have been popular, but the terrorists may have established their Eelam by now.

The several governments during the last 20 or more years had to deal with terrorism, but none of them made a determined effort to end terrorism. The result was the terrible situation Sri Lanka was faced with when Mahinda Rajapakse was elected , with a well armed ferocious terrorist force who would stop at nothing to carve out a part of the country to establish its Eelam. The previous governments were not free of allegations of corruption, despite their efforts to eliminate terrorism was not well organised, some of them for having too many Ministers, some for Sinhala Chauvinism, some even for immorality, baksheesh from purchase of arms, sale of nationalised institutions to the private sector, and so on. So it goes on, the critics will come forward what ever the situation, whether it deserves it or not.

The difference with the President Mahinda Rajapakse is that he had made freeing Sri Lanka from terrorism his priority. He knows, and he had seen lopsided efforts to end terrorism, and understood that unless and until terrorism is removed from the soil of Sri Lanka once for all, with a determined effort, other concessions to grant immediate relief to the people is not possible. He had to decide between being popular by reducing the COL to an affordable minimum, or first rid of terrorism, while slowing down economic and social developments. The postponement of the fight against terrorism he knew would neither help development, nor leave behind a unitary state of Sri Lanka for a future generation. Therefore, he chose the first-to eliminate terrorism at the cost of immediate relief to the people.

It is with the cooperation of a people friendly political parties that it could be satisfactorily accomplished. But unfortunately the opposition parties are more self centred and seeking power by ousting the Government of the President Mahinda Rajapakse rather than rallying round him to remove the menace of terrorism.

Take for example the USSR. USSR was a menace to world capitalism, and was therefore in the danger of a military invasion by the technically developed Capitalist Countries lead by USA. Therefore, USSR had to develop a military force equal to that of USA to maintain a balance of military power, and to dissuade the capitalist forces, from breaking up the Union. USSR despite its financial difficulties, was much more generous than the USA, and helped those colonies gaining independence and opting for socialist form of governments, by providing them with technical and financial assistance . Therefore, USSR was economically handicapped, and was unable to provide its own people a higher standard of living.

Political corruption is not confined to Sri Lanka. Allegations of political corruption have been; and are being, levelled against all the rich countries, in the world -Europe, USA, and Japan. Therefore, those critics of the President Mahanda Rajapakse should not make allegations of corruption as if political corruption in Sri Lanka has begun with the President Mahinda Rajapakse. It is a question of mental attitudes. The politicians should not get tempted by offer of gifts and commissions. If hey are honest such financial advantages they receive should be handed over to the government.

Though Anura Kumar Dissanayake , and Lal Kantha the two vociferous members of the ex-Marxist JVP make eulogies about the honesty, and ability of Ranil Wickramasinghe, his government was also accused of corruption, in several deals including that of the sale of the Cooperative Wholesale Department, disappearance of persons in Batalanda, organised torture-chambers etc. The former Marxists are now trying to bathe in the glory of their new found Hero the UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe, and sees him as a Shining Angel.

But Mahinda Rajapakse, has proved that he is capable of bring back peace to Sri Lanka. Give him two years and terrorism may be history and he will be able to end corruption and bring down the cost of living and make all communities live happily together. What is necessary is patience and tightening the belts for a good cause

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