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| Sunday, 21 March 2004 |
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Editor, Sunday Observer. E-mail: [email protected] Snail mail : Sunday Observer, 35, D.R.Wijewardana Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Telephone : 94 11 2429239 / 2331181 Fax : 94 11 2429230 Buying votes at the people's expense Corruption at its ugliest is continuing on a steep, disquieting spiral. Close on the heels of our disclosure in the 'Daily News' of the BOI squandering some Rs. 990 million in claims, comes the news of outright bribing of an electorate by the Rehabilitation authorities. A report from the Program for Protection of Public Resources, which was highlighted in the 'Daily News' yesterday, gave out the disturbing details about this State institution's corrupt manoeuvres aimed at, of course, catching votes for the Minister concerned. As outlined by the Program, a vast amount of material assistance, originally meant for the displaced of the North-East, is now being freely distributed in the Gampaha district, in complete violation of all the norms of ethical conduct by politicians, particularly if they are Ministers of State, and of State institutions committed to serve the public impartially. Some of these items which are projected as coming from the largesse of the top politician concerned are tents, steel cupboards, plastic water tanks and dry rations. Whither accountability by these State functionaries, one is prompted to ask? To make matters worse, the Rehabilitation Ministry has also come under the scrutiny of the Auditor General's Department for the non-handing over of State resources, including government vehicles following the removal from office of the Minister by the President. For instance, of the 13 vehicles provided to the Ministry, only one has been returned to the State to date. The rest are, presumably, being used in the election campaign. The same goes for the other State resources, which are yet to be handed over. One wonders whether the large-scale and rampant prevalence of corruption prevented the Government from signing the international anti-corruption convention until the very last minute following intense pressure from President Kumaratunga to do so. The inner compulsion to subscribe to the convention, apparently just wasn't there. It points to the fact that enriching oneself is the raison d'etre of some of these governing politicos. All this points to the fact that last minute buying of votes is very much on the cards. How can a government claim that it respects forthrightness and honesty if pre-election malpractices of this kind are winked at? We call for a swift crackdown on such practices and their authors. The anti-corruption State machinery should be up and functioning if a dent is to be made in this problem. Those Ministers who face corruption charges should be brought to book and made to answer for the rampant abuse of State resources, which really belong to the people of the land. |
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