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| Sunday, 8 January 2006 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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One of a
kind
by Saybhan Samat In an age where those in power like presidents, prime-ministers, members of parliament and bureaucrats grab all official perks and live it up to the maximum, it is heartening to witness two recently elected presidents do otherwise.
What distinguishes them are their simple lifestyles, their down to earth demeanours, their sincerity and utter selflessness. There is a burning desire in their hearts to upgrade the standard of living of the masses in their countries and obtain for them a decent and comfortable life. The first of them is president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad who was elected in June last year in Iran. Before he was elected president he served as Governor of Ardebil Province and later as Mayor of Tehran. He had earlier been a commander in the Revolutionary Guard Corp and served for many years at the war front. In this two years as Mayor of Tehran, he transformed the city. Home lunch Immense landscaping work was done throughout the sprawling metropolis, so that it now resembles a huge park. The traffic gridlock has been eliminated with a careful calibrated policy that regulates flow into the city. Even in dusty southern Tehran, where the poor reside, there has been a massive tree plantation program. Parks have sprung up everywhere and potholes have been repaired. As mayor, he did not shy away from donning the orange uniform of a sweeper and joining the city crews in cleaning work. He continued to drive an old Peykan instead of going around in a Mercedes, as has become the habit of some officials in Iran. His door was always open to the poor, while he shunned the rich who are adept at wheeling and dealing and manipulating high officials for personal gain. As president, no subsidised fancy lunch for him! He brings his lunch which his wife cooks for him and is more than satisfied eating his home-cooked food. Of late he has revolutionised the holding of Cabinet meetings. President Ahmadinejad together with his Cabinet has toured three deprived provinces to study their problems at close range and find effective solutions. There are more plans that President Ahmadinejad intends implementing to bring himself and his government closer to the masses. It is not surprising that he is well-loved and extremely popular. How many of our local politicians for so many years have not been able to even solve the vexed garbage problem! The second is Bolivian president-elect Evo Morales the coca grower who has risen to giddy political heights but remains down to earth and retains the common touch. He and his Cabinet have decided to take a fifty percent pay cut. They want to channel the funds so saved for more recruitment in the educational and health sectors. His election on December 18th of last year has, Evo says, ushered in a democratic revolution. "It is a question of sharing the country's situation among us all." Salary slash His presidential salary will be slashed from 3,600 dollars to 1,800 dollars and all his 157 congressmen will follow suit. 'A former president of Bolivia's coca growers' union and head of the Movement Towards Socialism party, Morales' promise to redirect gas industry profits to the people's social and economic needs, is refreshing and long overdue in a country where the gap between the rich and poor has grown widely. Morales' win should also be seen as a departure from the norm, he is the first indigenous Head of State in a country where the majority of the population of 9.3 million are the ethnic Aymara and quechua. Further some radical changes can be expected as Morales has committed himself to a political process and to poverty alleviation programmes that will benefit the poor and the ethnic population, leaving no room for foreign hands to manipulate or manoeuvre its economic policies. Galloping inflation, huge budget deficits, the falling rupee, the ethnic crisis, and abiding poverty among half the population have compounded our local problems. Unless our politicians too take the examples of Evo Morales and his congressmen and are "willing to share the country's situation among us all," there is no hope for Sri Lanka. However, the examples set by president-elect Moraless and President Ahamadinejad will in the course of time influence other politicians the world over. They have the best wishes of the poor masses of people everywhere. |
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