Growing intolerance towards corruption

Men of integrity, by their very existence, rekindle the belief that as a people we can live above the level of moral squalor. We need that belief; a cynical community is a corrupt community. -John W. Gardner

By resolution 58/4 of October 31, 2003, the UN General Assembly designated December 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day.

This decision aimed to raise people's awareness of corruption and of the role of the United Nations Convention against Corruption in combating and preventing it.

The assembly urged all states and competent regional economic integration organisations to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) to ensure its rapid entry into force. UNCAC is the first legally binding, international anti-corruption instrument that provides a chance to mount a global response to corruption.

Strengthen

It delegates to the Convention the power to: "promote and strengthen measures to prevent and combat corruption more efficiently and effectively... promote, facilitate and support international cooperation and technical assistance in the prevention of and fight against corruption... [and] promote integrity, accountability and proper management of public affairs and public property...".

We are all agreed and are equally concerned about the seriousness of problems and threats posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardising sustainable development and the rule of law. Corruption is an issue that affects all countries around the world.

It can refer to the destruction of one's honesty or loyalty through undermining moral integrity or acting in a way that shows a lack of integrity or honesty.

Attitudes

It also refers to those who use a position of power or trust for dishonest gain. Attitudes on corruption are also changing.

Years ago, incidences of corruption were only whispered about in private conversations. Today there are signs of growing intolerance towards corruption and more and more politicians and chief executives are not only being tried, but also are convicted the world over.

Sri Lanka is a signatory to UNCAC and ratified it in March 2004. However, not many are aware that in Sri Lanka bribery was an offence punishable under the Penal Code as far back as 1883. British rule introduced bribery as a criminal offence into the Statute Book.

The necessity for such a law meant that either we Sri Lankans, or the then rulers themselves, or both, were a corrupt people from way back.

In 1954 Sri Lanka, then called Ceylon, enacted the Bribery Act to contain bribery in the Public Service. That is to say, we did not give up on bribery and corruption even after attaining independence. Hence, it goes without saying the British were not responsible for corrupting us. We must have been a people with inborn tendency for corruption in spite of the fact that we were, from ancient times, adherents of two great religions - Buddhism and Hinduism - that taught noble paths to salvation.

It is generally expected and hoped for that human character becomes noble with passage of time. This does not seem to apply to Sri Lankans. We have become more corrupt with the passage of time.

I quote from the report of Transparency International, the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption.

Position

"Sri Lanka occupies the 92nd position among 180 countries in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2008 conducted by Transparency International. Sri Lanka's score remains at a low 3.2, indicating a serious corruption problem in the public sector. Neighbouring countries, except Bhutan, all score below 3.5. Lack of transparency in political finance and poor parliamentary oversight, are quoted as a key governance problem in Sri Lanka.

Only India (3.4) and Sri Lanka are above a score of 3 with the Maldives (2.8), Nepal (2.7), Pakistan (2.5) and Bangladesh (2.1) remaining with low scores. Analysts attribute India's position to the implementation of the Right to Information Act".

"The Index ranks countries in terms of the degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians.It measures each country's level of corruption and places it on a scale from 0 to 10, where 10 stands for 'highly clean' and 0 stands for 'highly corrupt'. The CPI focuses on corruption in the public sector and defines corruption as the abuse of public office for private gain."

The fact that we are less corrupt than the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh from amongst other South Asian countries is nothing to be proud of. What should concern us is why we are 92nd in position out of a total of 180 countries included in the survey. However, I do not see any interest or anxiety shown by the people on this score.

Immune

We have become so immune and used to corruption that most would want to indulge in it if given an opportunity.

To enrich themselves by any means seems the aim of most. Apparently, the teachings of the Buddha and other great religious leaders are not meant for the individual. Religion is just for show and not something to follow and encourage in personal life appears to be the attitude.

May be they think money and wealth, however so acquired, will compensate for the corruption of the soul, and take care of matters in the afterlife.

All things can corrupt, when minds are prone to evil. Corruption is spiritual or moral impurity or deviation from an ideal.

It matters not, it appears, that a person gets absolutely debased, and degraded, by indulging in dishonest, fraudulent, rotten and shady deals.

What matters is the resultant riches. People in public life, are expected to set an example through the manner in which they lead their life.

But, if they are unethical, unprincipled, and unscrupulous; we can not blame the general public, the ordinary people, of this country, who are forced to lead a wretched life in comparison, for wanting to emulate.

Peaceful

When the upper echelon of people in a country becomes corrupt to the core, that country is said to be, not only "highly corrupt"; it cannot remain, for long, a peaceful nation, peopled by happy people. Among a people generally corrupt, liberty cannot long exist.

Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power; said George Bernard Shaw.

I will leave my readers to ponder on this point.See you this day next week. Until then, keep thinking; keep laughing. Life is mostly about these two activities.

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