Political parties should rein in the unruly

Deputy Speaker, Thilanga Sumathipala in an interview with the Sunday Observer said that now the country is waiting to see what action the respective political parties will take against the MPs who have been named and suspended by Parliament. If the political parties tolerate such behaviour, Parliament will be helpless, he said.

Q: There has been an overall slide in discipline among Parliamentarians lately. What is your comment?

A: Especially, after the August General Elections last year, there are factions within the political parties and they react. Sometimes they overreact and we have to control them. Though the situation gets aggravated at times, it is controlled. The recent incident was unexpected, because it led to manhandling and heavy fights, causing bloodshed. It was rather disappointing.

Q: There are many who say that the one week suspension given to the two MPs for breach of discipline is not enough. What is your opinion, and is there a mechanism to impose harsher punishments, even removing such offenders from their position as MPs? Are you in favour of such measures?

A: Parliament stands for the protection and management of democracy. Disciplinary matters are part and parcel of democracy. Parliament is not solely responsible for disciplinary matters, it is also the responsibility of the respective political parties to conduct themselves in a dignified manner.

Now the country waits with bated breath to see what action the respective political parties would take against the MPs in question. If the political parties tolerate this, Parliament will be helpless.

We recommend, one week in terms of the Standing Orders of Parliament, two weeks in the second instance and one month’s suspension thereafter. So, the respective parties must deal with these MPs and impose harsh punishments.

If they are sincere about bringing in discipline, they have to act. Parliament with a majority can suspend a few people for more than a month or two and also pass Resolutions. It is good from the democratic point of view. Parliament needs to be managed in such a way as not to allow democracy to be hampered. That is why we started with one week’s suspension. Now all the party leaders have to take up this matter, it is the recommendation we have made.

Q: The Party leaders have discussed the overall disciplinary matters extensively in Parliament. Do you think there will be a fruitful outcome from these deliberations?

A:It is up to the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. President Maithripala Sirisena decided not to give nominations to four sitting members. Not a single party has disallowed sitting members on disciplinary grounds to contest elections. So what about the other parties? They have become more tolerant and their respective leaders are encouraging them. It has to come from the top. If there is a will, there is a way.

Q: Many have proposed that a minimum educational qualification should be made mandatory for candidates to be elected to Parliament because currently there are many unsavory characters in politics. Do you agree?

A: Educational qualifications need not be mandatory. There are some politicians who don’t have even basic educational qualifications, yet they help the poor people in their villages. They can come through the Local Government system and become Provincial Councillors and later enter Parliament.

We don’t have a proper system to make a roadway for politicians. But that doesn’t mean all politicians who couldn’t get a good education are bad. There are good, humble MPs serving the people, equipped with only a basic education. So, education need not be the criterion , but I think each and every party should have a mechanism to control their members. So the UNP can take the lead and do what they have to do within the party and the SLFP should follow suit. Always, more than 200 MPs from these two parties are elected to Parliament.

Q: There is also a proposal that the political parties themselves must take action against undisciplined MPs and other politicians, without waiting for Parliament to act. What is your comment?

A: That is quite so. It is the parents who should look after their children. If the political parties don’t have a will to do that, Parliament will be what it is today.

Q: Some of the MPs involved in the brawl were seniors who are looked up to by the younger MPs, as examples. How do you deal with this situation?

A: I am sorry for them. Most of the so called senior MPs commanded a lot of respect in the past. Now, in the current political scenario, they identify Parliament with places such as, Lipton’s Circus or the Fort Railway Station. They can’t fathom anything more. Parliament is not meant for protests or ventilating grievances. As a legislator, one has a different role to play. Some MPs are making use of Parliamentary sittings to stage protests. I don’t know whether they are aware how much the people detest such behaviour.

Q: How do you ensure more respect to the Chair? There seem to be many MPs who don’t respect the Speaker, Deputy Speaker or the Presiding MP.

A: If these MPs are emulating leaders who don’t have respect for the Chair or the system, they will naturally follow their leaders to the letter.

Q: What do you think of the decision to release the video footage of the brawl? Will that tarnish the image of Parliament in the eyes of the public or help the MPs to control themselves in the future?

A: In this technology savvy age, we have to acknowledge the fact. A similar incident occurred in the US military when a few members of the US Army acted against the law and were dealt with.

When the Pope visited Australia, he made a statement that there were Catholic priests against whom disciplinary action was being taken and more than 10,000 complaints were received by the Vatican from all parts of the world. But he was upfront and dealt with them. The complaints dropped by 75 percent. So we can’t conceal facts nor withhold the truth. When we try to conceal our mistakes or the indiscipline, it would never be rectified. Why should we conceal it? They should be ashamed of themselves. The public has a right to know that these are the people they elected and this is how they behave in Parliament.