Sri Lanka postpones much talked constitutrion reforms to 2011, except the ‘Executive PM’,
Colombo, 20 July, (Asiantribune.com):
Sri Lanka’s hopes for a dramatic constitutional reform effort began fading today as the government itself postponing comprehensive changes to Year 2011.
Instead, in the immediate future, Sri Lanka will only bring in the ‘Executive Prime Minister’ to replace the current ‘Executive Presidency’. The government also faced a sudden onslaught on the reforms front from the Marxists Party JVP which issued a challenge to ‘first show the constitutional draft’ before (any) talks.
The ‘three phased constitutional reforms’ mooted initially will not be a reality in 2010, sources close to the government have revealed. Media in Colombo also reported that there are two opinions with regard to the newly proposed ‘Executive Prime Minister’ within the ruling party circles- one, to elect the Executive PM from direct public votes and the other opinion being to 'elect the Executive PM only on the votes of Parliamentary MPs’.
Sri Lanka’s intention to jettison the current Executive Presidency and to bring in an Israeli style ‘Executive PM’ was reported in detail by Asiatribune yesterday (July 18).
Meanwhile, the government faced new opposition on the constitutional reform front as the Marxist JVP challenged the ruling party to ‘first show the constitutional draft before any negotiations on national reforms’ and warned that the JVP will not come for any talks sans the full draft. “The draft needs to be seen for an exercise of such gravity & national importance.
Even though the main opposition party UNP is ready for talks sans a draft, we are not’ said Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of the party speaking to the press.
- Asian Tribune -
Comments
These on again, off again
These on again, off again announcements on constitutional reforms do not give the public any confidence about the seriousness of the government in bringing reforms. Starting from the APRC, all this now tantamounts to a joke. While agreeing that the APRC was not fully represented (the UNP, TNA and JVP did not take part as far as I know), at least recommendations contained in its final report should be made public by the government so that there can be a public discussion on them. The rush to change from an Executive Presidency to an Executive Prime Ministership seems a misplaced priority, as what is more important is to provide greater devolution of power to regions, and to have more sharing of power at the centre, and some means of assuring greater checks and balances. No doubt these are far reaching changes, but they are the real changes that are needed. While also agreeing that economic development is a higher priority at the moment to normalise the situation in the war devastated North and East so that people there can have a life style at least in par with the rest of the country, the process for constitutional change must also move on without the hiccups we are experiencing on a regular basis. If this continues to happen, the President and the government will lose credibility and people will stop believing what they say, and that can extend to many of the other things they are doing or planning to do for the country. What is needed now is some kind of realistic road map with a stated end objective, and for the government and Opposition parties to work towards without periodic on again, off again signals.
The so-called two opinions
The so-called two opinions within the ruling party, regarding the election of the Executive Prime Minister indicates, ONCE AGAIN, that at least one group within the ruling party is composed of ill-informed people. Prez Rajapake will be smart if he stears clear of the advise provided by this group.
THE REASON THAT TAMIL PARLIAMENTARIANS INSISTED ON AN EXECUTIVE PRIME MINISTER, IN CASE THE EXECUTIVE PRESIDENCY WAS TO BE ABOLISHED, WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE LEADER OF THE COUNTRY IS ELECTED BY THE WHOLE COUNTRY, AND THAT THE LEADER IS NOT AN M.P. ELECTED BY JUST ONE ELECTORATE, AND THEN SELECTED BY A RULING PARTY. THIS WAS THE SYSTEM WE GOT AT INDEPENDENCE AND, AS AS WE ALL KNOW, LED TO TOTAL, UTTER, DISASTER.
Certain people are vociferous about the unitary form of government. But when it comes to selecting the leader of the country, they prefer a system that is SOMEWHAT similar to selecting a leader for one Federal unit. But the difference is that this leader will not be the leader of just one Federal unit, but the leader of the whole country. Now are not these guys in this circle in the ruling party composed of a bunch of jokers? Do they think that people are dumb?
I agree with Raj G. (this thread), that the priorities should be:
1. SHARING POWER AT THE CENTER
2. GREATER DEVOLUTION OF POWER TO THE PROVINCES.
I feel that this sudden urge to focus simply on changing the executive presidency to executive prime minister has a LOT TO DO WITH PERMITTING PREZ RAJAPAKSE TO CONTINUE AS LEADER AND THAT HE NOT BE HAMSTRUNG BY THE TWO TERM LIMIT OF THE PRESIDENCY.
IF THAT IS THE CASE, IT IS A TRAGEDY. AFTER ALL THE BLOODSHED, AND ONE OF THE ROOT CAUSES FOR THE BLOODSHED WAS A POLITICAL SYSTEM THAT DID NOT REQUIRE THE LEADER OF THE COUNTRY TO BE ELECTED BY THE WHOLE COUNTRY, CERTAIN PEOPLE INSIST ON PLAYING CRASS POLITICS.
WE HOPE PREZ RAJAPAKSE IS SMART ENOUGH TO NOT LISTEN TO THESE JOKERS WHO FORM ONE CIRCLE WITHIN THE RULING PARTY, ACCORDING TO THE NEWS ITEM ABOVE.
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