LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

William Wordsworth, in his famous poem “The Rainbow” used the expression “Child is the father of man”, which means that all positive and negative traits are established when we are young. In Sri Lanka we are familiar with the saying “Like Father, Like Son” and there is also a colloquial Sinhala saying which says “If one is not his father’s son, then he should be “Nottige Putha”! (No one knows who or what Notti means but some have interpreted it as a corrupted word which originally meant “Not Ugay Putha”)


In our political scene, we have seen many offsprings of powerful politicians behaving as if they came down from heaven – in certain cases, even outsmarting their own fathers in their antics. We have just heard of a son of an infamous minister assaulting an army Major but getting away due to the influence of his father thus making it a “Minor” issue. Then we have a case of a son of another Minister getting away after creating trouble in his college whilst the other children who were with him getting punished b y the Principal, but sparing this particular young man due to threats from his influential father, who even went to the extent of getting his minions to buy out all newspapers and sent out coupons to make his son a School Boy Cricketer of the year!.

Some Ministers have even sent away their sons out of the country in order to keep them subdued as they had become uncontrollable. The funny thing is that most of these offsprings assume the powers and influence wielded by their fathers to engage in many nefarious activities in the firm belief that their fathers will rescue them from whatever chaos they create.

These politician fathers are in fact giving a bad example by “rescuing” their offsprings using their influence and powers without realizing that in doing so they unwittingly put their children into more jeopardy making them thoroughly undisciplined and a burden on the society.

Perhaps, they believe that such buffoonery on the part of their children qualify them to become future politicians – Like father, like son.

DEATH OF DEMOCRACY

Old timers in Sri Lanka would recall an Obituary notice which appeared in one of the dailies one morning in the late sixties which ran something like this : “ The death is announced of Mr. D.E.M. O’Cracy, beloved husband of T. Ruth and father of Justitia who died under tragic circumstances. Cortege leaving Villa Anduruwela” for internment”


Perhaps, it is now time to rewrite this Obituary once again with a suitable epitaph on a tombstone for posterity so that the future generations would come to know how Sri Lanka destroyed its democratic values and came under a jackboot.

When famous author Ian Fleming created the character of James Bond, he assigned him the code “007 – Licensed to Kill” – since his hero required it during the period of the cold war to eliminate the enemies.

It is rather funny that our own local Jamis Bandas too are playing with such numbers as 018 and now more dangerous 019 – all referring to Constitutional amendments but aimed at destroying the independence and freedom of their perceived enemies inside the country itself. Whilst the 18th amendment provided for the incumbent executive to have a free run and to perpetuate his rule with unbridled power, sans the independent commissions – thanks to the so called two thirds majority which had been achieved through dubious means; the currently proposed 19th amendment which aims at destroying what is still left of an independent judiciary, would drive the final nail on the coffin of Democracy.

It was just the other day we witnessed a politically appointed Chief Justice entering the Court Complex with a heavy contingent of security guards – perhaps another world’s first and in all likelihood the same Chief Justice is going to have a “ceremonial sitting” without the presence of members of the Bar Association but with political hangers-on for company.

It was Aristotle who once said: “Every fool in this world thinks that he is born to rule the others”

How appropriate it sounds in the current context relating to this once beautiful and free country.

THE CANDLE BURNT OUT......

The candle burnt out long before, the legend ever will’

WEDNESDAY, 09 JANUARY 2013 04:03 DAILY MIRROR

The 4th death anniversary of slain journalist Lasantha Wickremathunga was commemorated on Tuesday by members of his family, colleagues and the journalistic community at large. A simple candle lighting ceremony was held in front of the Viharamahadevi park in memoriam of Lasantha. Pix by pradeep k pathirana.

Comments



-21+1 # Ryan 2013-01-09 10:20

It is not good to insult dead persons

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-3+18 # Coconut Donkey 2013-01-09 10:28

An immeasurable loss to the Country in every sense of the word!!! A void that simply cannot and will not be allowed to be filled. RIP

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-5+41 # Adam 2013-01-09 10:53

A man of honor. While many live by the sword and die by it, this man lived by the PEN and died died with it. An irreplaceable asset of our country

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-30+7 # Ryan 2013-01-09 12:35

Bambuwa

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-2+8 # Coconut Donkey 2013-01-09 13:01

Going by his investigative pieces and countless expose's, he is a class apart and leaves a massive void to date!

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-3+2 # Achari 2013-01-09 13:12

This gut seems to be Mervin's step brother.

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-1+12 # Mikee 2013-01-09 11:11

Those who committed the dastardly sin will pay for it if there is one above.

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-17+5 # mohandev 2013-01-09 11:49

I dont know about any legends, he was man with an axe to grind with political motives not genuine free media man that how he met his fate. Look what has happened to his rag sheet now. Almost Govt owned! irony of being a political stooge for material gains.

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-1+10 # Jayantha 2013-01-09 13:09

What is the more severe crime? Is it writing artciles against politicians or killing the person who wrote it?

According to your argument, it is OK to kill someone who critisize the other. If it is so, oneday you will also have to face the same fate from somebody else you criticizes.

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-0+15 # Real Peace 2013-01-09 11:56

One can murder a top editor in a broad day light in a busy road in Colombo and get away with ease.....!! Where are the killers??

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-0+8 # Gamarala 2013-01-09 11:57

What has our local sleuths done about it? Have they just archived this investigation or is the investigation ongoing ?

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-0+10 # haris 2013-01-09 12:08

Alas! Why everyone has forgotten Richard De Zoysa? He was a great journalist & a New reader too.

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-1+1 # Dinali 2013-01-09 12:31

Shouldn't it be, "the legend Never will"? Just wondering.

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-1+7 # willows 2013-01-09 12:35

A big lost for journalism

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-3+15 # Calistus Jayatilleke 2013-01-09 12:46

Four years and how sad that the authorities have still not been able to punish the perpetrators, in spite of grand talk of ushering in a Miracle of Asia. At this time, it is apt to recall the great journalist's last editorial in which he quoted from Martin Niemöller, an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler.



"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out--

Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me."

Food for thought for all those who keep silent in the face of the current turmoils in the country.

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-3+14 # Clifford 2013-01-09 12:49

Lasantha was indeed a fearless and brave journalist and there was no doubt that he stood for the justice. Our country need to have more journalist in the caliber of Lasantha. for Sure he will be remembered always and be in the hearts of many who uphold the truth and justice.

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THE LAST DAYS OF DEMOCRACY

Judging by the happenings within the past couple of days, in all likelihood the judiciary will soon be brought under the direct control of the Executive President, just like the other numerous institutions in the country, including the Attorney General’s Department. It is now clear that the government is going to defy the interpretation of law given by the Supreme Court last week and will proceed to impeach the Chief Justice based on the report of the PSC. Thereafter, they will remove the Chief Justice and appoint a new Chief Justice who is more amenable to the government.


With the appointment of the new Chief Justice (“God knows” who!) the two-centuries old tradition of the independence of the judiciary in this country will come to an end and in all probability the courts will be brought directly under the control of the executive president and any judge who acts independently will face the same consequences as the incumbent Chief Justice.

It was just the other day that a government minister responsible (?) for Public Relations castigated the judges and judicial system openly at a media briefing with foul remarks of the “unprintable” category and then another minister, Weerawansa, has today called for the lawyers to be brought before the privilege committee to be severely dealt with. It is rather funny that both these pronouncements have come from the least educated members of the government and one cannot comprehend as to how or why the President is tolerating this type of nonsense from irresponsible ministers.
There are countries in the Asian continent, such as Myanmar, Cambodia etc, where courts are mere administrative bodies whose obligations are to facilitate the government’s schemes regardless of whether those are in line with the rule of law and the rights of the individuals. It is only a matter of time before Sri Lanka too falls into that dubious category.

Whether that is the Miracle of Asia we have been promised, only “God knows”!

SAVING DEMOCRACY

By now, it is clear that neither the Speaker nor the members of the PSC (both government and UNP) would be appearing before the Court of Appeal as noticed, with only the lone members of the JVP and TNA confirming their attendance. It is rather surprising that the UNP members of the PSC – particularly the senior vice president of UNP, MP Kiriella – after making a big issue of the proceedings and behavior of some government ministers including ridiculing and insulting the Chief Justice, have now backed away from highlighting these shortcomings to the Court of Appeal. One wonders for what purpose a country should keep such an Opposition which on most controversial issues either runs away or supports the government covertly.


It is also very unlikely that the President who is foremost a political animal, would ever rise to the status of a statesman and diffuse the issue through a face-saving compromise – as proposed by some of his own constituent partners in the government and a very senior minister as well – and appoint an independent committee to go in to the charges against the Chief Justice.

Going by various utterances of the Ministers who were members of the PSC, it is obvious that they have already assumed the roles of supreme human beings in the mistaken belief that they are the sovereign powers whereas true sovereignty, as per the Constitution, lies with the people and no branch of governance has been given an overriding role through the Constitution, although as things stand, this so called sovereignty has already been hijacked by the Members of Parliament who are supposed to be the servants of the people but have assumed the roles of masters and therefore much despised by the people.

As things stand, the Speaker will refuse to entertain any decisions or recommendations of the Court of Appeal and the Parliament will go ahead with the debate and conclude to recommend to the President to impeach her which the President will gladly do unmindful of the repercussions of such hasty and illogical actions which will attract condemnation from the world community.

All what “remains” now is to redraft a suitable Obituary for the Demise of Democracy as we had hitherto experienced in this country. The main opposition too, in spite of its pious talk of freedom and democracy should take a major part of the blame for this disaster.