MAKING A MOCKERY OF THE BRIBERY COMMISSION
WHILE the Government is
firmly committed to eliminating bribery and corruption from this land,
the opposition seems to be all out to ensure that the principal
anti-corruption body in the country remains paralysed and ineffective.
One would be led to this confusion on considering current moves by the
opposition to nominate an ex-IGP who retired in disgrace, to the Bribery
and Corruption Commission.
As is well known, the ex-IGP in question was found
consorting with narcotics dealers who are currently being brought to
justice and to seek to nominate such a person to the Bribery Commission,
could be considered highly outrageous and morally abhorrable. It is a
perverse move which could make a mockery of our entire administration of
justice system. Very rightly, although this nomination has been made
through the Constitutional Council, the President has deemed it correct
to oppose the nomination and all sections desirous of rigorous law and
order will support the President on this issue.
Has the opposition forgotten the wholesome traditions
which have guided nominations to such positions? No one tainted by
scandal could occupy public office. This is the golden rule because such
nominees cannot command the respect of the public and would prove highly
ineffective when it comes to discharging their duties. In the thriving
democracies of the world, the standard practice is to reject the
nomination of persons to high public office if they carry with them even
what could be considered "a whiff" of scandal. So great is the
importance and reverence attached to these posts, particularly if they
are related to the administration of justice and the maintenance of law
and order.
It is highly unlikely that the opposition, headed by a
lawyer and a veteran politician, was unaware of these important
considerations. It could very well be that they are quite happy with the
present order of things, where the prime mover against corruption in the
country remains paralysed and ineffective. This supposition could be
backed on the basis of the finding that bribery probes are pending
against some 14 former Ministers. Obviously, it would be in the
interests of the UNP in particular, to keep the Commission in a comatose
condition.
This just wouldn't do. The machinery to fight corruption
should be reactivated in view of the rampant nature of this contagion.
As it is, precious time has been lost and the kingpins of crime and
corruption are thriving. We call on the Constitutional Council to ensure
that only those with unimpeachable character are nominated to eminent
bodies such as the Bribery Commission. It cannot be emphasized enough
that those of questionable integrity should never be allowed to occupy
high public office.
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A LAUDABLE INITIATIVE
HUMAN trafficking has become a big business for
organised crime gangs around the world. The trafficking of women and
children in particular has grown over the years. It has become an even
more dangerous trend in the aftermath of the Asian tsunami of December
26, 2004.
Immediate solutions are needed to address this issue. In
camps for Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) throughout Sri Lanka, the
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has launched an
information campaign warning people affected by the tsunami of the very
real dangers of human trafficking. Through bright posters and leaflets,
2,000 in Sinhala and 3,000 in Tamil, people are warned not to fall prey
to specific risks when rebuilding their lives.
This is a step in the right direction, as there have
been many attempts to lure tsunami victims by traffickers. The posters
warn people who lost family and livelihoods in the tsunami to be
especially wary of those who promise a good job outside of the area or
abroad. The campaign literature alerts families to be wary of strangers
offering to take their children in order to give them a better life
elsewhere.
Luring such families and individuals in that manner is
not all that difficult, considering the fact they are going through a
very rough period in their lives, having lost relatives and property in
the disaster. They can easily fall for a rosy picture painted by the
traffickers of greener pastures abroad. The reality, however, is
different. Trafficked women are likely to be sold to prostitution rings
and children often end up as sex slaves or labourers. The victims may
also have their organs removed for sale. Their remaining financial
resources could be siphoned off and they could be convinced to smuggle
illegal goods, drugs or arms - serious offences which may result in a
life sentence. The IDPs must be made aware of these realities.
IOM is laudably taking a three-pronged approach to
reducing human trafficking in tsunami-affected districts. The project
particularly focuses on children and young women, the two most
vulnerable groups. The economic component prioritises livelihood
assistance to single-headed households. The aim is to protect the most
vulnerable children by ensuring that families have the financial means
to stay together, provide for their needs and ensure school attendance.
Government agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations
working in tsunami-hit areas must fully support the IOM endeavour.
Several NGOs have already employed trauma counsellors to advice tsunami
survivors on rebuilding their lives. They can also stress the importance
of not falling prey to the machinations of traffickers or their
recruiting agents. |
