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Civil society expresses outrage over Sirisena’s drastic move
View(s):Statements, media releases and petitions continue to flow in following President Maithripala Sirisena’s surprise move to remove Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe from his post and instal Mahinda Rajapaksa, the former President, in his place.
Yesterday, in an open appeal to Members of Parliament, the Movement for Democracy–which said it was a network of individuals concerned with recent political developments–expressed shock and dismay at Mahinda Rajapaksa’s “unconstitutional” appointment and the proroguing of Parliament.
The group called for the immediate reconvening of Parliament and expressed outrage that political leaders have shown no regard for democratic norms. “We are deeply distressed to witness ministerial positions being awarded on the basis of changing political loyalties,” the movement said. Decrying the “culture of buying and selling votes”, it urged, “We appeal to you not to allow Parliament to be put up for sale.”
The Ceylon Mercantile, Industrial and General Workers Union (CMU), one of Sri Lanka’s largest and oldest trade unions, called “both the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister, and the suspension of the sitting of Parliament, to be anti-democratic and a blatant abuse of powers of the Executive President”.
Contradicting President Sirisena, the CMU said, “These moves have nothing whatsoever to do with improving the lives of the vast majority of people of this country, including millions of workers, who have, under this President’s Government, faced untold hardships and seen a steady decline in their living standards”.
The union called for a complete abolition of the Executive Presidency, pointing out that it has only ever been used to benefit a President or his or her collaborators both in and outside the Government.
These are difficult times for independent Commissions, said a statement from S.R.H. Hoole, Member of the Election Commission. Both Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mahinda Rajapaksa were claiming to be legitimate Prime Ministers with their own, separate Cabinets.
Prof. Hoole said that, amidst this confusion, it was regrettable many news media were calling various persons “Minister of this or that”. This, he said, is taking sides.
“Until Parliament meets and we know with legal backing which person claiming to be PM commands a majority, or the courts affirm who the legitimate PM is, our own personal opinions may not be relevant to the nation,” he said. “While the President’s position as President is unquestioned, it is unclear who the real ministers, including the PM, are.”
Prof. Hoole said he believed independent commissions, if truly independent, should have no dealings with any person purporting to be a minister, or those claiming to represent them, until Parliament or the Supreme Court resolves this. “Till then,” he said, “we must not meet or deal with them”.
The continuity of Sri Lanka’s democracy, peace and development, reconciliation and international reputation is at risk, said the Australian Advocacy for Good Governance in Sri Lanka (AAGGSL). “It is our considered view that the President’s irresponsible and unwarranted action is illegal, unconstitutional and a severe blight on Sri Lanka’s democracy,” said Dr Lionel Bopage, on behalf of the AAGSL which was formed in 2014 to promote democracy and good governance in Sri Lanka.
“The survival of Sri Lanka’s democracy, peace and development, reconciliation and international reputation is at stake,” he said. “We call upon the people of Sri Lanka and civil society organisations to collectively take a stand against this drastic move.”
Meanwhile, a civil society group called the People’s Movement for Justice and Democracy is organising a protest at the Liberty Roundabout in Kollupitiya this afternoon. People from the North and East, including relatives and families of the disappeared, are expected to attend.
“We are not aligned to any political party and have felt deeply the failures of this and past Governments to uphold rights and justice and to be accountable to the people,” it said in a statement. Condemning the appointment of Mr Rajapaksa as Prime Minister, it said, “As citizens and the real rights bearers of our franchise, we strongly reject the dangerous practice of political parties buying votes of elected representatives, using the current political instability to their advantage.”
“Members of Parliament, whose only claim to power is through popular franchise, have no right to betray our aspirations and trust, and their original mandate, in return for financial reward or benefit,” it asserted.
There have also been statements expressing concern from the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL); International Commission of Jurists, the Catholic Church, People for Human Rights and Equality, Amnesty International, the International Crisis Group, Brookings Institute and The Elders, among many others.