As a democratic nation (at least in its wording), we in Sri Lanka have witnessed crimes and injustices of the most undemocratic state, from war crimes to the present scenario in which the government accuses Chief Justice Shirani B. and has brought in an impeachment. Traces for CJ's current situation leads back to the supreme court decision on the governement's "Divineguma" bill, which refused it on the basis that it severely destabilizes the authority of the provincial councils and gives indefinite powers to a single cabinet minister of the government. According to a public statement, this is the reason why a parliament MP handed over an impeachement against the CJ to the parliament spokesperson.
Yet, given the above mentioned consequences of the bill, one should most probably expect such a decision by the supreme court. Yet, the government today, as has been its practice in its dictatorial regime, is not ready to receive or actually bear with difficult decisions by even the supreme court on its implementation stategies and networks, despite the fact that the sovereignity of the law must be situated above its subjects and must have a say of its own.
CJ Shirani B's case has been yet another eye opener towards the miraculous feat of undemocractic occurences in the country, towards which all opposition would be, I believe, nullified and subdued at whatever cost. So much for democracy, law and voice.
The government's effort to bring forth an impeachement and send CJ away should be deplored by all citizens of the country, if not the world, who value and still believe in the autonomy of the judiciary. As former President Chandrika Bandaranaike has said issuing a statement on the issue, it is the responsiblity of a country's citizens to protect its judiciary, for its protection translates and means that we, as citizens, are protected and our human rights are ensured and validated.
No comments:
Post a Comment