I received a comment from one Mr. Perera from Cairo, who lamented about my opinion on the EU and the GSP+ issue published on Groundviews.
Fortunately for him he is in Cairo and not here. Had he been here he would know about the breakdown of the Rule of Law – the abductions, the extra-judicial killings, the disappearances taking place. The victims are largely Tamil civilians and even if they were LTTE sympathizers we don’t expect the State to act like the LTTE and deal with them according to the law of the jungle. Who does these things we don’t know for sure but only have suspicions. But they are done with impunity and the state law enforcement agencies have failed to investigate and charge a single suspect.
Lawless acts committed by Dr. Mervyn Silva on Rupavahini employees show that the victims will not be confined to Tamils & Muslims but anybody who runs foul of the powers that be. The whole edifice of the rule of law is threatened by constant attempts by the executive branch of government to do whatever they deem useful to maintain or increase their power.
People don’t feel that they have any interest in making self-sacrifices to promote or protect the rule of law. This may be because of fear, supported by constant intimidation and occasional violence a la Dr Mervin Silva. People are so frightened that they are very hesitant to speak out for the common good, or even to protect their own rights.
Even lawyers and other professionals as those in the OPA, who are well educated and have a fairly high social standing in society, have been hesitant to speak up, even when they realize what has been happening. Whether out of fear or passivity, prompted by concern for their personal income or safety, they remain silent.
The EU stand is for the greater good of the people of the country for there can be no lasting economic growth without good institutions that safeguard the Rule of Law as argued so cogently by Professor Amartya Sen.
R.M.B. Senanayake
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