Associated Press,  Thu Feb  1 07:56:23 EST 2007

    BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI  -   Associated Press Writer  -              COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -  (AP)  President Mahinda Rajapakse cemented his majority in Sri Lanka - 's Parliament by courting a party of hardline Buddhist monks and offering its lawmakers a ministerial office, officials said Thursday.     
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- The Academic

Whilst this trend of members of opposition parties crossing over to the government in return for ministerial posts, is viewed as a good sign by many, I view this as a dangerous trend!
This is a serious threat to democracy in that the opposition is seriously weekened. Further, although they cross over to "support the government" they still bring their fundemental ideas with them. Therefore it can have a negative effect on the government. The leadership and the presidents office itself is weekened when it comes to serious policy making. Beware Sri Lanka!

The way LTTE is getting the beating, it is not surprising that TNA might want to escape from LTTE and join the government for protection. They are not new to this. The Tamils always run to the winning side. They know now that LTTE will not be allowed to raise its head in the future.

Over 20 UNP MPs (including Punchinilame few months ago) crossed over to PA side recently.

Can someone guess how many voters crossed to each side with this people?.

My guess is :

About 5000 former UNP voters crossed to PA side.
But over 15000 former SLFP/JVP voters crossed to UNP side.


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Peace for Sri Lanka

    

It's a realy shame that JHU too stoop down to the level of UNPers. Everyone knows that these bunch of Ministers are nothing doing to the pubilc but looking after their own kith and kin with higher rate of corrupiton only. By associating those rouges, JHU too falls to the same level and I beleive that gives a good messege to the voters for the next election unless they get a sympathy vote similar to Soma hamuduruwo.

There argument of supporting the government would have been continued similar to the past without siting in a cabinet. The given portfolio too is nothing but crack off ministry which is a clear eyewash.

Anyway as we know the internal politics of that party for the little over 5 yrs in public eye, wonder how many will fight for the seat beside Champika.

The typical "Sinhala Urumaya" visible now. Private agenda against the national interest.

     

How can the bribery and corruption be stopped in Sri Lanka?

The President himself is giving bribes to opposition MPs to get their help. Giving money, vehicles, positions, minister posts.. ...etc.... is bribing. Accepting such gifts and helping the person giving to remain in power is bribery/corruption.

Can they be prosecuted by the Bribery Commission ???


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Peace for Sri Lanka

"Whilst this trend of members of opposition parties crossing over to the government in return for ministerial posts, is viewed as a good sign by many, I view this as a dangerous trend!"

This is the nature of vultures and they have an enormous appetite and a great sense of smell. Vultures will always gather where ever there is food.

With the crossing of members of opposition parties, government become National and all people friendly. With Executive Presidential Powers MR will take all views and make tough stand.
He has all the capabilities & experience and has the grass-root touch. This is the only hope with the JR's constitution.

Wish Motherlanka a better future.

SHAME SHAME
Siddhārtha Gautama left Kingdom, wife and children to become a spiritual monk to teach the world love, care and spiritualism, Here in Sri Lanka criminals becoming monk to indulge power, politics, women and alcohol.

If those Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka follow the path of Gautama Buddha , we would no be in this situation ( mess).

Even after all this fuss, the govt has only 1 or 2 seat majority.  The govt had full support from UNP giving it a clear majority before the cross over. UNP supported passing of the last budget and current war against LTTE. Mahinda now killed the golden goose. The govt not only lost support of UNP but also strengthened the JVP in the process. Allowing these cross overs only makes sense if Mahinda does not want to offer devolution as per the MOU. However, if he was against devolution why try to sideline JVP by allowing the cross over? It just doesn’t add up. This move even prove to be the downfall of this govt if a few SLFP members decide to leave and join UNP or form another party. Strategically it was a stupid move and people will not forgive Mahinda destroying the elusive “southern consensus” and wasting tax money on Asia's biggest cabinet.


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Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth. - Albert Einstein

Jack123 wrote:

SHAME SHAME
Siddhārtha Gautama left Kingdom, wife and children to become a spiritual monk to teach the world love, care and spiritualism, Here in Sri Lanka criminals becoming monk to indulge power, politics, women and alcohol.

If those Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka follow the path of Gautama Buddha , we would no be in this situation ( mess).

Same goes for Hindu, Christian and Muslim priests.

Athos wrote:

Even after all this fuss, the govt has only 1 or 2 seat majority.  The govt had full support from UNP giving it a clear majority before the cross over. UNP supported passing of the last budget and current war against LTTE. Mahinda now killed the golden goose. The govt not only lost support of UNP but also strengthened the JVP in the process. Allowing these cross overs only makes sense if Mahinda does not want to offer devolution as per the MOU. However, if he was against devolution why try to sideline JVP by allowing the cross over? It just doesn’t add up. This move even prove to be the downfall of this govt if a few SLFP members decide to leave and join UNP or form another party. Strategically it was a stupid move and people will not forgive Mahinda destroying the elusive “southern consensus” and wasting tax money on Asia's biggest cabinet.

We can keep guessing MR's motive behind this. It is possible MR preferred to have a majority government with UNP defectors rather than seeking JVP support. By having close ties with a Marxist party, he would have thought, he will lose International support. Also by accepting UNP members into his government, he is hoping UNP will get weaker or disappear. Only thing we can hope for is full cooperation from these defectors  to crush LTTE terrorists. If that doesn't happen, it will be the end of Mahinda's political career and the end of UNP and SLFP. Whether we like it or not JVP will be the only choice left.

mawrata wrote:

It is possible MR preferred to have a majority government with UNP defectors rather than seeking JVP support.

Yes , this is the first impression anyone would get. However, think again! What stopped MR from getting majority support BEFORE the cross over? With the MOU, there was virtually no opposition to the government. Mahinda could have done anything with regard to power sharing, the war and development of the country. The international community also favoured the MOU because it took the Marxists out of the equation., Furthermore, the danger from JVP did not dissipate after the cross overs. In fact, the cross overs would have made JVP more popular among the people and made things worse. JVP feeds off govt corruption, inefficiency and mismanagement. The JVP makes the point, the ones that crossed over did so to avoid being prosecuted from corruption charges from COPE. Many people would agree with this sentiment. Mahinda is also now trapped when it comes to taking action against ineffective and corrupt Mps as that will make him lose the slender majority he has.  I believe Mahinda got a bit carried away with playing games here. He only thought one step ahead when he should have thought of 2 or 3 moves ahead.


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Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth. - Albert Einstein

Athos wrote:

mawrata wrote:

It is possible MR preferred to have a majority government with UNP defectors rather than seeking JVP support.

Yes , this is the first impression anyone would get. However, think again! What stopped MR from getting majority support BEFORE the cross over? With the MOU, there was virtually no opposition to the government. Mahinda could have done anything with regard to power sharing, the war and development of the country. The international community also favoured the MOU because it took the Marxists out of the equation., Furthermore, the danger from JVP did not dissipate after the cross overs. In fact, the cross overs would have made JVP more popular among the people and made things worse. JVP feeds off govt corruption, inefficiency and mismanagement. The JVP makes the point, the ones that crossed over did so to avoid being prosecuted from corruption charges from COPE. Many people would agree with this sentiment. Mahinda is also now trapped when it comes to taking action against ineffective and corrupt Mps as that will make him lose the slender majority he has.  I believe Mahinda got a bit carried away with playing games here. He only thought one step ahead when he should have thought of 2 or 3 moves ahead.

Athos:
Thanks for your input.
Resembles playing a game of Chess! I am sure we will be able to see some interesting episodes not too far into the future.

Athos wrote:

Even after all this fuss, the govt has only 1 or 2 seat majority.  The govt had full support from UNP giving it a clear majority before the cross over. UNP supported passing of the last budget and current war against LTTE. Mahinda now killed the golden goose. The govt not only lost support of UNP but also strengthened the JVP in the process. Allowing these cross overs only makes sense if Mahinda does not want to offer devolution as per the MOU. However, if he was against devolution why try to sideline JVP by allowing the cross over? It just doesn’t add up. This move even prove to be the downfall of this govt if a few SLFP members decide to leave and join UNP or form another party. Strategically it was a stupid move and people will not forgive Mahinda destroying the elusive “southern consensus” and wasting tax money on Asia's biggest cabinet.

Glad to find somethig that I agree with Athos about.


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"The degree of one's emotion varies inversely with one's knowledge of the facts - the less you know the hotter you get." -- Bertrand Russell