EDITORIAL - Lessons for Lanka from Jayalaithaa conviction

28 September 2014 07:59 pm - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

or political leaders, who seek power, prestige and popularity, personal gain or glory, by plundering the people’s wealth and resources, someday and in a devastating way, a great fall will come. That is a golden principle of life. So it was for Tamil Nadu’s popular and powerful three-term Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jeyaram who on Saturday was convicted of colossal acts of corruption and stripped of her post as Chief Minister.
According to the 1,000-page judgment in the case which had dragged on for 18 years, Ms. Jayalalithaa was found guilty of having assets valued at 6.67 billion Sri Lankan rupees. Among other assets disproportionate with her earning capacity were scores of companies set up to launder billions in black money, two estates to the extent of some 2,000 acres, 28 kilos of personal gold, more than 10,000 saris and 750 pairs of shoes. This reminds us of notorious figures like the Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda who were ousted in the famous people-power revolution led by Cardinal Jaime Sin.

Though the Jayalalithaa trial went on for 18 years and had to be shifted from Chennai to Bangalore for security reasons, it shows the vibrancy of India’s judicial process where all people, whatever their position, are equal before the law. This was a case where justice may have been delayed, but justice was not denied. When it came, the once pretty or petty empress was cast from her throne. All the popularity and prestige of her film-star career as the romantic partner of the former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran ended with a thunder bolt of justice and she now lies behind the bars of a VIP jail.

During Ms. Jayalalithaa’s third and last term as Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister – though some political analysts close to her say she could make a comeback – Sri Lanka’s relationship with Tamil Nadu plunged into the deepest end of the Palk Strait.
Independent political analysts believe the Rajapaksa government also contributed to the breakdown in the relationship by not appointing top professional diplomats to the Deputy High Commission in Chennai. As a result, there are major disputes between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Nadu in particular if not the whole of India over the ethnic crisis here and the allegations of Tamil Nadu fishermen doing large-scale bottom trawling in the Palk Strait.
What happens in Tamil Nadu next is still uncertain though India’s ruling BJP adviser Subramaniam Swamy says he has advised Prime Minister Narendra Modi to impose direct presidential rule for about two months.

Whatever the political factors, the more important lesson for Sri Lanka is to restore the independence of the judicial service so that it will be able to curb the rampant corruption, the abuse and plunder of public funds and other vices that are going on here unchecked. Instead of a vibrant judicial service as in India where even the Supreme Court is powerfully proactive on social justice issues, what we see in Sri Lanka is a culture of impunity, where the
vulture prevails.

Ruling party politicians, their supporters and stooges, thugs and hooligans are often able or allowed to do what they want because they know they can eventually get away. In Sri Lanka’s crisis of the breakdown of the rule of law, if not lawlessness and anarchy, it is not likely that we will find any of our Jayalalithaas, female or male,
in jail.
But history also shows us that the wheels of justice, though grinding slowly will grind surely and Uva’s political Waterloo was a clear sign that the time is coming when the mighty shall be cast from their thrones of nepotism and cultism. Then they will realise that with nothing they came and with nothing shall they go.

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 0

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

EDITORIAL - Lessons for Lanka from Jayalaithaa conviction

Comments - 0

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Two racing drivers arrested over Fox Hill tragedy

Train fails to halt, crashes onto Colombo Fort platform

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

New Visa procedure implemented

MIRROR CRICKET

Is Chamari Athapaththu Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketer ever?

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

TODAY'S HEADLINES

SL took minimal steps to punish officials who committed human rights abuses: US report

Iranian President’s visit Sri Lanka withstands western pressure

25 tons of solid waste disposed along Sri Pada route

Temperature rises to ‘Caution’ level

Sri Lanka secures third spot in South Asian Kurash Championship 2024

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Army forms committee to probe Diyatalawa Fox Hill Supercross accident

Indian cricket manager indicted for Legend Cricket League match-fixing allegations