Illiberal democracy

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 October 2006, 16:08 GMT]
The electoral democracy in Sri Lanka, bolstered by regularly held "open, free and fair" elections, is often characterized as robust and vibrant by the international community. However, Sri Lanka has been plagued by decades of ethnic violence. Discriminatory legislation and a politicized judiciary have bred inequality, failed to deliver social justice, and have raised explosive issues related to sovereignty in the multi-cultural state. Reasons for Sri Lanka gaining increasing notoriety as a violator of international norms in human rights, and the State emerging as a killing field, can be traced to its polity's gradual, inexorable shift towards an illiberal democracy.

A liberal constitution that protects minority rights, basic civil liberties (speech, religion, assembly and property), and which fosters other liberal ideals (press freedom, independent judiciary), is a pre-requisite for a democratic state to progress towards achieving the ideal "goals" of democracy – social justice, equality, and ethno-political neutrality.

From the time of independence in 1948 Sri Lanka has been drifting towards a highly centralized state, discriminatory application of law by blatantly politicized judiciary, and institutionalization of discriminatory language and religious policies detrimental to minorities.

Sinhala Only act passed as law in 1956 was a watershed event marking State legislature’s first foray into legislative illiberalism to encroach on the rights of non-Sinhala speaking citizens of Sri Lanka.

Article 29 (2) of independent Sri Lanka's Soulbury constitution barred the Ceylon Parliament from enacting discriminatory legislation against a particular ethnic or religious group. Colombo repealed the protection in the 1972 Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and included articles entrenching foremost place and state patronage for Buddhism.

This act exposed the vulnerability of Sri Lanka’s rulers to succumb to electoral ethno-political pressures and signaled Sinhala polity turning towards constitutional illiberalism as a means to assist ethnic outbidding.

Contrast this to the first amendment of US constitution, considered as one of the most liberal: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

Introduction of powerful executive presidency in the 1978 constitution shifted concentration of power to one branch of government. Execution of Presidential powers since 1978, including sacking of elected parliament by Ms Kumaratunge, validated James Madison and Alexis de Torqueville who feared that without adequate constitutional safeguards and "checks and balances" among multiple branches of government, "majority will incline towards tyranny."

The State, unwilling to explore devolution of power to satisfy Tamil demands in the 50’s, turned to its ceremonial armed forces to suppress the increasing political-resistance of Tamil people in the 60’s. When the struggle turned into armed resistance in late 70’s by the Liberation Tigers who challenged the sovereignty of Sri Lanka in land and sea using its substantial military assets, Colombo turned to illiberal instruments to sanction repressive measures against sections of its citizenry.

Liberal democratic principles were compromised by the enactment of draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) which created a climate of impunity to mono-ethnic-majority -dominated security forces on human rights violations. Chemmani mass graves investigations, Bindunuwewa acquittals, and reluctance of Colombo to investigate the Jan 2006 execution-style killing of five Tamil students in Trincomalee, have raised critical questions on the deteriorating illiberal democracy and State’s ability to protect the vulnerable citizenry from the excesses of security forces.

In 2005, the Supreme Court acceding to Sinhala nationalist sentiments, derailed a compromise tsunami-aid deal P-TOMS that had the potential to bring warring communities together. In a more recent example, emulating the behavior akin to a rogue state, Sri Lanka's Supreme Court ruled as unconstitutional UN Rights body's verdict on a human rights case, violating the Vienna Convention on Law of Treaties.

Contrast this with the trust Americans, especially minorities, have in the US Supreme Court. The regular scholarly debates/discussions by judges and legal scholars, on uplifting American jurisprudence to higher level, continue to educate the public, strengthening the democracy and the rule of law. Infringement on privacy rights/ individual liberty by legislative action taken against new threats to national security, have drawn intense public debate.

Independence of judiciary in Sri Lanka has been further undermined, and 17th amendment to the constitution violated by Sri Lanka’s President’s reluctance to appoint anindependent Judicial Commission, illustrates the authoritative power yielded by Sri Lanka's presidency to flout the provisions of the Constitution with an obliging judiciary.

The Political capital from "democracy," and the post-9/11 anti-terrorism climate have provided a convenient temporary cover allowing the Sri Lankan state to portray all State violence as defensive acts against terrorism. However, increasing threat to fragmentation of Sri Lanka is unlikely to be arrested without a “dramatic change” to Sri Lanka’s polity facilitating Tamils’ very legitimate desire “to be able to control their own lives, to rule their own destinies and to govern themselves in their own homeland, in the areas they've traditionally inhabited.” Sri Lanka's continued incursions into the illiberal regime will only lead to economic ruin and political instability.

Related Articles:
05.08.06   Sri Lanka Army massacres 15 NGO workers
04.06.06   US: Tigers have ‘legitimate goals, unacceptable methods’
11.04.06   Sri Lankan President violates constitution - AHRC
15.07.05   Sri Lanka's Supreme Court issues stay order against P-TOMS
03.07.05   Supreme Difference
21.06.03   Negotiating Tamil sovereignty
20.12.02   PTA, ER, instruments to circumvent Human Rights norms – SC J..
25.10.00   25 killed in detention centre massacre
06.07.98   '300 to 400 bodies have been buried'


External Links:

USGov:		International Religious Freedom Report 2005
ACHR:		Court removes country from obligations under international law
US:		Federalist #47: Distribution of Power James Madison
FZ:		The Rise of Illiberal Democracy
ForeignAffairs:		Liberalism and Democracy
Wiki:		Sinhala Only Act
US:		Unlimited power of the majority Alexis de Tocqueville
Hindu:		Sri Lanka's executive presidency