No democracy in the absence of independent judiciary warns Karu

UNP MP Karu Jayasuriya yesterday warned of a great threat to the independence of the Judiciary following the presentation of the impeachment motion in Parliament on Tuesday.

 “We are compelled to raise our voices once again to protect the independence of the Judiciary.  When we look at the behaviour of those who are in power in the present Government and the way things happen, we witness a great threat to the independence of the Judiciary,” Jayasuriya told a news conference yesterday.

 “We do not intend to express our views on the ‘impeachment motion’ which was submitted to Parliament yesterday. But we foresee a dark future in the several recent attempts to interfere in matters pertaining to the Judiciary,” the UNP MP added.

He said that 17th Amendment was facilitated to bring about some controls to the unlimited powers of the executive presidency. Institutions such as public service, police and Judiciary were able to act independently through the 17th Amendment.

It was possible to establish independence and transparency in appointments for higher posts and discharging official duties, through the legislative council established under the 17th Amendment.

 “But this independence was completely destroyed by the present administration which came to power in 2005,” Jayasuriya said, adding that the country heard the death knell of democracy and the beginning of the dictatorship through the 18th Amendment.

 “It is evident that present appointments are given at the pleasure of the President. Appointments and promotions are given on political loyalties, instead of qualifications and capabilities. As a result, immense deterioration is visible in the public sector.

We see this deterioration in the public service, police, Judiciary, university education and many other institutions. Attorney General’s department is under the executive president,” Jayasuriya alleged.

“We raise our voice as members of the Opposition and Members of Parliament not to protect any individuals. We want to protect institutions. There would not be a democracy in the absence of an independent Judiciary.  

“Instead a tyrannical dictatorship will be formed like in North Korea and Zimbabwe. The intelligent people in this country will not allow such a rule. We remind those who are in power, if an attempt is made to establish an obstinate rule intoxicated by power, one day they will have to face the reaction of the people,” UNP MP Jayasuriya added.