Actions Taken by Rajapaskas Government to Redeem the Country from Bad Politics - Example

What could have the previous administration have done to ensure the safety of its power and what would the county (Sri Lanka) would look like in an economic standpoint if such a thing happened Name: University Affiliation: Date: Introduction Rajapaska called for fresh elections with two years remaining in his second term as president of Sri Lanka. Most people expected him to easily win another 6 year term but he lost in the election. He had built a political empire and was popular with the country’s Sinhala majority, with some crowning his the saviour for defeating the 25 year ethnic Tamil insurgency in 2009. However, his government was accused of nepotism and corruption. These attributes forced the Tamils to vote against Him (Elliott & Srinivasan, 2012). In addition, the cost of living increased in his administration causing resentment from citizens who were majorly poor. Furthermore, Sirisena, his main opposition promised people good governance, sound economic policies and an inclusive administration devoid of nepotism and corruption. Previous Government Actions that Led to Its Abrupt Defeat Rajapaska’s government officials were bitter with him and his administration. Former ministers spoke against his family’s rule and oppression. They were angry at how the government forced them to give key positions and responsibilities to members of the president’s family, yet they were unqualified and inefficient in administration. The ministers were angered by the inefficiencies and oppression that people suffered in the hands of inefficient leaders. This was despite the fact that there were qualified members of the public with the qualifications required to serve the country better but didn’t get the jobs because they didn’t belong to the royal family (Tambiah, 2011). The former officials spoke against nepotism and bad leadership that was rampant in Rajapaska’s administration. This negative publicity affected the president’s efforts for re-election. It made people better with his administration and the resolution to elect a new leader with better reforms and political manifesto. The government was accused of murder, assassination and torture of opposition members. Mervyn Silva, a childhood friend of the president and former cabinet minister, filed police suits against Rajapaska’s brothers of murder. Silva said that former defence minister ordered the killing of Lasantha Wickrematunge, a renowned newspaper editor by shooting. His newspaper criticised the massive corruption and nepotism that was associated with the then government (Leonard, 2007). The paper also revealed how the government abused human rights and censored the media so that this abuse would go unnoticed by international communities. The government was also accused of killing vocal members of the opposition. Massive murder accusations, abuse of human rights and media censorship factors played against Rajapaska’s re-election campaigns, causing many people to vote him out. Measures that the Government Took to Avoid Defeat The government had lost favour with its people and Rajapaska was no longer a popular leader and saviour. To avoid defeat, he would have eliminated the external and internal threats in his administration. Threat refers to major opposition and bad publicity against his administration. In fact, his government was accused of eliminating threats and opposition. It achieved this through murdering and assassination of major opposition. For example, Silva accused Rajapaska’s brother of killing a popular newspaper editor. There was an order to shoot the editor because he was vocal about the government’s poor leadership especially nepotism and corruption. The government also accused of assassinating political leaders who opposed its rule. This silenced many opposition leaders and contained those in his administration from reporting any gross misconduct that involved abuse of human rights and misuse of national resources. Threat was also eliminated by military raids on opposition meetings and gathering. The government banned such gatherings on grounds of political incitation and treason. Media censorship was another measure that the government used to curb bad publicity and assert its rule. For instance, the government was accused of killing Wickrematunge, a prominent newspaper editor because he criticized the government for corruption, abuse of human rights and denying the people the freedom of speech (Leonard, 2007). The government was behind the mass white van abductions. These were strings of kidnappings that terrified the families of government critics. During and after the civil wars, many journalists who were suspected to be sympathizers of the rebels were kidnapped, tortured, killed or both. Furthermore, human rights activists, and other government critics were grabbed by unknown men, blindfolded and taken into the white vans. Some were beaten and later dumped by roadsides, others disappeared without trace. These incidences were meant to silence critics and avoid negative publicity from reaching the citizens. Moreover, the government media censorship was meant to prevent he international community from interfering with local administration through advocacy for upholding of human rights. The government used military measures to frustrate elections and efforts of the opposition to remove its administration. Rajapaska was accused of holding meetings with the attorney general, military and police chiefs the eve of elections. The agenda of the meeting was to device ways in which the government would declare a state of emergency to frustrate and halt the elections. He used this plan when it became apparent that he would lose the election. The government also frustrated the opposition’s campaigns efforts by banning their meetings on baseless terms. It also denied them permission to hold public meetings or simply denied them permit to public grounds (Elliott & Srinivasan, 2012). The government also used state resources to fund its campaigns. This gave it undue advantage against its opposition because it was able to fund vast campaign activities and reach more citizens. The government limited the involvement of international community and foreign affairs in its affairs. The government was very particular in choosing foreign delegates and ambassadors to represent the country in other regions. The administration mostly chose members of Rajapaska’s family to represent the country in other countries. Other members who got the opportunity were sympathizers of government administration. Rajapaska chose delegates who agreed with him to avoid international exposure of the gross abuse of human rights and poor leadership (Hewamanne, 2008). He also limited political involvement of foreign delegates to his country. The delegates were limited to administration work as the government refused to let them into its secrets and aspects that would enable them perform their roles. Therefore, the foreign affairs docket was very ineffective in influencing political transparency and good governance. This caused the government to be criticised and the country to be shunned by international community, resulting in adverse economic situation. There were plans to change the electoral system to that of autocracy so that power would remain in Rajapaska’s family. The family had ruled Sri Lanka for many years and it felt entitled to concentrate political power to the family. However, Rajapaska gave in to the pressure of holding national elections because he naturally assumed that he would win. The government also planned to use coups to frustrate the electoral process and ensure that voting was halted. This plan was devised when the government realised that Sirisena had the vast majority by his side and Rajapaska would lose the elections (Tambiah, 2011). The government used all measures available at its disposal to frustrate the elections and defeat opposition. Economic Impact of Government Measures to Avoid Defeat The international community cut economic ties with the country because of gross abuse of human rights and lack of cooperation with international laws and policies. The government was defiant in including foreign delegates in its administration and curtailing the efforts of foreign affairs from influencing good politics in the country. The country was unable to import important technology to increase national output. It could not sell its products in the international markets, forcing it to reduce its scale of products. The country’s currency lost in relation to foreign currencies, causing inflation and decline in economic activities (Leonard, 2007). This led to a reduction of gross national product/income leading to further decline in the economy. There was increased inefficiencies in the production process due to use of crude technology. Sri Lanka, being a third world country, depended on technology produced by developed countries for increased efficiency. Since it was unable to import efficient technology, the cost of production increased due to use of obsolete technology, leading to increase in cost push inflation. A decline in income per capita accompanies decline in economic activities. The country lost its international market and its currency lost value resulting in inflation. Inflation was also caused by cost push inflation that resulted from use of crude technology for production. The country also fell into civil wars and political tension that prevented investors from investing capital into its economy. Political instability that resulted from the struggles to free the country from oppressive rule created tension and pressure, making the environment unconducive for business operations. Businesses closed down because the purchasing power of people reduced due to decline of economic activities. Many people lost their jobs due to the reduction in gross national output. This resulted in lower standards of living, with many people living below the poverty level (living for less than a dollar per family per day). The macro-economic model The model is founded on the structure of bargaining that surround power shifts and the role of outside states in ensuring a smooth transition process. The decision to build weapon is shifted until after strikes take place or not. This foundation is built on Debs and Monteiro model. Another foundation that shapes the model is the efforts that a country make to reassure a potential rival state of friendly intentions. This approach is adapted to show how other states are affected by power shifting in a given state. A tying-hand signal is used to show how states pay for making and subsequently breaking commitments. The model is sued to explore interactions between two states. State one may choose to invest in weaponry resulting in power shifts and choose if to inform the other state. State two may choose to use strikes to stop this development. It is assumed that the states had bargained on division of disputed benefits. The status quo before this interaction represents the outcomes of the previous bargaining process and shows the relative power of the states. The positions taken by the two states in response to decision to invest in weapons by state 1 brings new negotiations that if uncontained may result in a stale mate and rivalry. The model starts with nature choosing state 1 to be either a revisionist or non-revisionist types. The two types are differentiated by preferences for weapon acquisition, which is influenced by the relationship between weapon cost and the benefits of power shift associated with weapons. For non-revisionist, the cost is higher than the benefits, while the benefits are higher for revisionist type. State two is assumed to know the position taken by state one. State 1 then makes a commitment whether to invest in weaponry or not. This information is diffused to the international community, which prepares accordingly, in case the state decides to deal with dangerous weapons. Perfect Bayesian equilibrium is achieved when the interests of both states are protected and power shifts through investment in weapons is controlled through commitments. The cost of striking would be justified for state 2 if it was sure that state 1 was building weapons. However bargaining and negotiation brings a state of equilibrium where both states are satisfied to maintain the status quo. The implications of the model to states are that weapon building affects more than the state involved in the practice. Other states are threatened and they have to counteract this practice mainly through defence mechanism that may result in conflicts and rivalry. A times the cost of building arms may be more than the benefits accrued to the activities. The conflicts that may result in power shifting may exceed the benefit of building weapons. Therefore, each stare should do a cost-benefit analysis before building arms and estimate the long term economic, political and social implications of its decisions. Actions Taken by Current Government to Redeem the Country from Bad Politics The current administration intends to imprison previous leaders for gross misconduct and abuse of power. The government administration officials will be acquitted for murder, assassinations, corruption, abuse of office and human rights. Rajapaska’s family members have already fled to seek political asylum in foreign countries and avoid imprisonment. The ex-president expressed his shock and disappointed at Sirisena for treating ex-government officials with such contempt and harassment (Jiggins, 2009). He questioned whether such actions amounted to good governance. Imprisonment for abuse of power is meant to caution government officers of the repercussions of abusing power and authority in current and subsequent governments. There are plans to track and retrieve foreign accounts and national assets grabbed by the previous government. The government is working with International Monetary Fund and the Indian Central Bank to track down billions of dollars of foreign assets held by top officials in the previous government. The new government started by raiding Rajapaska’s home to look for high value sports cars and a private jet that the family was believed to own. The new administration aims to reverse Rajapaska’s policies and forge reconciliation with the Tamil minority which was neglected and economically left behind by the previous government. The government appointed a civilian as governor of the Tamil Province, pushing aside a former military officer. The government also allowed access to internet especially the former blocked websites that included websites linked to remnants of the Tamil Tiger rebels. This made the Tamil feel included and therefore minimize resentment and resistance to new administration (Hewamanne, 2008). The government made economic reforms through economic stimulation programs aimed at reviving the declining economy. The programs included participation with the international community that led to lift of the international trade ban. Other economic policies encouraged domestic production to boost domestic markets. The new administration banned officials from former government from participating in leadership or enjoying state employment and benefits. This was to prevent former leadership weaknesses from trickling down to the new administration and warn current leaders against abuse of office. Economic Impact of Reforms made by the Current Administration Economic recovery and stimulation from the lifting of the international trade ban. The lift of the ban extended market for local goods and importation of advanced technology to increase production output and efficiencies. The revival of the economy saw the country’s currency appreciate in value and reduce imported inflation. Increased efficiency, reduction in cost of production and a wider domestic and international market led to expansion of businesses and thriving of the economy as a whole (Tambiah, 2011). Income per capita increased with economic growth due to increased gross national product. Higher per capita income translated in higher standards of living, reduction in poverty levels and higher purchasing power. Political stability enabled a conducive environment for local and foreign investment of capital resources. The heavy capital investment in critical economic sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture created further opportunities for economic growth. For example, formation of new companies that increased employment, gross national product/income, and government revenue. Increased in government revenue through increased business and personal taxes facilitated development of infrastructure such as transportation and telecommunication that are critical aids to trade (Elliott & Srinivasan, 2012). The government also invested heavily in education to increase literacy levels that facilitated local innovations aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on imported technology for its key economic sectors. This reduces the amount of imports and increase the net balance of trade payments, which further boosts the economy. Conclusion Rajapaska’s government was accused of nepotism, corruption, abuse of human rights, murder and assassinations, crippling freedom of expression and exclusion of minority groups. These attributes made him lose favour with people, thereby losing the elections and led to the decline of the economy. The new administration took measures to reverse former policies to include minority groups in administration, stabilise the economy through sound economic policies. It sought to imprison previous leaders for abuse of office, confiscate the national assets these leaders had grabbed and ban them from public leadership position. These measures aimed at punishing the former leaders for unconstitutional misconducts and warn present and future leaders against abuse of office. The reforms revived the economy, increased political stability and good governance. References Elliott, S., Elbahtimy, M., & Srinivasan, S. (2012). Threats to the Right to Life of Journalists. Hewamanne, S. (2008). Stitching identities in a free trade zone: Gender and politics in Sri Lanka. University of Pennsylvania Press. Jiggins, J. (2009). Caste and Family Politics Sinhalese 1947-1976. Cambridge University Press. Leonard, K. (2007). The South Asian Americans. Greenwood Press. Tambiah, S. J. (2011). Buddhism betrayed: religion, politics, and violence in Sri Lanka. University of Chicago Press. Read More