Centre for Policy Alternatives

Centre for Policy Alternatives on 11 December, 2017

PRESS RELEASE: Despite growing challenges to democracy, data reveals that globally democracy is not in decline, according to new International IDEA publication.

11^th December 2017, Colombo, Sri Lanka –The world has experienced continued and steep democratic progress, however this progress has slowed down over the past decade. Challenges and threats have emerged in specific countries and regions, according to the first edition of The Global State of Democracy publication from The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA). Now, democracy is at a crossroads and continuous actions must be taken to safeguard and protect it.

International IDEA’s Global State of Democracy publication, based on the new Global State of Democracy indices, highlights that almost all aspects of democracy have advanced over the past four decades. Most electoral democracies established in this period survived, and the number and proportion of countries holding elections have increased. Governments are now more representative of (and responsive to) their constituencies, more countries respect the fundamental rights of their citizens, and social rights and equality feature sharp improvements. More importantly, governments are more constrained by checks from parliaments, the judiciary and the media. In addition, according to International IDEA’s analysis, the value people give to democracy is strengthened when democratic backsliding occurs. The most difficult aspects for democracies to tackle are corruption and rule of law, which have not improved since 1975.

The first edition of The Global State of Democracy publication analyses and assesses emerging challenges and threats. It is based on a new set of indices that collect data on key attributes of democracy across 155 countries from 1975 to 2015. The starting point of 1975 coincides with the ratification of the United Nations Conventions on Civil and Political Rights as well as Economic and Social Rights and the so-called ‘Third Wave of Democracy’. Zooming-in on some of the most pressing crises for democracy today, the publication provides insights into the future of political parties and representation, corruption and money in politics, inequality, migration, and post-conflict peacebuilding. The publication provides actionable recommendations for citizens, politicians and technocrats worldwide in their efforts to combat these threats.

“We see the challenges to our democracy in our daily news. There are cases of national leaders attempting to retain power beyond constitutional limits, attacks on human rights, and the rollback of civil liberties and freedom of the press”, said Yves Leterme, International IDEA Secretary-General. “International IDEA is concerned about the rise of challenges to democracy. Our role—every citizen’s role—is to protect democracy.”

A regional launch of The Global State of Democracy: Exploring Democracy’s Resilience will be held at the Asia-Pacific Conference on Resilience of Democracy: “21st Century Solutions for 21st Century Challenges to Democracy”, organised at Mövenpick Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka on 13-14 December 2017. The conference brings together policymakers, experts, academics, civil society groups and young professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region to discuss innovative, actionable solutions to the challenges of democracy as identified in the Global State of Democracy publication.

The conference will focus on three themes: 1) democracy’s resilience to backsliding, 2) influence of money in politics, corruption, and 3) inclusive peacebuilding in conflict-affected states. A special panel session composed of high-level officials and experts highlights the second day of the conference bringing state of democracy in Sri Lanka on focus as well.

The regional launch is organized by International IDEA, the Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA),and Democracy Reporting International (DRI)

The publication is available in English, both in print and online. An overview of the publication will be available in English, Spanish, French and Arabic. Explore the publication’s website and the indices to learn more about the quality of democracy, comparing countries and regions.

###

The Global State of Democracy publication
The Global State of Democracy is a biennial publication analysing and assessing the state of democracy around the world based on data from the Global State of Democracyindices. The publication includes an overview of global and regional democracy trends and developments, current challenges and crises, as well as evidence-based and actionable recommendations for policy makers and democracy practitioners worldwide.

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is an intergovernmental organization that supports sustainable democracy worldwide. International IDEA’s mission is to support sustainable democratic change by providing comparative knowledge, and assisting in democratic reform, and influencing policies and politics. International IDEA produces comparative knowledge in its key areas of expertise: electoral processes, constitution-building, and political participation and representation, as well as democracy as it relates to gender, diversity, and conflict and security. For more information, visit www.idea.int
Media Contact: Raul Cordenillo, [email protected], Tel: +46 8 698 37 75

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA)
The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) was formed in the firm belief that there is an urgent need to strengthen institution and capacity-building for good governance and conflict transformation in Sri Lanka and that non-partisan civil society groups have an important and constructive contribution to make to this process. The primary role envisaged for the Centre in the field of public policy is a pro-active and interventionary one, aimed at the dissemination and advocacy of policy alternatives for non-violent conflict resolution and democratic governance. Accordingly, the work of the Centre involves a major research component through which the policy alternatives advocated are identified and developed.
Media Contact: Amalini De Sayrah, [email protected], Tel: +94 775090087

Programme Contact: Nathalie Ebead, [email protected]

Centre for Policy Alternatives on 23 November, 2017

Selective Memory: Erasure & memorialisation in Sri Lanka’s North

23rd November, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The insurrections of the 1970s, the riots of 1983 and the 30-year conflict – all which have immeasurably shaped the country’s history and have far more reaching consequence for its future – are glaringly absent from the history syllabus of the Sri Lankan education system. Textbooks are one way of teaching history and memorialisation. So too are the physical expressions of history and of memory, in the monuments we have built to tell the stories of our past. As with the lessons that we teach the younger generations, the Sri Lankan State’s practice is selective here too.

From schoolbooks to statute and statues, this erasure of the country’s violent recent history is reflective of deliberate State amnesia on the part of successive governments and a convenient approach to dealing with the past – without confronting its horrors – by way of denial. The atrocities witnessed, especially by those living in the combat zones of the Northern Province, and the drastic losses faced by the communities have been reduced to monuments that tell only one, partial story – that of the glorious victories of the armed forces.

The monuments do not account for the multiple narratives and truths around experiences of the conflict. The State-sponsored memorials were not built with any consultation from the communities that live in the immediate vicinity. Communities whose histories are linked to these places and what they were before the conflict, and whose everyday realities are linked to these places and what they are after the conflict.

For people from the South in general, it may be difficult to understand why these memorials are so out of place and violent. For the people living around them, the monuments are a living reminder of the painful recent past which prevent them from ‘moving on’ in any sense.

The impact of these memorials is inextricably linked to the patterns of militarization and land occupation that remain in the Northern Province, eight years after the conflict came to an end. Taking into consideration the ground realities that persist for residents of these areas, issues that have gone unaddressed by several governments, sustained marginalization of this nature, if left unaddressed, has the potential to fuel renewed cycles of conflict.

Access this story made on Microsoft Sway here or view the embed below.

Centre for Policy Alternatives on 13 November, 2017

On the blocking of Lanka E News website in Sri Lanka

13^th November 2017, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) notes with concern the inaccessibility of online news website Lanka E News from within Sri Lanka since 8^th November 2017. AFP reports that the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) had ordered internet service providers “to block Lanka E News”. Mainstream media in Sri Lanka reported that President’s Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, in his capacity as a member of the TRCSL, had strongly defended the decision to block the website, calling the operation of the website, in his opinion, “illegal”. Network measurements conducted by CPA on the independent online censorship monitoring service run by the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI) confirm that Lanka E News is blocked in the country.

Whether by executive order or based on a unilateral decision by the TRCSL, CPA notes that the blocking of Lanka E News has not followed due process and is completely extra-judicial in nature. Revealingly, the move comes soon after a public pronouncement by Government Spokesperson Rajitha Senaratne requesting the President to arrest those who post abusive language or content criticising him on social media and websites. Mr. Senaratne went on to note that one could criticise the President, but not personally abuse him.

The recent action and statements by government officials and Ministers constitute a direct and real threat to the open questioning of political leadership and official policies, the very foundation of yahapalanaya. The renewed extra-judicial blocking of websites sadly mirrors the awful tactics adopted by the Rajapaksa regime to quell dissent and suppress inconvenient truths. Domestic and international media watchdogs at the time regularly flagged online censorship as a means through which the Rajapaksa regime controlled the flow of news and information, in addition to other more violent means.

CPA stresses that due process and the Rule of Law need to be followed when dealing with any inaccurate, false or defamatory content. The arbitrary, extra-judicial blocking of websites runs counter to the mandate given to the government in January 2015 to strengthen and secure dissent, debate and dialogue. We also note that online censorship often leads to the Streisand Effect, where what is sought to be hidden or made inaccessible becomes that much more credible and visible, a result that is precisely the opposite of what is intended.

Furthermore, CPA strongly cautions the government that online surveillance and censorship contribute to a chilling effect on democratic dialogue. This in turn places vital processes like an online referendum, proposed by the Prime Minister recently, on the Interim Report of the Steering Committee of the Constitutional Assembly, at great risk of failure and rejection.

We call upon the government and TRCSL to instruct all ISPs to immediately suspend the blocking of Lanka E News. ISPs in Sri Lanka are urged to use the full weight of the law to combat arbitrary orders from the State that violate rights of customers to freely access information online. We also call upon the government to conduct effective and sustained media and information literacy programmes as an effective counter against the spread of disinformation and fake news.

Education and awareness, not censorship, are the keys to a healthy democracy.

Download this release in English and Tamil.

Centre for Policy Alternatives on 3 November, 2017

Response to the Venerable Bellanwila Wimalaratne Thero’s Comments on the Centre for Policy Alternatives

2 November 2017, Colombo, Sri Lanka: On Saturday 28^th October, both Hiru and Ada Derana News broadcast ideas about the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) expressed by the Venerable Bellanwila Wimalaratne Thero. Addressing a conference of Bikkhus at the Dhammikaramaya in Ratmalana on the proposed new constitution, the Venerable Thero stated that CPA and its Executive Director Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu are behind “constitutional courts” and are “pumping” the constitutional reform process with “NGO money”. A report to this effect was also published in the Lankadeepa newspaper on 1^st November 2017.

CPA strongly rejects the statement made by the Venerable Thero. His comments unfortunately associate him with the extremist opponents of the constitutional reform process. These extremists have labelled supporters of a new constitution “traitors”, threatened them with death and called for Parliament to be bombed if a new constitution is passed by its members. In this context, CPA is appalled and saddened by these remarks of such a highly respected member of the Sangha.

CPA also notes that the Venerable Thero does not produce any evidence in respect of the allegations made against CPA and its Executive Director’s purported role in the constitutional reform process. Accordingly, CPA regrets to have to state that such remarks by such a personage are alarmingly irresponsible and even inflammatory.

Our shock and sadness in this regard are compounded by the fact that the Venerable Thero made a deeply respected contribution to our ‘Never Again’ public interest television campaign in 2008 marking the 25^th anniversary of Black July, the central message of which was non-violence and peaceful coexistence amongst all the peoples of our country.

In keeping with its non-partisan organisational mandate, CPA has engaged in strengthening good governance and democracy in Sri Lanka since its inception in 1996. CPA will continue to work on research and advocacy to build broad public support for a new constitution.

CPA fervently hopes that the public debate on the new constitution can be carried out without misinformation, insinuations and threats of violence, which are all reminiscent of the recent past. We believe our country needs a new constitution that meets the aspirations of all of its peoples and comprehensively rejects the politics of hurt, harm and hate. We strongly appeal to our fellow citizens, politicians and all religious leaders to engage in and lead an informed, responsible and constructive debate on this pivotal issue.

Download this release in English, Sinhala and Tamil.

Centre for Policy Alternatives on 26 September, 2017

CPA Statement on the Release of the Interim Report of the Steering Committee to the Constitutional Assembly

26th September 2017, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) welcomes the presentation of the Interim Report of the Steering Committee to the Constitutional Assembly on 21^st September 2017. CPA now calls on the government to firmly commit to the next steps of the constitutional reform process, including by providing clear dates on when the next debates of the Constitutional Assembly will occur; when the Final Report accompanied by the Draft Constitutional Proposal will be released; and when the consideration and approval of the Draft Constitutional Proposal is scheduled. CPA also calls for clarity on if further public consultation on either the Interim Report or the Final Report and Draft Constitutional Proposal is planned.

A clear roadmap and commitment to the remaining stages of the constitutional reform process is essential. CPA notes with concern, as it has repeatedly done, the lack of clarity, insufficient prioritisation and accordingly, immediacy, with regard to the process, particularly over the course of this year. The Interim Report was initially promised in December 2016, and therefore comes after substantial delay. The lack of information and direction about the process, even by members of the Constitutional Assembly themselves, has seemed endemic.

The absence of clarity, focus and speed has substantially blunted the momentum behind the constitutional reform process after a promising start in 2015 and over 2016. It has also allowed for a number of anti-reform forces to group and organise, and for anti-reform narratives to firmly take root. These narratives threaten not only the constitutional reform process but the government’s wider reform agenda.

The promise of the present historic moment of inclusive constitutional reform must not be squandered. Previous major constitutional reform efforts throughout Sri Lanka’s history have failed precisely due to a lack of clarity, direction and immediacy. A clear commitment to the constitutional reform process with a detailed articulation of the next steps is the only way to avoid this and to ensure that the process succeeds.

Download the statement in English, Sinhala and Tamil.

Centre for Policy Alternatives on 25 September, 2017

CPA statement on passage of Provincial Councils Elections Amendment Act

25^th September 2017, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is extremely concerned by the rushed and non-transparent process followed by the government to amend the Provincial Councils Elections Act. This amendment Act was passed by Parliament on 20^th September 2017 with the support of more than two-thirds of the Members of Parliament. Due to a substantial number of committee-stage amendments that were adopted, the Act that was passed was materially different to the Bill that was gazetted (on 10^th July 2017), tabled in Parliament (on 26^th July 2017), and examined by the Supreme Court. The original Bill was only to provide for a quota of 30% for female candidates on the nomination papers submitted at Provincial Council elections. However, from the information available in the public domain (CPA has not seen the final Act) the Act that was passed changes the electoral system for elections of Provincial Councils and provides for a quota of 25% for women in all Provincial Councils.

At the outset, CPA notes that changing the electoral system to a Mixed Member Proportional system and the introduction of a quota for women in Provincial Councils are both welcome changes. However, the rushed manner in which these changes were made is contrary to the principle of representative democracy. The amendments, which completely changed the policy behind the Bills, were not made public to allow for any public debate or scrutiny, and were not subject to discussion even at the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committee. This procedure is particularly problematic when engaging in complex issues such as electoral reform, which requires complicated political compromises and mathematical formulae to be translated into legislative language. Special care needs to be taken to ensure that the legislation drafted is not unworkable. Although what the government did was technically legal, the procedure adopted sets a bad precedent and brings into question the government’s commitment to transparency in governance, and to enabling the new sectoral committee system to perform its scrutiny and accountability role in any meaningful way.

The Sri Lankan constitution allows only for a limited “pre-enactment review of Bills of Parliament” seven days after a Bill has been placed on the order paper of Parliament. By adopting the process it did, the government has taken away the right of citizens of Sri Lanka to have the proposed amendments examined by the Supreme Court. The government has thus reinforced the concerns expressed by CPA and many others about executive dominance and the lack of transparency in the law-making process. CPA reiterates that legislation should not be passed in a rushed manner and that the constitutional role of Parliament and the constitutional rights of citizens in the law-making process should be respected.

The effect of the Act would be to postpone Provincial Council elections for at least six months. This is because the new electoral system requires demarcation of constituencies, which is a complicated and often contested process. The powers of the Provincial Councils whose term of five years will expire in the meantime will be exercised by the President and/or Parliament under Article 154L and 154M of the Constitution. This seriously impacts, as well as reflects adversely upon the government’s commitment to, the principle and practice of devolution. It is also entirely possible that this gap in democratically elected institutions at the Provincial Council level could continue beyond six months and impact all Provincial Councils. This precedent could easily be used by any government that intends to cripple the Provincial Council system in the future. In this context, it is disappointing that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) supported this Act with little regard to the considerable attack on devolution that the Twentieth Amendment Bill (now aborted) and this Act cumulatively represent.

CPA notes that this drastic procedure was adopted after the Supreme Court determined that the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution Bill would require a referendum to be enacted. This creates the perception that the government has passed this Act to postpone elections. Provincial Councils are constitutionally established, and democratically elected institutions, and it is not legitimate for the government to interfere with such devolved institutions for whimsical reasons or to overcome its own strategic blunders. The postponement of elections is a serious violation of the sovereignty of the people and should only happen in exceptional circumstances if at all. The government has articulated no such exceptional circumstances. In light of several unfulfilled promises by leaders of the government regarding the date for elections for local authorities, there is no guarantee that elections for Provincial Councils will actually happen in six months as the government promises. CPA further calls on the TNA as the main opposition party in Parliament to put pressure on the government to ensure elections take place as promised.

CPA calls on the government to abide by its promise and ensure that all necessary steps are taken to conduct local authority elections before the end of January 2018 and Provincial Council elections before end of March 2018. CPA further insists that the government engages in law-making in a transparent manner that respects citizens’ rights as well as the role of Parliament, particularly in relation to constitutional issues.

Download the full release in English, Sinhala and Tamil.

Centre for Policy Alternatives on 14 September, 2017

150 Years Later: The Story of Tea – campaign recap

In August 2017, we celebrated 150 years of tea production in Sri Lanka. While there was much reported in the media around celebratory events by tea producers, distributors, and the hospitality industry, and the future of Ceylon tea, there was little to no mention whatsoever of the tea plantation workers without whose contribution the industry would not exist.

With the objective of creating more visibility and awareness and to ensure that key narratives do not remain invisible during this significant anniversary, CPA’s civic media output – by way of Groundviews, Vikalpa and Maatram – were anchored to key issues facing the tea plantation workers to coincide with the 150-year anniversary celebrations, as it is important to consider issues faced by the workers who sustain the industry. The output focused on the change (or lack thereof) in the lives of the workers 150 years since the start of the industry, including a plethora of issues faced by them and their families, challenges for the future, areas for reform and strengthening rights. Content is in all three languages, through short-form video, photography, long-form journalism and other interactive media, and has been compiled below.

This project was supported by Democracy Reporting International.