No Nonsense
Socially isolating the corrupt
During his August 10 Channel-i talk show, the ACC chairman, Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, made a subtle reference to a former Filipino premier who had openly questioned how could one do away with corruption in a country where the people had accorded a ceremonious funeral to their most corrupt leader, President Ferdinand Marcos.
Since the publication of my August 13 piece, "Charges Delayed, Crimes Bypassed," in which I quoted Chairman Hasan, I have developed fresh acuities while underscoring some parallels to the aforesaid insanity among our own people and politicians who are courting corrupt leaders even before their funerals.
Consider, for example, the case of former president H.M. Ershad, a man who was once condemned to incarceration for corruption -- now defending himself against other outstanding charges, including gold smuggling. He's still the much-admired leader of Jatiya Party, and the people of his constituency still honour him with a rousing welcome. Indeed, they seem ready to elect him in a national election any time. While reconciling people's support in his constituency is explicable by calling them ignorant and under-educated, what virtues can anyone attach to the so-called educated politicians who still follow his trail?
What more can I say about Madam Khaleda Zia -- other than what I wrote recently? I am baffled by the extent to which Hannan Shah has deified Khaleda -- his devotion to her leadership appears as fervent as it is boundless, regardless of her being good or bad. After the admission of tax evasion, of course, we now know for sure that she isn't all good. Apparently, such offenses matter little to the likes of Shah.
The extent of Khaleda's irrationality is simply mind-boggling. Her audacity in complaining about the violation of her human rights for being denied permission to distribute relief materials to flood victims is revolting, given that her counterpart is in jail for alleged indiscretions, which, in comparison to Khaleda's shenanigans, seem like little more than childish pranks.
During a brief teleconference with Rajshahi city party leaders on August 18, Khaleda pleaded with them to "stay united and pray to the Almighty Allah for the people of the country and the party so that we can work together again" (note: indoor politics, but not politics on the air, is banned). Praying for Allah's mercy and help for the people is fine, but why would Allah favour the party of corrupt leaders over AL or JP, whose culpabilities are much less by any stretch of comparison?
Also, what makes her think that she and the people will ever "work together again." How does Hannan Shah know that Khaleda isn't at imminent risk of being hand-cuffed?
In fact, there's a growing perception that the charges of alleged corruption against Khaleda, her sons, and Saeed Eskander, will be obliterated by a presidential pardon on the same premises that allowed her detained son Tarique Rahman to be uplifted from the ordinary criminals' cell to "division" status reserved for VIPs.
As for Sheikh Hasina -- the government has locked her up, and keeps imploring the Supreme Court to keep her that way as long as possible. She's still innocent of all charges until proven otherwise, and her courtiers are well within their rights to hang around the court-house and "chant and do monajat to God" for her release (as if He has nothing else to do).
While the general perception about Hasina is that she must have done some wrong somewhere -- the perception about Khaleda's corruption and illicit activities is now documented after her "haram (black) money" was sanitised by NBR into "halal money."
So, why censure the people of Philippines for what they did for the dead Marcos, when we've smaller living "Marcoses" among us -- smaller only in their scale of illegal accretions.
Believe it or not, all those who are either serving time behind bars, or will be serving shortly, will likely receive a stirring welcome back to the real world by the people of their constituencies -- possibly propelled by the fear of retribution if the convicts get back to power once again, or because birds of a feather flock together. What to do then?
The Election Commission is devising rules to bar all corrupt politicians from contesting in the 2008 national elections. But what will stop them from supporting the candidates of their parties, and deriving power and influence in wheeling and dealing in the future? Thus, being condemned to prison may not be enough -- socially isolating them, as suggested by army chief General Moeen Ahmed a few weeks ago, may be the most appropriate follow-up humiliation. What did Moeen actually mean by "social isolation?" My best hunches are:
- The corrupt politicians and public servants (PPS) must be properly tagged, lest we forget about their criminality.
- Corrupt politicians' bases must be dismantled to cripple any collective support to any EC cleared candidates.
- They must be barred from giving political speeches in support of any candidate.
- Corrupt PPS spouses should also be charged as willing accomplices to corruption.
- Voluntarily avoid matrimonial relationship with the families of the corrupt.
- Union council offices should post banners inscribing the names of corrupt politicians from their constituencies.
- Bank accounts and investment in financial assets should be banned for all convicted PPSs.
- Avoid inviting corrupt PPSs to parties and other gatherings.
- Convicted PPS right to passport should be forfeited, unless it is needed for Haj or medical treatment abroad.
- Finally, corrupt PPS should be subject to some form of spiritual condemnation and religious sanctions by the nation's religious leaders (similar to excommunication practiced by some churches).
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