Network of Democracy Research Institutes
About
Member Institutes
Democracy Research News
Member Institutes
The institutional profiles below provide contact information, program descriptions, and research and publication highlights for current members of the Network. Most institutions provide more detailed information, including full texts of selected publications, on their own Web sites. Unless otherwise noted, all Network member Web sites listed herein contain information in English.
Network of Democracy Research Institutes
About
Member Institutes
Democracy Research News
Member Institutes
The institutional profiles below provide contact information, program descriptions, and research and publication highlights for current members of the Network. Most institutions provide more detailed information, including full texts of selected publications, on their own Web sites. Unless otherwise noted, all Network member Web sites listed herein contain information in English.
Mission:
The Academy of Political Education is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization whose primary objective is to support and strengthen a social order based on solidarity, rule of law, and a democratic state that respects individual human rights and liberties. The Academy's goals include spreading the ideas of human rights and liberties, creating an open society based on pluralism, implementing the democratic rule of law, encouraging parliamentarism and a multiparty system, and supporting good governance and the decentralization of power.
Activities include:
organizing and providing informal educational programs in democracy, human rights, civic education, and the media
conducting independent and joint research projects in political science, economics, and law and justice, including those that involve both domestic and international organizations, institutions, and individuals
publishing periodicals, brochures, and textbooks
participating as a country partner in the East Asia Barometer research project
Publication Information: Please visit the Academy's Web site for a list of publications.
Centre for Policy Alternatives
Contact: Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, executive director
24/2, 28th Lane, Off Flower Road
Colombo 7
Sri Lanka
Phone: +94-11-2565306
+94-11-5552746 Ext. 102
Fax: 94-11-4714460
sara@cpalanka.org
www.cpalanka.org
Mission:
The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), founded in 1996, is an independent, nonpartisan public-policy research and advocacy organization that focuses on issues of governance and conflict resolution in Sri Lanka. The Centre seeks not only to contribute its own inputs to the policy-making process but to strengthen the role of other civil-society actors in policy development and implementation. CPA receives support from international and bilateral funding agencies and foundations. Its research programs include units on legal and constitutional studies, conflict and peace analysis, media monitoring, opinion polling, and monitoring election violence.
Activities include:
conducting policy research and disseminating the findings through publications, seminars, conferences, and the print and electronic media
advocating constructive policy alternatives, lobbying decision makers, and shaping public opinion to strengthen and safeguard democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, human rights, and social justice
monitoring the executive, legislature, and judicial branches of government, as well as the media and other public institutions
provision of consultancy services to political parties and other organizations involved in the field of public policy and engaging them in dialogue on the issues identified above
forging linkages with local and foreign institutions with similar aims and objectives
Publication Information: For a list of publications visit www.cpalanka.org/publications.html.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
People who advocate for peace are called traitors by the government of Sri Lanka. But I am calling for good governance not only in SriLanka but also throughout the world.
The international community is well aware of everything that is going on in Sri Lana and it seems the IC is just watching or indirectly supporting the government of Sri Lanka and a few countries are directly supporting the government. I do wish to comment on their actions.
But it is really strange to note that even China is supporting the Government in the "war" against "terrorism". May be China (or the present day China) is not aware of the causes that led to the present situation. If I am not wrong, Article 4 of the Chinese constitution says as follows:
"Article 4. All nationalities in the People's Republic of China are equal. The state protects the lawful rights and interests of the minority nationalities and upholds and develops the relationship of equality, unity and mutual assistance among all of China's nationalities. Discrimination against and oppression of any nationality are prohibited; any acts that undermine the unity of the nationalities or instigate their secession are prohibited. The state helps the areas inhabited by minority nationalities speed up their economic and cultural development in accordance with the peculiarities and needs of the different minority nationalities. Regional autonomy is practiced in areas where people of minority nationalities live in compact communities; in these areas organs of self- government are established for the exercise of the right of autonomy. All the national autonomous areas are inalienable parts of the People's Republic of China. The people of all nationalities have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages, and to preserve or reform their own ways and customs."
It is really sad to note that China has not made the Sri Lankan government aware of this clause in their constitution which could be used by the Sri Lankan government as one of the ways for a political solution.
But in my humble opinion that Article may to some extent pacify the Tamils and may help to reduce the ethnic problem BUT it cannot solve the problems faced by the people of Sri Lanka as a whole.
The main cause for all the ills of any country and every country is the present democratic system of governance which allows "corruption" of all forms to thrive unchecked.
In my opinion "Corruption" includes any kind of waste, neglect and every form of malpractice, dishonesty, abuse, misuse, unreasonable exercise of power, failure or refusal to exercise power, anything and everything left undone which results in the right of the people being denied or impaired.
Without a "just society" in existence much talked about "terrorism" cannot be eradicated. For the creation of a "just society" there should be "good governance" in the country. For the creation of "good governance" in the country "corruption" in ALL its forms must be eradicated. And to eradicate "corruption" the present democratic system of governance, where full power to make final decisions ultimately rests in the hands of one person, must be changed.
So the only way to salvage a country is to change the present system of governance to one that is truly democratic where the final decision-making power will NOT be in the hands of ONE person BUT shared by as many people as possible and thus restricting individual hasty decisions that lead to trouble everywhere.
To make a country truly democratic, the powers of the Parliament (the decision making supreme body of a country) should be split and separated and each of the separated powers must be handled by different groups of persons selected and elected by the people for the purpose of administering EACH SET OF POWERS or duties as the case may be.
Particular care should be taken to see that all powers are NOT CONCENTRATED in one place and that they do not overlap and there must not be a secret budget to be handled by a single person.
All transactions should be transparent including Diplomacy which has to be diplomatically transparent.
One set of powers dealing with the development of the country should be given to the set of representatives at the village level. The people of each and every village must be empowered to determine their way of life (lifestyle). The life-style of a village, its lands and resources shall not be disturbed by external forces. All plans of development of a village that remotely/indirectly affects the village must have the concurrence of the people of that village concerned.
It has to be ensured that people are treated equitably regardless of their gender, race, colour, ethnic or national origins, age, disability, socio-economic background, religious or political beliefs and affiliations, marital status, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or other inappropriate distinction;
Separate the powers of parliament and empower different groups of people's representatives with different powers so that no single group has the full power. All the groups together will make the whole. The country is not divided but the powers of parliament are divided/separated.
Different groups have to be elected for such purposes as administration, fiscal management, planning, implementing, policy and law making, auditing and for any other function that may be deemed necessary.
The decision-making powers with regard to each and every set of powers must be spread through-out the country.
With such system discrimination, injustice, bribery and corruption might become history.
Even now the administration is from village level unto National Level in many countries with many stages in between - one above the other - with powers overlapping and the final decision-making power is at one place - the top. That is the problem and so that system must be changed.
We can lead the world with such a REAL DEMOCRACY with a parliament encompassing representatives from all the villages and starting the administration of the country at the village level and going unto national level.
Mahatma Gandhi wanted the villages of India to be empowered but it has not been implemented by the government of India yet due to human nature of not willing to lose the little power each person (office) is already in possession.
A change in the people's attitude and understanding of the problem is important. They must be made aware of the benefits the "rule of law" will bring to them in the long run. Now they are after short-term profits. They are not considering the future generations. A corrupt-free society will bring-in good-governance that will benefit everyone other than the crooked politicians.
In my opinion the people are ready to change the present system but they are not being given the opportunity by power hungry politicians. I think the countries of the World must move towards this goal and like-minded persons from all walks of life must join the movement and strengthen it. Only then can the people be able to give a send-off to ALL the corrupt politicians of ALL political parties and usher-in a new era of a corrupt-free society in any country. Rajaji (the last Governor-General of India) tried it in India but was not successful.
Rather than continuing to express and analyze the problem of the day we must move towards a solution.
They (the people) should move away from race/religion/language/class-centered/oriented politics and move towards a needs-focused administration that which is race-blind, religion-blind, language-blind and class-blind for sustainable peace, prosperity and a pleasant living for ALL the people in a country.
It is hoped that you would have the time to comment on the above suggestions which have been put forward in the interest of everyone.
Sie.Kathieravealu
Post a Comment