After more than 25 years of being under military rule, dictatorship and a bloody civil war, we seem to have lost all disciplinary sensitivity. Whatever rules are instituted, aimed at creating a functioning society and making us good citizens, abiding by the rules of law, we tend to violate them with impunity and without the fear of the consequence. We are portraying ourselves to be an undisciplined society full of individuals who are prone to disobedience of the law.
Last week, the Government had a guest here from India. He was a Minister sent by his Government to probe the possibilities of creating closer ties and more productive relations beneficial to both countries.
The Indian Minister for Overseas Affairs, Hon. Vayalar Ravi, was involved in a serious motor accident and is now in a hospital receiving medical treatment. That accident could have been fatal. But it could also have been avoided had the taxi driver exercised caution and discipline. But we have reached a level of impunity in this country where drivers feel they are not obliged to give way to one another where they should. Everyone feels he has the right of way, either because he knows he has the right of way, or because he got there first. No one listens to the police, no one bothers about escort vehicles. So many times the Presidential security Escort Unit has warned the driving public about violating the Escort Line.
The accident involving the visiting Indian official is a serious public relations problem as it points out graphically how undisciplined we have become.
Should government impose draconian regulations similar to those that were in vogue during previous regimes, the public would raise alarm. But we should begin to take stock of ourselves. Whatever we do that runs contrary to the law is an invitation for government to tighten control. But we are a people who seem to prefer dictatorship or military treatment. This is a government that has slackened its reins on power. Citizens speak freely; people who tend to disobey the law are warned by the police and told to go their way, only to be found repeating those wrongs. This means democracy is either not appreciated or it is interpreted in a different light. Democracy is not anarchy. It provides a government run by laws and expects those who live therein to be obedient to those laws. Government is doing everything possible to make its citizens adjust themselves in keeping within the law; but if such mayhem on the highways and streets are to continue, then government needs to engage other strong enforcement exercises such banning drivers who behave as if there are no traffic laws in this country.
Government needs to get tough on drivers so that they can learn to ply their trade in a way that shows respect for life and property.
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Updated: February 8, 2010 - 1:04pm
After more than 25 years of being under military rule, dictatorship and a bloody civil war, we seem to have lost all disciplinary sensitivity. Whatever rules are instituted, aimed at creating a functioning society and making us good citizens, abiding by the rules of law, we tend to violate them with impunity and without the fear of the consequence. We are portraying ourselves to be an undisciplined society full of individuals who are prone to disobedience of the law.
Last week, the Government had a guest here from India. He was a Minister sent by his Government to probe the possibilities of creating closer ties and more productive relations beneficial to both countries.
The Indian Minister for Overseas Affairs, Hon. Vayalar Ravi, was involved in a serious motor accident and is now in a hospital receiving medical treatment. That accident could have been fatal. But it could also have been avoided had the taxi driver exercised caution and discipline. But we have reached a level of impunity in this country where drivers feel they are not obliged to give way to one another where they should. Everyone feels he has the right of way, either because he knows he has the right of way, or because he got there first. No one listens to the police, no one bothers about escort vehicles. So many times the Presidential security Escort Unit has warned the driving public about violating the Escort Line.
The accident involving the visiting Indian official is a serious public relations problem as it points out graphically how undisciplined we have become.
Should government impose draconian regulations similar to those that were in vogue during previous regimes, the public would raise alarm. But we should begin to take stock of ourselves. Whatever we do that runs contrary to the law is an invitation for government to tighten control. But we are a people who seem to prefer dictatorship or military treatment. This is a government that has slackened its reins on power. Citizens speak freely; people who tend to disobey the law are warned by the police and told to go their way, only to be found repeating those wrongs. This means democracy is either not appreciated or it is interpreted in a different light. Democracy is not anarchy. It provides a government run by laws and expects those who live therein to be obedient to those laws. Government is doing everything possible to make its citizens adjust themselves in keeping within the law; but if such mayhem on the highways and streets are to continue, then government needs to engage other strong enforcement exercises such banning drivers who behave as if there are no traffic laws in this country.
Government needs to get tough on drivers so that they can learn to ply their trade in a way that shows respect for life and property.