Editorial
President's initiative for dialogue
It should be inclusive of CTG agenda
The President and his office should not normally be dragged into a political dialogue, especially in our country, where the atmosphere is so acrimonious. However, the government appears to have done it and the President has agreed to launch it, and already letters of invitation have gone to JSD and JP. We think the President should have set some conditions, especially of preparatory nature, before agreeing to it.
However, the move can be seen as a potential ice-breaker between the hitherto non-communicating contending political parties to come to grips with issues central to holding free and fair elections. Besides, it will have a bearing by way of defusing political tension building up to a show-down pitch. More to the point, the initiative throws open a door for a wider dialogue to include the caretaker government agenda, the chief bone of contention between the ruling AL and the opposition BNP.
Whilst the reconstitution of the EC is a pressing issue and a vital one, we need to mainstream the caretaker government issue for the dialogue to be inclusive, pragmatic and productive. There is no reason why the presidential dialogue which we look upon as a mediation bid should not begin with an assurance of revisiting the caretaker issue in a spirit of accommodation. Since the opposition is looking for a clear declaration of intent on the caretaker issue, this should be forthcoming from the ruling party.
The Prime Minister is on record having said quite a few times that should the opposition have any specific formula on the caretaker system they should present it before the parliament. She would be open to considering it. Of course, it would have been the best if they had presented it before the parliament, but we believe the presidential dialogue offers a right platform, too.
Most importantly, the Supreme Court verdict underpins the ruling party's commitment in the sense that it has allowed for holding the next two general elections under the interim caretaker system.
When the president is involved in a political process, it is the option of last resort taken. So adequate preparations should precede the dialogue. We have no indication whether any preparatory communication has taken place, or any attempt was at all made towards that end. While we welcome this dialogue idea we must raise serious concerns that without adequate preparation the dialogue may not succeed, and the President's person and his office may be exposed to the danger of being dragged into political controversy.
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