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The Code of Conduct
AU the political parties, contesting the February parliamentary election, have taken a significant step by agreeing to a 12-point draft Code of Conduct which is designed to help in the holding of a free and fair polls. Credit goes to the Election Commission for bringing together the senior representatives of the parties on Thursday and persuading them to adopt the draft. The move which will be welcomed by people in all walks of life should, we hope, raise the credibility and strengthen the Commitment of all political parties, especially the major ones, in relation to the forthcoming election. Since the Code adopted on Thursday is only a draft, it is assumed that the document will now be taken up for a detailed discussion. We hope that such a deliberation will be short and that the Code will be finally approved In the shortest possible time.
As reported yesterday, the 12-point draft covers a fairly wide ground, although, one may say. some of the suggested provisions are indeed a little too general and are likely to be open to .divergent interpretations. For instance, one provision lays down that "Every one must respect others' democratic rights", while another says. "Any attempt to buy votes in any form will be prevented." Several other provisions incorporated in the draft also appear to be more general guidelines then specific commitments. Perhaps they will be enlarged when the draft is finalised and adopted. Here, many experts will be wondering if an all-party coordination council, as proposed in the draft, will be effective enough "to settle any dispute that may arise during the campaign." Perhaps not. But. then, one would assume that any dispute that cannot be resolved by the proposed Council will automatically go before the Election Commission for arbitration.
Here, let us hasten to point out that a mere formal adoption of the Code of Conduct by all political parties would not be enough to ensure that election at all different stages, from the campaign to the polling, will be free and fair, and totally free from intimidations and pressures. Again, as many people say in private, the political parties would only give lip service to any code of conduct and would find all dubious ways of violating it. It is for the political parties to disprove this notion. In this context, it is important that leaders of the parties — and indeed the Election Commission — take immediate steps to circulate and explain the Code at the grassroot level, impressing upon all political workers, even at the village level, the supreme importance of holding a free and fair polls, thus helping the country to make the transition from authoritarianism to democracy in a credible manner.
The adoption and the observance of the Code of Conduct should also produce a salutary effect on the election campaign as a whole. If the candidates and their supporters refrain from personal attacks on their rivals, thus reducing the mud slinging to the minimum — the campaign may well become somewhat more issue-oriented than we had seen in the past. In other words, candidates should now feel obliged to focus their attention on their manifestoes and programmes and explain their parties' positions on problems and challenges facing our country, instead of indulging in hollow rhetoric and personal accusations. We see this as an essential part of the political education not only for candidates of different parties but also for the entire electorate, which has never received much attention in this country. It is a pity that we have taken so long in getting started on this exercise. Let us hope, it is not too late yet to use the election for helping our people understand what a democratic system is all about.