Striving for acceptable standards of conduct
THE media yesterday took a major step forward in drawing up a code of conduct that hopefully will lead to acceptable standards of operations in the forthcoming general elections, from nomination day, through the campaigning, up to and after polling day.
In fruitful and cordial exchanges at the session organised by the Elections Commission and the Canadian International Development Agency, media owners, managers and operatives examined the issues before them and drew up a draft code they expect will be endorsed and adhered to by all media houses.
Elections Commission Chairman, Major General Joe Singh noted all should have a "deep interest" in transparency and openness and urged the media to come up with an implementable code of ethics and standards subscribed to by all.
There were similar efforts for the 1992 and the 1997 general elections and in a letter to participants, the Elections Commission Chairman had noted: "these past efforts have not been entirely successful and on this occasion we hope that your participation in the process would lead to a successful outcome."
Many feel that the effectiveness of a media code of conduct can only be determined by legally enforceable sanctions for violations and it is expected measures will be adopted to cover this.
A bigger question that has arisen though is the conduct of the political parties in the run-up to and immediately after the elections.
How can the media articulate standards of behaviour and performance when the political parties have no standards or largely operate as if they have no standards?
The Elections Commission says it is working on an electoral code of conduct that proposes desirable standards of behaviour by all contesting political parties and their candidates.
This is the crucial area because some media generally tend to follow the lead of the political parties and a lot of the tensions, mistrust and confusion fuelled through a certain kind of media coverage came from the behaviour of some political parties in the past.
This was especially so after the December 15, 1997 general elections, and some of those involved in the attempts at crafting an enforceable code of conduct for the media this time around, know about and can testify to the edge to which the excesses drove this country in that troubling period.
There have been political parties, leaders and candidates that have strayed far from the straight and narrow path in previous elections in this country and the Elections Commission, with the agreement of the parties, have to come up with concrete measures to guard against a repeat of any unacceptable excursions.
Threats of violence and statements and actions clearly designed to drive fear into any segment of the population and/or aimed at creating divisions and conflict between groups, cannot be tolerated and the Commission would have to let violators know they will not be allowed to get off and that they will face some form of sanctions.
The international donor community is tangibly supporting the process towards these elections due by January 17 and its experts and consultants can provide the Elections Commission with mechanisms that have worked elsewhere to blunt such unacceptable excursions by contesting parties.
Mere signing on to a code does not work - that has been proven here.
So some means that is far more effective and carries more weight would have to be forged to ensure that political parties stick to and play by the rules acceptable to all.
The media have an important role to play and media houses have made some important steps forward by showing a willingness to meet and confront the real issues facing them.
Some may not agree on the issues and there will be differences among media people on how to address the problems.
But acknowledging the need for a code of conduct is a recognition that the majority are willing to look at operating by some set of ground rules.
And this is a significant step forward.
The fact that an international team of observers will be here from this week for long-term monitoring of the elections can also be an important influencing force towards better standards all around.
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