A code of conduct essential for all parties Editorial Stabroek News February 5, 2001 On Friday, the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/Civic) unveiled its version of an electoral code of conduct and invited other parties and groups to sign on to it. Among the key features of the code are: refraining from slander and personal attacks as a means of seeking support, upholding the amendment to the Representation of the People Act which prohibits any person or political party from invoking racial or ethnic violence or hatred, condemning violence or threat of violence as a means of electoral persuasion and reprimanding party members and activists who are in breach of the code's stipulations. It is a commendable move by the PPP/Civic on paper and it is now left to be seen if its campaign lives up to these pledges. The code would have risen in importance if it had said exactly how errant party members and activists would be treated. A reprimand - probably a mere slap on the wrist - would not be deterrence of sufficient magnitude. Last year there was the well-publicised case of a high-ranking PPP activist who attempted to burn a ROAR banner on the East Bank. The activist was apparently relieved of his post at Freedom House but there is nothing that prevents him from continuing his organisational work for the party. A code with real teeth should mandate penalties for activists leading right up to expulsion from the party, public repudiation of the act committed and a public statement on all steps taken against the transgressor and efforts to avoid a recurrence. It would be an advance in the political culture. Aside from the public meetings which would be regularly monitored and which by their very nature and size would attract a lot of scrutiny, a code of conduct should specifically address bottom-house meetings which politically have always tended to be the wellspring of the most divisive and dangerous exhortations. The PPP/Civic's code would have been improved infinitely had the party outlined who would be monitoring the campaign activities. Would it be those in the party hierarchy who might also ascend the platform and therefore be policing themselves or would it be a group of persons from outside the party who would more likely tell it the way it is? Enter the Elections Commission. This is a roll perfectly tailored for it. It is in the Commission's interest that all contesting parties subscribe to a single code. So while the PPP has crafted its own it is ineffectual in a Tower of Babel milieu where political barbs and invective whizz by recklessly. The Commission had circulated a draft code to the parties for their consideration and that is where the matter stands. It is already late in the day, several parties including the PNC Reform have launched their campaigns and the PPP/Civic was to do so yesterday. Cranking up the motor of its own code of conduct for the parties should be a priority for the Elections Commission. The media have already appended their signatures to one and the degree of adherence to it will be influenced by the quality of the campaigns run by the various parties. Any code devised by the Commission will have to be anchored by a large enough staff to monitor the campaigns and the authority to have the offending parties account for the behaviour of their activists. Orinduik warning Four armed Brazilians robbed a miner, fired at the Orinduik Police Station, took two hostages, freed them and fled by boat along the Ireng River? There is a ring of improbability to it but it did happen and should set off alarm bells over the wanton lawlessness in the country's hinterland wrought by the unchecked inflows of illegal and legal Brazilian miners. Was this wild west quartet simply Brazilian bandidos? Did they cross over legally? What manner of police outpost do we have at Orinduik that it can be fired at and hostages taken? What about an army garrison in the area? Many questions subsist and the answers are needed urgently. Should we start quaking in our boots at the thought of the Brazil road? Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today