The recent impeachment of a democratically elected first female president in South Korea is an interest driven topic discussion for one simple reason,the power of the people to reclaim their space-for lack of a better word. A brief summary to why she got impeached,'the suspicion she colluded with her confidante to extort money from businesses and committed other wrongdoings' (Associated Press;2017).
This discussion isn't about how/why she did it but rather about the right to hold elected officials accountable and how system works to ensure an impartial outcome when laws are flouted/despise or disregarded. In most part of the world political leaders get away with anything and everything from bankrupting the state to extrajudicial killing of citizens with no sanction or consequences,a perfect example coming to mind is the unlawful invasion of Iraq by Bush and Blair-b2 factor
The impeachment and eventual court ruling seconding such decision is to me worth highlighting as it shows strong institutional capacity,ability to respond in moment when needed most to avoid throwing the entire state into chaos- moments like these calls for immediate action across parties irrespective of the party you support,contrast it to some countries or states where such are hard to come by. The ability to rise up to the occasion meant the state is more important than individuals and party they belong to. As a new state practicing democracy after deep long claw of dictatorship,it is worth a spot light.
To the ordinary South Korean,they showed ownership of their destiny as expressed by and through them during their election and when need arose,without abrogating their right of ownership responded accordingly to make sure they retain such ownership to the system they collectively agreed upon. Citizens rights does not cease nor end right after the election but is in continuum requiring constant vigilance at all time. In the case of south Korea, the state's various arms of government reciprocate each other to keep the wishes of the masses alife irrespective of their divergent views. The state showed it does not depend on solely one arm of government but rather power revolves between the three arms and patronage cannot survive such system.
The right to be referred to as first citizen is everyones concern and the choice should be hotly contested reflecting the high regard such a position occupies in the masses minds as such requisites dedicated individuals who are ready to serve not to be served.
A rhetorical question may well be posed at this juncture: how have you safeguarded/reacted/shown ownership faced with similar situation? How have the other arms of government treated supposed inaction of one of their own. The actions of the presidents fellow party members may worth mentioning,some abandoned the party to vote with their conscience. We have seen situations contrary to the above mentioned example,collusion that aims to wrestle authority away from the people-rise of oppressive regime. We can at the same time draw comparism to events during the Arab spring with that of the aforementioned discussion on South Korea. Power collusion leads to oppressive outcome which back peddles democratic gains/processes and outcome, it results in a scenario of which we say"power corrupts and absolute power corrupt absolutely". Such as highlighted before feeds on patronage which the South Koreans refused to accept.
Power not backed up by authority fades away very fast as it open rooms for challenges not imagined example Syria,Burundi and Central African Republic. Legitimacy of power must have the blessing of the people with an effective three arms working mutually together not in competition of the other. Mutuality as opposed to competition bleeds a healthy democratic process and effective institutions within governance.
Power built on convenience dries up essence of democracy and are detrimental to the people's wishes example Zimbabwe. It is an unhealthy cohabitation of some sort amongst these arms of government that leads to one arm of government total domination of the rest leaving them as a pawn-in this case used and abused by the executive. This has remained the challenge within the continent- interrupted checks and balances giving room to uncontrolled power exercise by an individual or group of individuals. Uninterrupted investigation an effective working system saw the fall of a sitting president,which is how democracy operates. Accountability of any office is vital to rooting corrupt practices,it is a one way stretch and should apply to all and sundry inspite of their offices or position occupied. We can draw a lot from the incidence in South Korea whom like most African states have seen fair share of dictatorship before and thereafter has made strives to improve for the seek of it's own people. We need to improve on our government and governance structures by eliminating current/future lone wolfism-individual bent on setting us back-capable of impacting us negatively as we continue to master the act of clean government through the practice of democracy. We the people own the government and not the other way round.
The impeachment and eventual court ruling seconding such decision is to me worth highlighting as it shows strong institutional capacity,ability to respond in moment when needed most to avoid throwing the entire state into chaos- moments like these calls for immediate action across parties irrespective of the party you support,contrast it to some countries or states where such are hard to come by. The ability to rise up to the occasion meant the state is more important than individuals and party they belong to. As a new state practicing democracy after deep long claw of dictatorship,it is worth a spot light.
To the ordinary South Korean,they showed ownership of their destiny as expressed by and through them during their election and when need arose,without abrogating their right of ownership responded accordingly to make sure they retain such ownership to the system they collectively agreed upon. Citizens rights does not cease nor end right after the election but is in continuum requiring constant vigilance at all time. In the case of south Korea, the state's various arms of government reciprocate each other to keep the wishes of the masses alife irrespective of their divergent views. The state showed it does not depend on solely one arm of government but rather power revolves between the three arms and patronage cannot survive such system.
The right to be referred to as first citizen is everyones concern and the choice should be hotly contested reflecting the high regard such a position occupies in the masses minds as such requisites dedicated individuals who are ready to serve not to be served.
A rhetorical question may well be posed at this juncture: how have you safeguarded/reacted/shown ownership faced with similar situation? How have the other arms of government treated supposed inaction of one of their own. The actions of the presidents fellow party members may worth mentioning,some abandoned the party to vote with their conscience. We have seen situations contrary to the above mentioned example,collusion that aims to wrestle authority away from the people-rise of oppressive regime. We can at the same time draw comparism to events during the Arab spring with that of the aforementioned discussion on South Korea. Power collusion leads to oppressive outcome which back peddles democratic gains/processes and outcome, it results in a scenario of which we say"power corrupts and absolute power corrupt absolutely". Such as highlighted before feeds on patronage which the South Koreans refused to accept.
Power not backed up by authority fades away very fast as it open rooms for challenges not imagined example Syria,Burundi and Central African Republic. Legitimacy of power must have the blessing of the people with an effective three arms working mutually together not in competition of the other. Mutuality as opposed to competition bleeds a healthy democratic process and effective institutions within governance.
Power built on convenience dries up essence of democracy and are detrimental to the people's wishes example Zimbabwe. It is an unhealthy cohabitation of some sort amongst these arms of government that leads to one arm of government total domination of the rest leaving them as a pawn-in this case used and abused by the executive. This has remained the challenge within the continent- interrupted checks and balances giving room to uncontrolled power exercise by an individual or group of individuals. Uninterrupted investigation an effective working system saw the fall of a sitting president,which is how democracy operates. Accountability of any office is vital to rooting corrupt practices,it is a one way stretch and should apply to all and sundry inspite of their offices or position occupied. We can draw a lot from the incidence in South Korea whom like most African states have seen fair share of dictatorship before and thereafter has made strives to improve for the seek of it's own people. We need to improve on our government and governance structures by eliminating current/future lone wolfism-individual bent on setting us back-capable of impacting us negatively as we continue to master the act of clean government through the practice of democracy. We the people own the government and not the other way round.
