THE Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflections (JCTR) has raised genuine alarm over the growing concerns around the independence of the country’s judiciary, the Human Rights Commission (HRC), and other key democratic institutions. With freedom of expression and the protection of human rights at stake, the need to safeguard these institutions from political interference is more pressing than ever. At the heart of JCTR’s argument is the concern that the current structure, where the President holds the authority to appoint and dismiss members of the judiciary and commissions, creates a significant conflict of interest. This centralisation of power undermines the independence and impartiality of these crucial bodies, effectively compromising the checks and balances that are essential in any healthy democracy. By giving one individual – no matter how well-intentioned – the power to influence the very institutions that should hold the government to account, the foundations of democracy become shaky. It gives birth to the creation […]
STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY
