By Deepa BHOOKHUN

When the now rulers were opposers and when they were campaigning for elections, they saw every move (ok I?m being guilty of generalization but it will do for the purpose of this column) of the then government as an attempt to bribe the electorate and as a violation of the rule of free and fair elections. Whether it was the use of the MBC TV, the asphalting of the roads, construction works or the presence of ministers at functions, the then opposers didn?t miss a chance to shout ?abuse.? They got our support.

Things change. The opposers are now rulers and the then rulers are now opposers. And as things go, the rulers have total control and they are the ones who abuse the MBC TV, who asphalt the roads, who do construction works and what have you. While another electoral campaign is taking place. And the opposers are now shouting ?abuse!? And we, the press, give them our support. But at some point in time, we feel we are wasting our ink, writing the same things over and over again. The new rulers forget they were opposers and that the very things that they protested against, they now adhere to. The opposers forget they were rulers who abused their privileges and find it shocking that those who have replaced them do the same things they were themselves guilty of doing.

So now both opposers ? past and present, and rulers, past and present, need to set out the rules, codify them if need be. So they stop wasting our time, so they stop insulting our intelligence. So we know on an official basis that what applies to a party when they oppose doesn?t apply to them when they rule. And vice versa. Oh, go on, let?s waste some more ink and put a suggestion to them; the code could be called, ?Rulers and Opposers; Double Standards??