IN the field of sociology, a distinction is made between ‘public issues’ and what is regarded as ‘private issues.’ Public issues are decisions taken by policy makers and those in positions of authority which impact on the lives of members of society, as opposed to private issues which are limited to individuals who must be held responsible for their actions and be prepared to face up to the consequences of their actions.
The latest controversy surrounding IMF boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn is a case in point. As head of the International Monetary Fund, the largest and most powerful financial institution in the world, decisions taken by that body affects millions of people globally. There is a popular view that the decisions taken by the IMF are not in the best interests of the poor, and may have in fact contributed to greater poverty and deprivation due to a preoccupation by the Fund with macro-economic stability and fiscal discipline, often at the expense of the working poor. These are institutional decisions which are made not in an individual capacity by the Managing Director. Decisions and actions taken at a personal level can and do have far-reaching implications at an individual level, even though, as in the case of the IMF boss, it could have much broader implications.
Mr. Strauss-Kahn has now found himself in a difficult situation which could result in his being removed as head of that powerful body. Already there are talks about replacing him as head of the IMF, despite the important role he has been playing in the management of the affairs of the fund. The United States, the largest contributor to the fund, through its Treasury Secretary, has already suggested the need for someone to act as interim Managing Director of the Fund.
It all came about when a maid at a Manhattan Hotel, where he was staying, reported to the New York police that she was abused and sexually molested by Strauss-Khan. The thirty-one year old woman, a widow with one child, alleged that a naked Strauss- Kahn chased her in his apartment and sexually assaulted her.
One cannot help but pity him for the humiliating treatment meted out to him at the hands of the New York Justice Department. He appeared visibly upset and traumatized; and certainly, not even in his wildest dreams, could he ever have imagined that such a fate could have befallen him at such an advanced age and at the peak of his professional career. His situation is further compounded by fresh allegations of sexual molestation involving a young French novelist who alleged that Strauss-Kahn attempted to rape her during an interview with him. There were also previous allegations of sexual improprieties involving a female staff member some years ago.
The question on the minds of people worldwide is how a man of his calibre could commit such serious acts of indiscretion, knowing fully well the severe consequences of such actions. It certainly speaks to the frailty and vulnerability of the human nature, regardless of status.
Defense lawyers for Straus-Kahn are seeking to establish that their client is innocent of the charges. In the end, it is boiling down to her word against his, since it would appear that there were no other persons around to provide an eye witness account of what transpired.
The police, however, have slapped a number of charges which include two counts of first degree criminal sexual act, one count of first degree attempted rape, one count of first degree sexual abuse, one count of second degree unlawful imprisonment, one count of forcible touching, and one count of third-degree sexual abuse. These are serious charges which, if found to be true, could land Mr. Strauss Kahn behind bars.
Meanwhile, Defense Counsel is trying to free him from police custody and place him instead to home detention in Manhattan, with electronic monitoring, and for him to surrender his UN travel documents. Defense lawyers are seeking to project him as a loving husband and father, and a highly regarded international diplomat, lawyer, politician, economist, and professor, with no prior criminal record. At the time of writing this article, a ruling by the court had not been made.
As to be expected, the case has captured worldwide attention, since Mr. Strauss-Kahn is not only the head of the most powerful global financial institution, but was widely seen as having the potential to be the next president of France in elections due next year, based on opinion polls.
The matter has engendered both feelings of empathy if not sympathy, especially from among his countrymen, many of whom felt it was a setup to hamper his political and professional ambitions. Others felt outraged by the alleged attack on someone who is perceived to be on the margin of society, having regard to her background and her domestic circumstance. The woman reportedly escaped from her native Guinea under difficult conditions and began a new life in New York with her 15-year-old daughter.
It is interesting to see how this issue will unfold, in a country where the law is held sacrosanct and where there should be no differentiation between the rich and the poor, and between the powerful and the powerless, insofar as the law is concerned. The woman, through her lawyers, is expecting the US justice system to demonstrate that the power of the purse will not prevail over alleged violation of fundamental human rights as enshrined in the US constitution.
The world is watching how this drama will unfold.