The Third Option
The year 2010 has dawned with two elections round the corner. As voters who are going to write the destiny of the politicians of this country, our day-to-day conversations are becoming more and more centred on what is going to happen on the 26th of January and later on in the Parliamentary election. My casual dialogues with my Sinhala speaking friends help me see that the Tamils are not the only people who have serious problems in this country. While I— a person belonging to the minority Tamil community—am thinking of how the majoritarian, non-secular character of the Sri Lankan state could be dismantled through a democratic process, my Sinhala speaking friends, many of whom share my middle class background, speak about problems like rising food prices, irregular bus services, development and unemployment with which they have to grapple daily. While I am prioritizing, from a Tamil’s point of view, the creation of a secular state where the ethnic and religious minorities could live with dignity, they want a state which could ensure the dignity of the non-elite, underprivileged Sinhala polity. On the whole, we are desiring for state reform (or different forms of state reform); but, of course, in different ways.
This divergence between our paths to change the structure of the current Sri Lankan state, although causing an impasse and leaving us with no concrete path to achieve our goals together, should open up a new political space at least now. Difference produces a gap, and this gap could be reconfigured as a productive space for meaningful political dialogue and activism. In the post-independence political history of Sri Lanka, the new political space which we are desiring has hardly existed. As in the case of the Tamils, there exist many disparities among the Sinhala people. The Western Province has seen more development, and in certain ways, has been enjoying more privileges than the other regions. In the case of the other provinces, development has been limited to the towns, and the rural areas have been continuously neglected by the economic policies of the successive governments. If we strive towards creating a better Sri Lanka, the grievances of both the rural, middle and working class Sinhala population and the minorities (I acknowledge that there are vast differences among the minorities in terms of ethnicity, religion, region, caste, class and gender) should be addressed simultaneously by a common front. There should be a common space where the politically oppressed minorities and the underprivileged Sinhala polity could understand each other’s problems and work together to dismantle the majoritarian, bourgeoise structures that are embedded in the Sri Lankan state.
Unfortunately, this space cannot be created within the current political system which is dominated by two political alliances – UPFA and UNF. President Mahinda Rajapakshe and his UPFA, though having the support of the rural Sinhala population, are not willing to sideline parties like the JHU and NFF which fan flame the Sinhala-Buddhist nationalism in both overt and covert ways. On the other hand, although the UNP seems to be relatively progressive than the UPFA in finding a solution to the problems of the ethnic minorities, its economic policies have failed to eliminate the problems the middle class, rural Sinhala population has been facing for so many years. The inability of the two political alliances to create the political space which Sri Lanka is in dire need of should urge us to consider a third political option in the forthcoming elections.
To break with the two dominant political alliances and search for a third alternative is now in the hands of the voter. We keep on saying that our political parties and our struggles for democratic and political rights are de-linked from us. Political parties cannot be blamed for the failure forever. On many occasions we have cut ourselves off from constructive political activism, and remained inactive onlookers. Instead of lamenting that “voting for a third candidate or a third political party means wasting our votes,” we, the voters, have to decide in what way we could free ourselves from the bi-party/ bi-alliance political system which has paralyzed us so far. If we do not act quickly to understand each other’s problems and create a common ground to work together, capitalists and nationalists on both sides would captialize the situation for their own ends.
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why isn’t JVP considered the third option? Srilanka has good political parties than people are willing to concede. folksy socialism (SLFP), elite conservatism (UNP) and communism (JVP) are good options.
and ofcourse, executive presidency is a problem. and so is proportional representation. opposition parties shud be commended for backing a common candidate on such a mandate.
I do not understand the comment ” non-secular character of the Sri Lankan state” Sri Lanka is a secular state. There is a statement that says that state will give foremost place to Buddhism. But this is NOT the case. The state gives equal status to Buddhism on par with ALL other world views legally.
So to say that Sri Lanka is NON-SECUALR IS A MYTH.
The electoral system needs changing.
The powers of the President needs to be modified and curbed where necessary.
MERIT based promotions, jobs, education, needs to be taken.
The Education Sytem needs to be adjusted from K – University to suit the needs of the modern world requirements and at the same time keep our unique cultures that are unique to Sri Lanka.
The voter all over the world is gullible…the simple fact that election manifestos and promisses are hardly kept. At all elections prior to the 2005 presidential elections the manifesto of a candidate was just a piece of propaganda. The Mahinda Chinthanaya put forward by MR is the only document which still prevails and is spoken and debated about as an election manifesto. A program of actions put forward to develop the nation along with the challenge to address the terrorist situation and the ethnic issue.
Toda after 4 years the Govt. is bold enough to quote the Chinthanaya document as it has implemented some and begun most of the work on projects. The document which was valid for 6 years has 2 more years. MR has the distinction of being the only person in SL politics who is bold enough to bring forth the same document to his next election campaign with extended projects for the new term.
Some of the projects may be altered to serve the trend and times but the manifesto of 2005 was a specific document with details of implementation process with figures and time frame for implementation. Not just another worthless peice of paper that would be forgotten after being elected. To that effect I trust MR and would have no qualms about siding for him.
This place seems a very sensible and descent Blog where a progressive and meaningful discussion can take place on matters that affect us.
Mr. Thiruvarangan is a scholar, it appears. He has summed up the vibes of the populace correctly with sentiments of different races given due respect and credence. Differences between races are a product of of our own, no matter who was responsible for creating them, but the tragedy is we seem inept to come to terms for a meaningful and peaceful coexistence, which is the key for stability, law and order which in turn is the very foundation for economic success.
Our problems are complex and can’t be addressed overnight, but a change in the quality of politicians that come to administer the country can. For that to happen, we a need verifiable and punishable ‘Code of Conduct’ for Politicians, administered by an independent body.
Sinhala_voice seems to be in a denial mode!!! Thiruvarangan is 100% correct when he says “majoritarian, non-secular character of the Sri Lankan state ” How else can you describe Sri Lanka when Budhist temples are being built with state funds where there are no Budhists living!!! Hindu temples and christian churches which are being regularly destroyed by sinhalese thugs aided and abetted by the security forces!!!! No one is charged or punished for the crime which happens in daylight!!!!
Minorities are abducted and killed!!! in broad daylight with army check points at every 50 yards. In Tamil areas people disappear and turn up as corpse, thanks to the security forces!!! no inquiry!! People who are responsible for the law and order in the country do not loose any sleep over this incidents!!! for them, business as usual!!!
History and Archaelogical findings are deliberately changed to deny the traditional homelands to the Tamils!!! Text books are written in such a way to potray that the minorities are inferior to the sinhalese!!! The list is endless!!!