Resisting the Loss of Citizenship in Sri Lanka
Repost This ArticleThe 18th Amendment
I don’t know whether I’m more angry or sad at the way in which patently undemocratic constitutional amendments are being rushed into law. I feel as if I’m watching my country being strangled, slowly, in the grip of self-serving and short-sighted men who have little love for Sri Lanka or its people. I don’t believe that the changes to the constitution will immediately make themselves felt in our daily lives. In some ways, the will simply legalize many unconstitutional practices that are currently in place. However, the changes in law will solidify these and establish new, even lower norms for the way Sri Lanka is governed. My fear is that by the time the implications of the proposed 18th Amendment will become fully apparent, it is likely that many of our fellow-citizens, our friends, co-workers, relative and frighteningly perhaps our children may have come to have such low expectations of their rights as citizens that they can’t see what’s wrong with an executive with unfettered powers. Some would argue that this has already happened. The erosion of the sovereignty of citizens of Sri Lanka has been going on for decades, and my worry is that even a referendum on the proposed 18th Amendment (rather than the illegitimate ‘urgent’ bypass operation being attempted’ would confirm that too many Sri Lankans believe in authority more than themselves.
The tragedy of the architects of the proposed 18th Amendment is that they will not enjoy its benefits for long. I doubt that Junius Richard Jayawardene anticipated the powers of the Executive Presidency being used to lock his party and his anointed nephew out of power for decades. Similarly, it is likely that when Mahendra Percy Rajapakse is long gone, his chosen son might find himself in the Sri Lankan political equivalent of Siberia – courtesy of constitutional wheels put in motion now.
Who is to blame?
But, of course, in the flurry of headlines it’s easy to forget this is not about political dynasties or the failure of the opposition or the opportunism of the political classes or even the integrity of the Supreme Court judges. These are really symptoms as much as they are causes of our current predicament. Responsibility for the loss of the sovereignty of the people of Sri Lanka actually lies at our own door, the result of our abdication from our roles as citizens. We gave up our duties to hold our elected representatives accountable for their actions in order to vote for party over conscience, for caste over policies, for a bottle over integrity, for a powerful fixer over a not-yet-corrupted independent, or for alleged murderers or rapists over solid citizens. Too many of us backed the prosecution of a war at any cost, not realizing that it was also being used to cut away the ground from beneath our own feet. Too many of us stayed away from polls thinking our votes donÃt really count, when they could have. As the horse-trading in Parliament reaches a fever pitch, our awakening to the enormity of what we’ve done feels like too little, too late. And it probably is, as far as the 18th Amendment goes.
What can we do?
So what do we do to resist the further slide downwards? To reclaim our citizenship, it seems to me that a first step would be to publicly and personally refuse the legitimacy of the proposed 18th Amendment if it is not put to a free and fair referendum. A second would be to start on a process of detoxification of ourselves from complicity in the noxious politics that has characterized Sri Lanka for too long. Decades of tolerating corrupt politics and enduring autocratic rulers has compromised our own values and conduct. Tacitly we legitimize political criminals and thugs when we do business with them, ask them for jobs or favours, watch television shows on which they feature, refer to them by familiar nicknames or show them respect in any way. Authoritarian and undemocratic regimes, just as any other, function on the basis of the consent and cooperation of the population they rule over. Even if we do not yet have the means of standing against them, let us at least withdraw our cooperation in our subjugation. A ruler, however powerful they seem, depends entirely on the smooth functioning of layers and layers of state machinery all the way down to the ground. As much as we sometimes need this machinery to get things done, it also needs us in order to function. Turn in your registration forms late. Ask at checkpoints if they are really still necessary. Argue with government officials and refuse to bribe them. Encourage officials who seem sympathetic to air their grievances. Honk whenever a VIP convoy sweeps you off the road. Question the expenditures of public money on MPÃs cars or on government vanity projects. Explain to your children (or other peopleÃs) what abuse of power is. Use every vote you have on a candidate of principle not power. Share your views with other people, and build their confidence to dissent. Talk about how things should be, not just what’s wrong with the way they are now.
I know it doesn’t seem like much, but I’ve started to feel a bit better since I started my personal campaign to restore myself as a properly functioning Sri Lankan citizen. It’s about the only thing I can do, so I’m trying it.
I can only recommend that you try it too.
I am Sri Lankan and I support the 18th amendment 100%
I do not understand why you are making such a big fuss over it.
I do not believe there should be a limit on how many terms someone can be president for.
There will still be elections and people will be able to vote in or vote out a government.
I hope the 18th amendment is passed, and Mahinda Rajapaksa continues as president for another 10-15 years.
We need a stable government after 20 years of war to get things done.
I would like to thank the writer for his ideas on ways of showing our dissatisfaction with the way the president and his government has chosen to amend the constitution.
To Deva_S – can I ask if you have read and understood the provisions of the proposed 18th amendment in their entirety? The proposal goes beyond removing the term limits for the president and this is why as a whole the 18th amendment is very dangerous.
If enacted, the 18th amendment will also give the president complete power to appoint the elections commissioner (and officers of the other ‘independent’ commissions). He only has to get the opinion of the proposed Parliamentary Council on these appointment – there is no obligation to follow the Council’s opinion.
So, you are right in thinking that there will still be election in the future – but if the president has control over the appointments in the government department entrusted with ensuring that elections are conducted in a fair way, can we have any confidence in these elections?
Dave and other patriots, the thing is “the people can vote-in or vote-out a government” only if free and fair elections are guaranteed and carried out. But if you see the last presidential and general elections you cant say they were fair and free, they were manipulative and criminal. The commissioner himself said the elections were not free, the OECD was telling the same and the people in north and east and the IDPs were hindered in casting their vote. In countries like Myanmar and Iran to are democratic elections being carried out according to the state propaganda but the democracy has no chance at all to prevail because all the democratic elements are cropped out before the elections. In Sri Lankla we follow this tradition and if not perfect it.
How can a democracy function if the justice and the security forces are corrupt and compromise with the rulers? Aren’t the judiciary and free media are the most important pillars of a democracy? The safeguards of the system are arbitrarily distributed among friends and family members to consolidate the power in the hands of yes stooges and even if it is not enough then they start the horse trading as though it is legal and normal. There have been other countries and populations who stood up to protest against their plight in the hands of dictatorial rulers and now its time to protest against the junta in our land. WAKE UP and speak out that you are not the property of some clan and our country is not the property of one family to distribute it among themselves and it is your democratic duty if you want to bequeath your children their birth right to live in this country as free men and citizen.
Unlimited terms and any tampering with the constitution is dangerous precisely because most voters are nit-wits like Deva_S. Mind this Deva thinks like this despite having had an expensive education that has enabled him to write good English. Just imagine the plight of children who are being educated today. Thanks to the Minister of Sports we know that “Education is the most corrupt Ministry.”
I’m elderly already – about the same age as President Mahinda Rajapaksa. I can just imagine what he will be like 12 years from now!
Writer T. Aruna has made admirable suggestions. I, too, question security personnel at checkpoints about the necessity for their work. We need the whole country to work on these lines but so many seem to find this “it’s only if people want the guy that he can get elected argument” plausible.
I was particularly stunned when a very intelligent and sincere man who has devoted most of his life to “4th International” politics and hates this regime came up with this argument. At the Presidential Election 98% of first round votes went to Rajapaksa and Fonseka, despite our being allowed three choices (which allowed a protest vote for a large number of honest self-confessed “also runners”. Need one say more. 98% !!!!
The english educated in Srilanka still believe that the Europeans and the West in general are a bunch of gentemen. They have never learnt anything beyond British Fairy tales. They need to read about broken treaties in Americas, Genocides of Native peoples and on going exploitations in Latin America. Also selective probing of human rights violation by certain nations not others.
Then so called advanced nations of the West still have kings and queens , who inherit power. This attorney guy should know a German dynasty is owning all land in Britain, Then spai, holland, Norwegians the protectors of “psuedo peace also have a king. They give nobel prize to who help them continue this system.
We need strong leaders not British henchmen wih no backbones.
What can a Brit tell a Srilankan if they make this guy their king.
Srilankans are not that primitive. _ like those who are subjects of queens, and kings.
Zorro, In these United states , one needs have at least 10 million dollars to spend before contesting in a congressional election.
Most are coopartion sponsored candidates, cooperations sponsor candidates of both parties.
Then free press is all owned by an Aussie old man called rupert Murdoch.
When Bush was selected president , Sandra De O’conor got phone calls from father Bush and other supremecourt justices also got calls, Supreme court selected George Bush. Here you cannot protest against the government the way you think and dream . Police in the US is brutal, but they do things in”class”. Everything is wel sugar coated and presented with the right spin. They have doctrine managers who consult these guys. Our Presidents work is bit crude at times, he will learn the game, you wait and see.
Another fact, O’Bama is a “hybrid”. They need such a one at this point .
Zorro, In these United states , one needs to have at least 10 million dollars to spend before contesting in a congressional election.
Most are coopartion sponsored candidates, cooperations sponsor candidates of both parties.
Then free press is all owned by an Aussie old man called rupert Murdoch.
When Bush was selected president , Sandra De O’conor got phone calls from father Bush and other supremecourt justices also got calls, Supreme court selected George Bush. Here you cannot protest against the government the way you think and dream . Police in the US is brutal, but they do things in”class”. Everything is wel sugar coated and presented with the right spin. They have doctrine managers who consult these guys. Our Presidents work is bit crude at times, he will learn the game, you wait and see.
Another fact, O’Bama is a “hybrid”. They need such a one at this point .
democracy is a relative thing, Americans are happy with current Chinese democracy . What say you, Sir?.
It’s hilarious to see people up in arms and screaming about the 18th amendment. Actually wait, it’s not “people” but just a few of the Colombo elite who are up in arms. Nevermind though, because they never really mattered anyway and Sri Lanka will move on whether the Colombo elites smile or frown. Here’s hoping the 18th amendment is passed on the 08/09/2010!
SahtyaDeva. But does that make our situation any better? Doesn’t it show what kind of dangerous road we are following? I would gladly exchange the monopolized US media instead of our state controlled media. Any supreme court help bush got is nothing compared to the hell we had to endure during our elections. Do you honestly believe that Mahinda will ‘learn the game’ and fine tune everything? Don’t you see that we lost the game a long time ago. I’m not sure what sort of happy ending you expect. Can you please explain that? Show me an example where this has worked out. Are you hoping for a Singapore?Malaysia?Japan?Norway?New Zealand?Ireland? Or do things look so great and positive that we will write up a story that no one has done before?
To Deva_S,
You dont understand why everyone against this constitutional amendments, because you dont understand what Democracy is and what is freedom is! We undrstand why!
Corruption, political malpractice, impunity for priviledged criminals, complete disregard to the rights of ordinary and less privledged are so ingrained in our culture now that just being critical of these may make you seen as a traitor.
It doesn’t matter any more to us whether our neighbour is a seven times murderer who remains unpunished because of his political/financial power as long as our own family is left intact. We don’t mind if 95% of the workforce in our country expect/accept bribes i.e. are criminals as long as we have the financial means to fulfil our own requirements.
Sathyadeva, I wonder where you get your in formations to reach at this results? Of course the most of the western media belongs to few people but still they are allowed to write pro and contra about the regime, and Murdoch, they say play a big role in making the prime ministers and the presidents but not alone. Murdoch was not able to stop Obama being elected, and by the way have you ever thought that so soon a black American would be elected the president of USA; like wise can you Imagine a Tamil or Muslim Sri Lankan would be possible to reign Sri Lanka? And even the Republicans pulled their strings in the Supreme court to elect the Bush Jr, they still have a functioning democracy and free media. Of course there are Kings and Queens in many European countries but they are not running around ordering the police to remove cut outs or asking them to arrest some kassipu dealer. They are the heads of democratic states and not the proprietor of these states, these countries which have a functioning democracy and not like the puppet Govt. what we have in our country. Can you tell me which German dynasty owns Britain? Wake up from your dream and realize the lullaby is just to keep you quiet.
It’s a waste of energy to try convincing people like SathyaDeva. I’m pretty sure he is just a part of government propaganda. Trying to feed stories to the ‘hardcore patriots’. What sort of nut job actually believes that a German dynasty owns britain. Or that Murdoch controls the free media. He has been an American citizen for 25 years or so. And what about CBS, CNN, Gannett and the New York Times company? Don’t they have a say in the American media? Didn’t fox say that Obama was ‘just short of a terrorist’? Can you imagine what will happen to any news channel who will tell that about our excellency? And please tell me what great powers does the queen possess? Sathyadeva you’re just a troll. Someone has fed you with stories and you’re trying to inflict the delusion on the few who would be unlucky enough to fall for it.
Sonal,
So where did you come up with the term ‘colombo elite’. Can you define it please. I’m curious to know who falls into it. What about western educated, high earners living outside Colombo? Or upcountry property owners? What about anti government, educated folk living in the south? Are all of them a bunch of desperate losers who worship the west and don’t want to see this country progress? And hey what about the hardcore patriotic Sinhala elitists? If I want a Sinhala dominated country with the weakest possible opposition; if I want to worship anyone who is not scared of the west; if I hate anyone from Colombo; if it boils my blood whenever people criticize my hero the president; what does it make me? Bigoted? Racist? Narrow minded? Elitist? Stupid? Take your pick… You laugh when you hear people protest about the 18th amendment? I weep that people like you exist. At first the British divided us into racial groups so that we will fight about it for half a century. Now that’s over, we have started to create groups among ourselves and hate each other. Why do you tag these ‘colombo elites’? You sound scared of something. Your words reflect a strong sense of insecurity. A really unnecessary complex. You should focus on the reality here. .. Try Sapumal’s recommendation. Try understanding what democracy means…
take a look at what bilderberg group is. Bush George w, was evading his airforce duties, had gone awol in military jargon, An anchor man by the name Dan Rather had dug his dirt, he had to backpeddle , and take early retirment.
The democray you paint does not exsist in the west or anywhere.
Windors of England are Germans.
By British constitution they own all the land in UK, they can kick anybody out by law.
Obama is only half black.
Rupport Murdoch didn’t care who get elected.
It is the same game, our guys need to fine tune it and put a better spin, in time they will learn.
We live in a racist world.
They don’t want powerful leaders in our countries, they like puppets, and henchmen.
Read Noam Chomsky .You will understand.
We don’t want to be thir world for ever.
This guy at least ended the war, he cold have made money like Chandrika did
if he were to carry on with the war.
Last word , You elite of Srilanka live in a dream world.
British are never were gentlemen. Anywhere you see a mess they created that. They still want to carry on their old policies.
They are not decent, bribery is rampant in British system.
It is the same game.
Why did Britain give independence to then ceylon, and India.
They had to protect their homeland from Hitler, They had to get rid of ahuge empire in aface saving way.
analyse it.
If Hitler didnot bomb London , They would have easily shot Ghadhi .
and kept the empire going.
You guys need to think and read more than, British Fairy tales.
They have lords, and Barrons there.
Wake up people, just your ability to utter a bit in english doesn’t make you or me a scholar.
We have a lot of young guys and gals with brains in Srilanka – they were deprived of English.
By the way, I denounce Holocaust and Hitler , but a by product of his bombing got us independence.
Help Mahinda , you have to do that. Engage in constructive criticism.
Peace and love to all.
Satyadeva, you can even fall in love in MR. I don’t mind. But don’t come up with arguments like the west has no democracy too. Is it enough to argue this way to loose our freedom? Are you blind in your love to MR or aiming at a post reserved for the lap dogs? Don’t you see what is happening in our country for people who has a different stance than the Govt? Haven’t you realized how they won the last two elections? and what happened to people who dire to say about HR violations and better governance? you think thinks will get better if MR becomes the sole ruler of the country? What is the purpose for that? He wanted to help SL become a better place for its people? then the consolidation of power is not necessary to reach this goal. MR promised lots of things in his Chithanyas and later to make new promises. He ruined the profitable state businesses by rewarding the management to his stooges.He messed up with the west and UN to be applauded from people like you only later on to sent delegations to collect the money: This is what you expect from a democratic person? NO, may be from a despot YES. I am not sure may be in two years the people in the south might think the war on terrorism was over but the worst has broken up on them.
I don’t give a damn about the Brits being gentelmen or not may be you are kind of jealous that they still do better than we ever would then we can blame that on the west. SL got freedom because the cost of keeping SL without India would have been immense for the Britain that it would have been impossible to keep it alone. If you see that the Windsors are German descends then we are all Africans, Sinhalese, Tamils and everybody then the Govis and the Karavas are brothers. So some african despot can claim Sri Lanka for himself, isn’t it? Live in the reality.
Zorro,
Stop replying to Sathedevas comments. He is obviously a part of the shameless government propaganda machine.
Sathedeva,
You’re a different class all together. I don’t know where to start.
What does Noam Chomsky got to do with this? He is anti war and specifically wanted Sri Lanka to have a diplomatic solution. He wanted us to have a federal state. I don’t see how he helps your chinthanya since he is both anti -mahinda and anti -war. And what’s your definition of a powerful leader? A government like ours that has no say and has zero clout and power among the international community? How can being stubborn and mindless portray you as a powerful leader? And you’re a true moron if you think this government didn’t make money because they won the war. Where in the world have you been living? Also if Rupert Murdoch doesn’t matter then why you were claiming he was an Australian who owned the free press in American? Do you just make up meaningless things to get attention? Why do pull out lies from your colon? Were you high when you made up all those baseless stories? I really doubt the state of your mental health. Wonder what you will conjure up next. Some statement about how polar bears are vegetarians and that reflects our need for an 18th amendment?
Wow. Just look at the people lanons2, lanos and zorro. It’s true – birds of a freather flock together. These the folks who have no identity and regard themselves as the elite with “brains” (while the rest of us simple minded folks just have no clue about anything at all). It’s quite amusing how lanos feigns ignorance about class divisions or the existence of the Colombo elite, groomed in very small (and exclusive) social circles, who are just totally clueless about the VAST majority of Sri Lankans. The people who just cant stand Mahinda because he is from outside this self-absorbed group of people. The sort who cling to the UNP like a wet rag because they feel it is the only party that will pamper and stroke their frail egos.
The 18th amendment was passed.
You lot will just have to get over it.
I know it’s difficult because you folks are STILL not over the fact that Mahinda won the presidential elections.
Your tears and whining have no effect whatsoever because the VAST majority of Sri Lankans simply do not care for you and your ways. Please accept that.
Haha… you make up this group of Colombo elites and then define it yourself. So I’m from a simple background and live in the gampaha district and still loath the government then I don’t belong to this elite crowd do I? Phew you had me worried for a second. I would hate to be tagged and grouped. What about mahinda’s sons who grew up in Colombo among the most exclusive circles and the privileged western lifestyles? I hope they and their friends don’t belong to it either. And what I my parents knew mahinda from way back then and are still good friends; but I still think this is the worst thing that can happen to our pathetic country? Am I still an elitist traitor? And oh what If my skins darker than yours and my genes hail from a village way more remote than our Excellency’s? Then it’s fine of me to cry about the amendment all I want right? What a relief…
This fool sonal thinks that only a pocketful of crowds who hangout in cigar rooms are against the government. No simple soldier, teacher, labourer or farmer would EVER vote against our president. Only us few leftover UNPers who are hoping for the rich old days would vote otherwise right? No hardworking, honest, rural patriot would even THINK of voting against our president right? Pity that ‘Sonal’ won’t answer any of the questions that were previously asked of him. It would be very entertaining to hear the parrot talk of “you can cry all you want Colombo people” and “we need this strength to take our country forward”.
Zorro. The utopian democracy you talk about is not found anywhere.
The West is self absorbed. Very racist.
Rupport Mudoch controls the media.
IN the USA a third party candiadate Ralph Nader was not allowed in any Presidential debate.
The Dems and Republicans represent the same coparations.
This is a coparatocaracy.
If London has to pay repeartions to Ceylon – The profits from Ceylon is still available in the ledgers kept in the British treasury_. They will have to sell the queen to an American Museum to pay us off.
US and Mr.Blake has done everything they can to avoid Mahinda getting elected.
The Foreign relations council is an elite group of Americans who meet periodically and decide where the planet should move.
If you want to learn about all the above just google .
To start with google – ” Americas ruling class ” Check for videos.
Then google ” Bildeberg group”.
You the english educated in srilanka, those Colombo 7 types who we used to call “kalu suthas” are having a Fever about the current status.
We need a powerful executive President to charter though the situation We are in.
British boot lickers should move to England and live there as second class citizens.
I dislike the way UNP leader bow down to Americans When he comes here.
I was in a meeting at a prestigious university in the USA, We arranged , he started kissing up to these guys, We don’t want such leaders.
Chandrika and her mother sent Srilankan women as domestic servants .
Zorro, Enlighten your self.
Strat reading Noam Chomsky. He is aProfessor of linguistics at MIT , and a true philanthropist.
Do above home work and then we will talk.
Don’t live in the illusion people respect impotent boot lickers.
This guy has done a lot right, He is crude yes, We should help him get refined, He is learning the game, marvelously well.
Don’t talk about simple stuff like diplomacy, and stop living the illusion that UN is a fair institiutions, and the west is benevolent.
Thank you brother/ sister( I don’t know your gender- Zoro in spanish means a cunning person- can be female or male. _ ) . I don’t intend to insult anybody.
But don’t claim that We are talking garbage.
We have lived such illusions and have matured. We invite you to do the same.
Be proud of who you are. You cannot white wash yourselves.
Satyadeva, it seems you are enjoying the privileges of the elite in our country and blaming the other inmates of your class for having the same incentives. Want to be alone over there among the privileged? You been to a prestigious US university even organizing meetings with these so called undemocratic US morons and praising and throwing garbage over the other Sri Lankans who lick booting these US fellows, you read and like the thesis and theories of a MIT professor, find MIT is worthwhile to mention to show that you are a man of the world (but forgetting that lots of political crab like neo-liberalism, banning of communism and American hegemony also coming from US ideologists). I agree you are an intellectual and I even respect your achievements and you still supporting MR, because he is fighting for the well being and rights of an ordinary man in SL. That’s what you are trying to say. Remember this whole matter is not about me or you, this is about our country and about the ordinary citizens of SL and the likes and dislikes of every single person in SL. The rights of every citizen of the country, independent of race and religion, as far as these prevail and no discrimination of minorities and political opponents is in place I salute him and his govt; but the past few months does not look like that. Yesterday “arresting the wife and in-lows of a (UNP) poster printer is not what we are expecting from a democrat or not publishing any reports of any commissions he himself appoints, or installing his family members and known thugs to the cabinet (Mervyn, Karuna) at vital positions and abusing the state resources for the election campaign and horse trading in the parliament for the majority at the cost of tax payers may be not abuse of power in your world bu i see it differently. I hope for you that he will change his methods for your advantage and not order to kill all the literates like Pol Pot did in Kampuchea or the Red Army in Poland, then better get out of SL and go to US, UK or somewhere.
For your information I don’t belong to the “Kalu Suthas” and english educated elite, and not even from Colombo, and not from rich and influential family who know some politician or can pay bribes, I am not even a Sinhalese. And I do not see the world in a digital manner “either good or bad and nothing in-between” and I do not claim to be an intellectual and moreover I do not depend on the information I read in Google and WIKI to understand the world. I hope that I have helped you not to be prejudicial about people who have a different stance than yours and I do have. And stop still blaming the colonial powers for the misery we have in our country even after 60 years of independence, and start working towards to improve the country. And please remember it is not about you and me, who have little to loose but about the 17 million Sri Lankans. And most of them are poor fighting every day for their survival.
Sonal sounds like the stereotypical extremist grump who got rejected by a girl and then labels all females as ‘sluts’. So sour haha. What happened to you man? Got rejected by your colleague from Colombo or got shouted at by a foreign boss? Haha. Get over it. You’re the one who is trying to create class differences and shout about it. Wasn’t the 30 years of Tamil war enough? If you’re looking for an apology from someone in the past then you won’t find it here…Try talk about some real issues here. You’re imagining some dramatic tale where the rich old evil man regret’s how he mistreated the poor and meets a miserable death. Your 18th would have never passed if it was a secret ballot. Why would it? Please don’t say “because we real patriots want a strong leader who can continue saving Sri Lanka”…
I agree with you that , this guy should learn from the West and outsmart them.
He is still crude, but he will get polished.
The poor in the west have less opportunities than in SL.
At least in the USA.
They can get food and become obese.
I still respect this guy and hope he will reach satiety , with regards to both money and power and then become mre benevolent.
In my opinion , We need strong leaders to make decisions and stay with those.
look , Iraqui war , you think americans could protest freely.
the police contain you in one play ground far away from civilization and ask you
to protest, if rupport want it covered, his media empire will cover it, if not nobody will know.
My friend , don’t ignore google, you can get any information through that portal, it is a great research tool, check the sites I suggested.
Srilankan style protest will never happen here.
You can get your banners pre approved and then displayed infront of the whitehouse, try burning any epigy here.
read about extrrdinary rendition- CIA out sourcing torture to middle east.
democracy is a nice word.
in this planet you don’t have it, not in china, not in the united kingdom( It is a kingdom).
it is all a mirage.
I agree that charaters like Mervyn Silva shold be sent asAn Ambassodor to Timbaktoo,or Russia.
Rome was not built in a day, he will get refined.
I see him to be more benevolent than even JRJ,
Dudley and anil are honest but they lack self esteem.
Thanks to all.
just my thoughts, just like all of you I love Srilanka, I “waste” a lot of time thinking about ” Apa janmabumi”- ou birth place.
Wonder what effect Zorro’s post will have on sathyadeva. My guess is that his stake in this government is too high to take part in any reasonable thinking. He will reply with the whole ‘don’t bend to the west’ line. What are the chances that he is genuinely convinced about mahinda and thinks that there is nothing wrong with the new amendment. How can it possibly be so black and white? There is no one here claiming that UNP is the solution. No one is saying the west is perfect or that people outside Colombo shouldn’t rule the country. When in the world did it become about that? Some of us cry about democracy and then get labelled as a traitorous western worshiping Colombo elite.
Sathyadeva no matter what you say, you still sound confused about a few things. It would be helpful if you can help me clear up a few things. Not to mention the last dozen questions you avoided…
Naomi Choksy is a strong critic of the mahinda government. He thinks that Tamils should be given their own state. So why in the world do you keep mentioning him?
Why do you keep saying Rupert Murdoch owns the US media? Do you how much influence the other top 5 media groups have? Or doesn’t it show on your Google.
You’re talking about minor candidates not being allowed in the debate… do you know that Mahinda refused to take part in a single live debate?
You say you saw UNP leaders kissing up to western politicians. Do you have any idea about the number of colon-kissing delegations our president sends every year? Do you know how many white foreign diplomats get entertained with our tax money?
Do you know that all of Mahindas sons and relations grew up in the ‘colombo 7′ lifestyle and mentality that you hate so much? It’s all politics.
Who said the UN is a fair institution? Who said we dream and worship a utopian democratic society that exists somewhere? Who said we don’t need strong leadership to rebuild our country? Can you even define the words ‘strong leadership’? What were the powers that Mahinda didn’t posses to rebuild the country? You’re telling that without the amendment he couldn’t have done what he wanted? We comment on the unnecessary and dangerous incidents happening and you label it as worshiping the west. I guess if we don’t appreciate the government then we are narrow minded kalu suddas. That’s the easiest way to brush off all the ridiculous things that are happening. And hey at first it’s just cheap government propaganda, but when you keep saying it you start believing it yourself. So keep playing the ‘colombo elite are jealous’ card…