If My Story Could Be Yours Too
This story could be penned from many entry points. That would not make it any different, I guess. It would thus be good, or not bad, to start from the presidential elections of November, 2005, says my hindsight.
Just as a reminder and a link to what follows, at that presidential elections, Mahinda Rajapaksa was brought forward as the SLFP candidate of the UPFA. He was mobbed and rallied around by the JHU, the JVP and their “cuddly tweeties”, that made Rajapaksa a solidly designed, Sinhala – Buddhist candidate. Carried through on a platform for a “Unitary State” and one “against Devolution”, his baptism as a loud, Sinhala – Buddhist exemplar in the elections, could not be toned down by the few senior citizens in the “Left” who tagged along. If State power was what could be achieved, Mangala was there on the wings.
All of it made Rajapaksa’s election platform the most sordidly racist election platform ever, since independence. I was thus convinced, if on this platform, Rajapaksa wins the elections (in 2005), their answer to the ethnic conflict would be plain and ruthless war that would invariably demolish democracy in the whole country, paving the way for a squalid and corrupt regime and that regime would never hold itself responsible to the people. This political assumption was made public and I openly said I would therefore not dare vote Rajapaksa for presidency.
Such political projection of the Rajapaksa candidacy and its alliance, obviously angered the JHU and the JVP, who labelled all who took similar positions as “Tiger informants, Sinhala Tigers” and then as “Traitors”. The JVP which worked to establish the Rajapaksa regime and unconditionally supported the regime established, suddenly called for a “Common Candidate” against Rajapaksa in 2009 November. They wanted the people to oppose Rajapaksa in 2010 at the presidential elections, on all counts that we in 2005 opposed Rajapaksa on, except the war. As an answer for the war, they carried General SF as their candidate.
The bottom line is, it took the JVP, five long years to realise they could not read politics right and were wrong in promoting Rajapaksa for presidency. Their politics thus brought a clear division in this country that leaves out Tamil and Muslim minority aspirations in decision making and is now totally controlled by the Sinhala “South”. The JVP keeps making one folly after another, but would not accept they are wrong. It would take more than a decade or more for them to realise that propping up an army General who was politically no alternative to Rajapaksa, would be equally wrong or even more disastrous, with what’s now taking place in this society. They still don’t understand that this country now needs Constitutional reforms for reconciliation and re-democratising of the whole society for its much needed development and stability.
That perhaps is the preface to my story and for what is now politically taking place, unopposed and with no intellectual social discussion.
The Rajapaksa regime is now on its way, in establishing a military rule without uniforms. It has already opened up the path for such rule through Constitutional arrangements. Until the 2010 elections were over, all of it was carried out by violating the 1978 Constitution. The strength, or the provision for such violation was in the immunity the presidency enjoyed. The 17th Amendment was thus violated in letter and spirit, while the JVP agreed that, as necessary for the war to be waged.
On its surface and appearance, this still remains the 1978 Constitution. But, in its content which still carries the same presidential immunity, it has gained enormous dictatorial powers, with the asinine 18th Amendment given a two thirds majority in parliament. This President can now contest presidency any number of times, as he wishes. He could do so, with enormous and enhanced powers under the 18th Amendment that allows him to appoint any person of his choice to any or all of the high posts in public service. This in fact throws the SLFP totally out of guiding decisions, in relation to governance. Kept only for “rubber stamping” his decisions till the last elections, the SLFP along with the whole of the UPFA now becomes irrelevant in this Rajapaksa regime.
The April 2010 parliamentary elections proved Rajapaksas can bring in any one they wish, from outside the SLFP. He has 19 ministers in his cabinet who have very little to do with the SLFP. As deputies, he has 11 who are similar outsiders. There are few such “tag alongs” as MPs as well. Plus now, the cross over half a dozen from the UNP too. This thus makes the SLFP redundant in Rajapaksa politics.
It is in this context, the evolving politics of this regime needs to be assessed. The 18th Amendment would provide legal approval in the future to what was done unconstitutionally in the past. But, for a regime that has no clear programme for reconciliation, re democratising and development, that alone is not enough. It needs a stronger hand in meeting social frustrations, unrest and possible anarchy. This would need an extension of the North – East rule to the “South” with the MoD kept very conspicuous.
North – East is under military rule not only with the deployment of security personnel geographically, but also with civil administration brought under ex-security persons. This leaves those citizens in North and East, with no civil life, though they were lured into voting for local government bodies and the Provincial Council in East.
The appointment of top ex servicemen to positions that have to be held by civil administrators have so far gone without any opposition by the UNP and the JVP. These are two inept political parties who are only counting on Sinhala votes to get to power. Therefore they would not oppose anything that would provide a Sinhala interpretation in favour of war. These appointments have gone without protests from trade unions and other civil organisations too, for fear of being pushed to the wall, by Sinhala patriotic rowdism. All these appointments of ex-servicemen as Governors, as District Secretary, Managing Director in Ports Authority, as foreign diplomats come with such war related, Sinhala heroic interpretations.
Before long and as evident now, Colombo would have its 156 year plus elected Municipality scrapped for an Authority, officially listed with the Defence Ministry. This being a non elected body, would invariably have its top men appointed by the Defence Secretary and in all probability, they could be ex servicemen too. Even if that is not so, it would still be a security sensitive Authority under the MoD.
This military culture being nurtured openly provides a very serious threat to civil life and to democracy. This new trend, gives into a politicised mentality within security forces. It did so in the Administrative Service, before and also now. Almost all top ministry officials who see their retirement age approaching, gets into a “scavenging mode” for the politico Minister. That thus provides them with “advisory or consultancy” posts through Cabinet papers with plenty of perks and privileges, post retirement. Such thinking within the defence establishment can not be avoided, when ex servicemen are placed in civil posts.
These are not issues that the Opposition sees as politically important. They in fact can not oppose this growing military culture. Having accepted the General who fought the war as their presidential candidate, the JVP and the UNP can not oppose other lesser posts accommodating ex servicemen. Their politics did not then see this as a disastrous adventure. Nor do they take it as such, for they now have to live with their war hero, day dreaming on coming to power on Sinhala votes from the South.
Rajapaksa’s agenda of giving the South a “Northern” life, would therefore have no hurdles to jump over. It seems just plain sailing for now.
If I may write the epilogue too, for this story on developing a military culture in curtailing and curbing civil life to hold the Rajapaksa regime safe, it would be to note in advance, no father’s arrogant heritage as a president could salvage a dumb son to live an intellectual leadership role to challenge this regime, just as much as no large amounts of short messages for mega stage performances could make a powdered doll, a pragmatic politician in offering an alternative. This insanity in opposition politics does not make a coffee drinking Opposition leader dissipate his storm in the tea cup to sip right politics. This political dementia in the Opposition does not show any possibility of cure either and dragging it on till the next presidential election in 2016, poses the question, “who would be the Opposition Leader during Namal’s tenure as president ?”
23 Comments
Leave a Reply
Subscribe to Content Updates
iPhone app
When any people take away the dignity of another people, wrong things done to the latter are forcefully agued as right by the former. “We are the ‘high born’ people” and “they are the ‘low born’ people” is their inner concept.
Apartheid, an inhuman system, was born from this belief in former South Africa(SA) and Sri Lanka(SL). Wrong Christianity in SA and wrong Buddhism in SL caused this wrong belief system. Both SA and SL took politcal steps to take away the dignity of “low born people” in stages.
SL supported apartheid belief, implemented it, violated an international sports ban against SA and played cricket in 1980′s. SL supported Ian Smith regime in Rhodesia, in the British Commonwealth Conference in 1979, and used Rhodesian soldiers to bomb Jaffna Hospital, places of worship and civilian targets in the same year.
Governements that deny human dignity also deny justice. SL believes it to be “alright” not to bring the soldiers who killed 40,000 Tamil civilians in 2009 to justice. “The executor is the judge”.
Dignity and care that is being given by the world to the 33 miners trapped in Chile, gives a glimpse of the lack of dignity suffered by the 40,000 killed and 400,000 Tamils displaced last year.
The “whites” who implemented the apartheid system told blatant lies to hold on to the system. “Blacks cannot rule SA” was their slogan. But SA recently conducted the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament superbly.
Deliberate propagation of untruth about the “low born people”, cheating, and dishonouring political agreements with them are acts of disrespect the “high born people” cherish to do.
LTTE, an armed liberation movement, for gaining independence to Tamil Eelam(TE), is mischievously propagated by SL solely as “terrorists”. Though there are about 30 countries smaller than TE, represented in the UN, SL says that the island is small to make way for SL and TE.
Mahatma Gandhi had an intense apetite to restore the dignity of people in SA and India. His sahes were released ceremonially into the sea recently in SA- not in India.
This act convinced me that the cherished vision of Gandhi was the restoration of dignity of people. He realised that the independence of a people as a country is essential to restore their dignity.
His desire to do justice, love kindness and practice humilty were very relevant, and Christ like, to restore the dignity of man.
Restoring the dignity of Tamils in TE is a human responsibilty. Realising that the independence of TE is essential, the UN General Assembly, in its current session, is obligated to draft a road map for its independence.
Mr.Kusal Perera, I agree 99% percent with what you have said. I only disagree with the part about an election being held in 2016.
I will bet my last ‘Humanitarian’ rupee that there will not be an election held in 2016. If you have read “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” by William L. Shirer, you will know that MR is doing exactly what AH did in Germany. The only difference between AHs 1000 year Third Reich and MRs 2500 year old Family Reich is that AH went for a ‘One Man Show,’ while MR is going for a “Family Of 300 Plus Show!”
I’m looking forward to MRs next move. Lebensraum. (looking for living space for his family). When MR starts to invade Tamil Nadu, The Maldives, and the whole of India with China, Myanmar, Libya, Iran, North Korea and Zimbabwe as his allies.
Dear PresidunceBean,
I agree 100% with what you have said – and of course with what Kusal Perera has said. We are in for a Military Dictatership disguised as a civilian government.
“Partriots” and “Traitors” will be sorted out. The latter will be eliminated without anyone being aware – the technique has been perfected in the northeast, and to a lesser extent, in the south.
What the ‘Spiritual Man’ said is damn correct. People’s Front of Liberation Tigers(PFLT) is now a registered political party in the UK. Pl visit http://www.pflt.org
Well said Kusal Perera. Sadly those who do not want to hear or see the truth will pretend to be deaf and blind. The 18th A is the ultimate answer! The Bandaranaike dynasty lasted from 1956 to 2005 on Sinhala Only. The Rajapakse dynasty has been outdoing that feat by coupling it with Buddhism Foremost as envisaged under the 1972 uniliateral constitution. The ongoing rapid ethnic cleansing and building of Buddhist temples by the ethnic military on private lands in the north and east expropriated by governments over the past 30 years has far outdone the wrongs and injustices by the British Colonial Masters. Its rule by the most extraordianry Emergency Regulations where killings are a norm with total impunity coupled with a ‘nondi’ justice system is all too apparent and ingrained. Behold the Rajapakse dynasty in the years ahead!
I believe the only choice tamils people have is to emigrate. It is one thing to be treated as a dog but it is another when most of the majority ethnic group don’t even believe they treat you like a dog. They believe the tamils have every equal and exact right. With such blindness, i hope tamils move elsewhere and find peace that they so richly deserve.
Dear Jokovich,
“i hope tamils move elsewhere and find peace that they so richly deserve.”
Wouldn’t that spell victory for the Sinhala racists?
PresidunceBean>>> imagination that is ur creation!
Dear Jokovich
Thanks for your kind feeling towards the Tamils (oppressed by the most of democratically elected governments willingly or nuwillingly). Your point of views attract me but your solution distracts me.
If we had a few Kusals Sri Lanka would have been the pardaise of the gentlemen. Now it is the paradise of the fools. We had the choice?
Kusal,
What would have been your solution to the LTTE ?
The 18th Amendment can be used by the president to do as he pleases BUT at least he has succeeded in putting down the LTTE militia although there must be remnants of it around the place and the politics of separatism is alive and well (This will always be there and we have to ignore it go on developing all parts of the country)
I do not see commentators like you critical of the 13th Amendment. If the way the 18th amendment was brought into law was not good. Then the same goes for the 13th amendment which undermines the sovereignity of the Sri Lankan state. This piece of legislation was not even written by Sri Lankan legislators and passed under military duress from India in 1987.
Give Mahinda administration time see what he does cooporate with his administration to develop the country and if he is not doing the right thing throw him out at the next election.
If you restrict the number of times a candidate can contest it will stop a capable person from doing his best for the country. (and of course himself)
What did Chandrika achieve in the 12 years..?
It is the opposition that stuffed up the opportunity to support Mahinda’s war effort thus alientating themselves from the general public when Mahinda was able to declare victory against LTTE which by the way was the BIGGEST THREAT to Sri Lankan state at that time over a 30 year period.
The only blemish on Mahinda’s part is his treatment of General Fonseka.
Who ever that said there was a coup threat is the real enemy of Sri Lanka and the people.
to jokovich
” see the mess these tmails are creting when they emigrate.. i think governmentsin AUssie and canada and UK are now only finding out that they are litterally holding the tiger by its tail. thank god we gave this donkey away about a year ago…
“Nine Sri Lankan Tamils had spent more than 24 hours on the steep-roofed, two-storey building at Villawood detention centre” – “”Jumping is only a start,” he told AFP. “If that happens, people at the bottom will go out of control.”"
lets hire some ships and transport these people out more and more to their favourite NGO nations…
This is pure scaremongering and deceptive writing.
Yes, Rajapakse came to power on a platform build to protect the sovereignity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. The country was facing iminent disintegration. A de facto separate state was created on the back of a bogus CFA hatched by foreigners and signed secretly without presenting to any arm of the state, legislature, executive or judiciary not to mention the people of the country. I can’t remember Kusal having any problem in efecting the CFA violating all norms and laws of the land.
He is lameting on a piece of legislation (18A) that has been presented to the judiciary at least for a cursory review, passed in the legislature with 2/3 majority of people’s representatives. The MPs who voted for the amendment comprised of all political parties except perhaps TNA. The astonishing divergence in the approach in the passage of CFA and 18A clearly illustrates in a governance continum who was more inclined to a democratic approach and who would be more dictatorial given the opportunity. Kusal and his ilk always fail to realise that the ordinary people are better judges than the English speaking Colombians.
Going back to the Rajapakse election in 2005…..MR didn’t go for a war as Kusal predicted. Kusal was wrong in his prediction. MR wanted a negotiated settlement with LTTE (wrongly, because LTTE never wanted a settlement short of Eelam. They were redying for the final war which many of the comentators here knew). MR did not react even on extreme provocations. Hundreds of forces personnel died before MR’s hand was pushed. LTTE imposed that war amidst cheering from their backers because they overestimated themselves.
Kusal tries to hide this history though as I said ordinary folks are much more intelligent than the intellectuals.
SLFP and the parliament are still relevant. MR still has to be a party nominee to contest elections. More elections have been held under MR than anybody else. If an impeachment could brought against president Premadasa at the hight of “Bheeshana Yugaya” it can be brought against MR too if the conditions so exist. Therefore, constitutional tools are still available to check the powerful presidency of JRJ. The issue is… has anyone placed any alternative political programme in front of the people to gain an iota of trust from the people?
In my opinion, what Kusal and Hela said, what the war brought to us are all relevent in finding a base to build a solution. We know now international meddleing won’t stop, espeacially in Srilanka, that why have to face them by building trust between communities. No point panicking about the country breaking up before it’s breaking. Even if it has disintegrated we can build a united nation from the scratch if stand together.
Let’s wait for the speech from the UN from the great President and his Team of 180 delegates (the highest ever) who are in the US. It must be some comfort to the ordinary people of Sri Lanka that they are enjoying the comforts they richly deserve on 4 Floors of the Waldorf Astoria costing some 140 million Rs. Colomboans may think differently. The country is booming, of course.
Dictatorships never work . What constrains a politician of today are his prospects for reelection. Once those constraints are removed, the notion of accountability becomes meaningless. Meaningless in the sense that there is no legal mechanism which can remove him from power. If criticism, for example, is meant to induce change, but that inducement is not backed by any force, then the criticism itself is futile – the equivalent of talking to a wall. In fact, that is what Rajapakse is doing – he is building wall after wall to protect himself. Everyday a new all is added. Inside the walls is King Rajapakse. Outside the walls are the Constitution, Supreme Court, and yes, the average person.
I am delighted that the dreaded Tigers have been crushed. Now I am really sad that the people have created a sinhala Tiger in MR. Surely our country deserves better.
Pres Bean:
Interesting remarks. If I might add my own 2 cents:
I agree 99% percent with what you have said. I only disagree with the part about an election being held in 2016.
Election fraud is easy when MR personally appoints the election commissioner. So of course, the outcome of any such election is a foregone conclusion. One must speculate as to why such an election is even held… probably to appease the Westerners so that “aid” money continues flowing into the begging bowl.
I will bet my last ‘Humanitarian’ rupee that there will not be an election held in 2016. If you have read “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” by William L. Shirer, you will know that MR is doing exactly what AH did in Germany. The only difference between AHs 1000 year Third Reich and MRs 2500 year old Family Reich is that AH went for a ‘One Man Show,’ while MR is going for a “Family Of 300 Plus Show!”
At least the Germans were efficient. While a few in the Reich hierarchy indulged in luxury, e.g. Goering, Hitler himself did not.
I’m looking forward to MRs next move. Lebensraum. (looking for living space for his family). When MR starts to invade Tamil Nadu, The Maldives, and the whole of India with China, Myanmar, Libya, Iran, North Korea and Zimbabwe as his allies.
Again, it is a question of efficiency. If you need the Chinese just to build a bridge or a road, its highly unlikely your military poses a threat to anyone outside of your nation. I think MR will continue to *invade* public taxpayer money… the next big move is to bring the Colombo Municipal Council under the Defense Ministry. I will let you work out the kickbacks and commissions coming from that.
buddika
Please remember to get in that ship. Your thought are more dangerous and you need proper rehabilitation. Only Mahinda and Sri Lanka can give you this. They will do a humanitarian operation on you followed by rehabilitation in a camp. Free transport will be given in white van. Free copies of Ma Hin Da Chindanaya will be given to you. Please take some ropes in case they run out of them. Choose a good tree and plead to them in writing that you should be tied to a tree. After that you can reapply and come back and talk to AFP. In the mean time keep the LIEon flag flying high like a true Sin Ha Lease.
Dear PresiDunce
“I only disagree with the part about an election being held in 2016.”
Why would Mahinda pass up an election where his main opponent (Ranil W.) is unelectable?
Wijayapala,
“i hope tamils move elsewhere and find peace that they so richly deserve.”
Wouldn’t that spell victory for the Sinhala racists?
It is a bigger victory for Tamils. This is the sad reality. We cannot build our lives around defeating Sinhala racists. We have to start living and achieving. Opportunities in Sri Lanka being so limited and the country becoming fast unlivable to free-thinking Tamils, it is better to leave Sri Lanka, not for any counttry but for a developed country.
If Sri Lanka cannot retain Tamils – who can prosper anywhere in the world – who will lose ultimately?
It is not in punishment but for the betterment of the Tamil community. Anyway most Tamil educated youngsters have already made up their mind. Good on them to leave this hate mongering political system behind.
Dear Readers,
once upon a time, this forum was neutral. Today this seems to be more or less influenced by MR govt. So, I wondered why none of the writers have brought any sorta of article asking the situation prevailing in the country today. Even to a 10 year old of the nation, it is clear that putting SF in Jail is a political revenge by Gotta who is remot controlling MR being aside. However, there is no room for the democracy in sl today. I wonder if SF is to be jailed, what will be the punishments before MR, GR and all other perpetrators who killed tamil civilians in the name of elimination of LTTE terror from the country.
Shame on lankens – be you muslim, sinhala, tamil or burgher, we cant be proud as SRILANKENS today – thanks go to Rajapakses.
No matter the Presidential election held by him and his thugs had been corrupted
No matter Tsunami funds of the poor were openly abused
No matter youth of poor people be tamils or sinhala were killed by them
No matter MR co. continues his powers appointing his and their henchmen.
No matter Silva under MR regime played all abused games on public costs
People of the blind nation should further respect – this megalomaniac leader. MR