United they rule the land!

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Both the President and the Prime Minister spoke well in the people’s assembly. Hence they have an obligation to provide strong and principled leadership against the invidious forces, to restate again and again their commitment to the democratic values of pluralism and self autonomy, on which they were elected, and ensure that police and civil servants are given the confidence to enforce the law in the face of intimidation and threats of violence

The meeting held at the BMICH to mark 30th anniversary of the Ravaya newspaper with the participation of President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition Leader R Sampanthan, SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem and JVP leadr Anura Kumara Dissanayake became a people’s intellectual assembly, a new addition to the democratic revolution, still spreading in the country.

Both leaders, answering the opposition criticism explained that changes are taking place steadily and continuously against the reactionary opposition. May be the process is slow compared to the aspirations of the people. It is necessary to defeat racist chauvinist conspiracies and appealed all to join the struggle. This public mass assembly is accepted by all, as a new feature where activist faced the leaders of the country. After the meeting both leaders were available during the refreshments to continue the discussions in small groups.

Protest groups

The exploitation by others of the disabled soldiers’ protest outside the Presidential Secretariat, the increasing use of hate speech against minorities by some members of the Buddhist clergy and by other protest groups, and by widespread anti-minority hate speech in social media are parts of the conspiracy spreading throughout the country.

Everybody in the Democratic movement: trade unions, civil society organisations, left parties and liberals are extremely concerned at the appearance of signs that, yet again, legal reforms aimed at improving democracy and good governance are being undermined by the forces of chauvinism and intolerance. The deplorable language used by some Buddhist monks in the presence of police officers against responsible state officials, raised the question whether the rule of law has been suspended. In particular – violent and un-Buddhist sentiments – that have been widely circulating on social media to be especially disturbing and shocking.

This very small minority of violence-prone and foulmouthed monks are not spontaneous happenings but organised entities of a conspiracy to create a bloody racial conflict throughout the country. Liberals are shocked to see monks disgracing the memory of such champions of civility and reconciliation as the late Maduluwave Sobitha Thera, an architect and inspirer of the reforms now taking place. Moreover, many monks are actively involved in peace and reconciliation efforts at the community level, which work, due to its un-sensational nature, does not attract mainstream or social media attention.

Peace, reconciliation and power sharing

In many if not all of these incidents, there appears to be an element of organisation of deeper political agenda aimed at reversing the current path towards peace, reconciliation and power sharing. The tragedy that should be stopped is the inaction when the offender is a person in yellow robes. Especially, where members of the clergy have been involved, police and civil servants have succumbed to the culture of deference rather than restore order. A poisonous atmosphere of racial and religious hatred is compounded many fold by suspicion and rumours spread by political machinations. Most regrettably, conspirators have achieved by the appearance of indifference or at least a lack of capacity on the part of state institutions to enforce the rule of law without fear or favour.

A certain confidence is given to continue their activity. Recent action taken against fascistic extremist is admirable and it should move boldly and rapidly. The allowance of any space for a perception of government impotence, indifference, or weakness to take root would only embolden those who wish to propagate hatred and division. Without the will or capacity to implement strengthened powers and institutional independence, there will be no value to the reforms, especially in relation to law enforcement.

Mahinda group

The fascistic organisers of racial and religious hatred and clashes are close associates of Mahinda group. As such they are happy about the victory of Donald Trump in US. This affinity could be understood by looking into the reasons that led to elect in US, a person with so much authoritarian tendencies. We notice the revolutionary change taking place in rural parts of America. We should admit the rural native upsurge against modernism in the cosmopolitan cities.

One media intellectual said that seeing the country’s back highways thick with blue Trump signs; should have tipped them off to the fact that something was afoot. The real reason is; as opposed to rational democratic masses that dominated the urban society, the rural elements who were disturbed about their plight selected Donald as a champion. Thus, it is necessary to understand how tens of millions of Americans could see him as their champion in the first place.

This is the similarity we could see in Donald and Mahinda; both address to the unconscious fears instead of explaining the real problems to the people. Instead of logic and sensible reasoning they introduced wild fears and suspicion. Both are champions of rural pre modernist masses. That so many Americans who are struggling with money picked Trump must mean that modern version of capitalism could not satisfy them. Nor do they want to use some further adjustments. Instead they believe in a great society that they have lost.

Arya Sinhala society

Mahinda promised the Arya Sinhala society in mythical past. Similarly Donald promised the resurrection of Anglo-Saxon white society. Hence we should expect Mahinda to turn to politics of racial and religious agitations.

These disturbing events arrive in Lanka at a time when masses are still less than halfway through the democratic revolution for witch they gave a popular mandate. Fascistic forces imperil the establishment of the necessary foundations of reconciliation, justice, and good governance – which are the bedrock of future peace, prosperity, and happiness – and threaten to take the country back to a dark era from which we were at last emerging.

Both the President and the Prime Minister spoke well in the people’s assembly. Hence they have an obligation to provide strong and principled leadership against these invidious forces, to restate again and again their commitment to the democratic values of pluralism and self autonomy, on which they were elected, and ensure that police and civil servants are given the confidence to enforce the law in the face of intimidation and threats of violence.