Beyond Ousting The Shamed ‘Suhartos’ Of Sri Lanka!

By Mohamed Harees –APRIL 27, 2022

Lukman Harees

‘We have a circle of corruption and impunity that is too strong’- Josefina Vazquez Mota

Despite his vast power, totally corrupt Indonesia’s Suharto’s seemingly unassailable regime collapsed with surprising speed when the Asian Financial Crisis hit in 1997. Suharto, regarded as a bulwark against communism in Asia, stole as much as $35bn from his impoverished country during his three decades in power, before being deposed in 1998 in a popular uprising that was triggered by the Asian economic crisis. Despite Suharto’s vain attempts to rig elections in March 1998, people persisted in their call for him to stand down. Younger generation, mostly students occupied the legislative building, demanding “reformasi”, and amid growing political he resigned in a live TV broadcast.

Much of the blame for the crisis Indonesia faced, focused on the nepotism and corruption that became the hallmark of Suharto’s later years in power and which saw family members and close associates amass fortunes and come to dominate Indonesia’s economy. Suharto, who ruled Indonesia with an iron hand, was however lucky to get away without a fair trial for his human rights abuse and corruption. Many had expected the former dictator to face trial and die in ignominy. The governments that have ruled Indonesia since 1998 however lacked the will to bring the general to justice. Though he was formally accused of embezzling billions of public money, he never spent a day in jail. A court ruled in August 2000 that Suharto was physically and mentally unfit to stand trial. Gota – named the Hitler and the ‘Terminator’ now hangs on as protests evoke last days of Suharto, when the country faces Lebanon-style economic meltdown. However, if Suharto example is anything to go by, will impunity again reign high as it happens in Sri Lanka and let off the corrupt Rajapaksas from the law’s hook?

Political corruption undermines the hopes for prosperity and stability of developing countries, and damages the global economy,” said Transparency International chairman Peter Eigen. “The abuse of political power for private gain deprives the most needy of vital public services, creating a level of despair that breeds conflict and violence. This is exactly what the corrupt Rajapaksa dynasty did to Sri Lanka! For proof of how populist politicians, once in power, their decisions, often ill-conceived, can create grave problems for the very voters they purport to champion, look no further than what has befallen the people of Sri Lanka. In recent months, life in the island nation has turned into a grinding, ever-worsening ordeal. What started as a government debt crisis has devolved into broader economic turmoil, marked by critical shortages of basic products, widespread poverty and spiralling inflation. Sri Lanka is rapidly descending into a political and economic crisis. The impacts of Sri Lanka’s financial meltdown have barely left a corner of the country unscathed. But nowhere can the seismic shift in the country be felt more than out on the streets. The wrath of the protesters across the country has mainly been targeted at the corrupt Rajapaksas and their poisonous nationalism and bad governance

The last few weeks have been nightmarish in Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, the energy and unity of the Galle Face protestors has been ecstatic. It has already shaken the powerful Rajapakse bastion to its core. Galle Face Green become the ‘Berlin Wall’ and the ground zero for the protest against the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government. People across all economic strata and racial and religious divides, came together to build a common alliance, breaking the divisive proverbial ‘Berlin Wall’ built around them by the Rajapaksas – the most corrupt and inept administration in recent history, and their likes. Protests at the iconic 5-hectare strip which now includes an area popularly called the ‘Gota Go-Gama’ are drawing similarities to Egypt’s Tahrir Square during Arab Spring.

Analysts say the protests have been so hard to contain because they stem not from an organised movement but from a collective rage, prompting many to describe it as “Sri Lanka’s Arab Spring”. Protesters mostly young who are part of the ‘Occupy Galle Face’ movement have one simple message to the country’s once most powerful man – “we will not go home unless you and your family do.” With the people worried about their country deep in debt, and lost its dignity, the only thing left for them will be risk their lives and raise their voices to make sure at least their future generations have a better life. Beyond Galle Face, across the country of 22 million, citizens of all ages and faiths are holding the Rajapaksa dynasty—who has ruled the country for most of the last two decades—responsible for the emerging sordid state of affairs. They are coming out onto the streets, who have never protested before. It’s happening organically, very youth-driven and there’s no mastermind or political party behind this movement.

The future thus appears bleak for Sri Lanka, as it faces unprecedented turmoil as a deepening economic crisis triggers raging street demonstrations while a political impasse plays out as Gota defies calls to step down, complicating efforts to alleviate the situation. The public calls to hold Gota and his family accountable for alleged corruption and other crimes grow louder. The Rajapaksa family can no longer be able to rely on post-war patriotism for popular support. This enthusiastic national call asking the government to resign, may just have saved the country from further damage by stopping the destructive Rajapakse regime in its tracks, but the latest political noises and moves from the Gota Regime suggest there is a long way to go. Sri Lanka is stuck in a political standoff. Yes! any move to remove or sideline the President is likely to take weeks, if not months, though Gota and his government have lost their public legitimacy. They are clinging to power like a leech. Even the opposition has failed to develop a coherent plan for removing him or for ruling the country if he leaves.

As analyst Alan Keenan says, Gotabaya’s authoritarian, centralised and non-transparent decision-making is central to the crisis. Surrounded by cronies and oblivious to criticism, his administration rejected repeated calls for a course correction as the crisis deepened. ….Whatever happens over the next few weeks and months, Sri Lanka’s recovery from the current crisis is likely to be difficult and could last years. If the Rajapaksas hold onto power, they will be governing an angry, restless populace without the public support needed to impose the painful measures Sri Lanka must take to restructure its international debt. If they do not, a string of unstable and short-lived governments is a distinct possibility, as few politicians will be eager to design or administer the new social and economic policies that creditors will require as part of any bailout package. Sri Lanka will warrant close international attention and support throughout the difficult years ahead.

With public anger running high and the government trying to control the protests, reporting on the events from the site of demonstrations has become a challenge. It is a matter of extreme concern that the government has chosen to act with a very heavy hand at the first chance they get. There is the troubling phase of increasing curtailing freedoms and arbitrary arrests. Public nervousness is visible. The Rajapaksas aren’t known for their democratic credentials. What should be borne that any attempts at repression by this disintegrating government will only increase the determination of the protesting masses.

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