Rajapakse’s commitment of reconciliation with the Tamil minority remains as empty as his long promised devolution
by Dushy Ranetunge
It was indeed a stunning victory, as it surprised everyone, including many of those who are in power who displayed great anxiety and frustration in their campaign, expecting a close result.
For weeks and months to come, analysts will ponder as to the reasons why; the largely Sinhalese electorate decided to hand Rajapakse such a resounding mandate.
There was always a significant disjoint in the perceptions and world views of the Westernized English speaking constituency and the rural Sinhalese masses who were the targets and victims of LTTE terrorism in bus and train bombings, and the war itself in terms of manpower for the military effort.
It has been commented that the war was being funded by the village females working in the Middle East remitting several billion US dollars home and the war fought by the village males who were manning the armed forces. They experienced the reconciliatory politics of Chandrika and Ranil not yielding tangible results.
This then, is their gratitude to Rajapakse who is personally untainted by corruption in the eyes of the rural masses and rarely criticized by them. Criticism is directed at those around him. This may be reflected in the general election.
Rajapakse seem to defy gravity, as he has not only defeated the LTTE, which experts the world over declared unbeatable, he has emerged from this election with a stunning mandate, which no one expected. He would be the envy of politicians the world over, if not for the poor conduct of the war in the final weeks, and his style of governance which seem to aspire to the "pavement", at "subsistence level", rather than the "highest standards" aspired by great statesmen.
Rajapakse’s victory is largely a sectarian "Sinhalese" victory and do not have the support of large chunks of the minorities, Tamil, Muslim as well as the English speaking affluent Sinhalese who disapprove of the "brothers" and Rajapakse style of governance. These segments of society judge standards of governance and value systems in terms of liberal western democracies, rather than Rajapakse’s standards, which are perceived as being closer to his friends in Iran, Libya, China and Myanmar.
Rajapakse has already tried to defray charges of "War Crimes" based on his stunning Presidential victory, but these "wish lists" are unlikely to be accommodated as they are more legal rather than political processes.
The creation of one of the worlds largest and hostile diasporas will ensure that the international legal processes will be pushed forward as the Tamils have no confidence in the Sri Lankan legal processes which have been compromised on sectarian lines with Tamils failing to gain any legal or political recourse to the injustices suffered by them. Already this week Rajapakse has stated that no war crimes investigation is required in Sri Lanka as requested by the UN. By stating so, he has shut the door and Tamils can now demand that since Sri Lanka has ruled out a war crimes investigation, it now remains for the international community to initiate one.
Statements made during the Presidential election has further strengthened the case for war crimes charges and this trend is expected to continue with the hostility of the administration to the General and his supporters within the military establishment.
Rajapakse’s commitment of reconciliation with the Tamil minority remains as empty as his long promised devolution proposals. What Rajapakse means by reconciliation is a "Sinhalese" nationalist reconciliation, which will never be accepted by the Tamils, other than those Tamils who rely on him for political survival.
The reconciliation that Tamils yearn for are those found in Western liberal democracies and in India. This is a prospect that is anathema to the Sinhalese nationalist mindset who fails to realize that military unity has a shelf life, unless the Sinhalese want the army on their streets indefinitely like in Myanmar, Iran, Libya and China.
India and Western democracies have achieved stable political systems based on politically accommodating minorities within their democracies.
The chances of resurrecting GSP+ will now be remote and "hope" on resurrecting tourism is fragile as long as standards of governance are in line with China, Myanmar, Libya and Iran.
Sri Lanka’s geo-political positioning will ensure its continued somewhat stunted success under a Mahinda Rajapakse presidency, but it would be economic expansion under "controlled economic" conditions, rather than harnessing the spirit of free enterprise and an expansion of the private sector.
The Rajapakse doctrine favours an expansion of the state sector, which is inherently inefficient in terms of economic productivity and national output.
On the eve of Sri Lanka’s historic military victory over the LTTE, so much goodwill was squandered on flag waving jingoism reminiscent of the tribalism displayed by Tamil nationalists when the LTTE captured Elephant Pass.
This week, on the eve of another historic political victory by President Rajapakse, so much goodwill was squandered with the army surrounding the hotel in Colombo, which accommodated the losing opposition candidate.
What was achieved by this Libya/Myanmar/Iran/China style military action is unclear, but the political damage to Sri Lanka was immense. Unfortunately those in power seem clueless. There are other ways to safeguard security rather than mobilizing the army to surround a five star hotel.
Sri Lanka would continue to experience net emigration of the educated and the highly skilled, under a Rajapakse Presidency
10 Comments
Today we are committed to another 6-8 yrs of corruption, nepotism and wastage. Hence there is no hope other than to sit back and watch the circus.
/*Sri Lanka would continue to experience net emigration of the educated and the highly skilled, under a Rajapakse Presidency*/
Exactly. We like it or not, MR would get another kudos for creating new opportunities for the young people from rural areas. Isn't it good for Sri Lanka?
Thoughts of another English speaking westernised mind who has no idea what so ever of the thinking/aspirations of ordinary Sri Lankan people.
The ordinary Sri Lankan is much more mature and politically savvy than these pundits. Their verdict avoided a major blood bath and consequent anarchy. They wisely chosed stability over unpredictable change.
Yes indeed it is a sectarian's victory.Alright if tamils,muslims and english speaking affluent sinhalese like Ranil,Mangala,Ravi etc.. think they cannot live in SL under MR rule, they can migrate to any other country.
MR is not an affluent english speaking sinhala person,he is a villager.He is person who love his mother land,and the sinhala nation. That is why you guys so belligerent against him. Keep on doing it,and see what you gain within next 7 years.
Totally pessimistic analysis.It seems you can not digest this victory.Of course people like you will and should emigrate as you will physically live in SL but in England in mind..
dushey,
you are the last man standing for the LTTE.
The writersuggest that Rajapakshe ruled out the war crime investigation. In every point of view the war is a crime. It is a failure of political process. But we all know Rajapakshe has made so much of efforts to solve the Tamil problem by inviting Mr. Prabakaran to come to a negotiating table. Not only that he reminded Prabakaran the war is not a solution which brings only deaths and destruction. But LTTE never wanted any peaceful solution other than the war or voluntary Ealam state. Can anybody suggests any thing that Rajapakshe could do except right off one third of country or the war. Onece we choose the war it is ruthless. unimaginable civilian casualties and sufferings. That's what once the NATO called it collarteral damage when they killed so many innocent civilians during war with Serbia (former Yugoslavia) in Kosova uprising.
Apart from that during the days of US September 11, according to my knowledge the US administration came to decision to instruct the US military to shoot down any passenger plane regardless how many passengers in that plane if it hijack any terrist because they wanted to stop potential catostrophy or it may be only one terrorist target a place like White House. In case if would be the scenerio I wonder in which catorgory that death toll comes in, shouldn't that be a war crime killing hundreds of passengers just because of one terrorist targeting to destroy the White House. Sometimes leaders have no choice even there is no intention to kill innocent people. Either way the war is a crime.
Hi,
Some thoughts for Sinhalese nationalists here.
From Independence to date our army has been killing our own citizens, a hundred thousand Sinhalese branded as JVP and a hundred thousand Tamils branded as LTTE.
From Independence our airforce have been bombing our own citizens, their homes and their schools and hospitals.
If we kill our own citizens efficiently, they are called War hero's.
Then we chant pirith and claim to be a buddhist country. Where in Buddhism is heroism awarded to dogs of war?
thirty years ago, when I left Sri Lanka, they were anti English languge, used to call it "kaduwa" and 200,000 burghers left Sri Lanka for Australia branded by the Sinhalese as "karapoththa's".
It was all about Mau-basa then and English was "kaduwa"
Today, 30 years later, we no longer hear about "Mau-basa".
Hela, the peasants are going broke paying for English classes and there are more posters for English classes than Mahinda.
But today, after 30 years its no longer "Mau-Basa" but the "Mau-bima" and its no longer "kaduwa" but "traitor"
return in another 30 years and you will see that Mau-bima and traitor also will no longer be in fashion.
Sri Lanka will develop, but by the time it gets there you will be walking around in a zimmer frame.
While agreeing with much of the content of what Mr. Ranetunga has written, I think that his views on some aspects like GSP+, expansion of tourism are wrong.
The GSP+ suspension was purely brought in by the EU on political grounds but not on procedural grounds. The EU decision mainly based on the campaign by the UK. As the world know it was Rajapaksa who defied the moves undertaken by the UK government in securing a ceasefire in 2009 to rescue the LTTE leadership)and also flatly rejected the UK envoy Des Browne. So, UK did their best at UN (both in New York and Geneva) but to no avail. The EU being their only playing field which is left to beat MR and Co. by an innings, the UK has influenced all other member states to vote for suspension of GSP+ to Sri Lanka. This is how UK is getting revenge from Rajapaksa. If we look at two cases like Bolivia and Angola who are also recipients of GSP+ we can clearly understand this political move. The labour standards, human rights, women's rights, rights of the child in those two countries are far worse than that of Sri Lanka. Yet there are no investigations/suspensions. In last year there were over 25 trade union activists killed in Bolivia whereas in Sri Lanka none.
On the issue of tourism, I do not think that tourists will forget Sri Lanka. We in the UK have already seen 15% - 20% increase of British tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka. The western tourits will look for the best bargains and Sri Lanka is one of those. We must realise that Westerners are getting poor very fast only a fraction of the society is now enjoying a sizeable disposable income. Holidays have become dreams. Therefore, they will go for the place where they can have best value for money. This is why useless and pointless "boycott Sri Lanka" campaigns organised by Tamil diaspora failed in the West. Mr. Ranetunga being a resident of the UK must have clear thoughts about this.
On the other hand being a Tamil (refugee due to LTTE terrorism) I can understand Mr. Ranetunga's frustration on MR's lack of vision and understanding especially on an acceptable solution to ethnic issue. MR's proposal on full implementation of the 13 amendment except Police powers and the prospect of a second chamber will not be accepted by many Tamils.
We Sri Lankan Tamils are facing yet another political isolation. Gunning for the head of MR and working for an unachievable Tamil Eelam will not work. Though difficult and painful time has come for us to join mainstream politics actively, with whoever is in power and work from then onwards to achieve a respectable solution without dividing the country.
Parroting for Tamil Eelam is not going to work as India and others will never allow that to happen in Sri Lanka. If we are dreaming for a Palestine for us by conducting referenda after referenda in the West it will be a hallucination soon. After all what I cannot understand is that whether all of these actvists are going to live in that Tamil Eelam!
Hi Dushy,
Though a person only having a Sinhala like name living in overseas for so many years may not be able to understand the national psych, I would like to point out the following in response to your comment above.
There are many stories in buddhist "jathaka katha" highlighting the virtue of safeguarding one's tribe/clan from destruction.
That's what the so called dogs of war did. They once fought against violent overthrow of a democratically elected government and then fought a deadly 30 year war sacrificing their life and limb to preserve the integrity of the country against racist separatist terrorism. People of the country know that those dogs of war fought on behalf of them. Therefore they support the dogs of war though you may not like it.
Secondly no nation will survive if they disrespect mau-basa and mau-bima. While it is necessary to be competent in international laguages, it should not be at the expense of mau-basa. Again your comments re mau-basa and mau-bima confirms my earlier characterisation of the writer and the article.