Democracy in Sri Lanka was a foreign imposition upon a polity segmentalized and divided against itself
by J.B.Muller
Democracy’ is neither organic nor home-grown. It was a foreign imposition upon a polity that was segmentalized and divided against itself.
It is the tragedy of our times that we Sri Lankans are gullible enough to swallow all this tripe about elections as the universal remedy for all our problems or the fulfillment of our hopes and dreams.
Our sundry and various politicians shout themselves hoarse about ‘saving democracy’ or, contra wise, ‘strengthening democracy’ when they don’t even know the meaning of the word!
They all firmly believe that majoritarian domination is the quintessence of democracy!
Then, they would have us believe that having 54 or 65 political parties means a vibrant, thriving democracy! Indeed, it gets curiouser and curiouser as they would also have us believe that Pradeshiya sabha, municipal council, provincial council and parliamentary elections held at frequent intervals is also convincing proof that Sri Lanka is a living, breathing democracy.
All of this taken in parts or together is a gigantic ‘pie in the sky’ and utter nonsense fit only for the mentally weak, for morons and for lunatics.
Our ‘democracy’ is neither organic nor home-grown. It was a foreign imposition upon a polity that was segmentalized and divided against itself by the factors of ethnicity, language, religion, and caste in the first instance.
Then, the additional dimensions of ‘class,’ racial superiority and majoritarian supremacy were added to the simmering cauldron—a veritable witch’s brew. Then, our foreign overlords contemplated all this with not undisguised satisfaction for ‘divide et impera’ was a time-tested way of controlling the colonized and subjugated.
The process also created a new ruling class fashioned in the mould of the overlords and to that class the reins were handed over, reluctantly, due to the attrition of time and circumstance.
When those who inherited the mantle of rulership danced to the tune that the foreign pipers played, all was well. They could continue to exploit the natural resources of the Island and labour of its people, they could continue to ‘police’ the Indian Ocean because of their military bases and they could continue to sell their manufactured goods sponging up whatever extra money we had earned from the World Market.
They also made good use of the intellectual capital of the country by enticing our best minds to migrate by dangling the carrots of prosperity and la dolce vita before them. Their media continued to brainwash the educated into believing that they were superior in all respects and implying, often not so subtly, that we were an inferior breed.
However, nothing remains the same forever. Things change and our ill-prepared leaders took charge of the process of change. They botched many things in their new-found enthusiasms for other alien ideologies and, by dint of hard and bitter experience, 62 year’s on, we, the People, have come to this day. We are all at a critically pivotal period in our painfully long (some would claim it was glorious) history.
In the past six plus decades the People have paid a terrible price in blood, terror, destruction, sorrow, and pain. This is so because of the overweening greed for power of some and the sheer, almost criminal incompetence of others.
This beautiful country is saddled with an Opposition that has become nothing more than a circus made-up of born losers, has-beens and wannabes who have, in the ultimate analysis, NOTHING to offer the People of this country but some more blood, terror, destruction, sorrow, and pain. We had a government with a visionary re-elected leader who wants to change the entire inherited frame.
He wants to get down to grass-roots democracy where the real voice of the People would be heard. He seeks (within the prevailing frame) a majority that would enable him to usher in genuine change instead of cosmetic touch-ups.
He has had the courage to seek a fresh mandate for himself. The People gave him one. He now seeks another mandate from the People to give him a viable way to effect radical and drastic change. It is hoped that his faith in the People will be vindicated at the upcoming polls.
All this is well and good but the core problem is good, sound, competent economic management of a high order and it is incumbent upon the President to get together such a team drawn from the Public, Private, and Non Governmental Sectors [Civil Society] who would be both willing and able to advise him, no holds barred, on how to restructure the economy, revamp the tax regime, change laws where necessary in the light of the country’s needs and tighten up the many loose screws.
For one thing, political expediency apart, he needs to have a tighter, smaller Cabinet made up of younger people he can trust in implicitly. What he needs is hard-nosed doers and go-getters and not smooth talkers who adroitly spin words to mesmerize the naïve. He also needs real professionals to handle his government’s national and international media outreach. What manages to survive is mediocre and ultimately does more damage than good.
Finally, he needs to clear away the sycophants and opportunists who surround him—he must go direct to the People, unheralded—and talk to them face-to-face to learn the truth about anything and everything that concerns his government.
If there are many of those around him who say that this or that cannot be done because of the mass of cobweb-like ARs and FRs, he should, with his characteristic courage, use a broom to sweep them all away. When he begins to do these things, he would be restoring the true symmetry and balance of this country.
Indeed, there is no government like strong government in the hands of an enlightened, experienced leader. He has the potential to change that ‘pie in the sky’ into tangible reality, to usher in genuine grass-roots democracy, to clean-up this overabundance of political parties and govern consensually, leaving the sordid past behind us all.
Then, the era of ‘utter nonsense’ parading as ‘genuine democracy’ would be over and we could put our shoulders to the wheel to create prosperity for all, ensure real progress, and that greatest gift of all: PEACE in our time!
10 Comments
There are so many who critisize the Government of President Mahinda Rajapakse. The Coyotees howl all day, but the Caravan moves on. The Human Rights band wagon are running on over drive. They dont see the gross human right violations their governments are engaged day and night against the people of Iraq and Vietnam. Then comes the 'Do Gooders' or 'Goody Two Shoes' who impart advice to SriLanka. They should put their advice in their own bodies, where the sun doesnt shine. Sri Lanka has a written history of 3000 years. We were living a civilised life when most of the so called westerners were either Barbarians or living in the jungles.Sri Lanka has more educated people as a percentage more than their own countries. So lay off you muck rakers. We love our President Mahinda Rajapakse, so, butt off. Josi Nona
Well said Mr Muller! I personally hope that all this comes to fruition. There are many talented people in Sri Lanka, too often relegated to the side lines as incompetent politicians suppress those that want and can bring forth change. The time is ripe for spring cleaning, and purging the ranks of those intrenched in the do little, get everything mentality of governance. Gods Speed to Sri Lanka's future.
'Majoritarian domination' is a term frequently used and abused by a few who do not have the ability to understand that civil society survives on the principle that the will of the many takes precedence over the foibles of a few. If the few do not like it, please go elsewhere. If you want to stay behind, accept the reality of life.
There is no democracy in Sri Lanka. It has already passed away. The best example is recent election. Apart from others Election Commissioner's post Election Speech and Commonwealth Monotors Report confirm it. Now we are under a Dictator. Such Dictators will not last longer.
The passing years may have withered some parts of Carl’s physical features and anatomy but the fist and the intellect has grown stronger – writing from the cool hills of Kandy. Of the three Colonials, the Brits also did some good to us – a marketable English education, roads, cash crops that kept us alive for nearly 2 centuries and a democratic way of life – albeit some shortcomings. Not forgetting the Yakada Yaka that still helps multiple thousands travel to and fro the island. But hell froze over after the Brits left. Top hat, tails and monocles did’nt too badly between 1948-1956 but when the Lion Children of 1956 took over the Resplendent Isle, over the years this once tranquil land was gradually transformed to become The Island of Tears. In Muller’s critique the Prince of Denmark is missing. Understandably, he cannot be hard on the local brand of the mullahs who caused the havoc then from behind – and now also from the Legislature itself. The JHU/PNM will declare their brand of the Fatwah on him and even bring back the ghosts of those times where he sought voluntary exile in Arab land. He cannot forget the visit these hordes made to some Christian churches in the suburbs of Colombo recently - more than once.
Sri Lanka’s tragedy lies in that parallel power from Parliament – that makes a mockery of our own brand of democracy. This invisible scourge is far more powerful than the elected government and, methinks, therein lies much of our ills. How are we to disentangle ourselves from this evil? Carl may have personally witnessed the mayhem last week by men believed to be bathed in the serene teachings of the Compassionate One – threatening blood, death and bombs to the living gods. Since the whole fiasco left a bad taste in the eyes of the pious millions of Buddhists in the country, the crown and its many henchaiyas blame Ranil for “attempting to divide the Sangha” very well knowing Ranil is identified more with Christianity than Buddhism. VP and the striped lot, may believe, are natural by-products of this source of political power that swears any who say this land and its entire resources belongs to anyone else but them are traitors – and must be done away with. If need be the rest can keep themselves happy with the crumbs that fall from the table. The answer to our ills; the key that can unlock the future for a united, peaceful and prosperous land for the present and the next generation lies there, dear Carl. But never mind men of good intent like you there - and that fine man of the cloth Fr.
Paul Caspersz - continue to tell (as the say in the Bible Belt of the US South)
"like it is" Our travail is far deeper than that can be wished away. There are more serious matters to be attended to than laze in a quiet hammock to read “the Jam Fruit Tree” To use that form of interesting semantics the Bambalawatta boys of our vintage would use “ the coming colours ain’t good at all” Will we have a Mandela or a LKY soon or will our children have rainbows day after day - Que Sera Sera.
ISS
Josi Nona,
You may have 3000 years of written history but the west may have less than that they have fought wars but they have never desecrated their enemies graves where does your so called civilization takes you that is the reason it is called a war crime you can run but you cant hide from the war crimes according to amnesty international dont expect a quick trial it can take years and the criminals will have to travel when they are not officials then the fun starts.
Nathen
The author says "Things change and our ill-prepared leaders took charge of the process of change. They botched many things in their new-found enthusiasms......" This has happened in many of the former colonies. Sri Lanka is not a unique case at all. Once attaining independence, naturally the people who come to top need not necessarily have the necessary experience and vision. As a corollary many things get 'botched up'. However, all such countries do undergo a learning process. The time required and the pains to be undergone will be different for each country. There no point in blaming the politicians. They were not imported from Mars. They do represent a section of the society they belong to. In the specific case of Sri Lanka, we had an extra problem in the two major ethnic groups having a sizable number who belonged to the 'lunatic fringe'. This has taken its toll on the society and the country. However, do have really have an alternative to democracy? We should look at the various options within the democracy platform. For example, should it be proportionate representation or any other form?
At least in one specific case in Sri Lanka, I (a non Tamil Indian) personally know of a set of politicians trying hard to keep improving their urban council area. I found the chairman to be a man of vision and immense energy and a very high level of commitment to his society. If it can happen in one area, why not in others. What we should realise is that we have good politicians and bad politicians just like in ant other field/profession. Are all lawyers, engineers, musicians, masons, dancers, teachers, nurses, carpenters and doctors good?
The advantage of the society in the case of politicians is that we get an opportunity to approve or disapprove of their performance during elections.
Anand
An article of superior quality than what normally appears in these pages. I second the author's sentiments without reserve, and do hope that Sri Lanka becomes a Singapore with a Lee Kuan Yew at the top, bringing with it the prosperity that it desires for all of its peoples.
The author of this article is JB Muller and not Carl Muller
The commentator ISS has not even understood this simple fact.Instead he unleashes his customary ponderous verbosity on us lesser mortals on the basis that the author is Carl
What a waste of time
Just get your facts straight will yo before burdening us