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By Brian Senewiratne –
Dr. Brian Senewiratne
There are two main candidates – Mahinda Rajapaksa and ‘Common Opposition candidate’ Maithripala Sirisena.
The election was known as by Rajapaksa two years before it was due due to the fact of a slide in his reputation as judged from the recent Provincial Council Elections. It is critical to know that he had two much more years as President when he called the election. The significance is that he has claimed, with some strange reasoning, that even if he loses, he will continue as President for two far more years (if he wins, the two years will be added to the 6-year term – creating it 8 years).
With the Opposition in disarray and unable to locate a credible candidate, Rajapaksa was so confident of victory that he even said that he would be the only candidate. He failed to see that the attainable candidate was Maithripala Sirisena, his personal Overall health Minister and Common Secretary of his party (the Sri Lanka Freedom Celebration – SLFP).
With no warning, on 21 November 2014, Sirisena stated that he would be the “Common Opposition Candidate’ to contest Rajapaksa. He blasted the Rajapaksa regime:
“The entire socioeconomic and political systems of this country have been taken over by 1 family. They have ruined this country that is now engulfed in corruption and blatant abuse of power. It is against this that I am coming forward as the common candidate of the opposition”.
Holding the President accountable, he said, “thuggery, embezzlement, crime, drug mafia, nepotism and corruption have institutionalized beneath the Executive Presidency but alas President Rajapaksa or his government has carried out tiny to arrest this horrible and harmful situation”.
Going on to say what he would do, if elected, he went on:
“I will abolish the Executive Presidency in one hundred days soon after becoming elected as the President. I will restore the rule of law by reactivating the 17th Amendment to the Constitution and make the Police, Elections, Public Service and the Judicial Service Commissions fully independent. The President will be created answerable to the legislature and develop a people’s government that take pleasure in real peace, prosperity and happiness”.
Sadly he did not say what he will do about the significant troubles facing the Tamil individuals in the North and East who are beneath military rule, the absolute require to demilitarise the Tamil location or let internationally credible human rights organisations into the nation.
He was well conscious of the dangers. Referring to the Rajapaksa junta he mentioned, “They will do every thing attainable to tarnish my image and will even go to the extent of murder”.
I would rather not print the words utilized by Rajapaksa when Sirisena went to hand in his resignation as Health Minister. Safety employees advised Sirisena to leave even though he was nonetheless in a position to do so. It was sound suggestions given what happened to ‘Loku Athula’, a senior SLFP politician, who had decided to back Sirisena. I will describe this outrage later.
The help Sirisena had was overwhelming and cut across political and celebration divisions and has continued to grow.
The election is a lot more than an try at a regime change. It is an try to dismantle the Rajapaksa Family autocracy and replace it with one thing that is more acceptable. It is, by far, one particular of the most crucial elections in recent occasions in Sri Lanka which could have far reaching consequences for the country.
Getting a contest in between two Sinhalese politicians to elect what in effect is a Sinhalese President, there has been some speculation no matter whether this is of any consequence to the Tamil folks in the North and East – the suggestion getting that they must boycott the election as they did in 2005. However, the feeling nowadays is quite diverse. Several Tamils in the North and East want to vote. The query is no matter whether they will be in a position to do so in an location which is an Army-run military state.
With no credible election monitors and with plans afoot to commit extensive vote rigging, such as violence to avert folks from voting, the validity of the outcome will be doubtful, specifically if Rajapaksa wins. On 29 December 2014, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon telephoned the Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister and conveyed his “strong expectation” that the Government of Sri Lanka will make certain “the peaceful and credible conduct” of its upcoming Presidential election. Ban Ki-moon would have restored his vanishing credibility had he said that the UN was sending election monitors to see that the benefits have been credible.
Some crucially important points
Supposedly the ‘Defence Secretary’, in reality he is the de facto President of Sri Lanka, his brother only becoming the de jure President.
He is also a single of the most violent men and women Sri Lanka has ever made. He could get in touch with the senior editor of a significant newspaper a “f…..g pig who eats shit! Shit! Shit!” and get away with it.
A former Army Officer, he has absolute control of the Armed Forces and Police. He is a lot more than capable of launching a military coup to take over the nation.
If Sirisena has to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with 1 of these chauvinist groups, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), which he has completed to get their assistance to get elected as President (as Prime Minister S.W. R. D. Bandaranaike did in 1956 and was later assassinated by 1 of them), one wonders how he can do anything to address the ‘National Problem’ facing the Tamils.
A rundown of the candidates
Mahinda Rajapaksa
A rundown is necessary to remind the Sinhalese folks of the regime that they are under. The Tamils do not need to have to be reminded – it is a everyday truth of life.
Sri Lanka has never been run by a more violent or corrupt regime than the 1 run by Rajapaksa since his election as President in November 2005.
Considering that his election he has launched what was clearly a genocidal war against the Tamil individuals. Claiming that this was to ‘defeat Tamil Tiger terrorism’ it was considerably more than that. It was to crush the Tamil people into accepting Sri Lanka as a Sinhala-Buddhist nation.
He has continued to destroy the Tamil men and women in what is greatest described as ‘slow genocide’. The Tamil individuals in the North and East have been handed over to the Sri Lankan (Sinhalese) Armed Forces who can do what they want with no accountability. It is a single of the most brutal armies in the globe that treats the location they run as ‘occupied territory’ and the men and women in it (Tamils and Muslims) as the ‘spoils of war’.
The Tamil folks have lost their lands in land-grabs by the Armed Forces, and they have been prevented from earning a living (agriculture, fishing and commercial activity – all of which have been taken more than by the Armed Forces or handed over to Sinhalese brought from the South).
Torture, sexual violence, detention with out charge or trial at undisclosed places, and involuntary disappearances are every day occurrences for the Tamils in the North and East.
Militarisation is at an unprecedented and fully unacceptable level with a single member of the military for each 5 (Tamil) civilians.
Sinhalese men and women are getting relocated in the Tamil North and East by the Rajapaksa regime in a determined effort to modify the demography and make the Tamils a minority even in the area exactly where they are a majority. This ‘Sinhalisation’ may well nicely not be reversible whoever takes over as President now or ever.
Buddhism is being forced down the throats of the Tamils who are Hindu or Christian in what has been referred to as ‘Buddhistisation’.
Tamil children are becoming taught by Sinhalese (several of them soldiers) who have no experience in teaching or even of the language (Tamil).
The Tamil folks have suffered immensely beneath Rajapaksa’s regime. The question of the Tamil individuals in the North and East voting for him simply does not arise. The only exceptions are those who support Tamil thugs whose leaders are in Rajapaksa’s government.
The international investigation into human rights abuse, at present getting carried out by a team appointed by the Higher Commissioner for Human Rights, has been obstructed in every possible way by Rajapaksa and his cronies. It is likely to come down difficult on the Rajapaksa regime when their Report is submitted in March 2015.
In addition to gross violation of human rights and crimes against humanity, Rajapaksa has tampered with the Constitution to suit his own political interests and hunger for power. This will impact all the ethnic groups in the country.
His selection to scrap a two-term limit for Presidents through the 18th Amendment has been criticized across the board, for ignoring democratic conventions. The Amendment reeks of authoritarianism, standard of Rajapaksa. Below it, the President has the power to appoint the Chairman and members of the Election Commission, Public Service Commission, National Police Commission, Human Rights Commission, Permanent Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption, Finance Commission, Delimitation Commission, Chief Justice and Judges of the Supreme Court, the President and Judges of the Court of Appeal, Members of the Judicial Service Commission, Lawyer General, Auditor General, Ombudsman and Secretary General of Parliament. There is no doubt whatsoever that Rajapaksa has employed this to make sure that his loyalists are appointed to these strong constitutional posts to profligate his writ unabatedly. The United Nations Human Rights Council has already criticized this amendment as being violative of the human rights of the citizens of Sri Lanka.
Because the announcement of the election which will take spot on 8 January 2015, there has been no space for any voice of dissent, as Rajapaksa is abusing the state machinery to conduct arbitrary surveillance, detention, and considerably much more, of his detractors. The democratic fabric of Sri Lanka is beneath serious pressure, with authoritarianism obtaining crept into governance as properly. The state apparatus is subservient to the Rajapaksa loved ones, rather than the men and women of the country. the Police and Armed Forces are openly putting up placards praising Rajapaksa. What they will do on election day is apparent.
Rajapaksa heads one of the most significant governments in the globe, with more than one hundred ministers and deputy ministers in workplace. It is a vast network of patronage and control. Politicians only thrive if they are inside this ‘ruling club’. The true government is significantly smaller, concentrated about the three Rajapaksa brothers, who manage almost 70% of the state spending budget. Only one household has captured the country’s economy, administration as well as the management of the ruling Political celebration.
The President’s brother, Gotabaya, presides over the potent Defence ministry. An additional brother, Basil, is properly in charge of the Economy, as Minister for economic development. Just to round items off, elder brother Chamal is the parliamentary speaker, while Mahinda’s son is a wheeler and dealer member in numerous matters.
It is by means of this network that the Rajapaksa family has been exercising improper influences by carrying out inducements, pressures, threats or interference in the working of the legislature, judiciary and the executive. With the electoral method underway, Rajapaksa and his coteries have diverted their might to preparations for massive scale rigging.
Cronies of Rajapaksa control the major businesses of the country. An election needs funding, and this one, requirements a lot more of it, for rigging and malpractices! This funds is readily discovered by members of the loved ones and their cronies who have robbed Sri Lanka considering that Rajapaksa came into energy. Money is not a dilemma – as we will see.
Media censorship is so tight that even the Sinhalese (72% of the nation) do not know what is going on in the country. What they do know is that the expense of living has soared due to maladministration, stealing by Rajapaksa cronies and his family members, the ‘need’ to preserve a massive Army of some 300,000 – the highest per capita of the civilian population in the planet. This is claimed to be for the protection of the nation. in reality it is for protection of the regime.
Law and order have collapsed and been replaced by the rule of the armed thug and hooligans.
Bribery and corruption are rampant at all levels from the very top to the bottom – adding to the expense of living since it is not achievable to get anything done with out a bribe.
Democracy has been replaced by a Totalitarian regime beneath a single family – the Rajapaksas.
There is an atmosphere of worry in the Sinhalese South, as there is to a a lot higher degree in the Tamil North and East.
It is difficult to see why the Sinhalese would want to vote for a lot more of the exact same.
Rajapaksa boasts that he has brought peace, security and prosperity’ to the country with the ‘defeat of Tamil ‘terrorism’. Yet he has refused to allow internationally credible human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to enter the country. The purpose is that State terrorism today is far worse than any terrorism that existed earlier.
Maithripala Sirisena
A fairly unknown entity even in Sri Lanka, Sirisena has been in the Cabinet and has been the Basic Secretary of the SLFP (the celebration to which Rajapaksa and his predecessor, Chandrika Kumaratunga belong) considering that 2001.
To give credit exactly where credit is due, he had the courage to come forward as the typical Opposition candidate to contest Rajapaksa. He has taken the not inconsiderable risk of becoming murdered – a risk he acknowledged.
His account of Rajapaksa’s poor governance was correct but he was a member of this regime, and a senior one at that, for much of this time. His excuse was that he was also afraid to speak.
Of a lot more significant concern is that he mentioned nothing at all about the main difficulties faced by the Tamil people in the North and East. Maybe he was as well afraid to address this vital concern for worry of losing Sinhalese-Buddhist votes. If so, it is hard to see how as President he will address the significant troubles faced by the Tamils.
Sirisena’s primary agenda appears to be that he will get rid of the Executive Presidency ‘within 100 days’ of being elected as President. There is no doubt that this will be a welcome step towards democracy but the query is regardless of whether that it will be sufficient. It must be remembered that Hitler rose to power in a functioning democracy in Germany. Hitler basically manipulated the current laws to suit his intention to be a dictator.
Merely receiving rid of the Executive Presidency and returning energy to Parliament is insufficient. There is considerably a lot more that demands to be accomplished such as the separation of powers which is the corner stone of democracy.
There was not a word about demilitarisation of the North and East – an essential step in addressing the enormous issues faced by the Tamil people in that region. As such, the modify to a Sirsena government may be of no benefit to the Tamils.
Sirisena’s closeness to the most intense ethnoreligius chauvinists, the political party of Buddhist monks – the Jathika Hela Urumaya – is of critical concern. He has just signed a Memorandum of Understanding with them. If it is necessary for him to get into bed with a rabid anti-Tamil party of Sinhala-Buddhist extremists, it is challenging to see how he can provide peace with justice to the Tamil people.
History may nicely repeat itself since this is specifically what S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike (from Rajapksa’s party) did in 1956 – to ride to power on the backs of politically- active Buddhist monks and located that he had to get into significant discrimination against the Tamils. When he attempted to water this down (minimally), he was assassinated by a single of them. These days, the Buddhist monks are far much more violent that they have ever been. Sirisena will have to be firm – one thing that is unlikely to happen. If it does, his survival will be in doubt.
Sirisena has clearly stated that he will not allow an international investigation into war crimes or allow those discovered guilty to face justice. That will make him an accomplice to war crimes.
What is the option facing Sri Lankan on 8 January 2015?
The option is to vote for more of the exact same or for a (possible) adjust.
The alternatives facing the Tamil people in the North and East are set out in some detail beneath. To summarise it right here, they have the decision of voting for a lot more of the same which they will not do, or for voting for Sirisena. The query is whether they will be capable to get to the polls with a murderous Army watching every single step. For the Tamils to abstain from voting (as they did in the 2005 Presidential election) is to vote for Rajapaksa, a mistake they will not make this time.
The Sinhalese have a option. They can vote for Rajapaksa and a continuation of a Totalitarian state which is totally corrupt, exactly where there is no law and order a regime characterised by a lack of governance, nepotism, police and army brutality which was unleashed on the Tamil people but is now becoming unleashed on them exactly where the media are muzzled and the dissenting voice silenced a sky-rocketing cost of living due to the fact their funds is being stolen by their rulers and their relatives and the usual problems of living in a Totalitarian state.
They can vote for a adjust – hopefully a adjust for the greater given that it cannot be a adjust for the worse.
Escalating violence
There will, with out doubt, be escalating violence each in the Tamil North and East organised by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and Rajapaksa’s violent supporters in the South by goon-squads supported by the Government.
The violence will consist of assault and even murder as was observed lately in the President’s property.
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) says that much more than 300 circumstances of violations of law have been reported thus far. In most of these instances pro-government armed goon-squads have been involved. This violence will escalate as much more defections from Rajapaksa’s camp cement the defeat of President Rajapaksa.
The mildest violence, but a significant 1, was on 26 December 2014, in Beruwela, a suburb near Colombo. Following an election rally in favour of Sirisena, the former President, Chandrika Kumaratunga and Western Province Councillor Ms Premchandra visited Western Provincial Councillor Jemine Marika Mohamed’s residence for dinner. Goon squads attacked the house damaging Kumaratunga’s vehicle and injuring an Opposition Urban Councillore Mansoor Dalhan. Dalhan was taken to the Beruwela base hospital but refused admission. The outpatient medical doctor in a report sent to the CMEV stated that police had instructed her not to admit any casualties to the hospital.
The violence unleashed by the goons was so serious that the Police and Securiy employees had to run for cover.
A much far more serious event involving the President himself occurred on 29 November 2014 – the death of ‘Loku Athula’.
The ‘Loku Athula’ death (29 November 2014)
‘Loku Athula’ (Nimalasiri Jayasinghe) is a former deputy Minister in Rajapaksa’s government and the current SLFP organiser in a rural location (Gampaha). He was as soon as the leader of the JVP insurrection in 1971, and then joined the SLFP to further his political profession.
Soon after he had had revealed to his close celebration associates that he was going to support Sirisena , he was summoned to ‘Temple Trees’ (the residence of President Rajapaksa) on the night of 29 November 2014 to hold discussions with a view to influencing him to modify his mind.
In compliance with the request he visited the ‘Temple Trees’ at 7.30pm and had discussions with a higher profile team comprising Mahinda Rajapaksa , Basil Rajapaksa, Dallas Alahaperuma, Susil Premajayantha and Anura Priyadharshana Yapa.
This went on till about 9.00 p.m. At the finish of the discussion, Mahinda Rajapaksa had referred to as Loku Athula into a room to have ‘further discussions’. What happened thereafter is identified only to the two of them. What is known is that screams have been heard, the ‘resident’ ambulance at the Temple Trees was brought and Loku Athula was taken to hospital. When he arrived there he was dead.
Evidence has leaked out that when Loku Athula was being taken into the ambulance he was dead. .
In such circumstances, a post-mortem need to be performed compulsorily to ascertain the result in of the death, and an open magisterial verdict delivered soon after the inquest. But , this procedure had not been followed. What is worse, all moves are being produced to suppress this incident which has critical proof of homicide committed within ‘Temple Trees’.
How did Athula who was hale and hearty all of a sudden die? Was he murdered ? Did he die due to a fatal fall when he was becoming assaulted by somebody? What had been the screams all about? Why was a post-mortem and inquest not completed? These are inquiries that the last individual to see Loku Athula alive, President Rajapaksa, will have to answer.
The existing voting trends
The current figures released by an independent agency is that help for Rajapaksa was 15%, for Sirisena 85%. Even so, this can change dramatically due to violence, vote purchasing or plain election fraud.
The fall-back position
If factors turn poor for Rajapaksa, his brother Gotabaya, can launch a coup ‘to restore law and order’. To create disorder there is some info that plans are afoot to detonate two enormous explosives in Colombo two days prior to the Election. There will then be ‘disorder’ and the ‘need’ for a military take-more than.
If the worst comes to the worst and Sirisena wins, arrangements are in place to get the Rajapaksas, households and cronies flown out of Sri Lanka.
Primarily based on informed sources in Diplomatic circles, if the Rajapakse regime is unable to use the Sri Lankan planes (which impediment may possibly happen), the regime has currently produced arrangements with two Indian Charter plane businesses to get down planes , for which the regime has paid in full.
A single of these firms is ‘Air Charters India’ even though the name of the other business is nevertheless not absolutely known. ‘Air Charters India’ had stated that it have to be notified at least 12 hours ahead if it is to send a plane to Katunayake or Mattala airport . In any case, payments have been produced in full to two Indian charter firms so that if a single organization fails to comply with the request urgently, the other firm can be relied on as a stand by.
The Rajapaksa loved ones has currently sold a enormous amount of gold it has robbed from the country, to a Japanese millionaire Keiji Matsumura. Matsumara represents a Japanese Firm , Japuga Holdings Private Ltd, that has bought the gold. I do know the quantity of gold that was sold but it is so huge that I have opted not to state the exact figure until it has been checked.
This gold has been illegally shipped via 16 containers loaded at the Colombo Port . A really senior official in the Port had observed to it that has been shipped with no it being recorded in any of the registers. The money amount realized by the Rajapaksa household is US $ 38,000 per kilogram. I am told that the total amount collected by the sale is US $ 13,300 million. This transaction had taken location with the expertise of HSBC bank.
Sirisena, if he wins the election, may possibly like to look into this. On the other hand, he may well believe it wiser not to do so. Nonetheless to look into the death of ‘Loku Athula’ is mandatory.
The Tamil people in the North and East and the Elections
As has been described, there was some speculation as to whether the Tamils in the North and East ought to just boycott the Elections as they did in 2005 – with disastrous consequences – this being the election of Mahinda Rajapaksa as President. This time it is going to be diverse, extremely various. They have suffered so significantly beneath the Rajapaksa junta that there is no way they will vote for him or abstain from voting.
The issue facing the Tamil folks is that they have no leaders -.at least not in Parliament. They do have leaders – the most noteworthy getting Rt Rev Bishop Dr Rayappu Joseph of Mannar, former Justice Wigneswaran, Head of the Northern Provincial Council and Tamil Civil Society, an outstanding group of academics and pros in Jaffna.
Their ‘elected representatives’ – the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) are a joke. Right after weeks of silence, the TNA has just woken up and mentioned that the Tamil men and women ought to vote for Sirisena. I think the Tamil individuals had realised this some tome ago while the TNA was asleep..
Sirisena may well not be in a position to address any of the major issues faced by the Tamils specially simply because of his close relations with rabid Buddhist monks.
What the Tamils cannot do is to elect a Sinhalese President, be it Rajapaksa or Sirisena, sit back and hope that their considerable difficulties will be addressed. They should know from extended knowledge spanning far more than half a century,that this will not be done.
The Tamil people should draw up a political system to fulfil their aspirations and mobilise themselves around such a plan with the leaders I have just described. The priority in this system is to stress for the correct of self-determination to ascertain what the Tamil men and women in the North and East want.
They have to insist on the instant admission of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch into the nation in basic, the Tamil North and East in certain. It is a reasonable request that the planet need to assistance. Amazingly, this vital action has not even been talked about, let alone pursued.
A feasible outcome
All that has been written might come to naught, if Rajapaksa sweeps to victory employing fair indicates or foul and begins his eight year term, possibly to recontest in eight years for one more six years, buys back the gold, and locks up Sirisena for life. Nothing is impossible in Rajapaksa’s Sri Lanka. This has been documented for a lengthy time. It may not be about to adjust. It will then be for the majority Sinhalese to deal with the dilemma.
They can take heart from history. No dictator has lasted for ever. Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, Idi Amin – they have all come and gone. Rajapaksa is unlikely to be the exception. The only query is how a lot harm he will do to the country and its men and women before he goes.
By Vishwamithra1984 –
“The only way to make sense out of modify is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” ~Alan Watts
One particular more week for the Presidential Elections. The men and women of Sri Lanka are being asked to make a choice and it’s going to be the most critical political judgment they have been challenged to make. Bewildered by the unprecedented crossovers from each sides, the voters are nevertheless meandering among this valley and other peaks, wondering regardless of whether the incumbent is genuinely significant about restoring the fast-disappearing socio-cultural values. While the leaders are pontificating from the best of their voices about Buddhism and its abiding influence on the psyche of the wonderful majority of Sri Lankans and its values, they are also resorting to the most dastardly acts of violence, inhuman remedy of minorities and distorted sloganeering of sublime concepts.
Only a desperate clan of rulers would resort to such intense falsehoods only a losing side would adopt such brutally bizarre and blatantly shallow methods of persuasion. On each one particular of their election platforms, speaker right after seeker is offered a wide range of elasticity to stretch the truth a third-rate but widely common Bollywood actor is getting shown on their election platforms, for what earthly goal, one particular actually does not know. It reminds one particular of the definitely insensitive racing-auto festivals these guys held in Colombo and Kandy when the typical citizen is discovering it almost impossible to place three meals on the table on a daily basis. It is really clear that the ruling clan is caught up in its own web of deceit its extravagant spending and acquiring buried in their own muck and misery is evidenced in the bizarre way some of their supporters are behaving. As soon as once more, the moving drama of Sri Lankan political dynamics is displaying its dumbfounded audience the utter fallacy of temporary glory every single affordable human becoming could comprehend what precisely is happening around him but those who nevertheless wield energy appear to consider that that power would stay in their hands forever.
Some of the beneficiaries of this evil regime have selected to stay there, not since they don’t see the coming disaster but as they are not welcome in the Opposition ranks since the Opposition fears that they (the Opposition) as well will be tarred by the same brush of these wildly corrupt and unruly lackeys. The hooligans who got elected to Parliament on the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) ticket are nevertheless playing ‘pandu’. The infamous Muthuhettigama incident and the deafening silence by the President on the same is ample evidence that Mahinda Rajapaksa has no manage more than his henchmen and women. Stories that run by way of the internet are not only funny some of them actually have been brilliantly created and would surely persuade some voters to adjust their minds, even at the eleventh hour.
Probably now it may possibly be a great time to assess the two campaigns. The contrasts are much far more definitive than similarities. On the a single hand, the Mahinda Rajapaksa campaign has had virtually limitless access to cash, muscle and power the Maithripala campaign sometimes looked woefully short in money but immensely wealthy in concepts, substance and of course style. The former’s obscene campaign of cutouts of their candidate, much to the annoyance of any intelligent particular person, played havoc during the run-up to the nomination day.
The following chart gives the reader a picture of how the two campaigns have fared according to the writer’s individual opinion. Numerous readers might disagree with my reading, yet I’m positive, most of them would agree with the assessment so given.
The blatant lies uttered by the Rajapaksa campaign are nauseating and the uncaring ease with which they are spoken, are crude and completely despicable. Nevertheless, elections that are won by sustaining a campaign of lies and half-truths are many, not only in the so-named Third World but much more so in the created West. But the Rajapaksas take all credit for lying in fantastic style. They can take Goebbels of the Hitler regime to school.
But come January eight, 2015, the individuals of Sri Lanka will choose to oust the Rajapaksas for many valid causes, the most prominent of which, not necessarily in the order given, are the following:
Predictions do not belong in the arena of politics. They belong exclusively to astrologers and extraterrestrial readers. But scientific forecasting is carried out by expert organizations using different polls and surveys. The writer has access to such polls accomplished throughout the period of December 18 – 23 and according to that specific survey, Maithripala Sirisena is ahead comfortably going over the 50% mark. For factors of confidentiality, I do not want to divulge the name of the polling business.
Let’s hope that this forecast holds very good.
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By Malinda Seneviratne –
Malinda Seneviratne
The United National Party (UNP) has not won a Presidential Election given that 1988. That is 26 years. In a could which saw frequent baton-changes between the two key parties, i.e. the UNP and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) or at least coalitions led by one or the other, this is a significant state of affairs.
Now it can be argued that Ranil Wickremesinghe was robbed, so to speak, each in 1999 and 2005. In 1999 a close election went the incumbent’s way when she lost an eye in a terrorist attack, the resulting sympathy translating into a vote-sway. In addition, S.B. Dissanayake when claimed that he had ensured that 400,000 හොර ඡන්ද (illegal votes) had been cast in her favor. The claimant of course late switched sides and was the UNP’s National Organizer for a even though just before crossing party lines once again. It is also claimed, frequently enough, that Ranil would have won in 2005 had the LTTE not stopped Tamils in the North and East from voting.
It appears to have gone downhill thereafter. The short UNP-led Government with Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister was roundly defeated in 2004. The UNP suffered one more key defeat in 2010 when the UPFA retained energy in a Parliamentary Election. Between 1994 and 2014, except for a brief high in regional government elections in 2002/three, Ranil’s UNP has lost so dozens of elections. It must be stated, nevertheless, that the provincial and neighborhood government elections typically go to the party holding power at the centre and hence Ranil was usually handicapped, not to mention the fact that the ruling celebration utilised the staggered-elections policy so that state resources could be more effectively (and illegally of course and as has been accomplished by all ruling parties, the UNP included) employed to safe victory.
For all this, the UNP’s manifest inability to field a credible candidate at presidential elections is a serious indictment on that party. In 2010, as the ‘Common Opposition Candidate’ Maithripala Sirisena observed, it was a challenging ask for anybody. He said he was surprised that the former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka polled the numbers he ended up with. This was, as he said, just following the country was rid of the terrorist menace soon after 3 lengthy decades of bombs, bullets, suicide attacks and bloodshed. Naturally, credit accrued to the man beneath whose leadership the battle was won. No one who says ‘all power resides with the president’ courtesy the constitution can genuinely argue that credit must go elsewhere.
The 2010 election was as a result going Mahinda Rajapaksa’s way anyway, whoever the UNP fielded. And yet, even in unfavorable circumstances, these in the weaker camps have not twiddled thumbs, either in Sri Lanka or elsewhere. Hector Kobbekaduwa in 1988 and Sirimavo Bandaranaike in 1988 fought the great fight. Left candidates usually showed spirit. They all lost, but their respective parties gained, at least to the extent that they managed to periodically re-energize their ground-level networks.
The UNP on the other hand threw in the towel virtually right away right after the bell was rung for the initial round. In 2010, Sarath Fonseka was not a proxy but a sacrificial lamb. The help was lukewarm, the outcome was a foregone conclusion and the only consolation that the UNP got was the correct to say ‘we didn’t contest, so we didn’t drop!’ That’s as weak a brag as you can discover. If the UNP wounds of 2004 and 2005 had been close to receiving healed, the January 2010 victory of Mahinda opened them up. In April, the UNP bled and continued to bleed to the point that the regime was able to safe a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
One would have anticipated the UNP to find out some tough lessons, but this time about also the celebration was unable to put forward a credible candidate. Rather, it now supports a renegade of the party’s principal political enemy, expecting to get some tidbits need to he succeed in defeating the formidable incumbent, Mahinda Rajapaksa.
For all the talk of the Prime Minister for Ranil (for services rendered) in the occasion Maithripala Sirisena wins, for all the calculations about Maithripala needing the UNP’s Parliamentary group after January eight, 2015 (if he wins, again), the UNP has shown abysmal understanding of political realities. On Day 1 of a Maithripala Presidency, he would not just be the all effective Executive President, he can count on the entire SLFP to turn its back on Mahinda and back him instead. The political future of all SLFP MPs, after all, would thereafter be tied to the fortunes of Maithripala and not Mahinda. It is not impossible to believe that he could even get the help of two-thirds of the MPs and institute constitutional reform without any assistance of the UNP!
Where would that leave the UNP? Where would that leave Ranil Wickremesinghe? In quick, in the event of a Maithripala victory, Ranil and the UNP will be totally dependent on Maithripala’s generosity. To spot one’s political eggs in a basket of a man who nevertheless claims to be the Secretary Common of a rival party is utterly naïve.
‘In the larger interest of the country,’ Ranil and the UNP can claim. ‘If only politics was a fairy tale!’ somebody would respond.
Is it a personality concern? Something incorrect with Ranil and not necessarily the celebration? Probably. The truth remains though that the celebration hasn’t been in a position to repair the problem if indeed this was the problem. So, as items stand, this side of the ‘national interest’ thesis, the celebration doesn’t stand to gain in the occasion Maithripala wins. Is this the explanation for the lethargy of the UNP’s electioneering machine on the ground? Right after all, there seemed to be a lot a lot more enthusiasm in Badulla during the Uva elections, with Harin Fernando leading the way.
*Malinda Seneviratne is the Chief Editor of ‘The Nation’ and his articles can be identified at www.malindawords.blogspot.com
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By Sumanasiri Liyanage –
Sumanasiri Liyanage
Tariq Ali, when informed us that democracy will perish even before capitalism reaches its finish. Does it imply a new phase of capitalism with the absence of democracy? In a way it is not a novel phenomenon considering that in its brief history, not going beyond 300 years, capitalism and democracy have not often co-existed. Contemporary democracy was invented under capitalism, but it has not been an outcome of capitalism. It has been an outcome of numerous struggles waged by various social layers of society invariably against capitalism. Sri Lanka has witnessed a robust tendency towards authoritarianism since the advent of a constitution with executive presidential program as its constitutional architecture and neoliberalism as its economic framework. Even though the presidential program facilitated the introduction of neoliberalism the latter in its turn reinforced the executive presidential method. This has created it less complicated us to picture a life without having democracy but not a life without having capitalism. Nonetheless, as soon as once more, democracy has become a crucial concern in the forthcoming presidential election in Sri Lanka ambiguity prevails over what democracy really signifies notwithstanding.
The forces that have been mobilized against the incumbent president have rightly raised the problem of democracy as a central concern facing the nation today. Democracy signifies different things for various individuals, for different social groups. Nevertheless, practically all the oppositional forces, except Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) had come to a consensus that in order to reestablish democracy in Sri Lanka a single of the vital prerequisite is the abolition of the executive presidential technique. It was explicitly states what is needed is to abolish it and replace it with a different program. There was a debate on the option method but the majority of the opposition wanted to go back to the Parliamentary method. Will the democratic aspirations of the men and women fulfil after the presidential election? Let us evaluation the election manifestos of the candidates. At the moment, I have three manifestos with me. I will focus 1st on the Manifestos of Candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) and candidate Maithripala Sirisena (MS). It is not uncommon to have some degree of rhetoric in election manifesto. Figure 1 summarizes proposals in two manifestos on the situation on constitutional alter. ( Click right here to read MS manifesto and here to MR manifesto)
It is exciting to note there is no fundamental difference amongst two candidates as far as the constitutional change/ amendment is concerned. Even though MR leaves the adjustments for the proposed constituent assembly only submitting his ideas on certain troubles, MS has offered detailed list of alterations he is arranging to make within 100 days hence leaving present constitutional architecture intact.
Hence, my conclusion is that with regard to the problems that have been raised by a variety of democratic fora in order to enhance democratic governance in the nation have been either marginalized or neglected in the two manifestoes. Considering that its inception, particularly given that the late 1980s, folks in this country voted for the abolition of the executive presidential system. Constitutional drafts and proposals submitted by citizens’ initiatives reflected this aspiration of the individuals. Nevertheless, the people who began to taste and take pleasure in the energy of the EP refused to adjust it. Ironically, Candidate MS has refused to adjust it following generating a guarantee to that respect even before tasting and enjoying it. In such a circumstance, can we count on democratic governance right after January 8?
The existing democracy discourse in Sri Lanka is marred by a quite narrow definition of democracy. This definition that was advanced for the specific needs of neo-liberalism following in the context of developing nations the Augmented Washington Consensus focuses principally on issues like governance, rule of law, non-interventionist state. Freedom of established media and so on. In other words, the basic objective of democracy is lowered to the operational needs of neo-liberalist phase of capitalism. It would be fascinating to evaluate the definition of democracy adopted right now with that of pre-1994 period. Before 1994 election, democracy included as an inseparable element the power-sharing arrangement although what it meant was not explicitly stated. At least it meant going beyond the 13th Amendment. It also included supplying a ‘human face’ to capitalism. Above all, the abolition of the executive presidential program as an intimate element of comprehensive constitutional redesign was integrated as a pre-requisite of the reestablishment of democracy. This clearly shows the degradation of democratic discourse in the final 20 years. What does it imply? Jairus Banaji, an Indian Marxist, when informed us about 3 meanings of democracy.
1. Democracy in the sense of the formal framework of a constitutional democracy with the rights to freedom and equality, the correct to life and individual liberty, to freedom of religion etc that it guarantees.
two. Democracy as a culture of resistance grounded in the constitutional rights offered beneath my 1st meaning.
three. Democracy as an aspiration for manage. One can see the Communist Manifesto as a generalization of democracy in this third sense (of the mass of workers aspiring to handle their own lives, economically, politically and culturally) and as a culmination of democracy in each the prior senses. As a result for communists (in Marx’s sense) the mass element in democracy is crucial, it is what defines democracy in its most complete sense and historical form.
In the last twenty years we witnessed two types of democratic struggles. Democratic struggled initiated and led by numerous ‘citizen’ democratic groups operated inside economico-legal structure of neoliberalism with the primary objective of achieving these formal democratic rights. These struggles fell beneath the rubric of very first meaning cited above. And numerous of these movements are fundamentally urban and elitist. In restricted sense, some of them went beyond the first which means falling at the boundary of the second meaning.
The second sort of democratic struggles were not even depicted democratic struggles as they had questioned the standard economico-legal structure of neoliberalism. Here, I include, Tamil struggle for autonomy, the Free Trade Zone struggles against proposed pension bill to integrate EPF into accumulation method, struggles against forceful eviction of urban folks, protests by rural masses on numerous issues connected to their day to day living and the student struggles against commodification of education. In these struggles, even in restricted sense, peoples’ aspiration for control was expressed. It is also exciting note that these struggles were led by subaltern layers of the Sri Lankan society.
Two main candidates have failed in their manifestos to address even essential concerns raised by elitist citizen groups. As indicated in the Figure 1 above, both have refused to touch the unitary character of the Constitution. Although MR have said that he would recommend to the proposed constitution assembly to maintain the unitary character of the state, MS have informed he would not TOUCH the unitary and non-secular nature of the present constitution. Therefore ensuring majoritarian rule over numerically tiny nations would stay unchanged.
It was in this back drop, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has also refused to present an option. It has taken an opportunist position to show that it has not yet broken from its coalition politics that began in 2004. Similarly Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has been silent on the principal democratic demands of autonomy. The same can be described on the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC). All three parties have clearly capitulated to parliamentarism claiming that only two alternatives are open. The ideal selection opened for TNA and SLMC in my view is to field candidates on the basis of their key demands or to type a front with other subaltern forces on a minimum widespread plan. In the absence of those 3 forces, the only light at the end of the tunnel is the manifesto of the Left Front that comprehensively address the problems of democracy in its all 3 meanings. The Left Front led by 34 year old former student leader with consistent track record, Duminda Nagamuwa, proposes a setting up of a constituent assembly comprising not just Parliamentarians but the representatives of trade unions, peasant organizations and many other peoples’ organizations. He guarantees autonomy for numerically small nations and guarantees what has been currently provided for then will not be allowed to take back. A robust and vibrant social movement of subalterns dealing with all three meanings of democracy cited above is crucial if the Sri Lankan need democracy following January 9 whatever the outcome of the election.
*The writer is the co-coordinator of the Marx School. e-mail: [email protected]
By Latheef Farook –
Latheef Farook
The opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena pledges straightforward life, Ven Sobitha Thero calls for social justice and Ven Athuraliya Thero struggles for excellent governance and accountability
Maithripala Sirisena says” on elected as the president he would not move into official residence Temple Trees but would reside in his own straightforward home. He has also declared his assets for every person to see. He is keen on major a straightforward life and serving the individuals of all communities.
As a result he calls for simplicity of life.
Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero who single handedly spearheaded the campaign to abolish the Executive Presidency with his National Movement for Social Justice wanted to ensure social justice for all in the country. He played a important part in the creation of a widespread opposition candidate. He should be paid tribute simply because he fought for justice at a time not a lot of in the nation were even ready to speak about justice due to fear of revenge.
Therefore he calls for social justice.
Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero, a Buddhist monk, a vibrant politician and a dynamic member of the Parliament, formed an organization named ‘Pivithuru Hetak’ (The National Council for a Much better Tomorrow) to adjust the current presidential method by educating political leaders, intellectuals, academics and the public on essential information important on very good governance for the betterment of the nation.
Hence he calls for accountability and good governance.
Simple life, social justice and very good governance to the benefit of all are all what Islam is about.This is what Allah told us in the Holy Quran to make sure a much better society far more than 14 centuries ago. This is what our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) has shown us by living a life reflecting the Holy Quranic teachings. In reality he was the personification of all what was taught in the Holy Quran.
In truth fantastic Caliph Omar who constructed an empire stretching from North India to Mediterranean capturing which includes Jerusalem without shedding a drop of blood and ruled with justice was identified for his simplicity and just rule.
For example Caliph Umar, busy doing some official function in the light of an oil lamp, place off his lamp when a visitor who came to see him stated he had just come to pay a social call. There was darkness everywhere. When the visitor asked why he place off the oil lamp Caliph said “I was performing workplace work and the burning oil in the lamp is the property of the folks and he was not entitled to use that oil to entertain a friend”.
In this regard it is worth recalling how Caliph Omar captured Jerusalem with his simplicity.
When the Muslim army entered Jerusalem the Patriarch of the city Sophronius stated that he would negotiate only with Caliph Umar and that nobody enters Jerusalem prior to Caliph Umar. On hearing this Caliph Umar informed that he was on his way.
Accompanied by a servant, Caliph Umar rode on camelback to Jerusalem although he could have been accompanied by an entourage that could have made the ground tremble beneath the hooves of horses. He did so to show simplicity and ensure that Allah alone deserves all the glories.
On reaching Jerusalem, it was the servant’s turn to ride the camel and as a mark of respect to Caliph Umar and to make sure that the individuals see the Caliph, the servant wanted the Caliph to ride the camel. Nonetheless Caliph Umar refused and entered Jerusalem on foot whilst the servant rode the camel to the shock and surprise of every person such as Patriarch Sophronius. On reaching the place Caliph Umar continued the journey on foot carrying his shoes in hand below the astonished gaze of the folks.
Caliph Umar walked to the army wearing modest threadbare clothes. The Christians who watched almost everything from the walls of Jerusalem were amazed at the strange simplicity, unable to believe that this straightforward man could be the leader of these properly equipped armies.
The Patriarch Sophronius who saw the unfolding scenes with excellent admiration stated to his folks that no one in the planet would be capable to stand up to these men and women and advised them to surrender to be saved.
Soon after the treaty was signed the essential to the city was formally handed over in 637 AC. The gates of Jerusalem had been opened and Caliph Umar entered along a promenade that led him to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Caliph Umar was inside and the Patriarch Sophronius said to him “pray”. However Caliph Umar declined, fearing it may well establish a precedent that would threaten the church’s continued use as a Christian home of worship. Alternatively he prayed in an location to the south of the church, now the site of the Mosque of Umar in Jerusalem.
In performing so Caliph Umar showed the world the meaning of tolerance and generosity in victory and strength. It was the greatness of Islam that shone in his spirit and was reflected in his ethics though he was a particular person known for his firmness and courage.
United States President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameroon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all soaked in innocent Muslim blood, need to have to understand a lot from Caliph Umar on good governance.
With regard to Ven Sobitha Thero’s get in touch with for social justice , in the Holy Quran- in Chapter Al-NISA (Women) Allah says
“Believers, be upholders of justice and bearers of witness to truth for the sake of Allah, even even though it may either be against yourselves or against your parents and kinsmen, or the wealthy or the poor, for Allah is far more concerned with their well-getting than you are. Do not, then, comply with your own desires lest you maintain away from justice. If you twist or turn away from (the truth), know that Allah is nicely aware of all that you do. (from Sayyid Abul A’la Maudi’s Towards Understanding the Quran. Vol 11 Surahs four-6)
Ven Sobitha Thero and a lot of other individuals involved in the presidential campaign call for constitutional adjustments which assure accountability.
Islam advocates accountability “Abdullah reported that Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) stated: Every single one particular of you is a guardian and accountable for his charge. Thus the Amir (Ruler or Head of State) is a guardian of the folks and He is accountable for them. And a man is a guardian of his household and he is accountable for them and a females is in charge of the household and her young children and she is accountable for them and a servant is guardian of his master’s house, absolutely everyone of you is accountable for his subjects” (Bukhari, al-Jam’al-Sahih)
Accountability for Islamic leaders goes beyond the confines of this life they will also be accountable to Allah in the Hereafter. Here are two relevant sayings from the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) about the consequences to Islamic leaders who are corrupt, and self-serving:
“Verily, Allah commands you to make more than the trusts to these entitled to them. And that when you judge amongst them, you judge with justice.” (four:58)
Islam is also in total agreement with Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero’s call for a corrupt free of charge society below very good governance to the benefit of all. In reality this is what Holy Quran has been teaching for the past more than 14 centuries. This was the just rule in Madina for the duration of the time of Prophet Muhammad and beneath righteous caliphs. Regrettably western imperil powers distort Islam and demonize Muslims to invade and destroy Muslim countries and Muslim societies to loot their wealth and guarantee that Islam remains suppressed to suit their evil designs. Thus the planet is unable to comprehend Islam. Sri Lanka is no exception.
The Quran states: “And by the Mercy of Allah, you dealt with them gently. And had you been extreme and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you so pass more than (their faults), and ask (Allah’s) Forgiveness for them and seek the advice of them in the affairs. Then when you have taken a choice, put your trust in Allah, undoubtedly, Allah loves those who place their trust (in Him)” (three:159).
Exceptional Islamic leaders are truthful, just and keep away from bribery and corruption.
“And do not devour your wealth amongst yourselves by means of falsehood, and provide it not as a bribe to the authorities that you may possibly knowingly devour a portion of the wealth of other individuals with injustice.” (two:189).
Ibn Masud said that Allah’s Messenger (Pbuh) slept on a reed mat and got up with the mark of it on his physique. He stated, “O Allah’s Messenger! I wish you would order us to spread one thing out for you and make anything.” The Prophet replied, “What have I to do with the planet, I am like a rider who rests for a although below the shade of a tree, then goes off and leaves it.” Ubaid-Allah bin Muhsin reported Allah’s Messenger (Pbuh) as saying, “If any person among you is secure in thoughts in the morning, healthful in physique and has meals for the day, it is as even though the complete world has been brought into his Possession.”
Abu Hurairah reported Allah’s Messenger (Pbuh) as saying, “Look at these who are inferior to you and do not appear at these who are superior to you, for that is far more most likely to hold you from despising Allah’s Favor on you.” Abu Talha said, “When we complained to Allah’s Messenger of hunger and raised our clothes to show we have been every single carrying a stone over our belly, he raised his garments and showed that he had two stones on his belly.”
Once Umar entered Prophet’s house and noticed the state of the furniture in it. Prophet himself had only 1 sheet of cloth round him to cover the decrease element of his physique. There was a single basic bed, with a single pillow filled with nut fiber on one particular side of the room was some barley and in a single corner near his feet was an animal skin. There were some water-bag skins hanging beside his bed. Umar mentioned that on seeing these tears came into his eyes. Allah’s Messenger asked the cause for his tears. He replied, “O Allah’s Messenger! Why shouldn’t I cry! The strings of the bed have left marks on your body. This is a tiny room with all your furnishings I can see what there is. The Kaiser (Cesar) of Rome and Kisra (Khosru) of Persia get pleasure from luxurious living while you, Allah’s Messenger and the Selected One particular, reside like this.” He mentioned, “Ibn Al-Khattab! Don’t you like that they decide on this planet and we choose the Hereafter?”.
In brief, Muhammad (Pbuh) lived and liked a straightforward life and enjoyed every minute of it. He taught his companions, via his private instance, to lead a straightforward life and not to be ostentatious.
Where are we following 14 centuries nowadays?
It is worthy to note that Islam and great Islamic rulers like Caliph Umar have disappeared from the Muslim Middle East which was turned into a killing field by United States, Europe and Israel in collaboration with the Arab dictators. All what we have is a group of treacherous anti individuals anti Islamic dictators serving their US-European masters who have installed and maintained them in energy to implement their evil agendas against Muslims.
This contains the land of Islam Saudi Arabia exactly where the ruthless dictator, the most oppressive ruler in the planet, brutalizing folks in comprehensive violation of Islam. Hence a single must not judge the present set of dictators in the Middle East by Islamic values.