(May 15, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Eastern Province election is by any criteria a landmark in the political evolution in the country. The Government of Mahinda Rajapakse has achieved what no other Administration had the courage to do or been able to do. The silver lining is that the country will remain intact which in itself is a major victory for the Government coalition, even if the UFPA alone has missed out gaining majority in the Council of the Eastern Province. At this juncture, however, any administrative system to be established that could contribute to a reversal of military and territorial gains so far will be disastrously destabilizing. As the election results were not one-sided, we believe that there is a fair chance to put in place the necessary checks and balances to administer the Province harmoniously in the interest of a multilingual, multicultural, multi-religious population.
The UFPA-slanted administration that is likely to be formed to administer the Eastern Province has now an opportunity to lay the ground rules for creating the environment which can transform the political landscape and re-establish confidence and trust among the various ethnic religious and linguistic groups to co-exist without fear of indiscrimination and injustice. In the short term, the propaganda against indigenous initiatives undertaken – without external inputs as was the case of CFA- would prevail and cause irritation in many quarters. The Opposition parties will carry on attacking bitterly the Government in every direction. They might take to the streets, or seek audience with foreign representatives in the country or stoop to slander and threats unbecoming of a responsible opposition in a democratic society. For some foreign governments and agencies the Eastern Provincial elections may have provided another opportunity to freely carp on the Government’s human rights record and make the usual threats such as withdrawing GSP+. Those NGOs that act as proxies for anti-government propaganda will go on receiving additional dollops from their foreign pay-masters to put the Government under microscope for any alleged misdeeds. Such is the environment for this Government, and admirably it continues to do business as usual managing every crisis it has encountered so far in the economy and on the War front.
In the aftermath of the Eastern Province elections, however, those who staked their necks with the government coalition will be tested. What immediate action will there be to reduce political tensions and assuage the feelings of the losers will be the biggest challenge. Eastern Province can be considered as the testing grounds for regaining communal harmony which is the most fundamental ingredient to restore stability in this country. Those who are serious about national unity should have used this opportunity to cultivate the feeling of inter-ethnic trust among the people during the election campaign. In is unfortunate that even the government coalition did not pay sufficient attention to this. Once again we are facing a struggle to determine whether a Muslim or a Tamil should be the Chief Minster, thus destroying the spirit and enthusiasm of the voters who had anticipated an end to such ethnic rivalries. For the unity of this country the ethnic basis for selection should not be the criteria. S.B.Dissanayake has recently suggested a National Provincial Council in the Eastern Province. This is a positive suggestion that merits close attention. Involving the three communities in the Administration of the Province would defang the odious ill effects of communal politics. It may even reduce the ill effects of bitter party rivalry in the Province.
One approach is to adopt a "magic formula" which is practiced in countries like Switzerland that is to rotate the Chief Minister’s post every year starting with one selected for that year from a pool of council members who have attained a certain voting strength. There may be a few qualified, and the order of Chief Minister determined by drawing lots. By this method Mr Sivanesanthurai Chandrakanthan (Pillayan), Mr.Hisbullah and any other including an elected Sinhala politician in the Province can become chief Minister. If National Council can be formed according to Mr S.B.Dissanayake’s suggestion there should be a way of giving Mr Hakeem or any other from the other party a chance to be Chief Minister. Mr. Chandrakanthan (Pillayan) would be wise to agree to this formula of electing the Chief Minister if he is really interested in national reconciliation and to get him a place as a nation builder in the annals of history. Mr Hisbullah and Mr Hakeem should be very happy to abide by this suggestion as they have claimed to be interested in national harmony according to their Islamic beliefs. As Mr. Chandrakanthan (Pillayan) is seen as a target for assassination just now; he still has armed protective militia; and is unpopular with donors and therefore he may not even be interested in a position in the front line as the Chief Minister. In this case, one who can protect equal interest of all the communities in the province should be found and whether Mr Hisbullah or Mr Hakeem can qualify should be left to the elected members to decide. In any case, Mr.Chandrakanthan (Pillayan) should be given an important portfolio and adequate financial inputs to woo and cement the Tamil electorate’s support for the provincial government.
The people of the East are looking forward towards an improvement in their living conditions after so many years of deprivation due to the hostilities. A major plus point of the elections is that the TMVP politicians would be able to hold office, administer subject areas and show leadership qualities. That would be no bad thing for a militant group, and an example to the LTTE as to what is possible in order to serve their constituency by joining the political process instead of a futile armed struggle.
The Government would hopefully channel large sums of money and management direct to the East mobilizing foreign aid especially from India and Arab countries. The bias of development should be people oriented to lift education and skills levels and relevant job programmes especially in agriculture and the self employed services sector; and less on mega-projects costing much and benefiting few directly. There is a need to give the masses in all three groups (Tamil, Muslim and Sinhala) in the Province a stake in the system of Provincial administration by enabling the many to earn a steadily rising income.
The recent election had national dimensions and was fought top downwards. Success in the East, however, now requires compromises among the major ethnic and religious groups in the region itself. By the time of the next election, the local leaders of the various political parties should be the dominant figures based on their record of leadership and service in the region rather than national politicians with different agendas. In the meantime, the Government should spell out, and deliver, additional desirable powers, authority and resources to the East, possibly in the framework of APRC accords. The road map to devolution, especially in the North, should be designed on the basis of hard facts and reality of the experience in the East rather than esoteric ideas of devolution derived purely from foreign models and pressures of foreign powers.
Will the recently concluded elections bring in an era of hope for peaceful co-existence or will the Eastern Province be allowed to slide back into a state of hopelessness with greater ethnic rift and rivalries is a question that only time will answer. Those who are currently in power in the country and those who will take charge of the administration in the Eastern province will be held responsible for what happens there from now on. A hard look at the structural changes needed for good governance will also have to be made to supplement the will of the people and their leaders to ensure success.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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