After Tigers defeated,what next?

By Nalin Swaris

"I believe my friends are those who offer just criticism and not those who sing hosannas in my praise. I will prepare the environment for it."
-Inauguration Address, President Mahinda Rajapakse 19 November 2005.

(June 05, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The news that journalist Poddala Jayantha had been abducted by a group in a white van, severely assaulted and dumped on a roadside was shocking and depressing. According to the web journal Colombo Today, the attack took place around the time that Victor Ivan and the convener of Free Media Movement Chulawansa Sirilal were holding talks with President Mahinda Rajapakse about an alleged hit list of journalists.

Whoever carried out this attack has in effect tried to undermine the valiant work done by Ambassador Dayan Jayetileke and Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe to defeat the attempt by Switzerland and the EU countries, the UN Commissioner for Human Rights and Western Human Rights Organizations to have the President, the Defence Secretary and the Chiefs of the Lankan armed forces indicted for war crimes at the special session of the Human Rights Council. The attack must also be a great embarrassment to those friendly countries that voted in favor of Sri Lanka at the Council.

The issue was not so much the present government’s human rights record, but the spiteful attempt by a few countries to pillory the Sri Lankan Head of State and Defence Establishment after it had destroyed one of the most ruthless terrorist groups in the world. These countries dropped their hypocritical "both parties" mantra, since one of the parties no longer existed. They turned their ‘heavy artillery’ on the other party, the Sri Lankan government and sought to criminalize it after it had successfully executed its war against terrorism. The moot issue is whether the Sri Lanka Army and Air Force had deliberated shelled civilians and makeshift hospitals in its own declared No Fire Zone held after it had given an assurance to India that it had ceased firing heavy artillery and had suspended air attacks on that Zone. The spitefulness seems to have been all the more bitter because a frantic attempt to rescue the LTTE leadership by Norway and its Western allies in collusion with LTTE’s notorious arms procurer Kumaran Pathmanathan, had failed.

The President’s men won a great battle for him in Geneva. But the war is not yet over. The countries that ganged up against Sri Lanka won’t give up. Though Westerners say that Asians do not like to lose face, it, is a projection onto the Oriental Other an innate propensity of Western imperialists. They do not take defeat easily. The attack on Poddala Jayantha gives them an "I told you so" satisfaction. Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana condemnation of the attack and his pledge to bring those responsible to book must be matched by actual results. One recalls that he rushed to calm down outraged Rupavahini employees after their work place was invaded by a cabinet colleague. The entire nation saw this dastardly act live on TV. Poddala Jayantha, General Secretary of the Working Journalists’ Association, rushed to support his Rupavahini colleagues. He was among the journalists who urged government action. The Minister later said during a TV discussion programme, that mediated by the President, the offending minister and representatives of the journalists had come to a peaceful settlement of the issue. The question now is. Will the attackers of Poddala Jayantha be brought to justice?

On Being a Journalist

As someone who writes regularly to this ‘journal’ (lit., ‘daily’) could, I suppose, be called a ‘journalist". This newspaper provides a platform for a wide variety of opinions and also for spirited thrust and parry of opposing views. When people publish opinions that, from my point of view, are not kosher, I have challenged these opinions, mentioning the authors by name. After all by writing under their own names, they show they are willing to stand up and be accounted. Such vigorous exchanges are normal in a healthy democracy. I have challenged those whose views I think are detrimental to the unity and integrity of this nation or may not be helpful to promote harmony among our peoples. But one must wonder whether public debate on critical matters is advisable in the current political climate. One can never be sure if one’s writings may be used by people who think, that those who they think are enemies of the motherland, must be meted out rough justice. Free and reasoned argument is the best preventive of disagreements turning violent. It is the civilised way. On the other hand, there are those who spew violent rhetoric from public platforms. This is invariably an incitement to physical violence.

I firmly believe that the majority of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims are not extremists. They co-exist in harmony. We should begin the process of nation building from this fact of everyday life and not from lofty legal constructs. What’s the use of laws if they are not enforced? The Buddha observed that in his Day, notorious criminals could carry on their nefarious activities by buying the protection of chiefs and ministers, whereas a poor destitute man would be beaten up and given a heavy prison sentence for stealing half a kahapana (Gradual Sayings 1.229, II.398). Things do not seem to have changed much since. Until society is civilised, it will continue to produce a certain type of individual who enters politics for power and profit. Such individuals also tarnish the image of our government service and police force. The muck starts in civil society and corrupts the State. That is why great religious teachers like Siddhartha Gotama and Jesus of Nazareth were more concerned about the moral reform of society than with capturing State power to change society or with forming alliances with rulers. The two men who are regarded as the archetypal betrayers of the Buddha and Jesus, Devadatta and Judas Iscariot aspired to political power. Both conspired to kill their Masters. The one failed and the other succeeded.

Elected President, not King by Birth

The President aided by his brother the Defence Secretary led the armed forces to an astounding defeat of the LTTE. General Fonseka was right when he said during the ITN interview that the way to honour the dead and disabled war heroes is not by composing songs and making CDs. That is an all too easy attempt he said, to bask in the glory of officers and soldiers who had paid a costly price to defend the unity and security of the nation. It is understandable that in their effusive enthusiasm some people associate the President with great Sinhalese kings in the past and even see him as a King Dutugemenu reborn. But a King he is Not. He is the democratically elected Head of a Republic. The Constitution vests sovereignty with all the citizens of the nation. And a Head of State is duty bound to serve his people under that Constitution. President Rajapakse pledged to do this in his inauguration speech. But no sooner was he elected, an unofficial ‘poet laureate’ hailed him as "a king born to us". Now his flatterers are going overboard hailing him as "Maharajanani" – Great King - and "Your Majesty".

After the mostly spontaneous celebration of the defeat of the LTTE, heads of government institutions are falling over each other to catch the President’s eye and to curry his continued favour. Shame. Was that vehicle procession to the President’s village in the deep South necessary? At a time of energy scarcity and high cost of petrol, was that not an extravangaza that a poor debt ridden nation could ill afford? The luxury cars and SUVs in which these bureaucrats set forth from the courtyard of Rupavahini showed how well these people have profited from political patronage. We now hear the Vice Chancellor of Colombo University wants to offer the President and the Defence Secretary honorary doctorates. The hot air balloons of honorary doctorates have been acupunctured and deflated by a prancing minister. One must hope that this offer will be politely refused.

In the Agganna Sutta, the Buddha formulated the first theory of social contract in history, He reminded kings that they should rule by the Mahajana Sammata – Consent of the People - and gladden the peoples’ hearts by righteous rule. Through the mouth of the Noble Wheel Turning King, the Buddha reminded princes who inherited their father’s throne: "The Wheel of Righteousness, my son, is not a paternal inheritance." This Gem had to be earned by righteous rule. The Buddha asked kings who would rule righteously to seek the advice of sramanas and brahmanas of irreproachable moral conduct, not of thick headed cult leaders who are ready to lend religious cover to individuals well known for their corrupt and immoral lives.

In Death We Are Alone

On Tuesday the 19th, the President in his address to Parliament and the Nation declared, "From now on there are no minorities but only the majority that rally round the National Flag and a small minority that do not." On Friday the 22nd addressing the rally called to honour the memory of dead and disabled war heroes, he also declared, "From now on in addition to the great five fold force - "pancha maha bala vegaya’, there is a sixth great force, the war heroes. Who will decide who the true patriot is and who is not? The President I am sure wished to pay tribute to the armed forces who have acted as the mura thevathavo – guardian deities of the nation. Surely, it is not the declaration of an intention to militarise this society? In this context, what General Fonseka told the news magazine, The Bottom Line (TBL), is most heartening. Referring to his immense popularity among the masses, TBL asked the General if he had any plans to ride on this wave of popularity and engage in politics? "No, Never. I will never engage in politics", answered the General. "Why is that?", asked TBL. "Because I am a professional soldier", was the answer. Bravo General! I am sure the Navy and Air Force Chiefs think the same. All three are professionals to the core, Officers and Gentlemen. The armed forces unlike the five fold force, is not a segment of civil society. It is part of the Executive Branch, which must function under the other two branches of the State, the Legislature and the Judiciary.

War is a terrible scourge. There is great relief it is over. "The truly peaceful", the Buddha said, "go beyond victory and defeat" (Dhammapada 201). Death is too much with us these days. We do not need more deaths and broken limbs. When a Roman General returned in triumphal parade to Rome to the cheers of the multitude, a slave stood behind him holding a skull over his head and kept reminding him "Sic Transit Gloria Mundi! - Thus passes the glory of the world!" We read that as he lay dying King Dutugemunu told the ten great warriors who stood beside him, "Formerly I fought great battles with you by my side. But in this final battle with death, I am alone. The enemy death, I am unable to conquer."

These should be a salutary reminder to the President of his own words in his Inauguration Speech, "I am not a prince born with a golden spoon in the mouth. Like most of you, I am a leader that grew from the ordinary people."

-Sri Lanka Guardian