Towards a Sangha Decree against political thuggery

By Gamini Weerakoon

(November 16, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Despite the darkness at noon in sunny Sri Lanka in the past two weeks — first caused by hovering monsoon clouds and last week the depression in the Arabian Sea — there has been a steady stream of sunshine coming through.

Read the headlines in Lake House press: Jobs for 17,000 graduates; Govt committed to protect all; President benefited the nation; Teachers to go IT savvy; SriLankan records 80 percent passenger increase; Face lift for Colombo and much more; Govt to protect free education; Economic performance in line with IMF targets; Anarchy will be dealt with — President, and much more such as salary hikes for government servants and enhanced allowances for the armed forces. Surprisingly we could not find the headline announcing the slash in prices of ten essential commodities.

Experienced political weathermen will say that such sunshine stories from Lake House and other state organisations had not always resulted in the expected fallout at elections. But their immediate concern should be about the impending elections.

Fonseka in focus

The focus is on General Sarath Fonseka, who resigned from the post of Chief of Defence Staff on Thursday but despite intense speculation of being chosen as the common opposition candidate, he has made no pronouncement on it — at least till these comments are being penned. The General who had been described by a retired Indian general ‘as the best in the world’ after the victory over terrorism and his army which was declared by many in the UPFA as the ‘best army in the world,’ last week was in focus. It was reported that the Mahanayake theras of the three chapters (nikayas) are to issue a decree (Sangha Angawa) against General Fonseka contesting a possible presidential election.

Sangha Angawa

Clearly, the venerable monks have got it all wrong. The Buddhist tradition in this country has been for monks to keep out of politics and not take to it, or not to prevent others from coming into politics. There is still a very strong belief among Buddhists that monks should keep out of politics. It was only in the 2001 parliamentary election that a Buddhist monk — Ven. Samitha entered parliament for the first time.

The understanding among Buddhists has been that those who take to the saffron robes, do so to rid themselves of suffering through samsara by seeking refuge in the teachings of the Buddha. But this belief has crumbled with the JHU becoming a party dominated by Buddhist monks and some of them becoming MPs. Now some politically oriented monks have gone further and are attempting to issue a ‘Sangha Angawa’ to pre-empt Gen. Fonseka contesting the elections!

This is reminiscent of Mullahs issuing fatwas on issues not necessarily concerned with their faith. Are our monks too attempting to convert this country into a theocracy like what has happened to Iran? Monks have played the role of being advisors to ruling monarchs down the ages but acquiring judicial or religious powers to dictate to the army commanders of kings have been unheard of. This move is a quantum jump from the traditionally advisory role to rulers of the land to direct assumption of executive and judicial roles.

No Angawa against thugs?

Even though we disagree and oppose the sangha issuing such decrees against any politician, it would make some sense a least, if they issue such decrees on politicians who are behaving like brazen thugs blessed with impunity. One such politician during a fracas in the hallowed chamber of parliament squeezed the testicles of a supposedly venerable monk who had to seek refuge in the National Hospital. Strangely the maha sangha maintained a deafening silence on this disgraceful incident and this despicable character continues to enjoy political patronage at the highest level while engaging himself in intimidating the public, particularly journalists, as and when he desires.

He is alleged to have once again demonstrated his braying potential by rallying a mob of political goondas to hoot at General Fonseka on his return from the Kelaniya Temple on Thursday on submitting his letter of resignation.

The standard argument made for monks to enter politics is that historically they have been the ‘Guardians of the Buddha Sasana’. Are these ‘Guardians of the Buddha Sasana’ now attempting to protect Buddhism from General Fonseka whom they kept proclaiming without any reservations during the past few poya full moons, as the saviour of the nation and saviour of Sinhala Buddhism by wiping out LTTE terrorism?

Whether Gen. Fonseka should take to politics and if so what his political affiliations should be is a matter for him to decide on, not for monks who had given up all worldly affairs to seek the way through samsara from suffering and attain nirvana. If they want to support a candidate of their choice let them use their influence among voters to act accordingly but not resort to the Buddha Dhamma to issue decrees which are incompatible with the liberal ethos and culture of Buddhism

Vote bank

It is manifestly obvious that all who object to the possibility of Gen. Fonseka coming forward as an opposition candidate at a presidential election fear his capability of devouring President Rajapaksa’s vote bank — the Sinhala-Buddhist vote, particularly in the south. To contest an election seeking a block of votes be it Sinhala-Buddhist, Tamil- Hindu or Catholic-Sinhala/Tamil is the democratic right of every Sri Lankan citizen. No one has the title deeds to Sinhala-Buddhism or being appointed sole agent for it keeping out others. To claim such sole proprietorship is like the claim of Velupillai Pirapaharan that he was the sole representative of the Tamil people.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, no doubt played a key role in winning the 30 year war on terrorism whereas others before him failed. His unwavering commitment to the cause and not being distracted by world powers made him achieve his objectives. The people will no doubt judge him on his merits just as much Gen. Fonseka would be, if he presents himself as a candidate. All candidates should be judged not only on their past glories but what their plans are for the future of the nation. That, the voters have yet to be appraised of.

President Rajapaksa has an immediate task before him: Create conditions to conduct an election free of political thuggery that appears to be rampant right now.

( The writer, former editor in chief of the " The Island" )

-Sri Lanka Guardian