Craze for power

by Vickramabahu Karunaratne

(September 12, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Last week a new political alliance originated at the political centre. It is a social democratic tendency that attracted individuals from various political parties and practices. The issue of the 18th amendment created a wide ranging political upheaval, affecting almost all political parties. In particular, the parties of the opposition were in turmoil. The government decision to eradicate the essence of the 17th amendment and to concentrate all powers to the presidency was a shock even for some parties of the ruling coalition. It is absolutism in disguise. All state departments and state functionaries including the police, judiciary and bureaucracy will be at the mercy of the executive power.

The ability to continue indefinitely this state of affairs, by the extension of the number terms of the president creates a constitutional dictatorship. It will be an adverse example to the new world of global capitalism. On this basis the apparatus of political thuggery, disappearances and abductions could be arranged within the instruments of state apparatus. Maybe the Dutugemunu Balakaya of our ‘beloved’ Dr Mervyn de Silva might face the destiny of the SA of Hitler! When the state apparatus is politicized, the Dutugemunu thuggery unit will become a problem. Why is Mahinda interested in this concentration of all powers and the extension of the presidential term indefinitely? Is it a lunatic tendency for absolute power? Or on the other hand an urge for creation of a dynasty with majestic aura? Of course one could not rule out such things in a backward political scenario. But there should be more serious socio-political reasons for this craze for power.

Alternate paths

If the reason is entirely tied to the political leadership of the ruling alliance then there are other alternate paths without disturbing the principles of bourgeois democracy. Is Mahinda a political philosopher and theorist who should lead the alliance in this period of turbulence? If we look at India we see that Sonia Gandhi has become a political leader winning the respect of the upper echelons of Indian society. Though Manmohan Singh is the Prime Minister Sonia rules India. ‘She is currently the President of the Indian National Congress Party, Chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance in the Lok Sabha and the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party. She is the longest serving president of the Congress party of all time.’ says Wikipedia. She is just a member of parliament and the leader of the parliamentary party and not even a Cabinet Minster. But she leads the government of India. Then, if we turn to Russia we have a political leader in the form of Putin. Wikipedia says “Due to constitutionally mandated term limits, Putin was ineligible to run for a third consecutive Presidential term. After the victory of his successor, Dmitry Medvedev, in the 2008 presidential elections, he was then nominated by the latter to be Russia’s Prime Minister; Putin took the post on 8 May 2008.”

Actually he braved the two years in presidency and then toyed with the idea of extension through a constitutional conspiracy. But now he is the prime minister; he is claimed to rule Russia in that capacity. Since Mahinda ruled out that path of keeping political leadership, without extending the term of the presidency, it is necessary to look into other problems he could be facing.

Agreements

He has made agreements with both the World Bank and the IMF; in addition he has made a number of agreements with America, India and Israel. Lankan ambassador, Commander Donald Perera said: “For years Israel has aided our war on terror through the exchange of information and the sale of military technology and equipment... Our air force fleet includes 17 Kfir warplanes, and we also have Dabur patrol boats. Our pilots were trained in Israel, and we have received billions of dollars in aid over the past few years. This is why I asked to be assigned to Israel - a country I consider a partner in the war against terror.” On the other hand, the recent IMF commission hailed Mahinda for controlling the demands of workers and other plebeians. They have, in spite of various criticisms of corruption and human rights violations, indicated he is the best server for them in the country.

International powers have canvassed among the opposition politicians to get support for his blind venture for constitutional amendments. The erosion of the bourgeois opposition in this issue exposes the intervention of the global powers. They all sing the same song that ‘this man has shown the path of development’ and it is their duty to rally round to consolidate his power. Even the Muslim leaders of the Muslim Congress have decided to be with this darling of Israel, for the sake of the development process advocated by the global powers. In a scenario where some Tamil leaders have decided to strengthen the arm of the genocidal war monger, it is not surprising that Hakim seeks the mercy of the buddy of Israel.

However, within this calamity that struck the politics of Lanka, we could be happy about what happened at the new social democratic centre. Dayasiri Jaysekara, Siral Lakthilaka, Mano Ganesan and Bandula from the UNP participated with the independent Left as leaders. Some leading TNA elements also supported. Sivajilingam and Abu Yusuf also participated in the campaigns. All those who participated understood the political significance of this concentration of power. One paper reported on Monday 6, that “The Movement Against the 18th Amendment which is slated to go into action against the proposed reforms of the Constitution tomorrow (Tuesday) said that a prominent Opposition MP would stage a fast-unto-death campaign. The Movement Against the 18th Amendment convenor Shiral Lakthilaka said that the MP would stage the fast-unto-death campaign somewhere near the parliament.” They were not just challenging a power hungry politician but an agent of global capitalism hell-bent on implementing the political agenda of his masters. What is at stake is not just parliamentary democracy but the freedom and the human rights of the people of this country.