by I. S. Senguttuvan
The law and order situation in the South continues to decline bringing fear into the people of the Sinhala South. Mid-December millionaire hardware trader Sellawahage Piyasena (54) was shot at and then stabbed to death by 2 suspected “army deserters” in what should have been the safety of his premises at Dalugama, Kelaniya.
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(December 28, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) There were many among Tamils within the Island – and in the significantly powerful diaspora – harbouring serious doubts about President Rajapakse’s sincerity in trying to win them into the national fold. One recalls that charade of Rajapakse speaking a few Tamil words in various fora in the country, in the UN and elsewhere. His ill-considered and knee-jerk reaction where he got a Minister to table as an urgent Cabinet paper aimed at withdrawing the status the national anthem being also sung in Tamil reportedly since 1951 - confirms this was tit-for-tat for the slight he was subject to in the UK when a student body of the 900 + years Oxford University withdrew, at the very last moment, an invitation for him to address them in the December. That it was done by demonstrators - nationals of another country (the UK) more Tamil but Sinhalese and Muslims as well – was hardly impressed upon the long-prejudiced Sinhalese rabble-rousers in the streets of Colombo and elsewhere. Characteristically, the Lankan media – the Sinhala, more specifically – ignored this fact. This motley group from an array of agit-prop cadres – that now includes 2 Cabinet ministers as well, arguably, promoted more for their history and propensity to break the law and inflame anti-Tamil hatred during times of political stress. That, by the way, has not been in short supply since 1956 needs no reminding. While the official version given for the withdrawal of this revenge-contaminated Cabinet document is because of opposition from 2 Ministers – out of over 60 that included some sheepishly silent Tamil ministers as well. Well-informed circles in Colombo say senior diplomats from countries - whose support Rajapakse needs for the survival of his fastly tottering regime – made it known to Rajapakse this is a counter-productive move at a time the emphasis should be more in inclusion than the opposite this is likely to generate. Chief Minister – the ageing M.K. Karunanidhi – from the adjoining State of Tamilnadu – home to 65 million Tamils and kin of the 6 million Lankan Tamil-speaking people - was quick to pounce on the issue within hours. In a quick withdrawal Rajapakse exposed his woeful ignorance of world affairs stating “no country in the world sings their National Anthem in more than one languge” Worse was his effort at being economic with the truth when he tried to assure the country he was not the first to commit this faux pas. To support his ill-considered action he claimed “Mrs. Bandaranaike (former PM) “walked away from a function in Jaffna during her time when the National Anthem was sung in Tamil” The chorus of angry denials from the country included one from a weekly columnist who wrote “This columnist finds it difficult to accept this statement. Mrs Bandaranaike was a person of dignity and integrity. It is unthinkable that she would have walked out when the National Anthem was being played, merely because it was being played in Tamil. … Both in her personal and political life, she respected the Tamil language and the Tamil-speaking people, some of whom were her close personal friends.” Demonstrating to the country and the world the jumbo 60+ cabinet is woefully short of even average intelligence street, rabble-rouser and now minister Wimal Weerawansa committed a form of hara-kiri when he, gathering his full weight of wisdom, said India sings her anthem in Hindi..”
Considerably worse – people began comparing the culture of the Bandaranaikes and the Rajapakses where the latter comes out all the poorer reminding the words of another regime-critic Dr. Brian Seneviratne – now an Australian national – who insists “these Rajapakses from Hambantota hail from a generation of thugs and murderers” Seneviratne writes in his younger days his family used the Rajapakses, on the appropriate fee of the day, to get rid of a troublesome thug of the area had illegally occupied one of their properties and was refusing to budge. It is irresistible to recall the old English cliché “old habits die hard” in times such as this.
The cumulative effect of all these is the Tamils are unlikely to take President Rajapakse at his word to bring them peace, normalcy and goodwill. Several
Analysts are united in the view the post-May 2009 has alienated the Tamil people from the Sinhala South much more sharply than it ever was in the past quarter of a century. Although the President claimed in Parliament last week a sum of US$2,129 million has been spent for the re-construction of the North the people in the Peninsula ask where and how this is being spent. Worse, the Oxford debacle - while damaging President Rajapakse in different ways - has helped to bring the Lankan Tamil issue into the global media focus. Diaspora Tamils wasted little time in bringing forth to the forefront War Crimes and Human Rights charges against the Rajapakse regime. Both in the UK and the USA Tamils gathered in front of such well known stores as GAP, Victoria’s Secret, M&S and others urging X’mas shoppers to avoid clothing made in a country where “the hands of the political leadership is soiled by the blood of the Tamil people” These events resulted in 17 US Senators petitioning the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to place the alleged Lankan atrocities in the foerefront of the US Government Agenda.
Rajapakse’s patch of bad luck did not end in London. While the efforts of his entire entourage including Foreign Minister Prof. Peiris, the pliant officials of the UK/SLHC and the costly Bell-Pottinger failed to gain an interview for the President with anyone who is somebody in the UK government. In comparison that young President from little Maldive Islands met with William Hague and many UK VIPs. The best for Rajapakse was a Private Meeting with Dr. Liam Fox, Secretary/Defence – now embroiled in controversy of a pecuniary nature and that too at the Dorchester Hotel where the President was lodged in the super-luxury Harlequin Suite. Sufficient photographs was taken at this meeting for damage control in Colombo to fool the yakkos everything went to plan in the UK. A further claim to lift the morale of the regime was the effort to get Liam Fox down to address the Kadirgamar Oration. Fox was forced to call off this visit as did State Minister Alistair Berty who too called off his scheduled 3-day visit to Colombo. The excuse given by both would have sent the marines into raptures. But then that is what is called diplomatic jargon, `as we learn. The reported tongue-lashing the President gave the UKHC in Colombo and his refusal to meet the urbane Dr. Peter Hayes for over a fortnight may have reached influential ears at Whitehall as William Hague confirms “sometimes our relations with the Sri Lankan government becomes somewhat difficult..” Now, if I were you I will get all my acts together in some decent form because this language can mean trouble. India continues to place in record openly “The Rajapakse government has not done enough to win back the Tamils to the national fold” - a message visiting VVIP Shri S. M. Krishna delivered in fairly transparent albeit diplomatic jargon. A few days ago Rahul Gandhi, powerful General Secretary to the Congress Party of India was to repeat the same message from Chennai – home to 65 million Tamils deeply involved emotionally and otherwise with their cousins across the Straits. It will only be at the country’s – and indeed the regime’s peril – for the government can ignore this message. Lakshman Kirielle – a front line spokesman of the rejuvenated UNP - has accused the government in Parliament of getting into the wrong side of India.
The ongoing Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission is very likely to engage the fate of similar earlier efforts is the popular feeling in Colombo. Rajapakse has earned a reputation of patting himself on the back when faced with tough situations by introducing red herrings to save time and hoping matters will solve themselves eventually. But this will not always help. Ban Ki Moon, the UNSG is under pressure to act objectively in the Lankan quagmire – now that his own re-election comes to the fore. No surprise, therefore, under attack from several HR and pressure groups in the US – of which IPU remains unrelenting – Moon has found his nerve and has noticed GoSL his Panel of Experts will soon be in Sri Lanka. GoSL was to go into tantrums against this with the much devalued Foreign Minister – once highly considered academic Prof G.L. Peiris – made the astonishing statement “we will not give them Visas to enter the country” When the pressure mounted on the UN side the regime tried to compromise by declaring “they can come but only to make representations,like anyone else to the LLRC” Attack dog Weerawansa was to explode “I will set myself on fire if they set foot in our soil” Now that even this did not cool temperatures with UNSG’s side, the fixers of the regime reached out to the editor of a private run daily in the Island – now unabashedly carrying out His Master’s Voice – to run editorials to suggest the Government is prepared to discuss matters in neutral soil and not in Sri Lanka. No can do barked the UNSG and now the Panel of three will be with us soon. They have made it perfectly clear they will see whom they want, go where they want to and generally do what they think is appropriate to realize the object of their visit. GoSL is obliged to provide them “with all the necessary logistical support without let” Even high sources within the government alarmed at the eccentrics of the former JVP activist are waiting with glee to see cardboard Sando Weerawansa going up in flames - as he hoarsely threatened.
Whereas in the months following May 2009 there was hope and confidence among the people in the Jaffna Peninsula this appears to have fastly eroded. Devananda’s gun-toting goons in the North and Karuna-Pillaiyan’s separate cadres in the East continue to harass and extort under threat of bodily harm, abduction and often death. The Police look the other way about. Complaints against the army, though less, continue. Senior political leader and government supporter Anandasangaree was forced to take up with the President and his brother – the Defence Secretary the plight of over 20 Jaffna traders who continue to be harassed by the Police for allegedly supporing the LTTE during the latter’s heights. The idea behind appears more to extract money from these scared civilians. Pavement hawkers, in addition to pitching camp in Jaffna town, appear to be encouraged by sinister sources to remain in Mannar where the prospects for business is virtually nil. People of the area naturally wonder why. The army going to the extent of warning temples not to peel bels duringPooja time – on the guise of discouraging Maha Veerar Day – has gone down badly with the people. The killing of Chief Priest Nithyananda Sharma and the grievous gun-shot injuries to his 2 sons in the popular Murugan Murthy Temple has shattered faith in the government to provide normalcy to Jaffna. The accompanying robbery committed by 2 men in army fatigues and in an SLA motor-cycle has prompted an apology from Maj Gen Mahinda Hathurusinghe but has in no way reduced the terror in the minds of the people. Today’s gruesome murder of Valigamam Deputy Zonal Director of Education M. Sivalingam (52) in the confines of his own home at Urumpurai again by men in motor-bikes gives the lie to the governments claim they have the Province under control. Some Tamil academics point out these 2 incidents may also be connected to the monthly Emergency Regulations debate in Parliament where the State has to provide evidence of the need to continue this much hated set of regulations.
The law and order situation in the South continues to decline bringing fear into the people of the Sinhala South. Mid-December millionaire hardware trader Sellawahage Piyasena (54) was shot at and then stabbed to death by 2 suspected “army deserters” in what should have been the safety of his premises at Dalugama, Kelaniya. The bold daylight robbery of a Pawn broking shop at Anguruwela, Mirigama around December 11 has shocked the people of the area. It is widely believed it was a joint-operation by elements within the Police and the army in the area considering the timing and method in which the whole incident took place. The death of 7 men from both sides by shooting is whispered to be more to cover the tracks of higher officers of both the Police and Army men involved. The extremely difficult Cost of Living and lack of sufficient resources to run families is said to be one of the reasons for the sudden surge of violent robberies and killings in the country. Early November at Gokaralla a group of “respectable-looking” officials arrived at the Raja Maha Vihare in an Archeological Dept vehicle claiming to be on “official work” They began digging operations looking for antique artefacts. The Chief Priest sounded the villagers, who in turn informed the Police. The Police arrived and arrested these men on suspicion. It is now learnt the men clearly were on a planned mission of robbery. They were from Rupavahini, CPC, Timber Corporation and the HDFC Bank.
Rajapakse’s woes in the South continues to grow unabated. The much predicted Battle in the Kitchen appears to have slowly but surely started. The shocking shortage of coconuts now not freely available at even Rs.60 bothers even die-hard government supporters in a government that has several ministers looking after the Coconut industry. Bread is not freely available even at Rs.50. The stage has come to where the lowly paan and pol sambol may go into extinction due to the indifference of a regime that assured lower prices for essentials in their Mahinda Chintanaya. The smaller varieties of fish that sold at Rs.50/kilo range has shot upto Rs.150-Rs.200 levels. Thalapath-Kelawella from Rs.150 are now over Rs650.Onions have now soared to Rs.200 from Rs.60. Rice sells around Rs.60 while regular vegetables are in the Rs.100-Rs.130/kilo levels. The weekly Chicken curry from the lower middle class homes is now out as Chicken prices have gone over Rs.450 from Rs.250 an year ago. A glass of plain tea is now over Rs.20 and tea with milk over Rs.35 – a 30-50% rise since last year. A packet of rice with a piece of fish and 2 vegetables has gone from Rs.50 to Rs.125 with the ubiquitous pol-sambole out. The changing of pillows from the non-performing tuition master Bandula Gunawardena to Johnny-come-lately has only made the situation worse. Rata Nagamu and Api Wagamu have become a joke to the extent the President, fearing of what is ahead, has now offered to Chair the Cost of Living Committee of Cabinet Ministers. How will this help bring prices down?
Almost all of his ministers – save those like Sarath Amunugama, GL Peiris - have proved to be non-performers - which surprises very few people. The PM once more made a fool of himself when he did not even know where to place his signature in a recent wedding in Colombo. Maitripala Sirisena, Susil Premjayanth, Nimal Siripala de Silva have run short of ammunition but have only managed to gain public ire against them. Then there is the lot that is convinced the people can be fooled all the time. Like the big-talking Champika Ranawake who, in the excitement of securing a Ministerial chair, bragged he will bring electricity prices down. After a few months, he was to claim he has already succeeded in making the CEB to make a profit after 13 years and that more goodies will follow from his amazing ability as an Electrical Engineer himself. Neil Perera – a former distinguished CEB/GM Cricketer was to sarcastically write to the newspapers “congratulating “ Ranawake for his” extra-ordinary efficiency” Perera was to ask if Ranawake “was a magician, superman or both?” Now Ranawake’s bogus claims is standard humour among CEB engineers and staff. The truth is CEB is reported to have lost Rs.221 million in one month alone. Worse – CEB rates are due to be gradually raised from 8 to 15% on a staggered basis. This can result in several industries closing down with the loss of thousands of jobs. Middle class homes that generally use over 90 units of power will see “stars” when the increased CEB bills arrive home.
In the political front, the rejuvenated and superficially united UNP is flexing its muscles and threatens to bring a million protestors to Colombo streets on January 26. The combined forces of Sajith Premadasa, Ranil Wickramasinghe, Karu Jayasuriya and Mangala Samaraweera should cause many sleepless nights to the Sahodara Samaga that had a fairly safe run so far. If the JVP also manages to add forces there is every chance this combination can transform the people’s desperation into a strong anti-government platform. The government has so far managed to hide under the safety of the Emergency Regulations – threatening, jailing and in other ways intimidating opponents for the mere exercise of dissenting.
Democratic dissent is twisted to mean treason and treachery.
The Rajapakse Sahodara Samagama (Ranil Wickremeasinghe’s words) provide little case for the country in the more pressing problems of the nation – to solve which immediately was their promise on which they came to power. The nation will neither have a Merry Christmas nor a Happy New Year is, sadly, certain.
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