Political Solution

by Gaja Lakshmi Paramasivam

(December 15, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) We hear calls for a Political Solution for Sri Lanka. As a commoner I ask myself ‘what is a political solution?’.

In common terminology, to me decisions are based on belief and merit basis. Belief is identification with Truth within. Truth connects us naturally to each other and often without us being conscious of it. Once we pass the borders of belief, we need to consciously apply merit basis. To my mind, most anti-discrimination laws are based on this.

The system of Democracy facilitates belief based governance through the electoral system. Those who live together, would tend to have common beliefs developed through everyday living. When majority in that group operate within the borders of their belief, they would enjoy peace and harmony. That is natural self governance. When ‘outsiders’, including migrants, come into that area, there is often a period of adjustment until both sides adjust to the apparent differences. Merit basis helps us manage those differences effectively, towards a larger pool of Common Faith. It is when merit leads to belief and belief supports merit that we are a complete society.

Let’s take for example, the matter of the language of the National Anthem of Sri Lanka. To the extent we have to give particular ‘form’ to various aspects of our ‘Nationality’ that particular aspect needs to be managed under ‘merit basis’. Merit basis at its widest level is Objectively measurable – through objective evidence and/or the belief of those who are completely outside our physical circles. Once we bring something down to a physical level of measurement, it means that it has already crossed the borders of Belief.

‘Sinhala only’ rule that triggered off the ethnic conflict in the 1950’s had crossed that border of Belief and yet did not facilitate the use of merit basis by individual government organizations. A rule is direct administration and hence does not have the basic qualities of a facility. One excludes the other. A rule clearly demarcates rights and wrongs. Good rules when practiced consistently would lead to strong facilities. In the case of the ‘Sinhala only’ rule, there was no room at all for this transformation from rule to facility, because like the vote, one is either right or wrong – period. Singing the song in a foreign language is likely to damage one’s belief in Equal Opportunity. When belief is damaged the nation is damaged. If one is able to believe in fundamental values of a nation, despite obstacles and disturbances, one is a true national and any damage to that national’s belief would damage the Nation itself . Such return karma is often called ‘Act of God’, like the Tsunami and these days ‘Terrorism’ like 9/11..

A government that hands out rules instead of laws that facilitate management, is weak in democracy. Such a government would hand out rules to more or less match the votes – with very little life in between.

The National Anthem matter is the current form of ‘Sinhala only’ rule, confirming that we are back to square one. Tamil leaders are yet to show signs of any proposed legal action on the basis of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. That is indeed a high price we Tamils have paid due to our revenge actions through armed retaliation. To me, that would have been one of the first options exercised by late G.G.Ponnampalam, the best known Tamil lawyer of our times.

One needs to feel deeply that one’s constitutional rights were being damaged by this move. Given that majority Tamils of our times do not sing the National Anthem at all, it is understandable that they do not feel such damage. They would, once majority Tamils believed that they were Sri Lankans. Then their lawyers would take legal action without fearing defeat, as an expression of National Ownership – as I have done in Australia.

When we act with Belief, everything is a win. We are likely to apparently lose in the local environment if majority are not of common belief and/or are not committed to merit basis. But, if we continue to believe, other believers would cross space and time borders to uphold us as the real winners. Towards this we must believe in Belief and leave it to the system of Truth to do the work for us. Often members of the Media become messengers of Truth in a democratic society.

So, what is the Political solution to this Language issue / National Anthem matter? If the rule is in place, Tamil Administrators need to sing the National Anthem in Sinhala – consciously as part of the Administrative process – just like most litigants have to stand up when a judge enters the courtroom. To compensate for this ‘rule’ which would shift our work from Belief to Merit, Tamils in majority Tamil areas would need to develop other Non-Governmental activities and organizations towards developing common belief. If the forms through which this belief is expressed is Tamil looking then we would be developing a Tamil Nation – whether others acknowledge it or not. The moment the strength of our common belief through Tamil forms is at least equal to the strength of belief of the group that elects government – we have earned National status. Not until then. Truth will uphold this one way or the other.

In terms of us being One Nation, if at least some Tamils pray to Lord Buddha, the real powers of majority would support us through ordinary Sinhalese and all Sinhalese opposed to ‘Sinhala only’. That to me would be a good Political solution at its highest levels. I prayed all the time to God through the form of Lord Buddha, when I was waiting for my clearance to help my People in Chettikulam camps. No, I did not go there on merit basis. I drew on the credit that we Tamils had earned with Natural Justice, when the Government applied force through emergency laws. Emergency laws are productive when used as a last resort but strictly on the basis of belief. Each time it was used outside the borders of belief, the victims, including those of us who had the merit gained credit with the system of Truth. I invoked that credit through prayers to Lord Buddha.

Belief is the foundation of any institution / nation. Let’s develop belief anyway we can, through every opportunity that comes our way.