We are the People; We are the Government

by Gaja Lakshmi Paramasivam

(December 16, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) These days I tend to observe more and more and marvel at the perfection of Karma. I am happy that I am able to find the connection between cause and effect. When we slow down in consciously producing effects to show others, we start accepting Nature/Karma. That helps us complete the cycle within.

There was much discussion on the issue of ‘Sinhala Only National Anthem’. Even though as per the latest report, President Rajapakse has decided to not abolish the Tamil version of the National Anthem, the responses from various parts of the nation has been interesting.

Through those discussions I was able to see how, educated Sri Lankans have been and are looking ‘outside’ for their answers. I shared as follows with Colombo educated males:

‘I live in disenfranchised areas of North (mostly low caste) & East (descendents of Veddhas) and they are not interested in learning other languages. This would be the case at least for another generation to come. The National Anthem issue / rule is largely for leaders and academics. Without the people, any discussion would benefit only the immediate group. We have been talking about Ireland to Malaysia instead of from KKS to Hambantota. To the extent we are looking 'outside' we are confessing to not having enough wisdom from our own experiences. If a war has not given us the wisdom we are far from being a sovereign nation.’

The war seems to have given induced a culture of bilateral thinking which weakens our investment in Commonness. When we limit ourselves strictly to our experiences, we would become common through Truth. Otherwise we need to check back with the Constitution which is the embodiment of Basic Common Principles. A true Sri Lankan would never act in breach of the spirit of the Constitution.

One member of the above group said "Chapter 9 is also acceptable. The majority of the people in the Republic of Sri Lanka being Buddhists, it is the duty of the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, whilst protecting and assuring grant of practice of other faiths"

I wrote in response “It is not a question of whether one is ready to accept or not. If one calculates whether to accept the constitution or not - then one is acting like the LTTE - asking for a separate country.

Chapter 9 states “The Republic of Sri Lanka shall give to Buddhism the foremost place and accordingly it shall be the duty of the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, while assuring to all religions the rights granted by Articles 10 and 14(1)(e).”

Giving Buddhism the foremost place is the primary responsibility of the Government. But this has to be done without acting in breach of Articles 10 & 14(1)(e) which say:

10. Every person is entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.

14.(e) . Every citizen is entitled to - the freedom, either by himself or in association with others, and either in public or in private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice or teaching;

If the Government therefore fails to assure our rights to manifest our beliefs, the Government is acting in breach of the Constitution. As was stated by George Willy in Houston, Tamil language has become a religion to majority Tamils. This happens when one believes and shares through a language. The real power is that belief. The language is the religion/path. Article 14 (e) says religion or belief. It does not say religious belief. Hence preventing Tamils from singing the National Anthem in Tamil would be in breach of article 14 (e).

Our Sri Lankan Constitution has protected the rights of minorities alright. The Government has the duty to not interfere with our manifestations of belief, except through Due Process of already existing laws. Building Buddhist monuments within Hindu parts of Kathirgamam was in breach of the above and I protested the moment I got to know about it. Every Sri Lankan who believes in the Constitution would protest against the National Anthem being sung in a foreign language. It needs to be sung in a language through which one manifests one's beliefs. Anything less is disrespectful of the Constitution. Anyone who promotes that disrespect is acting in breach of the Sovereignty of the People.”

The above group are largely professionals. Through the Government we need to learn and v.v. – until we naturally say ‘We are the People and we are the Government’.