| by Sunanda Deshapriya
( December
1, 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Minister Wimal Weerawansa, nicknamed as
the ‘eldest son of the President’, during the 2010 presidential election
campaign, came up with a rather serious proposal some two months back: To have
a referendum to abolish the 13th Amendment
to the Constitution, the constitutional chapter that deals with devolution of
power. Sinhala extremist parties and groups immediately expressed their support
to the proposition, and some Colombo-based media still write editorials
emphasizing the need for the abolition of 13 A. The suggestion does not merely
convey the removal of 13th Amendment;
but also means the elimination of devolution of powers, as a concept, from Sri
Lankan politics.
For now the abolishing campaign has receded mainly
because of the political upheaval created by the impeachment against the chief
justice. After the removal of CJ using the parliamentary majority anti 13
A alliances will get back on the streets with force. The campaign
mobilization will be based on war triumphalism and narrow Sinhala nationalism.
Slowly but surely it will become a part of the anti power-sharing ideological
base of Rajapaksa regime.
It is difficult to think that a politician like Weerawansa,
who actually has little power base of his own, will come up with such a
political campaign without a strong approval from the Government higher ups.
Defense Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who initiated the current campaign to
abolish 13thAmendment, making a public statement for the third time,
said that not only he, but many, have agreed that the Amendment should be done
away with.
Weerawansa,
who soon after, took his protest even to the Chief Prelates of Malwatta and
Asgiriya, obtained their approval to withdraw the 13thAmendment. The
statement made by the Prelates was published as a lead story in the state
controlled Daily News. The same paper later gave full publicity
to a statement made by Deputy Minister, Faizar Mustafa, saying that 13th Amendment should be repealed.
None of
the newspapers controlled by Rajapaksa regime published a single editorial
saying that the Amendment will or should be in force. That’s not all. Minister
Samarasinghe who made a lengthy statement on behalf of the Government at the
United Nation’s UPR session on 1st November,
mentioned nothing at all about the 13 A or devolution of power.
All these
factors illustrate that Rajapakse Government does not really oppose the
campaign to remove the 13th A
to the Constitution. At least it has given up defending the 13 A. Like 18
A overruled the 17 A, which introduce important checks and balances to
the powerful executive presidential system proposed 19 A will make power
sharing 13 A obsolete.
That is
why we should challenge the anti devolution alliance to go ahead with the
proposed 'Weerawansa referendum', if they insist on abolishing the 13th A. By
providing people an opportunity to vote they can legitimise their demand. We
should salute minister Weerawansa for proposing a of referendum to abolish the
13 A.
There is
no doubt that such a referendum, if held, will make the political intentions of
Tamil and Muslim people unmistakably clear to the entire world. It will also
make clear the disparity between views of Tamil people on devolution of power
and those of Sinhala people.
Moreover,
it is already seen that a referendum to abolish the Amendment will shatter
irreparably the political coalition on which the Rajapaksa Government stands.
All most all minority political parties who support Rajapaksha regime for
various reasons (except welfare of their communities) will be forced to take a
stand against the Weerawans referendum.
Sri Lanka
Muslim Congress, a party to Government’s alliance, has publicly expressed that
it will stand firm against Weerawansa’s suggestion of referendum. And Minister
Douglas Devananda, a long standing ally of the Rajapaksa regime, will have his
reputation seriously injured, if he does not vote against the referendum, since
he continuously speaks to media, saying that he is strongly for the 13th A. Most probably the parties
representing the Up-country Tamil people will also have to campaign against
such a referendum.
By
addressing the primary feelings of Sinhalese, a referendum could possibly score
a majority among them. Humans, like all other beings, fear that what’s his/her
will be taken by another. This is the basic instinct that incites majority
against minorities. Already, there are groups supporting and promoting Wimal
Weerawansa’s idea: amongst are Hela
Urumaya led by Minister
Campika Ranawaka, Mahajana
Eksath Peramuna led by
Minister Dinesh Gunawardana, several high level Sinhalese Government Officials,
and Sinhala nationalist opinion leaders like Gunadasa Amarasekara, Nalinda
Silva and Elle Gunawansa Thero. They are openly backed by two powerful
Rajapaksa brothers, Gotabhaya and Basil. The JVP also will have to join the band
wagon, as they are dead against the 13A as well as the concept of power
sharing. If a strong Sinhala- Buddhist nationalist campaign supporting a
referendum will become a reality UNP will, at least, be pushed in to a silent
stand and its Sajith Premadasa faction may even support the abolishing
campaign.
The other
camp consists of political parties which are united with Tamil National
Alliance, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, Upcountry Tamil political parties and
progressive parties, organizations and individuals in the South. Countries like
India, United States, Canada, European Union, United Kingdom and some other
countries will also take a standpoint against the repeal of 13th A and power sharing as a concept.
In such a
referendum, the vast majority of Tamils and Muslims will cast their vote in
fovour of the 13 A, mainly as a protest against majoritarian rule, among other
reasons. That will be a mandate for power sharing/self rule by Tamils in Sri
Lanka.
Political
implication of such a process will be that ethnic divisions of Sri Lanka is
clearly established; the views of Sinhalese and those of Tamils are poles
apart; and that Tamils demand political autonomy and Sinhalese majority oppose
it. The numerical result of 'Weerawansa referendum' if it ever happens will
pronounce that the 13 A should be abolished; and there’s only one reason why:
Sinhalese compose the majority.
Removal
of 13th A, which
encompasses devolution of power and Provincial Council system by a majority
community vote, will indicate that the Tamil and Muslim population of the
country will have to comply with the wishes of Sinhala Majority. Unfortunately,
if that is the political reality in Sri Lanka today one has to face it.
Further,
the referendum of Weerawansa and Company will be taken by the Tamil people as
an opportunity to write their destiny. One of the main demands of Sri Lankan
Tamil Diaspora is to have a referendum in the North and East of Sri Lanka
under the supervision of the UN, on the question whether the people in North
and East desire a separate State or not. So they might happily welcome this
referendum and interpret its result as a manifestation of the need to have a
separate state by the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. And clearly, 'Weerawansa
referendum' will become an opportunity for Tamil people to say the whole world
what they want.
 Minister Wimal Weerawansa, nicknamed as the ‘ eldest son ...){kind=link}