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Retired flag rank officer
After seventeen years of UNP rule, a people's alliance was voted into power. This coalition under Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga consisted of remnants of the SLFP, the left of center parties like the LSSP and the Communist parties, a group of Tamil parties and the SLMC, Galappatthi of the JVP was disenchanted after a short period, and he left the ranks. Shrimani was in. Is she out now? Kumaranatunga commands only a wafer thin majority in Parliament without the minorities. 62% of the voters however supported her at the elections. The People's Alliance has been in power for the past four years. Their speakers since then, in particular the President refers to the period of the UNP misrule, the corruption, state terrorism and suppression of the masses. They blame every problem confronting the country on the actions of the UNP.Of course similar swings in political fortunes occurred in India, Great Britain and Germany. There were allegations of corruption in these countries. However Police Officers calling at residences of citizens in the middle of the night and calling them out to be brutally murdered was not heard of.
It cannot be said that there was no development in Sri Lanka during the seventeen years in question. Living standard improved, houses were built for the peasants, assistance was provided by way of food stamps and some kind of dole was organized.
Opulence
Meanwhile the politicos and the well to do were exhibiting their opulence in the best limousines that money could buy. They were also partaking of 'five star' fare at State expense or otherwise. There was apparent prosperity in the country at the expense of donor agencies. Money meant for the needy and development of the country was used to exhibit the opulence. After seventeen years however those who lived by the sword had died by the sword and the wave of change swept the UNP out of power almost into oblivion.Pretty and photogenic Chandrika was given a massive mandate to lead the country. For the past four years the traditional SLFP, the left of centre organizations and the minorities have kept the so called peoples alliance in power. Though this group commanded over 60% of the votes, they could not muster a 2/3 majority in parliament for any purpose.
Four years have elapsed. There are claims that a slight decrease in inflation has taken place and unemployment has dropped from 13% to 9%. What of the economy. It is easy to quote the boasts of Hon. G. L. Peiris, but those who have wares to sell and purchases to make speak of the anxious times that they live in. Wijesoma's cartoon in the Island of 24.10.98 gives the real picture of what we face. Charges of corruption have been levelled at the PA Government. In this context, parliamentary debates, and no confidence motions have been necessary on the Tawakkal issue, the Galle Port issue, the Air Lanka deal. The facts presented were very complicated and the public do not know who gave whom. They are however not naive to assume that there is smoke without fire.
The Government continues to refer to the period of terror. However 597 murders have been committed during the past twelve months. Rita Manoharan died last month just fifty yards from her home. She was snatched from the side of her husband, gang raped and murdered, Is the PA government ensuring the safety of the people.
We will not discuss the underworld, as here the most powerful seem to abide. We do not know who is in and who is out? About suppression of civil liberties it will be interesting to know how many fundamental right applications have been filed in the 17 years of misrule, and during the past 4 years.
It will also be worthwhile comparing the climate for business during the 4 years of PA administration and the 17 years before. All in all the 'Dooshana' (corruption), 'Beeshana' (terror), 'Mardanaya' (suppression) that PA speakers are eager to speak about are similar in the two periods 1977-1994, 1994-1998. There is hardly any difference between the two. Consequently the general public meaning the voters are now in a quandary, as to whom they could cast their votes for if anywhere an election is held. It will be appropriate to say that those who were fed up with UNP rule and voted the PA into power have been so disillusioned that there are murmurings of a third force which may come into being. The song 'Singore' is being sung with vigour. The broken promises alone have caused disenchantment in the minds of the suffering masses.
This long preamble is to serve as an eye opener to an all important matter that will face all Sri Lankans in the very near future.
The confabulation organised by the business community or the all party conference of the UNP or the bipartisan approach of other groups will not alleviate the probe. With the fall of Killinochi the Jayasikuru M S R will not be achieved this century. The Jaffna peninsula is exposed to the assaults and machinations of the LTTE. Already there is a certain degree of anarchy in Jaffna. The Law Courts do not function. The Provincial Council cannot be assembled without a Mayor. The elected councillors fight shy of holding office. Devananda and Siddhartan are of a different view perhaps they are better informed and have seen the situation for themselves! They sport eelamist labels however. We recall the real period of terror. A bit of paper was passed round and a whole town stopped work, sometimes in darkness. Failure to comply with instructions led to executions!
Dreams
There is no time to be lost, unless Jaffna is protected adequately and the administrative machinery is taken care of there will be anarchy in Jaffna. The Jaffna people also will not forget their dreams of EELAM and will give a hand to the LTTE who will come in larger numbers than at present. EELAM will be conceded and the Tamil aspirations of a separate homeland will be achieved.Meanwhile the UNP and the SLFP with the PA will sling mud at each other. They will refer to the 17 years of misrule and the 4 years of broken promises.
The Sinhala Commission Report will find a place in the DUSTBIN of HISTORY and the political package with or without amendments will find a prominent place among the publications of Prof. G. L. Peiris.
This is not the time for political bickering. This is hardly the time to acquire political mileage. It is not the time to dig up the past. The history that is being uncovered is as unsavoury to the PA adherents as to the UNP rivals. The statements made at the Kantha Udanaya in Moratuwa alienates not only the UNP but members of the armed services. The oppression of the Police Force cannot keep the force loyal to the government.
Criticism
The criticism of the government and the army over the fall of Killinochi is counter productive for the UNP and also the country as a whole. Who is the youth who will come for enlistment when he knows that he is cannon fodder? . Again, why the opposition to the extension of the emergency. The UNP must henceforth vote for the extension of the emergency.If a few boys have grown up and annexed a Tamil homeland from over a 100,000 men and women of a national armed force, then it is only the divided Sri Lanka nation, which is to blame. In after years when history comes to be written it will be said that a few Tamil boys organised their resources in such a way that the Generals, Admirals and Air Marshals in Sri Lanka could not prevent them from taking the north. The major Sinhala parties were pre-occupied in slinging mud at each other, and opposing whatever the other did and consequently leading the nation to disaster
It is this debacle that has to be prevented. Killinochi was the harbinger of a separate State for Prabhakaran! Let us then cut our losses, sink our differences and unite for the sake of the nation for at least the next two years. Let it not be said that country was not warned of the catastrophe and the consequent humiliation. Some comments made by the University teachers for human rights may be quoted at this stage. It is felt that this group is candid and independent. They are educated and do not wish to support the fascist regime that will come into being. They are looking forward to safeguard their status and honour which they have acquired through learning. They wish to spend the rest of their lives as equals in a society bereft of discrimination.
They state as follows ' There is hardly any room to doubt that the tone and character of Tamil political life today is determined by the LTTE. From 1986 it has been trying to ensure that all Tamils who are allowed to function in public life, whether as politicians, or as leaders of civil society could only do so as its cohorts. Terror was the primary measure of bringing this about and its ultimate goal was the creation of a totalitarian fascist policy.' Further 'to this end anyone who did not fall into line or was involved in any activity however innocuous that had the potential to develop into a healthier alternative for the people was likely to be eliminated'. It is our view that the UNP and the PA leave each other to persue their manifestos towards the next election. The government and the armed services must only work towards the unitary status of this country. Peace can be ushered in at the end of this exercise. The government cannot hold out a promise, that peace will come sooner than the termination of the LTTE and its own programme of devastation. It will be deceitful and unfair for the government to peddle peace.
It will not be out of place to mention in this essay the need to re- introduce the death penalty in the country which is steeped in lawlessness in present times. Apart from murders most foul being committed at the rate of almost one per day, we have the treasonable offences which are punishable with death. Those who collaborate with the enemy and those who supply the enemy with resources must be executed after speedy trials. Then and there only will supplies and information to the enemy will stop. Thus far those who helped the enemy have been eliminated by providence, but many are still enjoying the fruits of their labour.
