Both Mahinda and Sarath playing the lyre like Nero
By Uvindu Kurukulasuriya
| “Nero’s excesses were overtaken by disaster. Whether it was accidental or caused by the emperor’s criminal act is uncertain – both versions have their supporters. Now started the most terrible and destructive fire which Rome had ever experienced …The flames could not be prevented from overwhelming the whole of Palatine including (Nero’s) palace. Nevertheless, for the relief of the homeless, fugitive masses he threw open the Field of Mars… also constructed emergency accommodation…and the price of corn was cut. Yet these measures for all their popular character, earned no gratitude. For a rumour had spread that, while the city was burning, Nero had gone on his private stage and, comparing modern calamity with ancient, had sung of the destruction of Troy” ( Histories. Re quote from Arrogance of Power) |
Today, we need not listen to rumours as we can see Rajapaksha for ourselves who has got on to his private stage at “Temple Trees” and is comparing the new calamities with the old. The only difference is that Nero lacked a tele-prompter which Rajapaksha has. It is too early to prophecy when, where or how this disaster will end.
The number of people who believe that this disaster will end when Fonseka becomes President is ever increasing. With Fonseka becoming the President a sensitive person will get only a hollow satisfaction. This is because the causes of the disaster had been side-stepped and the Presidential elections have become an election campaign.
The late Dr. Newton Gunasinghe, who wrote an article on “New Trends in Party Politics” in the mid-eighties, came up with an important observation. He said that the future orientation of party politics would not be by class but would occur on whether or not there would be a solution to the ethnic problem. In other words, the ethnic problem would be over-determined by the class struggle. Although his observation held throughout the last twenty years, in the context of the post-Tamil armed struggle, whether resolving or not of the ethnic issue has been abandoned. This is the main sad fact in this Presidential campaign. Neither of the two main contestants seems to speak on this issue. Instead the polarization is on “Vote for the Motherland” with the usual dual slogan of opposition politics “Executive Presidency, Corruption, Terror and Nepotism.”
What is the message of these to the Tamils, especially to the Tamil youth and the Tamil diaspora? In retrospect, it is difficult not to conclude that the isolation brought about by the Tamil armed politics and the feeling of being completely victimized were unhealthy and, at the end, tragic for the Tamils.
Nevertheless, it enabled to bring about the fact that Tamils have to share political power with the central government. By evading the discussion on the sharing of power with the Tamils, what both political currents represented by Rajapaksha and Fonseka are telling the entire Tamil population means “Until you re-arm yourself and fight we will not consider your problems as the main issues”?
At the end of the 30-year civil war, in the hustings for the position of the Head of the State, at least, how reconciliation can be forged between the Sinhala and Tamil ethnicities and others is not included in the manifestoes of this presidential election campaign. Instead, what prevail are charges, countercharges and refuting allegations on the war crimes between the two Sinhala heroes and spurious figures of speech on the betrayal or otherwise of the Motherland. Once the Sinhalese actively take responsibility for what was done in their name, they can expect the same from the Tamils.
Subsequently, an honest discussion and a genuine rapport can be expected. The prevailing situation is that there is no one to account for what they said and did. Those who abused power and those who wallowed in satisfaction in genocide do not take responsibility for their actions. This an exercise by design to cover up where each race expects the other to forget what it has done. This is happening in a situation where responsibility for questioning the armed forces in the North and East as to their actions has been shirked. This is unfair to both civilians and the armed forces.
It is in this context that the necessity and importance arise to appoint a Truth Commission (or truth and reconciliation commission) for reconciliation. This is the second most important issue missing in the manifestoes of the Presidential elections. A truth commission or truth and reconciliation commission is a commission tasked with discovering and revealing past wrongdoing by a government (or, depending on the circumstances, non-state actors also), in the hope of resolving conflicts left over from the past. They are, under various names, occasionally set up by states emerging from periods of internal unrest, civil war, or dictatorship. South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, established by President Nelson Mandela after apartheid, is popularly considered a model of a Truth Commission.
Truth commissions are sometimes criticized for allowing crimes to go unpunished and creating impunity for serious human rights abusers. Their roles and abilities in this respect depend on their mandates, which vary widely.
A difficult issue that has arisen over the role of truth commissions in transitional societies has centered on what should be the relationship between truth commissions and criminal prosecutions. Although egregious criticisms were leveled against these commissions for not punishing those who violated human rights such a commission helps reconcile differences (to find Truth and Reconciliation and further details visit www.truthcommission). On the other hand, the dedication shown during the elections to establish a truth commission would help both Rajapaksha and Fonseka to get some reprieve to some extent from the international accusation levelled at them for war crimes. A genuine effort to establish such a commission will help not only to find facts but to heal the festering wounds of the people.
Writer’s email address: uvinduk@gmail.com
12 Comments
Truth commissions are good but only as a result of change and soul searching. Both Sinhalese and Tamils as well as all communities need to change their mindset, setting aside differences both ethnic and political to forge a united Sri Lanka.
Soon after the end of the war the current president declared that there would be no minorities, but in the very next statement he divided the country into Patriotic and non-Patriotic. Therein lies the problem. No one can divide and rule and expect to solve the problems of this country. Every citizen has to be given his rightful place and no one even belonging to a particular family can be more equal than any other.
Change we must if we are to move forward. It is here that General SF offers hope for a new and united Sri Lanka.
There are only hidden missions in this article.
Uvindu, a considerably intelligent young commentator like you should know that Truth Commissions are a transitional justice mechanism in the context of a (peaceful) negotiated settlement and transition. They do not occur when a war is won outright by one side.
Hi! Uvindu,
Congratualtionson writing about current issues which are relavant rather than opining on the past or the future like some other political scientist luminaries.
For the sake of argument, let me discuss how different is the JVP and the Tamil Youth struggle in essense with respect to Class division.
IMO they are the same.
The Bulk of the LTTE are politically misguided rural or ( lower class thus, class repressed) youth.As I have read in most of the places bulk of the JVP youths were rural class opressed youth who lost faith in the mainstream society and the system of governance.
The employment opportunities were not fair for both these rural folks thus the reovlutionary ideals worked for the Sinhalese youth while, racist Ideals worked for the Tamil youth.Later the Tamil youth movements were conspicuously relegated the contract of delivering EELAM by folks like Amirthalingam( the ELITE Tamil leaders)safely avoiding the class/crede struggle/clash nicely desguised in a Racial Hatred filled struggle.The rest is history.Now for instance the JVP was mercilessly crushed due to its anti CAPITALIST Ideals again nicely covered in a glaze of "initiating the racial violence in 1983" by JR.Infact it was a master stroke play by him to sideline the democratic renaissonce of JVP into mainstream politics.It was branded as a terrorist organization again( though the leader Rohana Wijeweera was a Presidential Candidate in 1982 election!!!!).
It was a well known fact that Goons of Cyril Mathew and Cyrinal de Mel of JSS started the burning of shops in Borella and attacking Tamil shops etc and general public( lower strungs of the society ) went on the rampage with relishing on the Booty!!!.Innocent JVPers paid the price.
In a way Prabhakaran's LTTE saw the same fate though it went on a much higher level of a riding with International backing of the power players at large is a known fact today with evidence.
Now both these struggles are over and LTTE is NON entity, while JVP has re-incarnated as a Political party.
For the issue of Tamils the solution is the same as the issues of Singhales.Develop the Country and create more opportunities for the underpriviledged.So the themes of the Current campaign is rightly so, eradicating Corruption, Nepotism and family Bnadiism prevalent in this country's political history of the past 60 yrs.
Eventhough I am not a stooge of any political party , let me tell you the undisputable fact of the Candidacy and the support base and the whole initiative of the Genaral Fonseka.Its the unpoluted with power politics so far
Fresh Candidate mainly propped up and campaigned by unpoluted party with power politics JVP.
Though the UNP and Some Sri Lanka suporters will vote for the General , I believe all the tamils should unequivocally VOTE for General Fonseka as he will make the difference as he promises.After all unless he conteseted what choice do we have?
What this country need right now is a Nation building exercise, rather than crying for minority issues( non existant).
Once we make this 'Sri Lankan Nation' of multi ethnic, multi cultural stew with transparencey, Law and order,better living standards to ALL, education, health and employment assured with social progress based on meritocracy under a democratic rule with NO executive who is not answerable to the Judiciary we shall have the problems of all communities solved.
I believe we have that historic opportunity beckoning us on January 26th.
Are we ready???
aj
The ruling mob had enough time to show the country that they are genuine. They are all beholden to the thugs who financed their previous campaigns. Therefore, whilst giving credit to MR for ending the war, we can have no hope from him to end the country's problems. SF is a new broom with no political baggage and should sweep better.
Uvindu, why are you sucking up to the Westerners who helped to destroy our country for so long by allowing the LTTE supporters to morally and financially sustain and nourish the VP and his terror outfit?
These Western powers and the LTTE supporters were hell bent on dragging the Srilanka to international courts over alleged war crimes, Having realized the futility of this path, now they have cloaked it in to a truth commission and you seem to be doing their bidding.
Nero's Romans turned against him because he ruined their country. Rajapaksa saved the country and the Sinhalese from a brutal Terror out fit ,which held both as ransom for thirty years.
So much for your analogy Mr Duvindu Kurukulasooriya.
It was with great delight that I read this article which outlines the necessity of a truth and reconciliation commission for post-conflict Sri Lanka. This is indeed as extremely timely and worthwhile point, and I hope this article will reach the Sinhalese masses, especially the educated youth. I As you rightly describe, it is indeed a pity that both MR and SF are engaged in a dirty battle over gaining credit for the war victory, and over the completely hideous 'betrayal of a motherland' discourse.
Dimithu T
Dr Dayan,
Just because you might also be proved as a war criminal or supported war criminals by a truth commision does not mean it is a bad thing. There is no hard and fast rule.
Hi Uvindu,
Good article. It is indeed a tragedy that both sides are more interested in trading accusations and playing to the gallery, rather than working on genuinely restoring real democracy in Sri Lanka.
Hello Prof.Dayan,
I am with you.A truth commission would not be helpful.But how about resorting to Nuremberg Principles to clean up this mess?No one shall accuse you of being a racialist or a fascist,how-ever you would agree with me that most of your buddies would be in deep shit.
By the way have you forgotten your groundviews interview?When are you going to get back to teaching?The chair will be be vacant in about four weeks.
Happy and Prosperous New Year,
Siva.
"Uvindu, a considerably intelligent young commentator like you should know that Truth Commissions are a transitional justice mechanism in the context of a (peaceful) negotiated settlement and transition. They do not occur when a war is won outright by one side.
Posted by: Dayan Jayatilleka | December 27, 2009 11:06 PM"
Dear jayathilaka
The above comment of yours confirms your a racist with sinhala supramacist mindset. Earlier some one comented you were a sinner but not racist but I do not agree. If you think you have won why are yoe preaching to us? So Stop preaching to Tamils.