Our choices in the political battle on Jan 26th will tell us who and what we are or have become
By Dayan Jayatilleka
“And then I knew what to do.
I made a model of you,
A man in black with a Meinkampf look
And a love of the rack and the screw.
And I said I do, I do.” - “Daddy” by Sylvia Plath
If you can’t take my word for it, take that of Eric Hobsbawm, regarded not only as Britain’s greatest living historian but as ‘one of the outstanding historians of our age’ (Independent on Sunday). The Guardian says “Hobsbawm is one of the leading authors of the concepts and language in which all of us now discuss our situation”.
It is indeed his language and concepts that help us understand why Mahinda Rajapakse is certainly my choice for president this time, given the choices available. Rajapakse’s achievement exceeds by far, his failings and failures -- and I say this as a victim of one of those failures, a Pontius Pilatesque assent to a (resumed) attempt to dismiss me notwithstanding an important international mission in the country’s defense, successfully fulfilled. Rajapakse’s success was historic, and not merely from the point of view of this island’s history, but more notably, in achieving a victory that is rare in contemporary (or post modern) world history.
In his most recent book ‘Globalisation, Democracy and Terrorism’ (2007), Hobsbawm includes an inaugural address delivered at the University of Thessaloniki, Greece in 2004, in which he notes that: “Today the full armed power of governments has proved incapable of maintaining unchallenged control of their territory for decades – in Sri Lanka, in India’s Kashmir, in Colombia, in the Gaza strip and the West Bank, or, for that matter, in parts of Belfast. There is indeed, a general crisis of state power and state legitimacy, even on the home territories of old and stable European states such as Spain and the United Kingdom”. (p 81).
Earlier, in Chapter 1, in a paper delivered on the centenary of the Nobel Peace Prize, Hobsbawm writes “Armed conflicts within states have become more serious and can continue for decades without any serious prospect of victory or settlement – Kashmir, Angola, Sri Lanka, Chechnya, Colombia.” (p25). And again in Chapter 7, “society has descended into permanent civil war (as in Sri Lanka).” (p117-8). In Chapter 8 Hobsbawm says the LTTE “have been conducting an effective civil war since the 1980s. They are best known as one of the great pioneers and probably the largest operators of suicide bombing…” (p122).
That then is the measure of Mahinda Rajapakse’s achievement: not only having overcome a formidable foe and ended a situation which had persisted ‘for decades with no serious prospect of victory or settlement’ according one of the world’s foremost minds; not only having shouldered and completed a task left undone by four notable predecessors; but having succeed in a task that many have not elsewhere in the world including in states far more powerful than Sri Lanka—the task of restoring state sovereignty and the monopoly of violence over its whole territory, thus resolving “the general crisis of state power”, that historian Hobsbawm identifies as one of the most daunting challenges of our time.
The authentic, detailed televised testimony given in public lectures and interviews by the frontline combat commanders Shavendra de Silva, Kamal Gunaratne, Prasanna Silva and Chagi Gallage, supported by intelligence chief Kapila Hendawitharane - arguably the finest group of officers of that rank serving in any military anywhere in the world today—means that the verdict is in about the decisive role of the national political leadership in winning the war.
For this achievement and the possession and use of those political strengths needed for it, should Mahinda Rajapakse be deprived of a second term; thrown out? While his lapses in the arena of domestic governance are legion, which error, malfeasance or collection of them outweighs his positive historic achievement?
Whose “Deveni Meheyuma”?
‘Deveni Meheyuma’ or ‘Second Operation/Second Offensive’ is the challenger General Fonseka’s campaign slogan. The problem is that there seem to be several such ‘second wave’ or ‘second strike’ operations. One of them is that of the overseas Tigers. The other is that of those external circles which wanted the war to stop (or to stop the war) before we finished off the Tigers.
This election has an external dimension and strategic aspect which is now surfacing in newspaper reports. The innocuous title of Asia Correspondent Andrew Buncombe’s January 7th piece in The Independent (UK), “TAMILS THROW WEIGHT BEHIND GENERAL WHO CRUSHED THEM”, had as revealing a “strap” as Liz Hurley’s, which read “TIGERS’ POLITICAL WING TRYING TO OUST INCUMBENT PRESIDENT AT JANUARY POLL”, while the identical piece running in the New Zealand Herald went all the way: “TAMIL TIGERS THROW WEIGHT BEHIND GENERAL WHO CRUSHED THEM”.
Now comes an AFP report “SRI LANKA VOTE RAISES HOPES IN WASHINGTON”, dated Sun Jan 17, by Shaun Tandon Shaun Tandon filing from Washington DC, which discloses significantly that:
‘…The US official was upbeat about pledges made by Fonseka including greater media freedom and independent commissions to oversee the judiciary and other key institutions.
"I'm hesitant to make predictions about the future, because candidates promise all sorts of things and then they don't deliver, but certainly General Fonseka has been making some good pronunciations," he said…
…"The Tamil Diaspora wants Mahinda to be defeated," said David Poopalapillai, national spokesman for the Canadian Tamil Congress. "The climate would change and the rays of hope would come. It would bring some change in the country in the political climate," he said.’
So the line-up is clear: our enemies the Tamil Tigers want a certain outcome and in this their views seem to converge with some elements in the West who wanted us to stop the war. The choice before the Sri Lankan voter is also clear: do we line up with the overseas based Tamil Tigers and pro-Tiger tendency of the Tamil Diaspora, as well as those elements in the West who wanted us to stop the war before Prabhakaran and his army were defeated and destroyed? Or do we line up with and defend that leader whom the Tamil Tigers want to see ousted? Do we side with the remnants of the unreconstructed, Sri Lanka hating secessionists and those who sought to deflect our victory over them, or do we side with the man who defeated the Tigers and stood up to those powers which tried to forestall that triumph of our people and nation? Do we line up with those who sought to exercise “the imperialism of human rights” (again, Hobsbawm, p7) over Sri Lanka as they did in Kosovo or with those who stood in their way?
I’d be ashamed if I were to do the former rather than the latter.
I believe that the negative phenomena of nepotism and corruption are secondary to the need to reward the incumbent for his unparalleled dedication to the war effort, decisive success in the war, refusal to blink in the face of Western pressure and safeguarding of the country’s independence and sovereignty. I also believe that corruption and nepotism are not reason enough to award the Tamil Tigers and their proxies a political victory and posthumous validation. I finally believe that these ills and secondary dangers in comparison to that of harshly authoritarian and coercive, possibly ruthlessly tyrannical rule.
The great modern political philosopher Hannah Arendt, herself the sister-in-law of that subtle Marxist thinker Walter Benjamin, once said somewhere that we unconsciously cross invisible lines in the sands of History which we become aware of only when we look back and find that they have grown into walls behind us. The election that beckons conceals just such an invisible or barely discernible line. If we cross it we not only venture into the unknown, as dangerous as a desert or a minefield; we move into a terrain from which there may be no going back for decades, because the lines we have crossed have grown into walls behind us. Now that we have overcome the worst of threats, that of separatist terrorism, why should we take a risk of such magnitude?
Our choices in this political battle will tell us who and what we are or have become; what we hold most dear and what we downgrade; how far we have come from what we were or what we have always been under the skin. The choices of January 26th are, in that sense, nothing less than existential.
35 Comments
Hello Prof.Dayan,
Your xenophobic rant is absolute,unadulterated bullcrash.
Cheers,
Siva.
/** I believe that the negative phenomena of nepotism and corruption are SECONDARY to the need to reward the incumbent…DJ**/
Wow. Is this the best logic Dr. DJ can bring to defend MR? I’m a little bit disappointed Doc. Based on your desperate statement, now I believe that this election is really going to be a close one.
I do not wish to add anything more than the Quotation below by an equally eminent Historian about Eric Hobebawm and the writer of this article :-
‘’ This review is from: Globalisation, Democracy and Terrorism (Hardcover) ‘’
‘’ How do you approach a Marxist historian - that is, someone who allows his judgment to be delimited by a 100 year-old political theory, terminally discredited by the hundreds of millions of those it killed and enslaved when translated into political action? I'd suggest the same way that you might judge someone who described him or herself as a 'Fascist historian'.
This book - actually a lazily assembled set of lectures, papers and prefaces - shows you why. Hobsbawm reveals himself to be strong in assertion but weak in analysis, offering no alternative to democracy despite wrinkling his nose over it (an early snipe about "the miraculous qualities assigned to governments elected by arithmetical majorities" sets the tone); childishly anti-American (his language, "megalomania" "crazies", etc, descending into Spartism whenever he talks about the USA, but going all soft and neutral when discoursing on leftist terror groups); completely ignoring the huge role in world conflict played by the heirs of Marx in China and the USSR, and the enormous suffering their cruel and failed policies caused; and plain ignorant on matters such as the provenance of weaponry and its uses by modern terror groups. (He clearly hasn't read Conrad's 'Secret Agent', for example, or acquainted himself properly with the tactics long used by such groups.)
But perhaps the major disappointment is the utter lack of fresh ideas, of insight and understanding, beyond the sort of journeyman, fill-space stuff you can read again and again in newspapers such as 'The Guardian' and 'The Independent', or hear and see on the BBC or Channel 4.’’
Generalization, Marxism and Rhetoric, 27 Oct 2007
By R. White (London, United Kingdom) -
This is a gross misinterpretation of the ground situation in Srilanka. It looks like Dayan is trying to carry forward the good old conspiracy theory again;the same slogan reiterated by his own government all through out the pre-election season.
All most all Srialnkans wanted VP dead and LTTE wiped out,but when it happened ultimately the damage was done.Probably there is nothing to celebrate as we did due to our short sightedness.
All most all LTTE elements left behind want MR dead or out stead, but the damage is done as well.
When we consider the ground situation, there is no possibility of waging an another war against Sinhalese, even if most Diaspora Tamils dream.
At the end of three years of all out war,the low level we Srilankan have fallen is no better than any where similar in the world.
If we want to get out of this precipice,we need to have free thinkers from the side of the government but the present government does not show a clue towards that. Being in the parliament for 15 years continuously has not made any of those better in anyway other than economically.
If MR can not stop corruption now,he will not be doing it in his next term either.
TNA would have joined the MR team with out any trouble if they wanted to,as Karuna did few years ago. If that had happened ,would we patriots call MR a traitor?
All these are political gimmick than any thing else.
The hour is at hand and all losers are moaning and whinning...probably MR angling for you to come back or maybe you are angling now to go back to the cabal. Either way it is hopeless for the loser...This is you (below)
"I can write as much I want
It won't matter in the end
The statement is clear
I am a loser
And Losers never win"
("Losers Never Win"
by AR-15)
......"nothing less than existential." Yes, Namal
and Emil Kanthan (conspiracy)tie up proves the low-down
of all your arguments, for voting back MR just because
he won a civil war?
Dear Dr Dayan,
Thanks for your brilliant writing. Great reading though poor on the analytics.
Reward ? "the need to reward the incumbent for his unparalleled dedication to the war effort, decisive success in the war". The "unparaleeled dedication....." was most probabaly created by the desire to accumulate; to accumulate tons and tons of wealth under the guise of nationalism! The war to accumulate was won too!
Next, let's have a look at "decisive success in the war". How did that come about?
1. Someone's desire to live in the fairy tale explaining Rajiv Gandhi's assasination
2. The truth behind the plastic faced carcass that was displayed on National TV in May 2009?
Dr Dayan, if we can crack the truth behind these two events, we will be redeemed; we will be re-born; we will be a new nation!
If you think we have "the need to reward the incumbent for his unparalleled dedication to the war effort, decisive success in the war" buy the man an uninhabited island in the Indian Ocean together with a $1m per annum pension. I am sure he will take it.
Dayan,
First of all keep you articles short and crisp so thst it sparks interest. "The bigger the better" is the thinking of pseudo-intellectuals.
Do not prescribe others to who to vote just because you happen to be a crony of Mahinda and want to extract a favour.
After world war 2, the British did not choose Churchil to lead them in the peace time out of gratitude.
They thought he does not simply fit to lead them in the aftermath.
That is what Tamils think. It would have been ideal if anyone who was not involved in war directly to leade and reconcile the nations in the peace time. However they were given a hard choice.
Mahinda's communal politics even after finishing the war make each every minority community very apprehensive about his motives. Even though his minority party stooges will learn hard lession this time if election is held relatively free and fair.
Mahinda and you know this very well. That's why Mahinda is planning to rig the poll in those areas by inciting fear. You are flouting theories like 'game changer' etc.
I am keenly awaiting for this end on 26th of January.
Let's see my expectation is fulfilled.
"I believe that the negative phenomena of nepotism and corruption are secondary to the need to reward the incumbent for his unparalleled dedication to the war." We know that you have been an aspirant of the Rajapakse Kingdom in Sri Lanka. Keep on with the good work, who knows, some day you could be elevated as one of those "Raales"!
As we all know the war was won due to a combined effort by the Military, Political leadership and People. Hence obtaining statements from serving officers does not alter that position and confer the reward on the incumbent executive. First and foremost it is those who sacrificed life and limb who should be given credit.
Also the attempt to equate the democratic opposition to supporters of LTTE is rather surprising coming from a man of letters. The writer conjurs an international conspiracy by the opposition and LTTE against the current incumbent. We all know that the issues facing ordinary people are not only the war. Burning issues of corruption, wastage of public funds need to be addressed and cannot be relegated to a secondary status.
.
DJ says: Our choices in the political battle on Jan 26th will tell us who and what we are or have become??
Didn't we already made the choice and proved to the world who we are! I mean in 2006, by going for war against Tamils, by bombing schools, hospitals, refugee camps and finally surrendees..
So many millions of diaspora Srilankans and world leaders and human rights activists asked us to stop the killings... But we made our choice.
What a barbaric choice.
:-)
So Dayan, you want elections and democracy to be about “gratitude’.
We have no problems about your supporting Mahinda Rajapakse and canvassing among Sri Lankans to do so.
But we have to redefine “democracy” as well as “elections’
We can see a parallel to the way the LTTE was crushed in May 2009 and the strategy to be adopted in overwhelming defeat to be served on the opposition in January 2010 elections.
You have to fight the elections as you fought LTTE?
Human rights, constitutions, elections laws, rules of law are all international conspiracies and you have eminent academics to handle these conspirators at international forums and defeat them as you did convincingly at Geneva, eight months back.
Dr. DJ,
After Geneva heroics, what happened to you? You did speak of the 13th and beyond; lo and behold the CG Theory was applied on you and you are back to square 1! Sin no?
So, Dr. DJ (I hope people here will not call you a Disc Jockey) what more can you tell us of MR and the Clan. Just read a few lines from the mind of a mere mortal.
1) MR gets the greatest victory on May 18th 2009
2) APRC is in full swing and the Indian Govt. calls for a just solution. They are also stating 13+
3) MR goes around the country celebrating - wearing crowns
4) The citiziens were looking for a peace dividend - reduction of the COL burden down South and better COL up North or livable consitions in IDP camps
5) Presidential Election announced and treats it as a Cake Walk
6) Ranil puts the General forward and catches MR napping
7) General creates the peace dividend and seemingly gets votes
8) Wrinkles form around MR's eyes and the face gets puffed up
9) MR has no answers to rampant corruption
10) MR says Tamils have no problems now as he could speak Tamil
Would you like an Umbrella or a Condom for next six years?
Hey Dayan, this is most illuminating. So you think the likes of Shavendra, Prasanna and Kapila are providing this 'verdict' about who deserves credit of their own accord? Like no way in hell they could be motivated to by the powers that be to make highly political statements, an unprecedented phenomenon at Sri Lankan elections?
Dude, stop couching it in the academic rhetoric and step out of the closet - you are and always have been, save for a momentary lovers' spat - a Rajapaksa stooge. It's okay to admit it. We won't think less of you. Or maybe we will. But at least have the balls to lay it out there.
"I believe that the negative phenomena of nepotism and corruption are secondary to the need to reward the incumbent for his unparalleled dedication to the war."
So by DJ's warped logic, Sri Lankans should go to the polls tomorrow with hearts full of gratefulness.
"Your highness thanks for winning the war; now here's six more years to f*** us up, with love from us. Carry on with the corruption, nepotism and the politics of hate that will set us back a few decades. No thanks necessary, you deserve this. All hail the Rajapaksa dynasty."
This is a democracy, MORON. Mahinda Rajapaksa is a peoples' representative not a feudal landlord deserving of our unending gratitude. What a load of hogwash.
DJ and that pseudo liberal Rajiva Wijesinghe are good examples as to why we should say "never again” to MR. These two people personify the way in which MR conducted his government in all spheres. These two showcased the Rottweiler diplomacy perfected by the regime in the conduct of international relations. It is due to the unprofessional and utterly dumb postures that the likes of DJ and RW took that Sri Lanka has been degraded as a pariah state in the world. Cheered on by a bunch of Madamullana morons these individuals who garb the intellectual cloak happily bashed the west and the UN and encouraged the President even to invite the military dictator of Myanmar who was responsible for the killing of Buddhist monks in that country on a state visit to Sri Lanka. Rajeewa’s stupid remarks to high ranking UN officials have made us into a joke.
DJ’s misguided attempts to lambaste Israel at the same time the Sri Lankan forces were intensifying their actions against the LTTE showed the man’s pathetic grasp of international relations and national interest. Even if he did understand the consequences of such a stupid action his boss, the President, must have loved the antics of defending the Palestinians even more than any Arab nation due to the limitations in his cerebral capacities which would impede him to fathom the dangers of such a pat
These two were constantly patted on the back for their actions and encouraged to bat along merrily.
Dayan at least now bugger off with some dignity rather than trying to pump oxygen to a dying tyrant for your personal benefit. You are no intellectual, diplomat or patriot. All that you are is a shameless stooge willing to lick anyone's posterior for a free stay at the Cinnamon Grand or a nice title.
The west is our enemy.. that is news to me. I think this is the legacy of Dayan Jayathilake and the Rajapaksa Foreign Policy.
“I believe that the negative phenomena of nepotism and corruption are secondary to the need to reward the incumbent”??????? We have seen ass lickers but this guy is freaking unbelievable!!!
I’m no intellectual of the calibre of Dr. Dayan Jayathilake.. that is why I wanted to clarify.. Did you just say that nepotism and corruption are rewards that we give to the incumbent?
Dayan J has finally shown his true colours.. wow I didnt realise he is capable of stooping to this level. I think the regime and all those depending on its survival are desperate.
Taking a line from Rajpal Abeynayake.. "You are a blue moron"
Ane Dayan Sir, than wath maharajata puka dena eka nawathanna.
Has it come to this? Have the self proclaimed intellectuals run out of arguments that they have to defend corruption and nepotism as a reward given by the people of a country to its leaders. Do tell us learned Sir what did Britain give Winston Churchill in gratitude? 10% cut out of all post war development projects ?
What kind of BS arguments are these sad characters presenting? Shows not only the calibre of the intellectuals in the MR camp but the dumbing down of our own intellect because these people think they can hide behind their pseudo intellectual persona and convince us, the common people, of this crap.. what next.. maybe Dayan Jayathilake will suggest that it is the patriotic duty of Sri Lankans to request MR to be corrupt and practice blatant nepotism. The latter includes the likes of Dayan Jayathilake too.. It is not only relatives that stand to benefit from this administration, the political lackeys and stooges are also in line for some crumbs.
So this is in a way a desperate plea by Dayan Jayathilake on his own behalf. He I think knows that except for a few Hambantota fools the rest of the country is aware who the real patriots traitors in this election.
Shame shame shame
Wasn’t his joker a Marxist in some life? Must be like the liberalism of Rajeewa Wijesinghe.. How they just sell themselves for a few benefits.
Dear All,
The world media all confirm that this is a hotly contested i.e. pretty free and fair election. So, just 48-72 hours more for us all to look in the mirror, and see:
(i) whose analysis was right, whose was wrong, and by what margin
(ii) who is more in tune with the sri lankan people and who are not
In my earlier comment I stated " I do not wish to add anything more than the Quotation below by an equally eminent Historian about Eric Hobebawm and the writer of this article". In doing someone may interprit that review included DJ as well. That will be a gross injustice to Prof. Eric Hobebawm an his standing.My apology to Prof. Hobebawm. DJ has been well found out - less said the better.
In my earlier comment I stated "I do not wish to add anything more than the Quotation below by an equally eminent Historian about Eric Hobsbawm and the writer of this article". In doing so, someone may interpret that review included DJ as well. That will be a gross injustice to Prof. Eric Hobsbawm and his standing. My apology to Prof. Hobsbawm. DJ has been well found out - less said the better.
Dear Dr N Satchi,
Pitting R White against Eric Hobsbawm is like pitting Henry Cooper against Muhamed Ali ( at the time, Cassius Clay). Your endorsement only confirms that you, like most Tamil expatriates, take a rightwing pro-imperialist line which not only alienates you from the Sri Lankan masses but also from the Third World which comprises the majority of the world's states including democracies like India and Brazil....which is why you guys keep crashing at voting time in UN bodies!
Hello Prof.Dayan.
1.Your reply to Prof.N.Satchi,as usual, is full of Ms.Information.
2.Henry Cooper and Mohamed Ali fought more then once and in one of the bouts, Henry Cooper did win,eventhough the corupt judges gave the fight to Mohamed Ali.Please stick to the stuff you are familiar with.
3.India and Brazil are Third World countries?Really?What have you been smoking?BRIC are second world countries and in a few years they will move to First World status.
4.Good day Mr.Xenophobe.
Siva.
Man Dayan for a self proclaimed intellectual you sound bloody lame.. your comment if I may quote..”The world media all confirm that this is a hotly contested i.e. pretty free and fair election. So, just 48-72 hours more for us all to look in the mirror, and see: whose analysis was right, whose was wrong, and by what margin”.. dude get serious.. hari hari api balagammu.. kinda crap is good for your Madamulana masters.. from the likes of you who claim to be of a smarter stock we expect more.. and any jackass can toss a coin and say MR will win or SF will win.. what most of the readers found lacking in your argument for backing MR, WAS the analysis.. Especially in your attempt to justify the corruption and nepotism… that was no analysis man that was a rather pathetic and desperate attempt to whitewash this bunch of crooks.
Oh yeah and your perfect analytical skills (without any bias of course) is quite visible when you say..” The world media all confirm that this is a hotly contested i.e. pretty free and fair election.”.. you are something else dude.. Man you gotta be having your head soooo deep in Mahinda’s ass not to be able to see what’s going on in the country.. Free and fair?? This election.. SERIOUSLY??
So I suggest rather than sounding childish with lame rubbish like “whose analysis was right, whose was wrong”.. at least come out with full disclosure.. I’m Dayan Jayathilake I have benefitted in such and such a way by boot liking this regime and actually going against my previous professed opinions on socialism and Marxism.. and then these are the reasons that I want MR to win again.. then this so called analysis will get better perspective..
Either way MR and his clan of goons and stooges have lost credibility. They may retain power by all means possible.. but even so their days are numbered.. One thing I’m certain..when the real revolution comes to Sri Lnaka..Dayan Jayathilake will definitely be on the wrong side of history.. well at least you will have your Che T shirts!!!
Dear Dr. Dayan Jayathilake,
Thank you for your response. As a family we are all great fans of Muhamed Ali. He was an Icon of our times when we were still students – a great boxer, a rebel a radical and above all a great communicator and entertainer par excellence. But as a boxer he was a close call to Henry Cooper. You may know the fight I am referring to? I was only comparing two Historians.
Let me tell you I was born in a village in Sri Lanka – I was a supporter of the Communist movement in Sri Lanka, and till late a member of the labour party. I can assure you that I can count many Sri Lankan friends among all communities, and don’t be sure if I take you own I still may become popular with the Sri Lankans. Don’t be too cocky.
Can you see how wrong you are and how you jump to conclusions! You do not seem to have the discipline necessary for in depth analysis and interpretation. For goodness sake come down to earth and take a lead from the great intellectuals like H.L. De Silva, Godage, Uyangoda, and Bradman Weerakoon else you know the comment made of you before you were forced to leave Geneva “ He is dancing to his own tune “ (you know by whom) Good Luck its is up to you if you wish to be known as DJ
Dr.N. Satchi
Please don’t do this Dr.J. In a political milieu full of political maggots we look to intellectuals like you to be the voice of reason. When the likes of you start spewing forth maggot-babble it leaves us with a deep sense of hopelessness. Please don’t compromise.
Dear Dayan,
I find the argument that Sri Lankans should vote for MR out of some form of gratitude for defeating the LTTE, to be weak and quite frankly insulting. You expect Sri Lankans to live in this "Mahathaya" world, where politicians looks for the average citizen to bow down and call him Mahathaya in gratitude whenever he does something right.
You ask for MR to be made accountable only for what he has done right, but not for all he has done wrong (in nepotism and corruption).
May I remind you that defeating the LTTE and protecting the sovereignty of the country was Mr. Rajapakse's JOB, and that was what he was voted in to do. That he achieved this when no previous leader did is irrelevant. He did one good job, yes, and he led the country well in that aspect. But he has now received his pat on the back. How long do you suggest that we bask in past glories and let the man do whatever he wants?
May I also remind you that ALL Sri Lankans paid a price in defeating the LTTE. While MR and his government did the overseeing, it was us who suffered (and still suffer) overbearing taxes, corruption, murder, nepotism, poor economic opportunities, loss of freedom, loss of free movement etc to achieve this goal. How have these issues been addressed since the end of the war? Can you convince me that this government is even vaguely interested in addressing these issues in the next 8 years?
This president did not even bother to campaign seriously until he suddenly realised there was a viable opposition, such was his arrogance and disregard for the average citizen. Following which we were forced to see painfully egotistical (not to forget completely illegal) and massive cut-outs of him all over the country, including the airport, with messages bordering on insanity such as the ones suggesting his appointment as King for the next 60 years.
Also do not forget that the defeat of the LTTE was a culmination of events starting from the 2002 ceasefire period, and this government had a split and weaker enemy to fight than previous governments did.
I cringe thinking about how this government has milked to glory the winning of the war. For months after May, I looked for the president to speak to me about his vision for the country and how he expects Sri Lankans to move forward, yet all we have got is a continuous bombardment of "I won the war, I won the war, aren't I the greatest!" ENOUGH, please!
May I speak for myself when I say I do not enjoy a president who is a public servant and works for ME, to spend MY money and run around unashamedly blowing his own horn at MY expense!!
So please Mr. Rajapakse, whether you win or lose the election, please do us a favour and toot your own horn in private with your lackeys. We are ready to move on from the Sri Lanka of the past 60 years into a new era. We want a leader to address our future without harping on the past.
Dear Almost All,
How does it feel like to have got it so totally wrong, ( i.e. to be so stupid) and to be so very out of touch with the sentiments of the overwhelming majority of Sri Lankan citizens?
Dear N Satchi? "dancing to his own tune"? Who said that? Whatever tune that was, it got the vast majority of the UN Human rights Council "dancing" to it? And which of your "great intellectuals" have been rated in any ranking international academic journal as having made a contribution to their field in a universal sense (not simply to studies of sri Lanka)?
Dear Dr. Dayan Jayathilake,
“ He is dancing to his own tune “ was either made by the Foreign Minister or the President himself about your comments on the thirteenth amendments – Please read up.
My first comment is enough to separate the sensationalist from the real. We are used to reading publications. I have read these intellectuals like H.L. De Silva with great admiration and I have read yours. That is good enough for me.
You are still unable to distinguish the comments people made - were for good governance and the need for intellectuals to uphold these values for the good of the country. Some were pleading with you. Like a spoilt juvenile you are still unable to understand this but shouting like a hooligan about an electoral victory that was on the cards all the time.
I don’t need a publication or a reference – Your understanding and comments on this issue is far more revealing of your intelligence and powers of comprehension.
With regards
Dr. N. Satchi