Rajapaksa must not be allowed to "bury" the APRC final report
By Tisaranee Gunasekara
Stupidity has come back as a king – no; as an emperor, as a divine Führer of all Aryans.” — Aldous Huxley (Eyeless In Gaza)
Twenty Seven years ago, “Black July” burst upon Sri Lanka with the sudden ferocity of a flash flood. The omens of this bloody deluge was evident in the ‘language of contempt’ and the ‘dismissive atitude’ vis-à-vis Tamils which was de règale in Sinhala polity and society.
Black July, like most disasters which befell independent Sri Lanka, was a preventable tragedy.
Had President Jayewardene honoured his 1977 election promise to come up with a political solution to the Tamil question, the Black July and the subsequent civil war could have been avoided. The UNP in 1977 was up to that task, objectively. It had a clear parliamentary majority; the SLFP was in retreat subsequent to its electoral trouncing; the JVP was of negligible import; and in the TULF, the regime had a moderate Tamil partner it could have worked with.
But President Jayewardene’s authoritarian agenda made him equally inimical towards demands for democratisation in the South and devolution in the North; both sets of demands were categorised as ‘subversive’ and handled with unmerited severity. A historic opportunity to settle the ethnic issue in its infancy was thus lost, rendering most subsequent disasters, including the Black July, inevitable.
That failure to solve the Tamil question, together with the unjust proscription of the JVP, was JR Jayewardene’s greatest historic error. (Contrary to public perception, the B-C Pact was abandoned by S.W.R.D Bandaranaike not because of Jayewardene’s infamous Kandy March but because of the protest by Buddhist monks, the first pillar of his Pancha Maha Balavegaya). Those twin and related errors plunged the country into concentric cycles of violence and destroyed Jayewardene’s dream of a third presidential term.
Post-war, Mahinda Rajapaksa could have moved swiftly to devolve and democratise, two necessary preconditions for consensual nation-building. He did not, partly because of his Sinhala supremacist mindset (he does not believe in the existence of an ethnic problem) and partly because he abhors sharing power with anyone outside his family. Just as J.R. Jayewardene’s authoritarian project impeded a political solution to the Tamil question, the Dynastic project of the Rajapaksas are rendering impossible a consensual peace based on reconciliation.
Mahinda Rajapaksa has a completely organic blueprint he can work on, if he wants to seize the moment and settle the ethnic issue. The APRC appointed by the President to come up with a political solution to the North-Eastern problem has prepared a Final Report and presented it to the President. According to Parliamentarian Kariapper, “the APRC expected that President Rajapaksa would commence a dialogue with the main opposition United National Party and the Tamil National Alliance, based on the final report of the APRC with a view to formulating a new constitution” (The Island – 20.7.2010). The President did the opposite; he tucked away the Final Report out of the public eye, to gather dust in the darkness of obfuscation.
Last week several parliamentarians decided to un-closet the Report, releasing it to the media and tabling it in parliament. The regime’s frenzied reaction to the latter action, and its demands that any reference to the Final Report be expunged from the Hansard prove that the Rajapaksas acted with mala fide. The regime interred the APRC Final Report because the Rajapaksas, as non-believers in an ethnic problem, are committed to sabotaging a political solution to the ethnic problem.
The regime waged and won the Fourth Eelam War (launched by the LTTE) on a Sinhala supremacist platform, premised on denying the existence of an ethnic problem (this entailed massive human rights violations which are beginning to haunt us now). When the ethnic problem was reduced to a terrorist threat, a political solution was ruled out, by definition. The APRC was appointed not with a sincere intent but as a time buying devise, to appease Delhi and the West, until the Tigers were defeated. That is why, whenever the APRC produced some concrete result (such as the Majority Report of the Experts Committee), the Rajapaksas moved to negate it, often with the help of their Sinhala supremacist allies.
The APRC Final Report seems a very moderate document, which circumvents controversial issues (such as the nature of the state) and tries to combine devolution with safeguards against separatism. But even such a moderate formula has no place in the vision of an unequal Sri Lanka, in which the Sinhalese are the rulers and the minorities are the ruled, fated by birth to lead a subordinate existence. If the Sinhalese are the hosts and the minorities are the guests, they have no intrinsic rights and no structural grievances. That was the vision which premised our ‘nation-building’ efforts since 1956.
The Rajapaksa Presidency gave a new lease of life to that old vision which was discredited by the war and abandoned after Indian intervention. Post-victory, that vision is informing and propelling the Rajapaksa ‘nation-building’ project. The past has become the present. Before long the majority will feel (again) that this or that minority has too much of something or the other. Economic malaises, caused by Rajapaksa incompetencies and the prioritising of guns over butter, will make the need for scapegoats even more acute.
Vocal demands to protect the patrimony of the Sinhalese by tipping the playing field in their favour will follow, to counter either the Tamil Nadu factor or the Middle Eastern factor or the Western factor or some other factor eternally working to undermine Sinhala-Buddhists and promote minorities!
According to this worldview equality is ‘unfair’ because the dice is permanently ‘loaded’ against the Sinhala Buddhists (so we had to have Sinhala Only and standardisation etc, and Black July as a last resort). As the fear of being overtaken and overwhelmed by the minorities consumes us, we will become more irrational and intolerant, more prone to excesses and violence. And when the Tamils or some other minority resist these blatant injustices, they will be branded traitors and treated as such. That was the path to Black July.
A nation-building project premised on Sinhala supremacism (and the hosts and guests concept) will be as unsuccessful the second time as it was the first time. Fortunately a complete retrogression is still avoidable. The mere fact that the APRC managed to produce a Final Report is a minor miracle. The Rajapaksas must not be allowed to bury it, again. The Report must be studied and debated, including in the parliament. The UNP must place it on the agenda in its discussions with the President about constitutional reforms.
India and the international community must be lobbied to put pressure on the regime to implement the Final Report of its own APRC. Here is a realistic cause, an organic solution, for the minority parties to champion (especially the EPDP and the CWC) and the Tamil Diaspora to promote, if they are serious about a just and a consensual peace. If we fail, retrogression will be our fate; the past will return complete with old and new horrors, including the psychological plague bacillus which enabled that abomination, the Black July
11 Comments
Our politicians are apt at doing nothing ie for the country. Perhaps their motto is to make hay while the sun shines. So they abdicate their responsibility towards the country and remain silent even as the forces of evil move to consolidate and destroy any vestige of democracy and justice left in the country. Like the three monkeys, see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. Or is it the lack of character and upbringing.
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EPDP, CWC, and Diaspora cannot do anything to promote this...
Only one person who can do this: ASIN
If Asin promotes this, then Namal will support it.
If Namal likes it, then First Lady likes it too.
Then Mahinda has no choice.... did I miss Gota!!!!
:-)
LOL:
TG, why don't you concentrate on getting the Opposition to actually take you seriously and carry out your last recommendation ? Your somewhat desperate-sounding attempts at tarring the GOSL, Buddhists and Sinhalas, has resulted in very little except a few appreciative nods from the Colombo-7 crowd. and nothing else.
Perhaps Ranil and the good folk at Sri Kotha would be more receptive to your buckets of vitriol
Let's not waste time here. The Boss has no intention of coming out with a solution to the National Question. He knows if he does his and the political future of his successors, which is his main Agenda, is gone forever. The issue, for the weak, the indecisive and the naive at the top, is one of those "be damned if you do it - and be damned, if you don't" options. He may take a chance with the latter option but certainly not the former.
Remember, how hard Professori (Tissa V, that is) worked to regain the lost name of the LSSP with the Tamils. Eventually, that nondescript Gammanpila carried tales shiftily breaking off from a meeting in progress whispering to those of his ilk "I am going to see Lokka and will break this" MR injudiciously interfered (not intervened) with the process of what was assured to be an "independent search" of many political parties for a solution by phoning the Chairman/APRC and directing him which course he should take. Everyone both here and abroad following the event carefully did not fail to take note of this
seminal move - that was predicted anyway. That killed the so-called
"neutral" exercise. What is being awaited is the still born infant. Kariapper and Yogarajan are merely 2nd elevent players - unelected and mosquiot weights,
in boxing parlance. The Big Chief may think he is a master in the game of prevarication. And so did Premadasa. The problem is still with us - in a much more malignant form. The other likely possibility is if India decides to play a more assertive role and press their perceived vassal to do their bid if their own internal political weight in Delhi becomes unbearable.
ISS
Aratai; I agree with you.
We should get Actress ASIN to use her influence with Rajapakses to implementing APRC report. Who knows, she may have some influence over the MR clan, and seem to have the endorsement of the political pundits too.
Instead of wasting time on running between Delhi, Colombo, TNA should approach Asin.
President Rajapaksa's speech in Akmmemana yesterday is a timely reminder for people like Thisaranee who vacillates from supporting extremists and then advocating moderation.
APRC report is just a set of proposals. It is the basis for consultations to arrive at a final document that will fulfill the aspirations and the expectations of the whole country in the new dawn.
It is not meant to satisfy the minority groups that have their own agendas and make the biggest noise.
JVP caused more harm to poor rural Sinhalese than VP could manage for 30 years.It is mind boggling to see Thisaranee now barracking for the same JVP.
Srilanka currently have municipalities and provincial governments to take care of the different regions. In fact the East has their own Chief Minister who seems to be doing a good job.
Once the land mines are cleared and the displaced are resettled, Ii am sure the people in the North will select one of their own as the Chief Minister.
The version of the APRC that the Tamil member of the UNP published is basically advocates the same thing.
But they have put in more layers on top of each level of government to make it more cumbersome and retards the efficiencies of governing even further.
More jobs for the "boys " is anothere distinct feature.
TG, you must be labouring under some serious delusions if you even entertain the notion that the diaspora's aim is anything but Tamil Eelam and the amputation of the North and East of Sri Lanka . For you to even suggest it indicates a level of naivete and (to quote General SF) "thoththa-baba-ness" that interestingly, is markedly lacking in your approach to the current SL Administration.
Why the kid-gloves for these folk and the acid for everyone else ? Did you drop your "objectivity" somewhere ? May I help you find it ?
All Party Representatives Committee (APRC) was appointed by President Rajapakse to recommend a solution to the ethnic problem. After deliberations the APRC found some bureaucrats and called them experts and asked them to advise and assist it to reach an answer. Nowhere in its terms of reference the Chairman of the APRC had been mandated to get experts to write reports on its behalf.
Now, if those so-called experts were mare advisers and assistants to the APRC, surely they shouldn’t have done the APRC job. If that be the need then the president might as well appointed the expert committee to give him a report and not APRC.
If that is so, who elevated the experts to write a report? We were not unaware about NGO links to some of the experts. Anyway, from the time the so-called experts ganged up as a group, it was apparent that the Chairman Witharana chose to stand by them. No wonder the JVP, the JHU, the MEP and most of parties that oppose federalism started to boycott the APRC meetings.
Chairman Witharana had out his whole foot in his mouth and mishandled the whole thing. He muddled it fully when he talked about a report that he was to present based on the so-called experts report.
Witharana had never been elected even to a Pradeshia Saba. Do we need to say more about his interaction with the general public? Same goes with the experts. They only come up with theoretical arguments.
Thisaranee had been predicting Piripaharans will appear in time to come. Though LTTE is eradicated for good, we shouldn’t set ladders for its rump. So, what’s the big hurry to implement 13A; let us wait for the outcome of the new Presidential commission, study it, and then come out with a solution acceptable to all.
Are we to understand from Suresh M here that luscious lump of loveliness Anarkali (or so she thought all this while, while the JVPers continued to insist on "bokkuwa")is ditched and has now become a Wall Flower. Prince Charming might as well concentrate on completing the promised Swimming Pool
or the next visit to Northern climes might result in a much hotter reception than what dear thathi got - despite Douggie's assurances and loud boasts.
ISS
All Party Representatives Committee (APRC) was appointed by President Rajapakse to recommend a solution to the ethnic problem. After deliberations the APRC found some bureaucrats and called them experts and asked them to advise and assist it to reach an answer. Nowhere in its terms of reference the Chairman of the APRC had been mandated to get experts to write reports on its behalf.
Now, if those so-called experts were mare advisers and assistants to the APRC, surely they shouldn’t have done the APRC job. If that be the need then the president might as well appointed the expert committee to give him a report and not APRC.
If that is so, who elevated the experts to write a report? We were not unaware about NGO links to some of the experts. Anyway, from the time the so-called experts ganged up as a group, it was apparent that the Chairman Witharana chose to stand by them. No wonder the JVP, the JHU, the MEP and most of parties that oppose federalism started to boycott the APRC meetings.
Chairman Witharana had out his whole foot in his mouth and mishandled the whole thing. He muddled it fully when he talked about a report that he was to present based on the so-called experts report.
Witharana had never been elected even to a Pradeshia Saba. Do we need to say more about his interaction with the general public? Same goes with the experts. They only come up with theoretical arguments.
Thisaranee had been predicting Piripaharans will appear in time to come. Though LTTE is eradicated for good, we shouldn’t set ladders for its rump. So, what’s the big hurry to implement 13A; let us wait for the outcome of the new Presidential commission, study it, and then come out with a solution acceptable to all.
Ilaya Seran Senguttuvan | July 25, 2010 10:31 PM
ISS,
While pressuring SL Govt to move UPWARDS in the direction of 13+, APRC etc. from their unwavering unitary base why not attempt to bring Tamil parties DOWNWARDS towards the same goals from their pedestal of separatism at the same time.
Two parties can then meet at a common point.
I believe it is a worthwhile effort for opinion pushers like you to spare some time on.