Terrorism

Give Democracy and Peace a Chance

By Dr. Gamini Randeni, Secretary, Canadian Association for United Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan expatriate community in Canada is quite concerned about the present politically and socially destructive developments leading to the national elections scheduled for October 10, 2000. Therefore, we the Canadian Association for United Sri Lanka (CAUS) like to present our concerns to Your Excellency The President of Sri Lanka, Excellency The leader of the Opposition and other responsible political party Leaders through this open letter.

We, as a dedicated organization to support unity and territorial integrity of our mother land, are focussing our efforts to counter adverse Eelam driven propaganda against the peace loving Sri Lankans by organizing various campaigns to combat Eelam terrorism on the international legal and media fronts. All these efforts are aimed to protect the territorial integrity and promote peace and harmony within the democratic society in Sri Lanka. However, the recent developments in Sri Lanka, particularly within the political establishment, is very disturbing. The unprecedented levels of corruption and incidents of bribery among the country’s legislators and within the government establishments and the guardians of law and order, are clear indications that the Sri Lankan political system has reached a very low level of political and moral bankruptcy, endangering democracy. In the absence of righteous leadership and unity, the nation loses command over its own affairs enabling the opportunists to win their demands at the expense of the birthrights of the majority.

From your recent deeds, we painfully draw the conclusion that you appear to be oblivious to this grave national crisis that breaks up of the country which is the declared goal of LTTE and its murderous leaders. Therefore, we consider its time for you to wake up and recognize this new reality rather than your divisive approach to either stay in power or to gain it. Ladies and Gentlemen of Sri Lanka! We are about to lose our country that our ancestors have preserved for you and me over 2500 years.

Even in modern times, the role of history and its power as an excellent teacher remain undeniable. In this context, we like you to join with us to revisit the ideals and approaches of our ancestors the Dutu-Gamunus, Gagabahus and Parakramabahus who not only understood "unity is strength", but also demonstrated it when they rescued and graced our nation in the face of adversity. They won their battles in every front because they were able to unite the masses against the common enemy, the foreign invaders. As history reveals, during those periods, infighting and malpractices among the rulers were minimal. Their priorities were National interests rather than their personal interests and gains. Therefore, we urge you to provide leadership to forge similar national political alliance comprising of all democratic forces in the country. In this context, it is of utmost importance that such a national political alliance to be lead by the leaders of the vast majority of legitimate Sri Lankan citizens.

The immediate impact of forging such a national political alliance among the majority Sri Lankans will be the elimination of questionable practices that are being deployed to gain power at any cost and the re-establishment of the true democratic process. Peace will return to the Sri Lankan way of life that once brought the nickname "the land of smile" only under true democracy.

In the longer term, a national political alliance among the majority would first and foremost eliminate the political divisions that destroyed national progress over the last 45 years instigating a chain of positive changes for the nation. The divisiveness provided breeding grounds for opportunistic and narrow-minded Sri Lankan politicians to propagate hatred and chauvinism to achieve their goals. It was an environment that enabled not only extreme ideals to dictated terms to govern and retain power but also the Sri Lankan minorities to demand rights that put them above and beyond the status of the majority. In the rest of the world, however, minorities’ fight only for rights to stand as equals in their respective societies and not to stand above the majority. Therefore, such an alliance of unity certainly places the majority in a very strong position of command and decision making. In a democratic society, one has to respects the governance of the democratic majority, if the basic human rights are guaranteed and the minorities are accommodated as equal citizens in a respectable and a dignified manner. Only unity among the majority can create an environment for all Sri Lankans to live with dignity and respect. In such an environment, the minorities lose the legitimacy of their current excessive demands. This approach is the beginning of a long path to national reconciliation.

With adequate safeguards for the minorities in place, a national political alliance can provide leadership to this proud nation that has a high potential to be the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean" once again without fragmenting into pieces without value. International community would accept a settlement that is reasonable for all Sri Lankans to leave in peace and harmony. This is doable only if the majority is united. Any reasonable plans to develop this country can be sustained only with a unified majority as it provides the political stability that is mandatory to the influx of International Capital. When economic development and quality of Sri Lankan life improve, there will hardly be anyone who would be asking for a separate state whether in the East or North or elsewhere. Therefore, the unity among the majority is cardinal to cause erosion of separatism together with its marauding and murderous leaders. The erosion of separatist ideals is an inevitable outcome if the majority is united and provides true democratic form of governance. It is an opportunity for minority new leaderships to evolve. This development ensures their participation in the democratic governance devoid of violent practices to represent themselves. If the majority stays divided avoiding unity for various shortsighted visions for the country, the peril of the nation is not too far away. Therefore, do not lose this valuable opportunity for the sake of the nation.

Your Excellency, The President of Sri Lanka and Excellency, The Leader of the Opposition and other Party Leaders! We appeal to you to the effect that we do not need any more divisions within the Sinhala Community than we already have. Therefore, unlike the past election practices, it is your responsibility to strictly follow the democratic principles to keep all obnoxious, antisocial actions of your candidates and henchmen at bay and follow civilized rules at the upcoming General Elections on October 10, 2000 to give democracy a chance. By doing so, you are setting an example to our future generations who otherwise would follow suite leading the nation into peril. Thus, the true democracy is the first step toward national unity. Today as never before in history, the future of our nation depends on your current actions in this uncertain period. Therefore, even if you have to quit politics, please do the rightful and the needful to save our proud nation for future Heladiva generations. If you do so, Sri Lankan history will be kinder to you.