by ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Charles.S.Perera

The proposed amendments to the Constitution, have raised a political storm.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Fortunately the directions from which the storms blow do not predictƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  a danger to the envisaged proposals but may cause irreparable ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ damage to those who started the storm.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ JVP and its wind bags ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ like the drowning men holding on to a straw, encumbered with the weight of Sarath Fonseka on their backs are likely to drown in the flood waters ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  political disapproval, even Lal Kantha the ego centric trade unionist will not be able to save it from its watery gave.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The leftist trio DEW Gunasekara, Tissa Vitharana and Wasudeva Nanayakkara ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as usual unable to take firm decisions, are ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ preparing the funeral rights of the good old leftist movement, and it remains for them to jump into theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  funeral pyre as they will have no worth while existence with the end of the leftist movement. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Even the President will not have any use of them as he is already assuredƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  of a two third majority in the Parliament.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ UNP is in complete disarray.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It is however heartening that at least a few young UNPers have had a sudden revelation that opposition to a government is not to blow it up, but to make it serve the people better.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ When I was reading the President Barack ObamaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s book the Audacity of Hope a passageƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  struck me as relevant to Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  In that passage he says, that in conversation with an old Washington hand who had served in the Capitol for over fifty years, he askedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the difference of the atmosphereƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  then and now, and he had answeredƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  that:

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦we mightƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ve fought like cats and dogsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  on issues. A lot of us came from different back grounds, different neighbourhoods, different political philosophies.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  But with the war we all had some thing in common. That shared experience developed a certain trust and respect. It helped to work through our differences and get things done.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is a pity that it did not happen that way in Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The senior politicians, and supposed to be people friendly Marxists did not make the war against terrorism the rallying point to combine forces with the government for the progressive development of Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  They instead made it an opportunityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to makeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ personal benefitsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to realise their political ambitions, without caring a dime for the country and its people.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ JVP is ridiculous in ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ hanging on to Sarath Fonseka as their Leader.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He was of course the Army Commander during the most difficult period of the recent history of Sri Lanka . He may have discussed strategiesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and prepared the army officers forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  their different assignments. But the war itself was conducted byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  officers under him.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We saw in video clips during the height of the military offensive against the terrorists, that the Army Officers like Shavendra Silva, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Prasanna De Silva and others who ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the midst of fighting giving instructions to theirƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  soldiers and asking themƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  before they turn away to take care of themselves.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  They deserve lot of credit for the elimination of terrorists from Sri Lanka.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sarath Fonseka as the Army CommanderƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  should not have usedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  his position to help his family to set up business toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  sell arms to the army.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He should have retired as an army Officer without seeking political power.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  In seeking political power he did not set an example to the Armed forces of Sri Lanka.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In this respect it is relevant to quote the statement made by AdmiralƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Mike MullenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Chairman of the JointƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Chiefs of Staff ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  USAƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  at a press conference after the former AfghanistanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  CommanderƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Stanley A. McChrystal gave his resignation, as it was reported in the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ International Herald Tribune of 25 June, 2010.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Speaking to the military he had said:

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.We do not have the right, nor should we ever assume the prerogative, to cast doubt upon the ability or mock the motivesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  of our civilian leaders, elected or appointed.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  We are and must remain a neutral instrumentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  of the state , accountable to and respectfulƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  of those leaders no matter which party holds sway or which person holds a given office.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We may recognise Sarath Fonseka as a war hero, but he does not deserve our respect for what he did afterwards bringing discredit to our country, and the President Mahinda Rajapakse who united Sri Lanka under one flag after 30 years ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  untold suffering from ruthless terrorism.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The 18^th Amendment to the Constitution is necessary as that is the least we can do to help a man like Mahinda Rajapakse who has a great vision for the progress and development of Sri Lanka to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ continue his good workƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to raise Sri Lanka ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ above its status of a developing nation, if the people would want him and vote for himƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  at the Presidential elections that follows the end of the term ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  his office.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Tamils be they politicians, academics, intellectuals or ordinary civilians should not rake the past, call for equality and devolution of power which will only make the Sinhala community hate the Tamils, and who knows result in another spate of terrorism.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  An aspect of reconciliation is also to forget and forgive the errors of the past.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It was mostƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  annoying that Douglas Devananda decided to show his Tamilness by giving evidence in Tamil before the Lessons Learnt and ReconciliationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Commission. He had made matters worse by stopped several timesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to dispute English translation by the interpreter. He could have as well given his evidence in English.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In the reconciliation and reconstruction process ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ there should not beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  communal reference Tamil, Sinhala, Muslim etc.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  They should all be treated as Sri Lankans in that progressive movement of bringing all people together.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This is where the Tamils should take a lesson from the American President Barrack Obama.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  His was a peaceful revolution.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mr.Barrack Obama did not separate himself as an ethnic minority.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He worked in harmony with the majority whites winning them overƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  with his pragmatic method ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  campaigning.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He made it possibleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  for a man fromƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  a minority ethnic group to become the leader of the most powerful nation of the world.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Why cannot the showy Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu cannot understand thisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and change his separatist attitude ?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Every body talksƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the proposed 18^th Amendment to the constitution as an affront to Democracy.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Democracy is something that had been introduced by the West, expecting the developing countries of the third world to respect it, while they themselves act undemocratically.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  They have introducedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ human rightsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ to out manoeuvreƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  democratic principles, to interfere into internal affaires of the sovereign states of developing countries.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Democracy is good in principle to already developed countries.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  But a developing country should follow a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-middle pathƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ with out makingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  democracy aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  sacrosanct political system.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  If ChinaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  did not keep the west from interfering into its affairs, and adopted authoritative methods when necessary, it would have still remained as itƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  was described by Pear S Buck in her book the Good Earth.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ For a developing country to rise from low incomeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  economy , to a middle income economy and then to a fully developed economy takes time and disciplining of the population. It is necessary to use high handed methods at times in the interest of the country.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  That is not to say the methods adopted should be dictatorial, butƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  sufficient to infuse understanding and necessity of sacrifice for the overall development.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Therefore, an executive President is necessary forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sri Lanka, which is now on the correct path to development.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The fear of the other political parties about the introduction of the 18^th Amendment to the Constitution is that they will not be able to have ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ political power to make their political philosophies workable to hasten the development process.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But the democratic principle of changing Political partiesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  at everyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  parliamentary and Presidential election hampers development. When one political party has introduced a political process of development the results of which could be seen in a certain number of years, another political party coming into power before the end of that time period, will change the whole process to suit their political philosophy and the country as a result willƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  fall from once process to another with out any development at all.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This has to stop, as weƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  have seen thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  democracyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  has not helped us from 1948 until now to even come above the lower income economic classification.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It is only now thanks to perspicacity of the President Mahinda Rajapakse we have reached the middle income economy status.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The country is at peace, infrastructure development is proceeding well, and the foreign currency reserve shows efficient management.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The country is socially, economically healthy.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The defence and security of the country is assured by an efficient Defense Secretary.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What remains is the reconciliation and reconstruction, which at the way things are turning out will not be difficult if the present political system continues for some more time.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Therefore the 18^th Amendment is necessary for the present situation.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The 17^th Amendment as it is, is not workable, and it is best that it is scrapped and a more workable legislation is substituted.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ An incumbent PresidentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s right to contest for another term of office under the 18^th Amendment does not mean that after the end of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  term of officeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the President he is automatically allowed to continue in his office.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It only allows him to contest theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Presidential elections along with other candidates.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Mr.Mahinda RajapakseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  will not have the guarantee that the people will vote for him.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  That would not be against any democratic principles

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Therefore, why make a fuss about the 18^th Amendment to the Constitution ?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The country definitely needsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  changes to its Constitution, to allow the President Mahinda Rajapakse, who has theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  correct perception to lead our country to a higher target of development.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  There had been errors and mistakes in certain ministerial responsibilities, but they are not irreparable, and it appears that the President has an eye every where to take stock of the situation and take corrective steps.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Now if everything goes wellƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and the proposed amendments to the Constitution are adopted, it is left to the other political parties to rally round the PresidentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and his government and help them to make a success of reconciliation and reconstruction of post terrorist Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  That way they will not be left out of the governmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s development projects, and they can have their say on matters of importance.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is important that the Government Servants do not embarrass the government calling for strikes for pay hikes.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Every one has to make sacrifices and rally round the government to develop the country.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It does not mean that the opposition parties, and the government servants should not be vigilant.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But recalcitrant Trade Unionists like Lal Kantha should not be allowed to manipulate workers, and University Students forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  political ends. If they continuesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  their s activitiesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  which are detrimental to the country, democratic principles should be overlooked to punish them, or even arrest them.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The public servants should check, observe, report defects, deficiencies, corruptions, undue interferences, slack in work to the proper authorities so that every body overseers the otherƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to enable the machine of administration to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ work efficiently for the common good of the country.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Constitutional changes are essential and the Executive President should continue for some more time to come .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Therefore the fuss about the proposed 18^th Amendment to the Constitution is not necessary.