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SINHALA URUMAYA OR SINHALA KARUMAYA

H. L. D. Mahindapala

It would be a sad day if the Buddhist monks enter the political fray.

If their entry into electoral politics can solve the problem of defeating the enemies of the nation we could consider supporting it. But every samanera would know that their coming is not going to strengthen the very cause they hope to serve. Their coming will only weaken the cause and strengthen the enemy. Sinhala Urumaya (SU) has misread the political climate. They think they can cash in on the wave of sympathy that swept the nation when Ven. Soma Thera passed away. But that is an exceptional situation that cannot be translated into votes. There are limits to sympathy votes. A good example is the case of Mrs. Gamini Dissanayake who hoped to win the sympathy vote of her husband killed by the Tamil terrorists.

Besides, throwing the monks into the competitive field of elections is the best way to back the UNP-LTTE front. In making this futile move SU has guaranteed the division of the Sinhala-Buddhist vote. It has also given the anti-Sinhala-Buddhists another handle to denigrate them and to beat them.

What chances has the SU of halting the anti-Sinhala-Buddhist forces by launching this miscalculated move? The only plausible conclusion is that SU is financed to do this not by those who respect or care for the Sinhala-Buddhists but by the LTTE—UNP—NGO—Academic—Rightwing—Foreign Fundamentalists (LUNARFF) combination. SU has repeatedly refused to join the other forces rallying to combat the LUNARFF. SU first ruined their image and their own cause by dividing their ranks in a senseless fight over a parliamentary seat. Now they are out to defeat the only possible force – i.e. PA-JVP alliance -- that can fight the LUNARFF of Ranil by dividing the Sinhala-Buddhists at the very core.

SU is not led by babies. They know what they are doing. They know that their gimmick will weaken the Sinhala-Buddhist cause. Their myopic move will neither serve them nor the Sinhala-Buddhist people. In fact, their short-sighted and self-serving move makes them the enemies of the Sinhala-Buddhist people. They can even be categorized as the latest recruits of the Tamil Tigers who are reported to have changed tactics (temporarily) to fight the Sinhala-Buddhists not with guns but with money.

The success of the LTTE is in its single-minded approach. It succeeds by not allowing dissent. We have failed because we have fragmented ourselves into various camps. The decision of the SU to make use of Buddhist monks is the latest folly that will undoubtedly fragment the Sinhala-Buddhists into self-destructive atomic units. Let us not kid ourselves. The SU cannot win through the Buddhist monks. Not only that, they will also drag the others down with them. Those who support the SU should be warned that they will be held responsible for knowingly dividing the community that can lead only to the victory of the enemies. It is sad to say that the Sinhala Urumaya has become the Sinhala Karumaya.

To those who find the Patriotic National Movement or the PA-JVP alliance somewhat unpalatable, it is necessary to remind them of the pragmatic political dictum of Mao: MY ENEMY’S ENEMY IS MY FRIEND. Mao’s opponent Deng Tsiao Peng said it somewhat differently: “WHAT MATTERS”, he asked, “IF THE CAT IS BLACK OR GREY AS LONG AS IT CATCHES THE MOUSE”? Both are seasoned campaigners who had fought the mightiest forces on earth. Their wisdom has some meaning to combat the biggest forces lined up against the Sri Lankan nation.

If the main objective is to defeat the enemy then it can be achieved only by uniting all those who are against the enemy. Without finances, without an army geared to combat the enemy, without any foreign aid, there is only one formidable force available to the Sinhala-Buddhist – i.e. the people. Fragmenting that force can only guarantee the victory of the enemy.

The primary political task is to stop Ranil’s LUNARFF. To achieve this SU and their supporters have to ask just THREE questions:

1) CAN WE ACHIEVE THIS BY THROWING IN BUDDHIST MONKS WHO ARE BOUND TO LOSE AT THE POLLS, THUS BRINGING THEM INTO DISREPUTE AS A GROUP OF POLITICIANS WHO HAVE LOST THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE?

2) WAS BUDDHISM SAVED AND PROTECTED FOR OVER TWO MILLENIA BY BUDDHIST MONKS SITTING IN POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS OR BY EXERTING INFLUENCE FROM THEIR TRADITONAL BASES IN THE TEMPLES?

3. WHEN THERE OTHER OPTIONS SHOULD WE ALLOW OUR BUDDHIST MONKS TO BE RIDICULED AND ATTACKED AS POLITICIANS OR MULLAHS?

IT IS STILL NOT TOO LATE FOR THE SU TO WITHDRAW AND SERVE THE NATION IN THIS HOUR OF GRAVE CRISIS BY UNITING WITH THEIR ENEMY’S ENEMY.

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