Marxists are like Indians: both have failed
Posted on July 3rd, 2013
H. L. D. Mahindapala
I am happy to bounce back from the hospital bed and browseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the multitudinousƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ vistas of the world that filterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ throughƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the sheen of the polar-whiteƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ glow of the cyber screenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ without which I will be lost in an infinite Sahara. Through the instant magic which providesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ most of my necessities for mental sustenance and sanityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ — I just can’t think of a world without it now –ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I can pick, examine and get involved in theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ good, the bad, the indifferent and evenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the gentleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ manner with whichƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Prof. G.H. Peiris (GHP) had put Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka (DJ) through the mincing machine. GHP’sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ replies to DJ in The Island are exemplaryƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ demonstrationsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the noble art of humane killing. It brings into focus the fundamental flaws in the intellectual exercises of DJ and hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ “co-thinkers”ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Left-wing caboodle.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ One of the problem as I see it revolves round DJ’s failure to grasp the realities not only of Sri Lankan history but also contemporary international politics — all of which have been pin-pointed meticulously by GHP. If only my friend DJ’sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ knowledge of Sri Lankan history was as extensiveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as his knowledge of Cuba (his doctoral thesis was on howƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Fidel Castro’s “ethical violence” has been morally superior to other kinds ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ political violence,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ elevatingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ his Havana heroƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to the level of aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ political saint), sans his mental blocsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ imposed by his Marxist ideology, he could rise to great intellectual heights with the kind ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ authoritative credibility and respectability that GHP holds on Sri Lankan issues.
Like all Left-wing and hired intellectuals of NGOs — not to mention the Friday Freaks — he reveals in his writingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ an ample familiarity withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ imported theories whichƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ areƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ hardlyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ relevant to the critical issuesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ or the needsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of the nation. In fact, the remarkable achievement ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the post-independent periodƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the nationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ steered its way successfully throughƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a multitude of external and internal challenges without recourse to any of the psuedo-scientific theories propounded by Marxists and other hired pundits like Jehan (Pacha) Perera, “Paki” Saravanamuttu and their “co-thinkers”.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ native talent displayed by high achievers like D. S. Senanayake, Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Ranasinghe Premadasa and even President Mahinda RajapakseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ testifiesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ their capacity to develop home-grown solutions, leaving the theoretical pundits in the Left and NGOsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ way behind.
Perhaps, it is the theoretical intoxication that has blindedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ DJƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to the ground realitiesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ on which theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ politico-historicalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ traditions, instituitions, identities and communities took root over the centuries.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ His deracinated thinking makes him rely on imported theories. Like all his lumpen “co-thinkers” he has assumed thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ history begins withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Vadukoddai Resolution, with its concoctedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ geography and fictitious history.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The politicised history, which is the source of Left-wing ideologues, is accepted uncritically asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the unassailable repository of knowledge there isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in “political science”. Consequently, it is not surprising to find him sailing along withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the anti-Sinhala-Buddhist ideology manufactured in Vadukoddai in 1976. Like all hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ other “co-thinkers” he has not deviated one millimetre from the tendentiousƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ politico-historicalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ framework concoctedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the Vadukoddai Resolution.
Take, for instance,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ example of blaming D. S. Senanayake for rupturing inter-communal relationship (See Long War, Cold Peace)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by introducing the bill to define the citizens of the new nation. It is unpardonable that a “political scientist” should imitiativelyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ repeat the Vadukoddian propaganda without exploringƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ democratic and liberal structures put in placeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for nation-buildingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the immediate aftermath of independence.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This also indicates that heƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ prefers to view history through hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ blinkered ideology.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ DJ is stuckƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ irredeemablyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the obsolocent Marxist groove without realising that his Marxist pantheon —ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ mainly, Marx, Lenin, Stalin (he began as a Stalinist), Gramsci, Althusser, Che, CastroƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ — passed theirƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ use by date with the 20th Congress of the Communist Part of of USSR in which Comrade Nikita Khruschev condemned Stalinism.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That was the first deadly blow to Marxist-Leninist-Stalinism. After that it was downhillƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ all the way down to the Berlin Wall. DJ has studiously avoided the more intellectually robustƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Trotsky and the Frankfrut School. His obsession with selected saintsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of Catholicised Marxism has reduced him toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a “One-Dimensional Man”.
If he was more discriminating and able to sift the chaff from the grain he would have realised that there is no future in MarxismƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ either for him or the nation. He should also realise that it was the most disastrous and dehumanizing ideology of the 20th century that produced Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, Ceaucesco etc., right down toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Rohana Wijeweera in Sri Lanka — the fascist mass murderer responsible not only for distorting Marxism by reducing it to five lectures but also by misleading the youth on the promise ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ creating a Marxist utopia which he could not deliver in allƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the possibleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ cycles of his rebirths. It is undeniable that the most viciousƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ blood baths in the 20th century wereƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ideologically driven byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Marxists of one shade or the other.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Taken collectively they would account for the deathsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of at least fifty million innocent civilians.
It has beenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ one of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ primaryƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ driving forcesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ political evil that devastatedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the 20the century.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Even HitlerismƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ can be considered asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a reaction to Communism which was rising as aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ formidable forceƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in pre-Nazi GermanyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ struggling to raise its head from the ruinsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of World War I. It is recorded that Right-wing money bagsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of the Jewish establishment in Germany also financed HitlerƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to prevent the rise ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Communism. The so-calledƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ liberation movements, including that of Wijeweera and Prabhakaran,(Anton Balasingham, the leading ideologueƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of the LTTE, covered himself in the Emperor’s clothings ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Marxism) promised to take theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 20th century to the nearest point promisedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Marxist millenarianism. But, as recordedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in history, the promised Marxist utopia turned into an evil dystopia. By and large, the moronic MarxistsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ perished in theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ distortions ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ their misinterpreted and misleadingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ versions of self-serving Marxism.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ After the collapse ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ USSR — and with that the Cold War — MarxismƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ lost its validity as an institutional, ideological and international force. The hangers-on that continue toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ benefit most areƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ some careerists in academiaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ writing fanciful theses / papers that failedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to salvage even Marxism, let alone the movements they championed.
Nothing is more ridiculous intellectuallly in the 21st century than those who quoteƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Marx and his off-shoots toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ justify their failed politics. The days when theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ shelves of academic libraries were overflowingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with books on Marxism are gone. In this day and age the best books written on Marx are thoseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that rip Marxism apart. The nostalgic MarxistsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ are yet to realise that Marx belonged to a bygone era. Marx belonged to the era of steam engines, primitiveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ capitalism of the Dickensian era, andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the limitedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ theory of class warfare which failed to explainƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the diversity ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ human history which, among other socio-economicƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ variations, produced the hydraulic economies of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Orient that didn’t fit into Marx’s Euro-centric history. The best of contemporary intellectuals have abandoned Marxism as aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ guideƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ move humanity into the future. The post-digital, the post-Berlin and post-Deng Tsiao Peng era is thirstingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ bornƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ -ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ again Marx to map the contours of aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ new sociology that would explain the forces ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ galloping capitalism riding roughshod all over old Marx. For DJ to repeat the Marxist mantras in the 21st century is as valid as regurgitating the hocus-pocusƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of our kattadiyas who danced all night pretendingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to possess the secrets ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ drivingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ away the evils of our ancestors.
Marx’s genius was in pickingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ heterogenousƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ philosophical strandsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and synthesising them into a plausible theoretical whole. HeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ excelledƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in analying the past but he failed as a futurologist. He was also unsparingly critical and dismissive of any ideology that contradicted his interpretations.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It was not unusal for Marx to dismiss Auguste Comte’s “philosophicalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ systemƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ positivist shit”. (The New York Review of Books, p. 39, May 9, 2013). Though practically all ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri LankanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Marxists, especially those who come fromƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Colombo University, belong to this category I do notƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ want to bracket DJ, considering his considerable talents,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ into the category ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ “Marxist shits”. But he does surprise me from time to time though his frequent somersaults tells me that I should not be surprised at what he does and say. For instance, in reply to Prof. Peiris he says: “I have always been an admirer of the US ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”mainstreamƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ while being a critic of certain aspects of US foreign policy.”
In my reading of global events and trends thisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is the first time I’ve heard of a blood red Marxist saying that he’s been an admirer of “mainstream” American politics. If what he says is true then he must be an admirer of Bush and Obama — two decisiveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and overbearing leaders who define mainstream US politics — controlling nearlyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 1000 military bases globally, most of which are designed to wage wars on cooked up reports (Iraq) and kill innocent civilians in any part of the world (Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia etc.,) who are pereceived to beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ threats to American sovereignty or territory.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ However, I presume what he means is that he is an admirer of the monumental achievements of the American liberal-technological culture which has pushed global civilization to the frontiers of ever-expanding progress and knowledge. Anyone can agreeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with that. Apart from the scientific frontiers I too embrace Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, William Faulkner, Jackson Pollock, Frank Lloyd Wright, John Steinbeck, Martin Luther King, James (Fire Next Time)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Baldwin,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Jack Kerouac of the Beat GenerationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and, of course,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ RaymondƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Chandler who located hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ detective Philip Marlowe away fromƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the upper-classƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ EnglishƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ serving tea and cucumber sandwichesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ on manicuredƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ lawns and placed himƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the grim underworld, substituting brawns for the brains of AgathaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Christie’s Poirot.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In his irreverent wayƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Philip Marlowe summed up the fast and furiousƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ American way of life in theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ memorableƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ line whichƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ says: “Live fast, die young and leave a good-looking corpse behind.”
Leaving aside the iconic humaneƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ side of America, it is rather amusing to listen to a fire-breathing defender of Castro and Che — victims of US imperialism — saying thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ he is anƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ admirer of the “US mainstream”. ItƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is somethingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ he would not dare say to hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ political heroes Castro and Che even within quotes.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He mightƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ get the loud applauseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of his local hero, “Paki” Saravanamuttu, for going along with the American “mainstream”, no doubt.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But no moral Marxist can ever applaud the American “mainstream” overdetermined by two Presidents who vie with each other in killing civilians, including its own citizens,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ perceived to be threats to America.
He makes a vain attempt to separate American “mainstream” politics from its foreign policy. As far as the world is concerned America is its foreign policy. There is nothing inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ America’s foreign policy which is not in its “mainstream”. His attempt toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ separate foreign policy from “mainstream” politics is another means ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ sanitizing the corrupt, bloody, imperialistic war-mongering politics of the American mainstream.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In a Big Power like America there is no dividing line between its foreign policy and its “mainstream”. For instance, when theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ American President, Barack Obama, leaves his Nobel Peace Prize plaqueƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in his private locker and sits every Wednesday with his CIA, State Department, FBI and other apparatchiks toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ coldly calculate as to who should live and who should be killed to save America from internal and external threats, is it a part of “mainstream” politics or “foreign policy”? In short, isn’t defending American interests in every corner of globe a central part of “mainstream” politics? Can theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ruthless, heartless policies ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ America which plottedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to assassinate Cuba through Mafia agents, including a Havana cigar that would blow his face out, be dismissed as foreign policy or be considered as a part of the mainstream culture of America?
According to DJ’s doctrine prescribed forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka, Cuba should have surrendered to the neighbouring Big Bully. He says quite smugly: “Machiavelli… brusquely remarks that a state undergoing these changes would fall victim to a stronger neighbour before it could have time to complete the cycle.” — – Introduction to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Niccolo Machiavelli, Discourses on LivyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, University of Chicago Press, 1996, p. xxxviii. Had he paused toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ make a reality check with the resistance put up by Cuba, with or without USSR,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ — knowing, of course,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ overwhelming power of its neighbour USAƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ — he should have had secondƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ thoughts about prescribing aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Machiavellian line toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka. Here he is endorsing not international law, not the UN Charter, which is invoked constantly as the pillar on which American mainstream is based, not the laws that stipulates every nation, big or small,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ be treated as equal, not the rule of law but the morality of Machiavellian ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ “Modern Prince” (Gramsci)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with weapons of mass destruction at its disposal.
Besides, if he acceptsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Machiavellian rule of the Big Bully as the political reality that must obeyed by the rest — particularly the less powerful — then he is obliged to abandon all moral values in prescribing political solutions,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ either on theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ globalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ orƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ localƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ scales.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He can’t have Machiavellian ruleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for America and India and a moral and just ruleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for any other part of the globe, including Sri Lanka. Though it can be conceded that the perennial power of Machiavellian politicsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ continue to dominate global politicsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to this day there are, thankfully, small nation like Ecuador, thumbing its nose at America and even spurning its trade concessions to defend its independence. It has courageously defied the Big Brother politics and given Assange sanctuaryƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in its embassy in UK. If DJ is committed to moral values in politics then it is absolutely imperative for him to reject Machiavellian threats to nations struggling to restore peace, stability and dignity, amidst global and domestic pressures.
At the heart of the overbearingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ pressures put on Sri Lanka right now by India and America, demanding thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka must accept the formulas prescribedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by India as the final solution, is the issue ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ whether Sri Lanka shouldƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ surrender toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ MachivellianƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ imperialism or fight for the right of the nation to develop its own home-grown strategies for domesticƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ problems. It is ironical thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the die-hard Marxist revolutionary has openly decided toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ accept Indian imperialism as the answer to Sri Lanka’s north-south crisis — a bloody crisisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ fostered, financed, and fathered by India. He isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ proposingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ surrender to Machiavellian IndiansƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is the way out. He is saying this knowing thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement, imposed on Sri Lanka with gunboat diplomacy of the ProconsulƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Dixit, the then Indian High Commissioner,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ dictating terms to J.R. Jayewardene, as his distinguished father described it on numerous occasions,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ not only set fire to the nation but also failed miserably to satisfy any community or restore lasting peace to the Sri Lankans.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So must we go down that path again?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Furthermore, how many time are we supposedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to surrender to Indian Machiavellians?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka went along the most self-destructive — not to mention idiotic –ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ policy of “helpingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India to help Sri Lanka”. In the end neither India nor Sri Lanka gained anything from it.
In any case, ifƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Indian formulaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is going to be theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ viable solutionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ yielding positive resultsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ then there is some reason to go along with it. But the historical experience has shown that it has not worked.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So what guarantee is there that it will work again? The internal resistance to an IndianƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ formula — particularlyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the 13th Amendment — is not only received with suspicion but also with instinctive repugnance by the vast majority of Sri Lankans who believe justifiably that we are capable of working out ourƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ own salvation, with or without, Indian interventions. It is not a sine qua non, as DJ and his “co-thinker” like Mangala Samaraweera, claim it to be. As seen inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the case ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ endingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the 33-year-old war, Sri Lanka can benefit from all external resources as long as external forces help to advance the internal objectives. But the Indian military formula that came with the IPKF failed. The Indiam political formula that came with the 13th Amendment too failed miserably. There is a lesson in this: there is a role for external forces in resolving Sri Lankan problems and that is entirely in assisting Sri Lanka to develop itsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ own strategies and formulas. Any attempt toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ impose imported formulas, theories and solutions have failed toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ resolve the complexƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ issues or win the consent of the people who are more fired than before in resisting external interventions. Sri Lankans argue that their children, kith andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ kin did not lay down their lives for Indians to occupy any part of their homelandƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ through plantedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ proxies.
Besides, maintaning friendly relations with India — considered to be the corner stone of Sri Lanka’s foreign policy — does not mean that we must say “Yes, Sir”, “No, Sir”, “Three Indian bags full, Sir, for you to take to Delhi, Sir.” It means, in essence, mutual respect for each other’s interests and survival, without the Indian Big BrotherƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ manipulating to twist the arm of small brother, SriƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ InƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ DJ’s formula, however,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ there is no option for Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ but to bend down and kiss the ground on whichƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Indians walk. He argues thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it is the Machivellian law and we cannot escapeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it. He even went as far as recommending that we should, for our survival, follow the example of Myanmar and surrender to the will of America. This is not enlightened diplomacy. This is sheer boot-licking. Who needs diplomacy for boot-licking? Any trainedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ dog could do it.
This brings me to the earlier issue of his role in Geneva. He claims the success in Geneva as a proud achievement of hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ one-man band. There is an element of truth in this. But that is not the whole truth, according to his last article.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In that he passess the buck entirely to the Presidential Secretariat in response my argument that, in hindsinght, his victory in Geneva, is actually a loss for Sri Lanka. He says that the Geneva Resolution (March 2009) was the brainchild of the President’s office.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Here he has done a back flip. His earlier argument was to emphasise “Me, Me, Me”.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But in his last response he goesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ against hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ own claimƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ says not “Me” but “HE”.
If, as he says,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ everything that happened in Geneva originated from His Excellency’s Office then what was his role? Was heƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ playing the role of the great diplomat, thinking on his own two feet and actingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ spontaneously responding creatively and effectively to exigencies of each move and counter-move of the West and cutting quid pro quo deals, or was he actingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ merely as theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ postman delivering HE’s directives? Postmen do play a role in delievering messages at the doorstep, no doubt. ButƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the authorship of the message that defines the overall objectives and strategies do not belong, by any streatch of imagination, to the postman. So in what part and where and when did he play his great role that led to victory in Geneva in March 2009? He says he did not cut any deals with India or any other power. Fair enough. So then why should the credit go to him in Geneva when everything was done by HE, according to him?
In the mounting pressures of the post-Nandikadal scenario the President was forced to act in accordance withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ two main factors that tied his hands: 1. the Sri Lankan Constitution which recognises the 13th Amendment and 2. the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement which nominally has the status of an international treaty. When HE consented to implement the 13th Amendment in his discussions with Ban Ki-Moon, the UN Secretary-General, he had no alternative but toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ acknowledgeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the realities of the two factors mentioned above.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He could notƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ brush asideƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the impact ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the 13th Amendment to Ban Ki-Moon because it was in the Constitution. In acknowledging the 13th Amendment he was as much a prisoner of the Indo-Lanka Agreement as allƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the other Sri Lankans.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In fact, the current imbroglioƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is related directly to the Indo- Lanka Agreement. Besides,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the 13th Amendment also flowed intoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Constituition via the Indo-Lanka Agreement. TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 1978 Constitution was made with the expressed will of the people. TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 13th AmendmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of 1987 was imposed against the will of the peopleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a foreign power. The President is now faced with the 13thƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Amendment to the ConstitutionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ which is not in any way an expression of the will of the people.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So how valid is it in law?
The validity of Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement in international law has to be questioned at the highest levelƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ because it was imposed against the will of the people of Sri Lanka, including the Jaffna Tamils. How valid is a treaty signed with gunboats bobbing outside the Colombo Harbour?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Which international court of justice will uphold a treaty/agreement signed by Ban Ki-Moon if he was forced to signƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it with the UN surrounded by an overwhelming force threatening to invadeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ premisesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ , or impose a regime change? Since the 13th Amendment crept into the Constitution as a result of the illegal force used to impose the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement the validity of it in the Constitution is open to serious legal questioning.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ DJ’s Machiavellian principles will never beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ upheld in a just and fair court of law.
The issue facingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the nation — and, of course, the President — is whether to perpetuate theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ illegally imposed injustice on the nation or not. Gotabaya Rajapakse has given theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ courageous lead in rejecting the 13th Amendment in toto.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Predictably, DJ is reactingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to this move as if the nationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is about to slaughterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ sacred cow.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This Pavlovian reactionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is inevitable because his thinking is locked insideƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Vadukoddai box. DJ, as usual, is stuck in an ideology that has passed its use by date.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There isn’t s single vestige in the Indo-Lanka Agreement, whether in its origins, its impositionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ or in its legacy, that makes it a benign or acceptable formula for all the peoplesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka to come together. It is an Indian solution to an Indian problem. It is divisive, corrosive and destructive.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ItƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ has never been nor will it ever be the solution. The time has come to jump out of the box and re-imagine a new future.
Gotabaya Rajapakse hasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ taken the firt step decisive step inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ redrawing the roadƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ map to the future.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Prof. G. H. Peiris has summed up the commonsense thinking of the vast majority when he says that every bit of Sri Lankan territory belongs to all communities and no community is entitled to exclusive enclaves. The idea of carving out ethnic pockets on the fictions manufactured by the Vadukoddians is aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ “no-no”ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for the simple reason thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it goes against the grain of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ inclusiveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lankan culture, which embraced multi-culturalism long before it became fashionable in the West. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Exclusiveness in any form is the antithesis of tolerant multiculturalism.
The editorials ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Sunday Times and The Daily Mirror, none of which are pro-government mouthpieces, have outlined with absolute clarity the arguments against the setting up of Provincial Councils as envisaged in the 13th Amendment.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Both recommend the District Council formula worked out between Dudley Senayake and the Federal Party.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And much against DJ’s minimum borders of Provincial Councils the Federal Party agreed to District Councils. So what is the rationale for DJ to insist on the borders of Provincial Councils?
Nor can DJ argue that The Sunday Times and The Daily MirrorƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ represent what DJ calls “Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinism”ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ — hisƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ bete noir — either.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Both haveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ condensed cogently the need for new thinkingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ on this vexed issue. It is time that DJ jumped out of Vadukoddai box and looked at the world around him in a more down-to-earthƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ manner if he is to graspƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the new realities that will never submit to Machiavellian goni-billas either from the north or the west.
July 3rd, 2013 at 4:50 pm
Mahindapala,
Please do not categorise all Marxists and Left-wing groups, alike.
Edward Snowden’s is a lesson for all of us, we knew that all the eu nations are substantially subservient to the usa but we know now that even china and russia are obedient servants of the usa.
Only a few latin american Marxists and Left-wing governments leaders are defying and challenging the usa and are willing to allow Edward Snowden political asylum. So, kindly do not classify and mirror all Marxists in the same manner.
Take Care and get well soon.
July 3rd, 2013 at 4:56 pm
HLD, I am very happy to see you back from hospital, and onto the stage. Other readers’ thoughts may be symbolic of mine. The write up is factual, and I love the English in it. Blessings of the Noble Triple Gem to keep you in good health.
July 3rd, 2013 at 6:42 pm
Well Said HLDM.
May G~d bless you HLDM and keep you in good health for another few decades.
You are one of our BIG GUNS. We need you to SCRAP, BUST, BURY, CREMATE, ETC. 13 amendment.
DJ is an Endian spy.
July 3rd, 2013 at 7:38 pm
Welcome back to our midst, … weakened in body but not in mind, HLDM! May the Noble Triple Gem Bless & Protect you.
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INDEED, Sri Lanka should NOT LISTEN to India on the 13th-A!
Since WHEN are VICTIMS of ABUSE required to HEED the ABUSERS after escaping their clutches?
HERE is the HYPOCRISY of Indians.:
First they initiate, train, support and fund Tamil terrorism in Sri Lanka to serve their interests,
then Threaten, Invade and Occupy Sri Lanka under the guise of “Peacekeepers” when that terrorism is in FULL SWING, preventing Sri Lanka from defending itself against their terrorist surrogates,
then they CHANGE OUR CONSTITUTION and IMPOSE the 13th Amendment upon Sri Lanka at GUNPOINT to solve their own problems presumably to ensure “ethnic harmony” in Sri Lanka that they themselves disrupted,
then they allow that terrorism to GROW beyond their ability to control it,
then they declare victory and advance to the REAR back to India leaving Sri Lanka with their terrorist baby to feed,
and now, after the Tamil Separatist Monster they impregnated Sri Lanka with had been aborted at great cost in blood and treasure, they come along demanding that Sri Lanka implement their Flawed Solution to the problem they embedded in Sri Lanka, having abandoned their own responsibility to restore the Sovereignty of Sri Lanka by disarming the LTTE!
They CREATED the”problem”.
They IMPOSED an ILLEGAL “Solution”.
They FAILED to do their part of their “solution”.
And NOW, they are demanding that Sri Lanka implements SRi Lanka’s part of their FAILED ILLEGAL “solution” that they imposed at GUNPOINT, and FAILED to HONOR themselves!
There is no other word for it, but RAPE! Under which Internationally accepted LAW is Sri Lanka compelled to deliver a RAPIST’S baby?
Is there a GREATER CRIME than the STUPIDITY of OUR LEADERS who are STILL arguing this issue and TREATING India as ANYTHING MORE than a ABUSIVE NEIGHBOR who should be kicked in the behind out of the house, down the road, and out the country?
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We should not listen to India on 13 A – Gotabaya
DailyMirror.lk
July 2, 2013
Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said today that Sri Lanka should not listen to India with regard to the implementation of the 13th Amendment as the national problem was inherently one that should be solved by Sri Lankans.
“We should not listen to India on this; this doesn’t meant that we lose the relationship we have with India. But if there is a problem it should only be solved by Sri Lankans and not India,” he said.
He said the national question should have a homegrown solution — and the debate about 13th Amendment should not affect the relations between the two countries.
“India is our friend and we need to continue the good relations. This should not be an issue to strain our relationship, and I’m of the view that India understands that. They should understand that this is inherently a Sri Lankan issue and we have to address it with a solution that we devise” he said,
Rajapaksa said the “alienation of provinces based on ethnicity” was not the solution to the ethnic issue.
“This is not the solution; and it has failed. There are Tamils living in all parts of the country and Muslims too — so what about them? How does the Provincial Council system solve their problems? I believe in the decentralisation of administration; but I don’t believe that areas should be demarcated according to ethnicity, religion, caste or creed. This country belongs to all Sri Lankans and we have to think in those terms,” he said. (Hafeel Farisz)
July 3rd, 2013 at 7:40 pm
The LACK OF RESOLVE of the GOSL in moving to REPEAL the 13th Amendment DECISIVELY, ENCOURAGES even Foreign NGOs to MEDDLE in Sri Lanka’s INTERNAL POLITICS!
WHAT CHANCE has Sri Lanka for long term SECURITY when its DEFENDERS DITHER wringing their TREMBLING hands?
Oh, How Low the Mighty Heroes of our Hela Diva have Fallen today! Give me leaders who have NOTHING TO PROTECT but their Motherland!
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Expelled German NGO in talks with TNA, TNPF, GTF
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
July 2, 2013
A German NGO expelled from Sri Lanka, at the height of the Vanni offensive, is pushing the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) as well as the most influential Diaspora grouping – the UK headquartered Global Tamil Forum (GTF) to adopt a common strategy on the national issue.
The TNPF headed by former MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam is a breakaway faction of the TNA. The TNA split in the wake of the LTTE battlefield defeat in May 2009 leading to the formation of the TNPF, which contested Jaffna and Trincomalee electoral districts at the April 2010 parliamentary election, on its own. The TNPF is not represented in parliament.
Authoritative sources told The Island that the TNA, TNPF and the GTF had recently met in Berlin under the auspices of the Berghof Foundation to discuss an entire range of issues, particularly the proposed first Northern Provincial Council election.
The NGO is funded by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Sources said that a two-day conference took place on June 22 and 23 with the participation of Suresh Premachandran (Jaffna District MP), M. A. Sumanthiran (National List MP) and Selvam Adaikalanathan (TELO leader and Vanni District MP) representing the TNA, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and S. Kajendran from the TNPF and GTF leader Rev. Father S.J Emmanuel and its spokesperson Suren Surendiran.
The British Tamil Forum (BTF) too, is believed to have participated in the discussions.
The Berghof Foundation suspended its operations in Sri Lanka late April 2008 subsequent to government decision to rescind a work permit issued to the then Country Director Dr. Nobert Ropers. The Berghof Foundation launched its project here in July 2001 on the invitation of the then government.
The TNA’s recent announcement that it would boycott the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to recommend ways and means of settling the national problem should be examined taking into consideration the deliberations made in Berlin, sources said. Responding to a query, an official said that the TNA and the TNPF were believed to be divided over their strategy in case the government called for northern provincial council elections even under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
Sources speculated that TNPF was likely to boycott the elections widely expected to be held in September.
Sources said that Berghof Foundation sponsored two meetings for the same purpose in Singapore (April 2011) and Berlin (January 2013). Sources asserted that the project was aimed at agreeing on a roadmap to achieve their objectives, which remained the same in spite of eradication of the LTTE’s conventional military power.
At the inauguration of the TNPF, the party pledged it was committed to the concept of Tamil nationalism, homeland, Tamil nationhood, Tamil sovereignty and Tamils’ Right to self-determination. The All Ceylon Tamil Congress was the main constituent of the TNPF, they said.
Former TNA MP Pathmini Sithamparanathan had been an original member of the TNPF, sources said, adding that the majority of those who threw their weight behind the new party were close to the LTTE, particularly its top leadership.
July 3rd, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Talking about Emperors Without Clothes, here comes SArath Gonseka, without a stitch to cover his NAKEDNESS.
Instead of crawling into a Black Hole to hide his head in SHAME at his INGRATITUDE & TREACHERY against his Motherland, his Colleagues and his Superiors in Government, this UNPRINCIPLED MAN DARES TO SHOW HIS FACE in the Political Arena AGAIN!
This time he goes ONE STEP FURTHER in his TREACHERY … he supports the 13th Amendment to EMPOWER those very same terrorists who attempted to blow him to bits, and against whom he fought at the HEAD of Sri Lanka’s Patriotic Army.
Does this man know NO SHAME!
He was rescued from the threshold of retirement and given the opportunity he begged for to lead the Sri Lanka Army by Gotabhaya & Mahinda Rajapaksa. He used that position to aggrandize himself, and to arrogate to himself ALL ACCOMPLISHMENTS of ALL OTHER Heroic Officers … his comrades in arms against the LTTE … who bore the brunt of that Heroic War of National Liberation.
Driven by UNBOUNDED AMBITION & GREED, he REPAID the GENEROSITY of the Rajapaksa’s, who raised him up to receive the adulation of Sri Lankan Patriots, by accusing them of a war crime.
Even today, Sri Lanka is STILL trying to Dispel that charge, and overcome its international repercussions, against its Heroic Armed Forces.
Sarath Gonseka, do us PATRIOTS OF LANKA a FAVOR and PLEASE SHUT UP & GO AWAY! We would like to FORGET ABOUT YOU, just as every American Patriot wants to erase the memory of the traitor Gen. Benedict Arnold of the Continental Army in the War of Independence.
To Sarath Gonseka, a hollow man bereft of virtue, that immortal cry “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” is without resonance, of no meaning at all!
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Changing 13th Amendment would disrupt ethnic harmony, Sri Lanka’s former Army Commander says
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
July 03, Colombo: Former Army Commander of Sri Lanka and Leader of the Democratic Party, Sarath Fonseka says amending the 13th Amendment to the Constitution at this juncture would disrupt the ethnic harmony in the country.
Explaining that the solution to the current issues could only be brought about by a new Constitution and not by amending the existing Constitution, Fonseka says the Northern Provincial Council election should be held without revising the 13th Amendment.
He said that he does not agree with the proposed draft constitution put forward by the main opposition United National Party (UNP), especially on the formation of an executive council.
According to Fonseka, his party would contest at the Northern Provincial Council election and would also field a powerful chief ministerial candidate at the North Western Provincial Council election.
July 3rd, 2013 at 8:14 pm
Indo-Lanka Accord is not a valid document – JHU
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
July 03, Colombo: An Ally of Sri Lanka’s governing party, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) says that the Indo-Lanka Accord is an invalid document since India had failed to honor its pledge.
JHU General Secretary, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said that the Indo-Lanka Accord and the 13th Amendment to the Constitution are both invalid.
Addressing a rally in Colombo yesterday, the Minister noted that India had failed to disarm the LTTE as agreed in the Indo-Lanka Accord.
He explained that India had pledged to disarm the LTTE in 72 hours after entering into the agreement but had failed to do.
Therefore, he notes that the Sri Lankan government should realize that the agreement is invalid.
According to Ranawaka, it is a misconception to believe that power could be won in the country by holding the Tamil vote bank in one hand and the Muslim votes in the other.
July 3rd, 2013 at 8:21 pm
Mahinda, Hope you are ok and contribute more to the mother country… DJ is not a honest man and his problem is not publishing his self interest based on marxist bankrupt ideology with colonial christian agenda.
SL need honest politicians that look after the countries interest and we are up against the whole colonial empires backed by a corrupt church and dishonest indians. It is people like DJ who are propagating these foreigners agendas and govt. need to be direct and say we look after our own interest and not the foreign interest.
We have a list of ministers paid by the indians and this make things very complex and Gota is the only one that act on countries interest.
July 4th, 2013 at 5:00 am
HLD,
Wish you all the best in good health & wellbeing !
Get completely well soon – our thoughts are with you. We need you.
————–
By now everyone knows that the 13-A is invalid. But as our giant and erratic neighbor, India needs to be convinced that it is not in the interest of India to have the 13-A in place. India needs to listen to what is True & Just and agree to remove the 13-A which was imposed by India under Duress and therefore invalid. India should try to live up to the motto on her flag “Satyameva Jayate” or ‘Truth wins’. That way, India may win back the lost respect from Sri Lanka.
July 4th, 2013 at 5:25 am
Get well soon Mr. Mahindapala!
You’re one of the greatest son’s of Mother Lanka.
May the Holy Tripple Gems bless you all the time!!!
July 4th, 2013 at 5:38 am
Best wishes for full recovery, I am sure it was not brain surgery. Marxism has linguistic colours. Latin American has shades of Spanish and Portuguese, Chinese is mainly Mandarin. Ours is Inglish. Ceylonese Marxism started with the blessings Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the world’s most celebrated Indian colonial parasite. Nursed by Handys’ they have destroyed the Sinhalese, Moors, Burghers, Malays but not a single Indian colonial parasite of the island nation and managed to preserve privileges enjoyed by the Indian colonial parasites. In the English speaking world and in most countries of the Indian Empire; the Socialists and Marxists to a certain extent are managed by the Indian intelligence service the Third Eye. Then these Marxists influence local politics and non-governmental organizations, universities and the like. The Third Eye and its activities go back to the dates of start of Sinhalese involvement with Marxists and other Socialists. Example; why Hon MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara is batting for the Indians and Indian colonial parasites. The Third Eye; with the assistance of the Indian colonial parasites have managed to run the island nation. They made SLFP, and then JVP was hijacked from North Koreans and then the Indian Terrorist outfit branded Tamil Tigers. This trio over the years with the assistance of the local Marxists and Socialists have managed to kill hundreds of thousands of non-Indians and have destroyed and continue to destroy all non-Indian enterprises. Third Eye made a grave error in putting Mahinda ahead of Ranil. Third Eye and the Indian colonial parasites made this error due to wrong assumptions in analyzing the facts and opinions. It assumed Mahinda will be easy to manipulate like they did with SWRD, Sirima, Chandrika and JR compared to Ranil. Mahinda was an unknown material coming from Thurston College and they did not take in to account his brothers, specially Gotabhaya; they thought Gotabhaya will stay in the West and mind brothers’ money.
July 4th, 2013 at 6:29 am
Dear Mr. Mahindapala,
Glad to learn you’re well and back in the scene defending our bellowed motherland.
I’d like to wish you good health and long life!
July 4th, 2013 at 11:37 am
Looking at the responses, they speak for themselves………I have read your comments, articles & many news about you defending our mother lanka throough PEN & PAPER. Although I do not know you, your articles, & pronouncements are very inspiring to most lankans in Lanka & abroad.
Glad to see you back……I also would like to comment about that NGO from Germany still conrinues to HAUNT Sri Lanka. They do not accept enough is enough. Perhaps he can persuade federal german State to grant a HOMELAND for Tamils who make up a sizemble vote base in Germany in their future elctions. My preference would be for them to go to TAMIL NADU their home base. Do not go to USA or Europe, because then you will be like PARASITES who ruied one country & moving to ruin another.
Re: DJ , well he is a spent force, trying to be alive by publishing SOMETHING which most Lakans find repulsive, & outdated. What can we expect from a HAS BEEN who could not hold a job for any length of time.
May be there suckers in INDIA, and the so called International community, STILL depend on his garbage. Few high sounding words & nothing in particular of any value.
I am gllad that HLD has seen through DJ’s never ending critizism of everyone EXCEPT his & his few followers, who would care to listen. Never assign a job to a NON – Buddhist in a Buddhist country. It never works.
WELCOME, HLD & good to see you back in great spirits…….Another expat who loves Lanka~ J
July 4th, 2013 at 12:02 pm
” Never assign a job to a NON – Buddhist in a Buddhist country. It never works.
WELCOME, HLD & good to see you back in great spirits…….Another expat who loves Lanka~ J”
Above is the most stupid comment I have read in this site. How would you like if someone say “Never assign a job to a Buddhist in a NON- Buddhist country”?.
July 4th, 2013 at 12:35 pm
Alloy, what Jayasiriis says is not to give any job to non-buddhists BUT don’t give any important and crucial jobs such as diplomatic positions in UN systems to Christians such as DJ who may use that opportunity to promote his/her anti-Sinhala, anti-Buddist agendas. It is not a stupid statement but a prudent one by one who loves his motherland.
July 4th, 2013 at 3:46 pm
HDLM,
The People of Sri Lanka, in whom Sovereignty is Vested, have the right to REPEAL the 13th Amendment ANYTIME regardless of whether it was LEGALLY or ILLEGALLY imposed without the CONSENT of the People, if the 13th Amendment in THEIR OWN considered judgment, NO LONGER SERVES THEIR NATION’s BEST INTEREST.
The ILLEGALITY of the 13th Amendment, in as much that it was IMPOSED under DURESS upon Sri Lanka against the WILL of its Sovereign People, only STRENGTHENS the RIGHT & the WISDOM of REPEALING it.
The People of Sri Lanka are SOVEREIGN; they can REPEAL the 13th Amendment through a NATIONWIDE REFERENDUM ANYTIME they WANT to, for WHATEVER REASON. That is what Sovereignty MEANS, and they WANT TO EXERCISE that right.
July 4th, 2013 at 4:05 pm
Samanthi,
Perhaps I read him out of context. The sentence preceding what is quoted is a pointer to that. Anyway lets hear from him if he wants to correct himself.
July 4th, 2013 at 4:41 pm
Ethnicity and religion should NOT be a criteria.
MR made it VERY CLEAR.
2 types of people. Others thigs DON’T MATTER!!
1. Those who love unitary (Sinhala Buddhist identity) SL
2. Those who don’t
ALL important jobs should go ONLY to #1.
NOTHING to #2.
IF north elections are held ALL important jobs in the north PC will go to #2s.
July 4th, 2013 at 11:41 pm
Mr. Mahindapala, who holds his own among a handful of Sri Lanka’s most respected newspaper editors,
has paid a tribute, in characteristic fashion, to the inimitable Mervyn de Silva, DJ’s gifted father.
After all is said and done, We the People, should not unduly worry. Because, as long we keep boasting
Sri Lankans of such calibre, this nation will never say “Yes Sir, no Sir, we’ll fill all your three bags Sir”,
to anyone else on the planet.
This nation, with such a rich history, knows how to maintain cordial relations — based on
Mutual Respect — with people everywhere.
And when the national interest demands it, to simply say “No”.
Please keep the pressure on, Mr. Mahindapala, and stay well.
July 5th, 2013 at 5:55 am
Lorenzo,
Re ethnicity & religion :
It is the Tamil leaders who cry “TAMIL’ all the time. Even the Buddhist Association of Jaffna is called the Tamil Buddhist Association.
We wish they would use the word ‘SRI LANKAN’ instead of Tamil all the time. Will the Sri Lanka Tamils ever be ALLOWED to integrate into Sri Lankan society ?