Dilrook Kannangara

Events of 1818, 1848, 1915, 1958, 1971, 1983-2009 and 1989 show violence – no matter how hard pressed the people are – cannot be justified. Further examples can be found in Egypt, Libya and Syria where people have resorted to violence and its coming back to bite them. Lack of clean water is a dire situation for the people in Weliweriya as much as fuel for fishermen in Chilaw, saving storm affected fishermen at sea for their families in Dehiwela and narcotics for drug addicted prisoners in Welikada. However, they have no right whatsoever to use violence to get their demands no matter how life threatening they are. Administrative, political, media, religious dignitaries and other peaceful avenues must be used to rectify the situation. Depicting the government in bad light when the UNHRC Commissioner is due in the island in just three weeks is certainly a well planned manoeuvre of the anti-national camp. Similar acts were done by them during UNHRC sessions.

Plenty of peaceful protests take place in the island almost on a daily basis. They start peacefully and end peacefully. However, time to time, especially when the nation is under the human rights microscope, there emerge protests that turn violent. This trend has been continuing with remarkable accuracy. In addition to NGOs paid to destabilise the nation, an anti-national opposition damned to eternal defeat, political parties with racist Tamil apartheid policies, 13A supporters and Middle Eastern fundamentalist parties, there is a new group that supports these in the local scene. They are former allies of the government who came close to the rulers in the immediate aftermath of the war expecting business opportunities. These opportunists are vehemently against the Defence Secretary for not accommodating their corrupt business ventures intoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ various unscrupulous deals rightly rejected by the government. They instigate violence at the opportune time hoping at least this time violence will overpower the ballot.

What would have happened if the violent incidents were not stopped? If the Weliweriya riot was not brought under control, the rioters would have vandalised public and private property, obstructed roads and the riot would have spread to other areas. Similarly the violent protest by fishermen in Chilaw and Dehiwala would have destroyed public and private property. Hard-core criminals serving prison terms would have caused immense destruction with automatic firearms.

The government must also take part of the blame. People have no channel to inform the government their burning problems. Presidential mobile services introduced by a former president only take place close to elections. Minister for Public Relations is an insult to the people as he is very inefficient to say the least. According to history, a South Indian invader by the name Elara (205BC ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” 161BC) sensing the hostility of local population against his invader rule established a bell to be rung by anyone with a grievance against his rule. A modern equal of it is needed today. No ministry or government department can be contacted by the people on a timely manner. Even if they get through, nothing works. This lethargic system must be changed to a robust mechanism that is attentive.

The state of lawlessness must be arrested for people to be disciplined. In a country where a parliamentarian kills a presidential advisor in open public, discipline cannot be expected from the people. Duminda Silva who was instrumental in multiple crimes walks free without spending even a week behind bars. LTTE terrorist leaders roam free without any punishment for their crimes. A Chief Justice who gave the correct verdict as per the 13A to the Constitution which makes it mandatory to seek approval of every Provincial Council was impeached. Security forces personnel acting honestly against reasonable terrorist threats in Trincomalee are remanded. Government forensic investigator looking into the Matale mass grave was mysteriously transferred. Leaders must set a good example.

People must use the ballot to convey their disgust. At the forthcoming election, people must vote against the government. A clear defeat will ring alarm bells compelling the lethargic government to deliver and save the remaining governing structures or be kicked out of office. Stakes are very high for the ruling clan. Defeat at the national level leads to them condemned to war crimes, rightly or wrongly.

If people are unwilling to vote out the government from power, they deserve the government they have.

It must be noted that the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”invincibleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ UNP government that had ruled a continuous 17 years by then was toppled from power by people power that started from the provincial council mechanism. Although the provincial council mechanism has introduced instability, governmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s reluctance to do away with it leaves people an additional avenue to get things done their way.

The ambitious Chief Ministerial candidate who crossed over from the Opposition also has a task. He must join the people, not the ruling party, after the election. Otherwise his political career will die sooner than the next parliamentary election. A ruling party defeat at the provincial election in both the Northern Provincial Council and the North Western Provincial Council will send a powerful message to the government to change its self destructive course. It will also re-enshrine peopleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s faith in the electoral process to get their demands peacefully.