BREAKING THE SILENCE!!! Of cornflakes, ham and bacon - the creation of a “superior class” of citizen

8 February 2013 06:30 pm - 5 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Chrishmal Warnasuriya
BA (Colombo), P Dip. (Hons), LLM (Hons) (London)

The calm ex post facto the storm
Since the sudden “fizzling down” of the hyperactivity in Hulftsdorp and following several weeks of reflection; I’ve finally decided to answer questions like “why are you now silent”, “so what will (y’all) do next” etc. coming from many quarters. I must heed my conscience and at least try to offer an answer to those that rallied around our call to protect the Rule of Law and the Independence of the Judiciary, risking much at times. I’ve wondered why we couldn’t keep quiet, why I didn’t say “no” to requests from colleagues to be a “spokesperson” for our several actions and having considered all arguments that prevailed upon me I need to pen-down these thoughts at whatever cost or risk of safety, criticism or political backlash; as I’ve often quoted Plato says - “the price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men”!

These thoughts are mine alone and not stated in any representative capacity whatsoever. I’m confident that like me, most lawyers & judges who took a firm stand during this time (some at great peril) were doing so in furtherance of their oath and affirmation when assuming office - to uphold and protect the Constitution and the Republic, which by implication extends to protecting the Rule of Law and citizens rights; and will remain committed to this ideal offering no apology or regret for anything done towards this cause!

A “Super Citizen” not subject to ordinary Law & Courts
It was around this same period I recall hearing of some introductions to the parliamentary canteen; of cereal, golden syrup, eggs & bacon and other such accompaniments usually included in a US or Continental breakfast menu. Of course we taxpayers must be pleased that we’re finally looking after the nutrition and personal well-being of our Legislature (perhaps we should also fund a gymnasium where any excesses can be worked out), but the sudden eruption of the impeachment issue prevented my commenting on it at the time. It appears now that breakfast alone was not to be the only difference, for a few days later we heard of a public proclamation that several parliamentarians had blatantly refused to appear before Court as noticed!

" There were still some citizens who believed that they did not need to pursue politicians to get what was justly due to them – they could go to court and despite the very valid complaints of laws delays etc. there was still, at least some justice that was being “seen to be done”; so what happens when that faith is destroyed? "

The law that we have studied (coincidentally which some of our legislative brethren at Diyawanna have also read - though perhaps lack of practice thereafter looms ominous in its ignorance) only provide an express immunity to the Head of State from appearing before Court; no one else is granted such “special treatment” before the Law. In terms of Article 12(1) of the Constitution we are all supposed to be “equal and to be equally treated before the Law”; now this was the Constitutional Supremacy that we argued in Court and which their Lordships of the Supreme Court accepted without division by determination dated January 2, 2013, which in so far as I am aware only the Supreme Court of this Republic is authorised to interpret and proclaim in terms of Article 125; however that was in terms of the 2nd Republican Constitution of 1978 in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka prior to 13th of January 2013.

So now do we have another “superior class” of citizens who are not equal before the Law of the Republic, who decide by themselves whether they will appear in Court or not? Not conceding such “supremacy” exists even for a moment but surely, should not the correct step (at least to show some respect to the law) have been to appear before court and then plead whatever objection or “supremacy” they claimed? As a learned friend had commented in the press so may acts over this period have made a sheer mockery of the Law of Contempt of Court; not only were persons openly commenting on the judicial process, judgments and the court process, they were publicly ridiculing the highest judges of the land! Ironically a former Lord Chief Justice who committed a Hon. Minister to jail for criticising a judgment, this time around appeared to be on the same side with him – politics make strange bed-fellows - no? In the meantime our dear friend the Hon. Justice Minister wishes to amend the Law of Contempt in Sri Lanka!

Spin Doctoring & so called “Media Freedom”-
I did not believe it at first, when someone told me that there was an actual “unit” that ran on the tax payers money to decide on what headlines would “hit the press” the following week and offered “advice” to media bosses as to what they should or should not publish! Over these last few weeks I’ve come across persons from the so called “private media”, even some friends I had known since our school days in Mt. Lavinia confiding in me – “Sir (or machan) – can we have a statement / voice cut from you ... but you can’t say ... this & this ... or please don’t comment on that part in Sinhalese ... we can’t print / play it ...”; I was horrified and immediately questioned as to what had happened to the “independent media”; all they could manage was a rueful smile!

So my dear friends it appears that the danger in breakdown of institutions is simply the tip of the iceberg; there is much more that you and I do not see that happens with the “spin machines” that operate beyond our innocent comprehension. It is they who decide whether the public would be discussing a “Lamborghini”, a “cricket controversy” or a “cabinet re-shuffle” next week, as the magician keeps the audience focused on exactly what they want whilst the “sleight of hand” works behind the scenes; accomplishing all that is needed without any attention and unknown to you and me who is supposed to be the “supreme sovereign citizen”.

Perhaps even this article may not get published except by the usual (and exceptionally) brave editor and I wouldn’t blame them; leaving my future aside even their own prospects may be placed in peril; the improbability of these thoughts ever reaching the Sinhalese reader is almost a certainty – such are the times we live in, my dear fellow Sri Lankan!

A Pseudo-Opposition
Writing on the eve of our military victory over the forces of terror under the title “Some perspectives of the War-Torn generation” (published in the press - 27/05/2009) I quoted His Excellency incumbent President Rajapakse, congratulated and encouraged him to lead us to that “better tomorrow”; the pristine glory that we have been told stories of as toddlers being lulled to sleep; the glory days of Sri Lanka we read of as students of history and social studies languishing through three decades of a bloody war; this golden soil that many of us did not abandon but returned to having sailed yonder and qualified; thus returned, many with only gloom ahead forsaking greener-pastures, chipping-in and “tightening our belts” as much as possible for the war-effort; suddenly hope sprang in all of us on the 19th of May 2009. Still there is only that leadership of His Excellency President Rajapaksa that is visible to us the voters but even His Excellency needs to shed the “fake-patriots” that cling on like leaches for their own survival, misleading his administration at every step; if and only if!

There is another “if only” that is our greatest misfortune as Sri Lankans; the lack of a potent, virile and forceful opposition that can place a cogent challenge to the regime and pose a true & present danger of being elected to govern by the voter; therefore with due apology and respect to all those in the UNP and JVP who stood with the citizens in this struggle, we can’t see either party at that stage yet! I hasten to also add that we must be-warned against being side-tracked by several calculated moves that may appear to be an “opposition” but are really a continuation of the regime in authority. During the impeachment issue I was quizzical over several moves and public statements; some in the present regime claimed that the impeachment commenced at the request of the opposition? Then there was that “neither here-nor there” attitude of the Opposition Leader Wickramasinghe; over the last couple of days we’ve been hearing him “challenging” the regime to hold a referendum (claiming that the government wants to hold one to extend the term of parliament) – is this a valid alternative to a presidential/general election that the citizen wants? Who is it that really doesn’t want to face an election but to extend their terms in Parliament (whatever side they are seated on)? Whose agenda is this really? Who are these people trying to hoodwink?

We need to follow these trends carefully because as we have now seen and heard, what meets the eye may not be all that it really is; is this some more “spin doctoring” to mould our public opinion of things to come? There is also talk of a constitutional amendment, so will we now see a repeat effort of a previous regime to offer an “all-in-one sugar coated cyanide capsule” which the people will have no option but to say “yes” or “no” to the whole package?

“Politicising” Institutions – citizens beware!!!
Finally my fellow citizen, I see another danger which I’d like to place on record with what may very well be my “Pelican Brief” (as in the movie)! Over the last few weeks of the now unlawful impeachment of a sitting Chief Justice, I wonder whether there was also a covert attempt to purposely undermine and reduce the faith of the people in the Judiciary and the Law; I reasonably suspect so for the following reasons:

As things stand now we have since independence gradually given away more and more of our sovereign powers to our “elected representatives” to such an extent that the concept of representative democracy begs the question “who is the servant, who is the served”? We don’t actually get to elect whom we want; we only pick from the list that a political party places before us for assent! Through this process and the occasional duty-free Landcruisers, continental breakfasts and now even (assumed) immunity from the law & courts; we have gradually elevated those who are supposed to serve us to the status of a super-star! We appear to be helpless without them from the birthday of our child, through his/her school entrance, wedding and finally the funeral as well. Thus from the top commercial magnate who supports all sides at an election to the daily-earning citizen, the “politician-super star” has carefully built up a system of “dependency on politics” to get anything done.

The only obstacle (as may be seen by some such super-stars) standing in the way of absolute dependency is the Judicial Process! There were still some citizens who believed that they did not need to pursue politicians to get what was justly due to them – they could go to court and despite the very valid complaints of laws delays etc. there was still, at least some justice that was being “seen to be done”; so what happens when that faith is destroyed? Where is the citizen compelled to turn to then?
So my dear fellow citizen, with what may very well be my final appeal to you on this discourse that we began a few months back, my humble plea to you is not to lose your faith no matter how dismal it appears; particularly in your Sovereign Judicial Power that has been vested absolutely and inalienably in YOU, THE CITIZEN and no other; I thank all those that stood with us in our battle to protect it, and though it may very well appear to be over, those that arose appear battered and bruised in the face of the brute force that we were met with; it is important to note that there are several such battles to overcome to win a war! Spare a thought for those simple lawyers and activists who don’t have the benefit of your tax money to protect them with rows of bullet-proof vehicles and security; they too have young families and children who need their fathers/mothers in the evening when the work is over. YET with all that in their face, some will still continue their sworn journey; new ones will arise where others are made to fall or get destroyed; as long as YOU THE CITIZEN keep your faith in the system of governance that you are constitutionally entitled to, as long as you demand to be governed by the Rule of Law and not by Power; then you do not need to be subservient or subjugated to any other power or authority – in the Republic of Sri Lanka it is US, THE PEOPLE who are meant to be sovereign (Article 3), WE make our laws [Article 4(a)], WE execute them [Article 4(b)] and WE adjudicate upon them [Article 4(c)]. Thus my wish to you, to us is as it has always been – POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

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Comments - 5

sameen jan Saturday, 09 February 2013 02:39 AM

Who other than you says you are a 'good man?
Do you say you are brave too?
Join the forces they need men like you.
Where were you when the 'war' took place?

Calistus Jayatilleke Sunday, 10 February 2013 08:22 AM

Any right thinking citizen in the country can very well clearly see now how the so called executive presidency is becoming an all enveloping monster with flames of democracy and freedom being blown out one by one through politicisation of each and every aspect of the soceity, whilst a so called opposition is watching like a group of baboons.

RKO Sunday, 10 February 2013 11:16 AM

Nice pic
its what happening in sl

Mason Monday, 11 February 2013 08:33 AM

People's power is needed to bring back constitutional democracy, law and order, justice etc which have been destroyed by the government. However, if we are to look back never has there been a mass uprising in the country for whatever cause. Every time the people have been USED by the politicians to get to power and thereafter booted away.
This submissive nature of the people have to change if we are to have good governance.

NAK Wednesday, 13 February 2013 06:02 AM

A change of government in SL is needed for US,UK block in order to poke their finger in our affairs and manipulate things in such a way that we can be kept under their thumb forever.
Those who cough in order to achieve that end are well rewarded and now we can see that from what is coming out in the spat between the co-existence and the Norwegians. Its only the beginning and better dances will be towards dawn.

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BREAKING THE SILENCE!!! Of cornflakes, ham and bacon - the creation of a “superior class” of citizen

Comments - 5

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