The people cannot be duped forever

2 April 2014 04:58 am - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The election results for the two provincial councils, western and southern, clearly indicate the erosion of the chauvinist mass base of the Mahinda regime. This was expected by the opposition. On the other hand the government leaders believed that by showing the bogey of international imperialist intervention, they could dupe the plebeian masses to cluster around the regime. They think that by wearing a white sarong and waving the fist in the right direction they could arouse the patriotic feelings of Sinhala masses. However masses have matured beyond that and they gave clear indications of dissatisfaction with the socio economic policies followed by the government guided by the global capitalist masters. Yes of course the UN decision was much utilized by the government to change the voting pattern and it had a definite influence. Otherwise the result could have been disastrous for the government. In any case there is nothing for the government to be happy about the elections, as the blow against fascist styled rule is heavy.

Your Excellency’s government has yet to win the peace in spite of the fact that the army under my leadership won the war. There is no clear policy to win the hearts and minds of the Tamil people, which will surely ruin the victory, attained

Though the movement of mass support away from the government is clear, one cannot be happy about the alternatives selected. Both the JVP and the DP are not in sympathy with the issue of devolution. Both failed to support the implementation of the LLRC recommendations. Also they are dubious about a solution to the Tamil national problem though they supported the repression of the Tamil liberation struggle. According to a leaked version of what is said to be General Sarath Fonseka’s retirement letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the latter complained about the lack of reconciliation towards defeated Tamils. It also had a political tone aimed at wooing the Tamils, many of whom at that stage probably loved to hate him. The general told Mahinda, his commander-in-chief, that he won for him the war but the President failed to capitalise on it and win the peace. “Your Excellency’s government has yet to win the peace in spite of the fact that the army under my leadership won the war. There is no clear policy to win the hearts and minds of the Tamil people, which will surely ruin the victory attained (sic) paving the way for yet another uprising in the future,” the leaked letter said. Thus he indicated the possibility of reconciliation in such letters. However he has not come out with a clear statement on this issue. On the other hand the JVP stand for equality within a unitary state. In effect they are against devolution which can create self rule. Thus the most important democratic problem will not be solved by shifting the power to such parties or to any coalition that include these parties.

The votes to parties who campaigned for the rights of minority nationalities have gone down drastically. Even Tamil and Muslim communities have rejected such parties. In particular, the NSSP could not even come near the vote they mustered in 2009

In this election the main bourgeois opposition, the UNP was able to improve its position in relation to the ruling party. Many voters from oppressed communities have voted to defeat the communal policies of the government. The UNP was able to win in several such cosmopolitan areas. On the other hand the votes to parties who campaigned for the rights of minority nationalities have gone down drastically. Even Tamil and Muslim communities have rejected such parties. In particular, the NSSP could not even come near the vote they mustered in 2009. It is a blow to the campaign for unity with power-sharing, as it could mean that nobody is interested in unity with power-sharing, in an amicable self-determination.

In a scenario where the ruling party displays the disease of majoritism, it is very important to promote the idea of unity with power-sharing. If such devolution is rejected then the options are either separation with the intervention of global powers or submission to the majoritism of the fascist styled regime. Either way it will be a threat to the democracy in the Indian subcontinent. There is an acute problem of making the masses aware of the dangers that emerge with a victory over the government in power. Displacing a fascist-style regime should lead to democracy and freedom, not anarchy or enslavement.

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The people cannot be duped forever

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