‘Blowing in the wind’ and blowing away exclusivist politics - EDITORIAL

Bob Dylan, the famous US anti-war activist, wrote the song ‘Blowing in the wind’ protesting the US-war in Vietnam. It called for an end to the war and raises questions regarding war, peace and freedom. We ourselves have lived through a near three-decade long ethnic war which was brought to an end on the banks of the Nanthikadal. 

The actual numbers of civilian lives lost during that period are still not known. UN agencies put the numbers of Tamil civilians killed at around 40,000 -vide UN Secretary General Banki Moon report.

Government data on the number of deaths during the final stages of the war put the figure at 9,000. The LTTE is estimated to have been responsible for 3,700 to 4,100 Sinhalese and Muslim civilian deaths.

What is of importance today, is that these deaths represent human beings killed during that violent era. What is sad however, was that no serious effort has been made by successive governments to tackle the root causes which led to the ethnic war. 

Though successive presidents did visit the North, none dared face the public during their brief visits. They also came as conquerors, rather than as leaders of one country, irrespective of race, ethnicity and religion.

All of this changed when current President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited Jaffna over the past few days. 

As is usual, Dissanayake met with government officials, members of the tri-forces, police and officials in the district. Our sister paper ‘Lankadeepa’ reported that the people of Jaffna gave the president a warm welcome. Dissanayake also took time off to pay last respects to the late leader of the ITAK or Federal Party -Senadhiraja.

While security measures were in place, the president mingled with the people freely-a change from past years where presidents kept a distance from the people who gathered to meet them. The presence of large welcoming crowds, which gathered at the president’s public meetings, bode well for the country

The people of Jaffna have shown a willingness to trust the NPP government. It is now the government’s duty to grab this chance with both hands and further strengthen the buds of new-found unity. 

In days after the November 14 parliamentary polls, there were visible signs of change’ in the North; several security checkpoints and roadblocks were either removed or minimised. Among them, was the removal of the major checkpoint at Elephant Pass. 

During his visit to Jaffna two days ago, President Dissanayake promised that the return of private lands was being looked into. He spoke of establishing Industrial zones in the north which would bring employment opportunities and improve living standards. He also encouraged Tamil young men and women to apply for posts in the police force. He also promised a firm stance against Indian fishermen “illegally” poaching in Lankan waters. 

Hopefully, the new government will put into practice the promises it has made. Its initial moves are building trust between the government and the Tamil people. We can only hope the government will build on this trust.

Immediate past President Wickremesinghe promised Tamil political parties that he would provide a solution to the causes which led to the ethnic war. However, he reneged on his promises. It led to the people of the north rejecting these regional political parties and reposing considerable trust in the President and his NPP government.

Government must now build on its first small steps to restore confidence it will treat all communities with justice and not favour any particular section of the Lankan social fabric.

The defeated Tamil political parties too need to rethink their political strategies. It does look as though the old nationalistic and exclusivist political sloganeering are fading from Lanka’s political horizon. Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese have all seen how the politics of hate has only led to divisions and a pauperisation of the country. They are looking for economic relief.

The NPP has signaled a new political culture. They can build on this and take the country out of its present sad state. If they fail, people may lose faith in the democratic processes and we may well see a return to the days of scarcities, mayhem and lawlessness as witnessed during the ‘Aragalaya’.