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| Sunday, 13 June 2004 |
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Editor, Sunday Observer. E-mail: [email protected] Snail mail : Sunday Observer, 35, D.R.Wijewardana Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Telephone : 94 11 2429239 / 2331181 Fax : 94 11 2429230 Whither the Dharma Rajya? A considerable section of voters, basically the metropolitan and urban middle class who patronise leading Buddhist temples had voted 09 members of the Maha Sangha into Parliament. We presume they were attracted by the concept of Dharma Rajya, which the Jatika Hela Urumaya (JHU) promised to usher in this conflict ridden society of ours. The learned and pious monks promised to abhor the politics of untruth, falsity and violence that characterises most of the major and minor politicians of the day. Noble thoughts indeed! In the wake of a Buddhist revival in the cities following the lone but media-aided campaign conducted by the late Ven. Soma Thera against un-Buddhistic practices and in the aftermath of the Thera's sudden demise the JHU moved in to fill a void for leadership among the Buddhist public. No doubt the innocent public were taken in by concepts like Dharma Rajya and paramita puja taken from the Buddhist lexicon. The Buddhist public expected the JHU politician monks to set an example in good conduct following the noble teachings of the Buddha. Unfortunately their conduct in and out of Parliament during the last few weeks has failed to justify these expectations. While charges of abduction and blackmail are hailed against them from certain quarters these politician monks have gone on record as using the language of hate and acrimony instead of maithree chinta. Ven. Akmeemana Dayaratana Thera's feigned ignorance of the Court Order preventing him from taking oaths as an MP, which led to the ugly scenes (which none could condone) in Parliament last week can in no way be considered an act worthy of a disciple of the Tathagata. In the space of a few weeks the JHU monk politicians have shown that they are no different from their lay colleagues. Just as in the case of most other political parties there is a huge gap between the words and deeds of the JHU. The dharma rajya rhetoric has been only a deception to get votes just as old JRJ used the dharmishta samajaya to usher in the open economy. This reminds one of a saying by Lenin to the effect that masses will be fooled as long as they fail to see interests of some class in society behind every slogan that is uttered in public platforms and pulpits. The open collusion between the UNF and the JHU, the class character of the latter's financiers among whom were many friends, supporters and leaders of the UNF shows that the JHU is none other than a proxy of the UNF itself. Just as National Socialism was a stepping-stone for the rise of fascism in Europe, ethno-religious fundamentalism cloaked in the Buddhist lexicon could be a stepping-stone for the rise of a potential fascist theocracy in Sri Lanka. Hands off Cuba! The United States government, which is continuing a 45 year old criminal blockade of Cuba in violation of UN principles and the wishes of a large number of US Congressmen and voters last month announced a series of new measures aimed at destabilizing that country and installing a pro-US puppet regime. Among the new steps proposed are increased funding to create an internal opposition, intensification of subversive activities inside Cuba and measures to undermine the tourism and other industries. Military planes are already broadcasting subversive transmissions against Cuba. The US has also decided to intensify its international campaign to distance other states from Cuba. The Guantanamo military base, which the US is presently occupying illegally is to be made a launch pad for the invasion of Cuba. It is apparent that President Bush in announcing these new measures against Cuba has the coming Presidential election in mind. It was largely due to the emigrant Cuban vote in Florida that Bush managed to get elected as President. As in the case of Iraq, the United States is spreading a lie, one that is even more preposterous, that Cuba is developing biological weapons. Governments and peoples of the world should unite in defence of Cuba and prevent power-hungry maniacs in Washington attacking yet another sovereign country under fake charges. The Cuban people, on their part, are more than ready to defend their land and their dignity. The US will face a more ignominious defeat than they faced at the Bay of Pigs invasion. Hands off Cuba! |
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