I pity the nation that cries only at funerals - Khalil Gibran
People of Sri Lanka were compelled to take a
crucial decision on the 17th of November 2005, exactly a year ago when a
heartless invader was gobbling and grabbing a land inch by inch while a
nation wept in the face of heinous attacks by a dreadful foe for nearly
two decades.
An illiterate and a stupid group of Sinhalese on various occasions
had pushed an innocent Tamil public bent on having desired political
reforms on track by democratic means towards armed insurrection.
The dilemma aggravated with wrong political decisions taken by
successive governments. Sinhalese and Muslim communities had paid a
heavy price for the political and human tragedies knowingly or
un-knowingly for over two decades. Economic losses to the nation were
invaluable and the national leaders of all communities and service
heroes killed and maimed was countless...we have had paid more than we
could imagine.
Yet as Khalil Gibran had said, we have been doing the same thing over
and over again till 17th of November 2005. Which meant that we had wept
in the funerals of those felled by the enemy? Although we may have felt
that matters were taken care of, we were never able to face the enemy
boldly as a nation. The right decision taken by the people of Sri Lanka
on 17th of November 2005 places us on a new path for a victorious,
united peaceful Sri Lanka.
The purpose of my article is not to gain the attention of HE the
President Mahinda Rajapaksa or any other by praising his character or
evaluating his first year's accomplishments in office after one year of
this historic achievement. Yet I salute the President for his historic
political feats and extend my deep-seated gratitude to him for bringing
back the lost pride to this country.
In a previous era of terror when our comrades fell one by one before
enemy fire we used to whisper a poem by Martin Nimolar that may still
linger in their minds that goes as follows.
They first came after Jews
They then found them and killed them
I didn't' do any thing to save them
As I wasn't a Jew
They again came after communists
They killed them the communists
I didn't help them
As I wasn't a communist
Thirdly they came after Christians
When they were killing Christians
I didn't do any thing as I wasn't a
Christian
Finally they came after me
I couldn't save myself unfortunately!
As there wasn't anybody left
President Mahinda Rajapaksa came to power before they came after me.
He will give bold leadership to save you and me and we to save you and
you to save us ...we have united. This is the only path to victory as
decided on the historic 17th of November.
President Mahinda, Prime Minister Mahinda, Mahinda - Leader of
Opposition, MP Mahinda, Our Mahinda ...shows the memorable political
trek that had been sauntered by him.
He obtained 4.8 million votes in the General Election 50% of the
total votes polled. He and his nearest rival had a thin margin between
them. Many political critics say that if Prabhakaran supported him he
would have failed.
If put in a different form ...if Prabhakaran permitted his people to
vote and the votes certainly favouring President's opponent, candidate
Mahinda would have been certainly defeated. These political critics may
be of the view that the people of the North and East could do as they
wish without being concerned of Prabhkaran's evil influence. What a
blatant myth is this?
Prabhakaran could only have taken four decisions. Allowing them to
vote for Ranil and influencing towards this end, allowing them to vote
for Mahinda and influencing them towards this end, allowing any person
to vote for a preferred candidate or not allow them to vote for anybody.
Both Ranil and Prabhakaran knew that if the LTTE allowed Ranil to get
votes or if influenced to this effect that Ranil's Southern vote base
would have been destroyed. Prabhakran on the other hand is no fool to
help Mahinda.
Facist Prabhakaran may have never allowed the Tamils to cast their
votes true to their conscience. Then why did he use force to stop the
Tamil vote. Was it to make Ranil win over Mahinda? Or Mahinda to win
over Ranil. No....what he wanted was, to break the country in two
...make it lawless and deal a death blow to the nation.
That's what Prabakaran's intelligentsia had advised him to do
regarding J R Jayewardene's constitution.(He may have even expected a
reply from Ranil as regards the Interim Self Governing Authority) Yet
Prabhakaran may not have ever thought that Mahinda would win the
Presidential race.
On one side was the sitting president and a most powerful block
working for his downfall with a corporate sector working hand in hand
with the conspirators. On another side ...a secret pact between the
incumbent president and Ranil.... another scheme to arrest him and land
him in jail.
On top of this no money to spend. Mahinda Rajapaksa would have been a
loser if he went along with Prabhakaran.
Thondaman siding Ranil, Rauf Hakeem with Ranil, Ven. Uduwe with Ranil,
even Chandrasekeran with Ranil, most Christians with Ranil, most Muslims
with Ranil, Tamils of East and Colombo with Ranil, So how could Mahinda
win? He wasn't a Bandaranaike.
Not only Prabhakaran, even those in the SLFP camp and Ranil's forces
too had this mindset. Mahinda didn't have India nor the international
community on his side. So how could he win? Those close to UNP know that
the money spent on Ranil's campaign is twice the amount that has been
spent over the years on election campaigns from the date of gaining
independence.
Yet there was a gigantic force that Prabhakaran failed to see. It was
the force that was hidden from Prabhakaran, Ranil, the business
community and the international community. The hidden forces were
togetherness, unity amongst us and love for the country.
Nobody knew that this immense force comprised of SLFP'rs, JVP'ers,
JHU's, Socialists, Marxists, Buddhists, Catholics, Hindus, Muslims and
also those born to the Left and forced to move towards Premadasa because
of Chandrika and the Bandaranaikes.
There were artistes, the educated, small entrepreneurs and a majority
of women behind him. The great victory of 17th November is not only the
triumph of these powers but also the future of the nation.
The concept of destroying the country's unity and attacking a divided
nation was defeated on 17th of November.
Today Prabakaran has to face a united race in a united country and a
leader who has brought all parties under one wing....to a leadership who
has made the two major political parties come together.
Yet opportunists awaiting the downfall of the President have again
come to the open. They are re-grouping with Prabhakaran and certain
English newspapers.
Me along with 4.8 million voted not to bring Mahinda to power but to
make the country win and to defeat the likes of Prabhakaran and other
hidden forces. SLFP'ers, JVP'ers, JHU's,those of the PA and progressives
of the UNP shouldered this great responsibility.
The Presidential Election is not a contest between political parties
but a contest between two individuals. This country has on three
previous occasions voted Presidents to power. JR won a past election in
1982 tying the hands of his opponent and taking off her civic rights.
In 1988 Premadasa won through the fear psychosis prevalent at that
time due to an insurrection and other reasons. In 1994 as the main
candidate was killed, there was no contest. Yet Mahinda Rajapaksha won
by a closely contested clean fight.
He after finishing a closely contested fight was waiting for the
arrival of his opponent who didn't turn up as expected. President
Mahinda came across an opportunity to shake hands with him after 10
months. Never was he critical of one in an opposing camp nor did he
harass them. He even today is the same. Even tomorrow he'll be the same.
Those "pathurufying" him in the last election, those voting against
him, those spending for his opponent are today with him.
Keheliya, Mahinda, Rohitha, Ekanayake, Punchinilame, Premasiri, Azwer,
Omar Kamil are all with him. Thondaman and Chandrasekeran are also with
him.
Those who stayed with him are also with him. To win victory for the
country, he put an end to a queue waiting to join the bandwagon.
Today when glancing over a review of the President's one year
performance in an English newspaper, I saw a question being raised as to
how his leadership will affect a forthcoming election. If it is a
Presidential Election he will obtain 1000% more votes than what he got
on 17th December 2005 to win over whoever who contests with him.
It isn't because of a political party, not because of a race, nor a
religion or class but purely because it is Mahinda. I would like to
challenge anybody to enter this arena but the unassuming and brave
warrior that's President Mahinda wouldn't like to do so.
He has been victorious; He should be victorious again not for
individual gain but to protect our nation as petals of a flower... and
as pieces of a chain to protect our nation.
CHIRANG JAYATHU
Sarath Kongahage,
Attorney At Law
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