Needed: a more vigorous process

by P. Krishnaswamy

Prof. Shahul Hasbullah: What I have observed is that the people, specially the educated and the middle class , are generally very happy over the change.

The passing of the 19th Amendment commanded an overwhelming support from virtually all political parties and political groups because everyone wanted a change - a change in the existing system of governance.

The minority communities felt uncomfortable and unsafe over all executive powers being concentrated in the hands of one individual, the Executive President.

They sought a change and the 19th Amendment has offered some significant changes, confirming to their expectations. But still they also have their reservations because all that has been promised with regard to the executive powers of the President has not been done fully.

Certain degrees of executive powers have been reserved and the minorities are not very happy about it.

The proposed electoral reform has not been passed and that is also a worry for the minorities although they realise that the majority community will need more time to digest the sudden and drastic change that has been brought about under the 19th Amendment.

In my view the 19 Amendment would be a compromise at all levels - social and ethnic - and would lead to further changes in the future to the benefit of the minorities.

Three prominent persons representing ethnic minorities expressed divergent views on the 19 Amendment to the Constitution.

Nadesapillai Vidhyatharan, Veteran Journalist: The passing of the 19th Amendment has not benefited the Tamils at all.

Neither does it seem to pave the way for a political solution in respect of them.

By supporting it, the TNA has betrayed the Tamils. Over one million Tamils fled to India and other Western countries due to the ethnic problem. Other than the nearly100,000 who went over to India, the rest went to European countries and other Western countries and got the citizenships of those countries. These diaspora communities have the right and the desire to return to their motherland. But nothing has been done to encourage them to return here.

There were anticipations that the 19th Amendment would open the doors for them to exercise their franchise and other democratic rights here. But unfortunately the opportunity has been denied to them since the 19A prevents dual citizenship holders from exercising franchise and other democratic rights here. We are unable to place much hope on the present government in relation to the Tamils' political welfare and political solution.

Under the pretext of denying the rights to Gotabaya and Basil Rajapaksa, the entire Tamil diaspora community has been deliberately denied the opportunity of engaging in politics in their motherland. Much is being said about the different independent commissions, such as the Judicial Service Commission, the Police Commission and the Public Service Commission.

But powers relating to them have changed hands from the President to a handful of selected persons. There is no hope for the Tamil diaspora communities.

Ratnam Dayabaran: This is a political change meant for the country as whole and nothing specific for the Tamils and their unending problems.We have our doubts whether there will be any changes in relations to the problems of the Tamils. President J.R. Jayewardene who introduced the Executive Presidential system roared "Peace, if it is Peace and War, if it is War" because he had the executive powers. That has been the approach of his successors as well. This situation has changed but whether or not anything good will happen in respect of the Tamils under the present leaders is a question that time only will answer.