Letter

Whither Democracy?

In a democracy, all people have the right to exercise their franchise to choose who they wish to represent them in the national assembly - those elected command the confidence of the electorate. In Sri Lanka, any one who disagrees with the conduct of the war is branded a ‘traitor.’ This is witnessed by the violence incurred by media personnel - not that they have more rights, it is just under a democracy people have a right to hold divergent views and to raise questions-to express them in a spirit of tolerance and to accommodate the ‘other’ who differs from you. The mother who weeps at night for her son/daughter killed in the war, the Muslim family that struggles to survive, the widow whose husband has been killed or the family whose loved one has been abducted are entitled to our concern and care, irrespective of their or our own ethnic identity. A ‘traitor’ is one who is selective in his concern.

Our concern should also extend to those who are finding it a struggle to survive, the villager who is deprived of adequate health care, the man or woman who cannot obtain justice because of rampant corruption, or, the child who does not have access to good education because the ‘system’ is weighed heavily against him or her. Such deprivations are inconsistent within a democracy. Indeed, those holding positions of authority have responsibility to be mindful of their comments and in this respect Minister Champika Ranawaka has failed. He has claimed that, Sri Lanka belongs to the Sinhalese and the Tamils and Muslims should go to Tamilnadu and Saudi Arabia respectively. He has further stated that, Sinhalese are the only organic race of Sri Lanka - other communities are all visitors to the country, whose arrival was never challenged out of compassion of the Buddhists. Such comments beg some questions, who gave him the deeds to the island? Is he speaking on behalf of the entire Sinhalese community? If so, who gave him the mandate? Neither he nor his party represents the Sinhalese community. Such ideology is at variance with Buddhist teachings, principles and values. Such comments are nothing but rabid racism which does nothing but bring about communal discord and turn this country into a graveyard.

The minister does not know his history, Mahawamsa says, the Sinhalese too came from India - all of us are migrant’s who settled down here during different periods. The priest who wrote Mahawamsa was a Buddhist monk who came from present day Tamilnadu. Using his comments we should all, including the minister, vacate the island and hand it over to nagas, yakas, veddhas, and others. Minister, human civilisation began all over the world with migration of people for various reasons.

Such chauvinism has no place in a democracy, for too long a small coterie of ruling elite hijacked power and has been exploiting religion and racism, in order to remain in, or, come to power. Instead of provoking discord, politicians should help unite our communities and ensure peace and turn this country once more into a paradise.
Rev. Silva