Is It Going To Be The “Same Old, Same Old?”
By Emil van der Poorten –July 12, 2015
Emil van der Poorten
I don’t know where the title language of this piece originates but it seemed more appropriate than the probably more commonly used, “The more things change, the more they remain the same.”
If one continues to be shocked by the aberrations from democratic practice in those countries that continuously claim to be its protectors, Sri Lanka’s political shenanigans have reached the point where they have ceased even to amuse those with a wry sense of humour. They simply disgust.
And the reason for that disgust is the monumentally insulting behaviour that our politicians seem to insist on thrusting at this country’s electors.
We are internationally reputed as a nation to contain the most sophisticated voting population in the region and one, to boot, capable of navigating the shoals of potential dictatorship with an occasional running aground to keep things interesting. In final analysis, warts and all, Sri Lanka has been viewed, during its time post-British Imperialism as a land where the essentials of democracy were intact.
We are internationally reputed as a nation to contain the most sophisticated voting population in the region and one, to boot, capable of navigating the shoals of potential dictatorship with an occasional running aground to keep things interesting. In final analysis, warts and all, Sri Lanka has been viewed, during its time post-British Imperialism as a land where the essentials of democracy were intact.
Is this still the case, or have we, thanks primarily to the infection of a “master race” virus, let ourselves slide down the slippery slope to despotism with the attendant rampant murder and mayhem?
Suffice it to say, at this point at least, that the indicators, at least for those who believe that the people’s will should prevail and power should not come out of a gun in the matter of governance, are not good.
We thought we were rid of the most violent and corrupt government in our recent history when the mild-mannered Maithripala Sirisena took on and convincingly beat Mahinda Rajapaksa at the beginning of 2015. However, it seems like that was not to be and recent developments amounting to what appears to be a complete capitulation of Mr. Sirisena, now the President, does not portend well for a country that was looking forward to some measure of democracy in practice and the return of the rule of law.Read More
