Democracy redefined

DR.Vickramabahu Karunaratne-2016-07-14

In the last period, world over, the decline of the Left's fortunes and the rampant success of the neoliberal integration was also concurrent with a growing crisis of bourgeois democracy, as more and more of the State's functions were taken out of democratic control and handed over to specialists, businesses, and unelected bodies. Millions of people, lost faith in Parliaments, began to boycott the electoral system. Party elites of right wing parties retreated into manipulations and changing alliances; having less and less to do with mass politics. In Lanka, Mahinda regime became a classic corrupt agent of MNC system; ministers such as Maithri who challenged the system were insulted and humiliated. 

In the old Left which slaved for Mahinda, the result of this was that a generation of leaders emerged who were used as special advisers, think-tankers, policyspinners. Today they are useless even as fascistic agents without real understanding of how to motivate activists and communicate with the broad public. In government, they were all too often advocates of State policy against Maithri and others. As such, they were badly discredited among the Left party members and among young people radicalizing in response to fascistic oppression. New Left leaders emerged within the LSSP and CP who still understood how Left politics was done, while also having a sense of how to fuse these methods with social media communications. Joining with the NSSP they stood firm, ignited the Left base, and thousands hit the streets in defence of the democratic revolution, from the North to the South.

In the past it is Left politics that gave dedication and sincerity to the officials in the government service. In private sector too, the Left leaders in the work place set the example of honesty and forthright work to their colleagues. As such even masters respected the Left leaders in spite of trade union clashes. This tradition set by Left leaders in the work place was the base of Yahapalanaya everywhere. The decline of the Left with coalition politics gave space for bribery and corruption. Thus came the system, with the right amount of money passing hands, would have gained anybody anything that they wanted. In a way it became a new kind of democracy! No need of pleading to masters anymore; collect the right amount of money and you are through. Now this dream has gone. Yahapalanaya or the very notion of Yahapalanaya prevented the common man from his dream. On the other hand, it has crippled the corrupt officialdom. Does that mean, that today, hundreds, if not thousands of people, crowd the corridors of ministries and departments, going from one desk to another with no satisfactory answer to their burning questions?

Does that mean the radical ministers who resorted to violent protests are exposing a real problem in the present day society? There is no easy answer to the school admission problem of the day. Government says that they are taking steps to uplift all schools to the same level or at least to an equivalent status. That is a long-term solution; until then, what can the government do? Grieving parents are losing their patience; they are caught in a cruel cycle of corruption and Yahapalanaya. Radical violence did not give an answer. Still the Education Ministry did not tell the truth to the people. There is no escape from reality and if truth be told to the masses patiently and in a coherent manner then people will be prepared to share the limited resources available in a just manner. In the past, this was done by the Left leaders who had won the respect of friends and foes. Liberal leaders who want Yahapalanaya to survive and justice to prevail must allow the Left leaders to take the matter to the streets and confront the fascist elements who want to ignite so-called patriotic feelings that lead to racial violence. As in the past, explanations coming from the Left, whether the people paid complete attention or not, the relief these utterances would bring unto those who are subjected to, would be a fresh breeze that would calm their minds.

Alternatives
It is true that the political landscape in the country is changing and it is offering diverse alternatives not only to those who rule but more sharply to those who are ruled. Ranil explained that modern scientific discoveries have brought about rapid changes in the communication sphere and truth is available to all those who seek it. The present day youth, having got used to all the amenities of modern scientific discoveries, now look for understanding the 'inner content' of that scientific revolution, that really began with the industrial revolution and still continuing its relentless journey towards the end of time.
Yahapalanaya cannot underestimate the expectations of youth.