Seven Reasons Why The Single-Issue Common Candidate Project Will Not Work
By Shyamon Jayasinghe -July 29, 2014
Shyamon Jayasinghe
Sri Lanka’s political evolution has clearly arrived at a crisis stage that demands just one great imperative action by the people, namely the abolition of the institution of Executive President. The current incumbent in office,Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR), has done one salutary service and that is to demonstrate the serious fault lines in the system by reducing it to the absurd drama that the JR Jayewardene-led United National Party government script can turn into. Governance has been reduced to shambles and the basic need for law and order and public confidence in what the rulers do has been totally obliterated. The character of the powerful executive created by the script has been able to capture every democratic institution-the Cabinet, the Parliament, the judicial system, the policing agency, the electing mechanism and the media all of which must necessarily have some measure of independence and teeth to checkmate any possible abuse of power. A fundamental reality of the use of power is its potential for abuse if gone unchecked. That is the nature of human behavior and it is doesn’t vary with a JR, a Premadasa, a MR or even a possible Ranil Wickremesinghe. There are no angels in politics. Read More
A Common Strategy
Momentum is gathering. At the mention of an unlikely common candidate, in the form of Wigneswaran (Kusal Perera’s contribution), mainstream English editorials were quick to respond with what can only be called reactive political propaganda. One editorial was called, ‘President Rajapaksa, the undisputed choice’ [1], another editorial was called ‘Masses hail President Mahinda Rajapaksa’,[2] a opinion was called ‘President’s political acumen incomparable’,[3] and a feature was called ‘The President: quintessential common candidate.’ [4] The pro-government paper The Island, contained a feature called ‘MR can head next government democratically.’ [5] It is clear therefore that for every statement made in the press about a common candidate, the mainstream media will be abused into producing ten more that support Rajapaksa.
But as is clear to all those who have been following recent events in Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa will not head the next government democratically. He has subordinated the mainstream media and the judiciary, he has compromised the civil and foreign service, he has induced fear and self-censorship into what he calls a ‘peaceful’ democracy, and his regime has villanized, bullied and intimidated all those brave souls who stood, who still stand, against him. Those who yet believe that by siding with the President they have more to gain than by standing against him, have only to look at the Muslim community’s (SLMC sadly still tows this line) futile calls for peace in the wake ofAluthgama. None were arrested, the police stood by. Further, the North is militarized, despite the wipe out of the LTTE, and upon the least hint of dissent in the South, of declining Presidential popularity; will there be hesitation at militarizing the rest of our nation? Read More
