Seventy years of Parliamentary democracy
The seventieth anniversary of Parliamentary Democracy in the country was celebrated. A worthy celebration, no doubt. Some Parliamentarians did not join in, perhaps due to their grievance that Parliamentary Democracy resulted in their losing political power – an under developed thinking. Two significant features could be attributed to the 70 year period. They are, mellowing of our revolutionary Parliamentarians and the emergence of a criss-crossing brand of Parliamentarians.
Red brand politicians, who claimed to be revolutionary Marxists, Lenixists, Trotskytes, Maoists, Bolsheviks, Stalinists, Che Guevarists etc., who talked of the “Dictatorship of the Proletariat”, not being able to capture power on their own, through sheer frustration, joined hands with political parties which were not even left leaning, entering into coalitions and united fronts, hanging on even to the “Saree Pota”. Political history records that once they entered Parliament, transformation as follows resulted.
Left behind the revolution and embraced democracy.
Gave up wearing red shirts, except on May Day, which has turned to be a day to exhibit political party power.
Changed to be clean shaven gentry clothed in National Dress or Lounge.
Abondoned the theory of “Dictatorship of the Proletariat” and enforced the dictatorship of political parties on the working class and made the workers, tools in the grasp of politicians and political parties.
Forgot the Marxist dogma, “Religion is the opium of the masses” and took to religious observances of all faiths in public and got religious dignitaries to bless them to continued stay in power until man decided otherwise.
Changed from being non-racial to be racial and religious extremists.
Became allergic to the poor man’s transport and got addicted to fast moving luxury vehicles.
Gave up hatred towards World Bank and IMF and practised detente.
Some contributed to the implementation of draconian laws such as the 18th Amendment to the Constitution to prevent themselves from being toppled from power, which misfired and now languish in isolation without political power.
Parliamentary Democracy also produced a brand of opportunistic criss-crossing Parliamentarians.
Whatever it may be, it is democracy that triumphed by transforming our reds and politicians to be Parliament loving democrats which is Sri Lanka’s gain.
And history goes on repeating itself.
Upali S. Jayasekera
Treat them with compassion
As Sri Lankans, we are well aware of the deep divisions and distrust of the other that ensues when there is conflict between different religions and ethnicities. A good number of us are no strangers to the pain and uncertainty that displacement and constant movement brings.
Tens of thousands of Sri Lankans have sought and continue to seek refuge in other countries; some because they have been displaced and have no place to call home and others who choose to immigrate. Almost all of them have been welcomed and supported by their host countries.
The Rohingya are a Stateless people; with both Myanmar and Bangladesh refusing to grant them citizenship.
The 31 Rohingya who have sought a temporary home in Sri Lanka are under the care of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, until a host country accepts them.
Providing temporary refuge in a third country is in line with international conventions to which Sri Lanka too, is party to.
We urge all Sri Lankans, and particularly appeal to Religious leaders, to ensure the safety of refugees in our midst, and to treat them with the compassion and hospitality that Sri Lanka is famous for.
After all, as Warsan Shire, a British - Somali poet, writes in his poem, Home, “ No one leaves home, unless home is the mouth of a shark., .......you have to understand, no one puts their children in a boat unless water is safer than the land, ...........make a refugee camp a home for a year or two or 10.”
Fr. Srian Ranasinghe, Director, Oblate Missions