போராட்ட இயக்கத்தின் முன்னணி உறுப்பினர்களை தனிப்பட்டமுறையில் இலக்குவைப்பதன் மூலம் அந்த இயக்கத்தை ஒடுக்குவதற்கு அரசாங்கம் மேற்கொண்டுவருகின்ற முயற்சிகள் முன்னெப்போதையும் விட நாட்டை துருவமயப்படுத்திக் கொண்டிருக்கின்றன. போராட்டத்துக்கான அடிப்படைக் காரணிகளைக் கவனத்தில் எடுத்து கையாளுவ…
The government’s efforts to suppress the protest movement by targeting its leading members individually have polarized the country more than ever. Instead of addressing the root causes of the protests, the government has been targeting key members of the movement under emergency law on flimsy – and dubious – charges. Under this emergency law, ordinary law and the security guarantees it provides are suspended. The government’s parliamentary balance sheet appears strong, but public support for the government is very weak, Fitch Ratings, a credit rating agency, said on July 28, 2022. Therefore, it is important for the government to listen to the legitimate voices of the protesters and engage in meaningful dialogue with them rather than suppressing them. As Dr. Mahim Mendis of the Open University recently pointed out in an article in The Island, the polarization of class and social groups in the country is a serious threat to the stability of the political community. Dr. Mendis’s views have been echoed by around 30 civil society activists from various parts of the country. I had the opportunity to meet them over the weekend. During my discussions with local interfaith groups in some of the most volatile areas, one important point was made. That economic hardships have the potential to create conflict at the local level. Another point was that the struggle to achieve ‘system change’ that will ensure that corruption and mismanagement are defeated must be kept peaceful. When the meeting was over and I was about to leave, a woman came up to me and asked if she could speak to me alone. She said she did not want to get into trouble and asked if there was anything we could do to save Vanapita Jeevantha Peiris. The woman identified herself as a resident of the Tholaswala area of Ratnapura district where Vanapita Peiris operates. It is an area inhabited by poor Tamils of Indian origin. Their salaries are very low. They are struggling to keep up with the current inflation. The prices of food items have increased by more than 100 percent. Those who earn a fixed income, especially those who earn less than a thousand rupees a day and are below the poverty line, are struggling. The police came to arrest Vanapita Peiris. But the people want him for themselves, the woman said, because Vanapita helped them run their lives. Venerable Jeewantha Peiris is a well-known figure in the protest movement that was camped out opposite the Presidential Secretariat in Galle Face, Colombo. The police have registered a complaint against him. A court order has also been issued against him to ensure that he does not leave the country as they want to investigate his role in the protest movement. As a member of the ‘Collective for Reforms’, which includes a diverse group of civil society members, trade unionists, businessmen and retired government officials, I participated in discussions regarding the protest movement and its goals. One of those we met at that time was Reverend Peiris. We did not see any violent or arrogant tendencies in him. He was seen as someone who embodied the servant-leadership of the people, which is practiced by Christian religious principles. If political leaders would adopt that trait, which is also seen in other religions, the country could be transformed. Therefore, it is no surprise that 1640 Catholic priests, nuns, ordained brothers and sisters, the Catholic priest of Ratnapura (Sabragamuwa Province) and human rights activists signed a petition on his behalf, expressing serious concern about the possibility of arresting Reverend Peiris. The petition, in a strong condemnation of the government’s approach, states the following; "The declaration of a state of emergency sends a disturbing political message about intolerance towards dissent. The draconian emergency regulations violate freedom of expression, assembly and movement, and can lead to arbitrary arrests and lengthy detentions. The president’s decision to declare a state of emergency has been approved by parliament. This shows that the executive branch and the legislature are on a path of repression.” The current government, although legally formed based on the popular mandate obtained in elections held three years ago, is seen by many as an unjust government that has lost that mandate. This is a government with a president legally elected by parliament. But parliament appears to have lost its mandate. In such a situation, the government needs to reconsider its aggressive approach to dealing with the protest movement. The repressive approach adopted by a government that is legally constituted but is widely seen as unjustified risks further destabilizing the country. The country cannot afford such a situation. Long-standing allies such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and Japan have made it clear that they can only support Sri Lanka if it has political stability, transparency and accountability and a government that has the trust of the people. Slipping Hope In this situation of growing disunity and despair among the people of the country, there is a feeling among the educated and upper classes that there is no one better than President Ranil Wickremesinghe to handle the current political and economic crises. The business community and the affluent sections are ready to give the new president a chance to prove his mettle. These sections of society are afraid of the long-term consequences of the protests, believing that extremist leadership has come to the forefront of the protest movement. However, the severe fuel crisis and high inflation are giving the movement the incentive to continue unabated. What is currently seen is a lull in the protest movement. The above-mentioned sections, fearing a complete breakdown of law and order, point to the burning of 70 houses of government members. President Wickremesinghe is currently the main character. As a political leader, his experience and maturity are high. One reason why he was unable to fulfill his promises during his previous terms as Prime Minister is that his efforts were hindered by the Presidents who preceded him. During his terms as Prime Minister, he was keen to ensure that the government’s repressive pressure on the people was kept to a minimum. Wickremesinghe ruled with a soft approach, both during the Norwegian-sponsored ceasefire with the LTTE and the peace process, and during the post-war period of good governance. He was therefore able to win the trust of ethnic and religious minorities and civil society, who believed in moderate and consensus-based politics. Those who believed in Wickremesinghe and his potential contribution to society said he would have been the best president Sri Lanka has ever had. They would also say he was more suited to a Western democracy than to a Sri Lankan democracy where racism and false promises have taken the forefront. They are not convinced that Wickremesinghe is a prisoner of the self-interested forces that have led to the mass demand for “systemic change.” The ethnic and religious minorities, as well as sections of the majority who believe in a politics centered on the common good, are still confident that Wickremesinghe will overcome the current corruption, mismanagement and tyranny that they believe in. It is essential that this happens. Otherwise, all hopes of political stability and recovery from the economic crisis will slip away.