கலாநிதி ஜெகான் பெரேரா பாராளுமன்றத்தில் பெரிய வாக்குகள் வித்தியாசத்தில் ஜனாதிபதி ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்க தெரிவுசெய்யப்பட்டதை அடுத்து கடந்த நான்கு மாதங்களாக நீடித்த அரசியல் மற்றும் பொருளாதார குழப்பநிலை முடிவுக்கு வரும் என்று பொதுமக்கள் மத்தியில் தற்போதைக்கு ஒரு நம்பிக்கையுணர்வு ஏற்பட்…
Dr. Jehan Perera
The election of President Ranil Wickremesinghe by a large margin in Parliament has given rise to a sense of optimism among the public that the political and economic turmoil that has lasted for the past four months will end. Addressing the House after his victory, he invited opposition leaders, naming some of them, to join hands with him. It is widely accepted that Wickremesinghe has the necessary knowledge and years of governing experience to steady the ship of state amidst the current storm.
Apart from political activists, the people in general are tired of the endless street protests and the long queues waiting daily to get essential goods. They need a break. This has been acknowledged, at least implicitly, by the leaders of the protest movement. They have announced that they will withdraw from certain areas of the protest site where they have been besieged for 104 days, in compliance with a court order obtained by the police.
Amidst these positive developments, it is difficult to understand why the army and police jointly attacked the protest site in the early hours of the morning, 12 hours before the protesters had announced their withdrawal. They showed iron fists with silk gloves. The brutality with which the soldiers and police attacked and tortured those present at the protest site was shocking.
There is also suspicion that a third force was present. There have been complaints that some of the uniformed armed forces were drunk. The term third force is often used in cases of abuse or misconduct by security forces against civilian groups. If there is a third force, it must be identified and strengthened.
The attack by the soldiers and police was immediately condemned. "The attack on peaceful protesters at Galle Face in Colombo in the early hours of this morning is brutal and reprehensible," the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka said. The commission, a government body, also advised the government to identify those responsible for the attacks and take appropriate action, and to ensure that the actions of the military or other forces under its control do not violate the fundamental rights of the people in the future.
The joint commission said it would also conduct its own investigations to ensure the rule of law. The possibility of this attack becoming a test case for future military intervention to quell protests by the people must be prevented.
De-escalation
The government’s failure to give the protesters a few hours to leave has opened the door to harsh criticism and put the government on the defensive. The coordinated attack by the military and police on peaceful protesters and the blocking of ambulances and medical personnel from reaching the protest site have drawn international condemnation at a time when the country is in dire need of international financial assistance.
The International Monetary Fund and the European Union have made human rights standards and accountability principles a condition for their assistance. It is noteworthy that the European Union has reminded the government in its statement that Sri Lanka must comply with its human rights obligations if it is to continue to receive GSP+ tax concessions.
At a time when emotions are running high and there is a risk of society becoming polarized, it is essential for the government to de-escalate the situation. In a meeting with the foreign diplomatic community in Colombo, the President assured the diplomats that Sri Lanka respects the right of people to peacefully assemble, a statement issued by the Presidential Media Division said.
It was also pointed out that there are many places within Colombo that can be used to hold protests. No other venue can provide the same level of visibility as the open space at the Kalimukthittal ‘Arakalaya’ protest movement.
President Wickremesinghe, who claims to be very knowledgeable about international procedures, also informed the diplomats of the American Civil Liberties Union’s position on the occupation of government buildings by protesters. He stressed that such occupations and blockades are unacceptable.
The use of military force may seem to be effective at one point. But for popular movements, it only delays the results. That is unfortunate. The best way to deal with the protest movement and the ongoing protests is to pay attention to their concerns. The protest movement also reflects the concerns of the public at large. The protest movement has the support of the people. If it acts taking into account those concerns, it will give the government a chance to find justice.
It is important to remember that all sections of the population participated in the protest movement, crossing generations and ethnic divisions. The protest movement has created a capacity for people to take to the streets and hold large-scale protests if the need arises again.
Restoring Justice
It is ironic that the victory of the protest movement brought Wickremesinghe to the presidency. Since it was the very force of struggle that brought him to power, it can be seen as a force for change if the protesters are viewed in a positive light, not as his enemies.
Economic factors are what brought the protest movement to the forefront. Those factors are still there. That is why they continue to be a powerful force. They demanded that Wickremesinghe step down immediately after the presidential election results were announced. But their main demands for reform are entirely legitimate. They include a systemic change that would ensure accountability and end corruption in government. The international community, especially the International Monetary Fund, is demanding the same from Sri Lanka.
Furthermore, the parliamentary majority that elected the president was based on a mandate given by the people in an election three years ago. The issue of the legitimacy of the newly elected president and the government he appointed, which is made up of ministers from the previous government, has been further complicated by the complaints made about the presidential election.
One of the candidates running in the presidential election publicly alleged that the votes of members of parliament were bought like teak trees. The margin of victory between the defeated opposition candidates and the winner was unexpectedly large. There are numerous reports on social media of large sums of money being exchanged to persuade their members of parliament to vote against the decisions taken by the parties.
Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and President Wickremesinghe, when he was Prime Minister, had promised to form an all-party government. That is why the government’s current mandate is questionable. An all-party government is widely seen as the only solution to the current crisis of legitimacy. But the new government’s inauspicious start seems to make it even more difficult for the President to form such an all-party government.
The President will have to work very hard to form a legitimate government that can interact with the protest movement, opposition parties and the international aid community.
President Wickremesinghe has the opportunity to reach out beyond party divisions, including the party that voted him into power. The alternative to that could be a confrontation with the protest movement. Signs of that have been visible recently. Let’s hope that this does not happen again!