When our political history is written in a few decades from now, I hope we can say we chose the right side
On Easter Sunday, 253 innocent people including 45 children were killed in a senseless well- coordinated ISISinspired terrorist attack. More than 500 people sustained injuries and are being treated in hospitals as I write this. All evidence revealed to-date suggests that this attack that has terrorized the island and sent ripples across the oceans might have been avoided. However, the self-interests and infighting between President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe appear to have gotten in the way. It seems, through sheer negligence and inaction, President Sirisena and Premier Wickremesinghe exposed scores of people to danger. So what did they actually destroy in the process? 253 lives? Countless families? The economy? National security? The reputation of the country?
All of a sudden, a growing number of
people have begun to convince themselves that the island should return to the authoritarian rule that existed prior to 2014, that national security can be achieved through a culture of white vans, moderate Muslims that constitute the vast majority of the Muslim community and have lived among us for hundreds of years peacefully should be banished despite their screams against extremists that fell on deaf ears etc. These very same people have forgotten the fact that the extremist groups that destabilized Sri Lanka in the recent past originated during the time of that authoritarian rule. These groups are being used as a political instrument to manipulate the thinking of ordinary people for political gain. The mutual growth, some time between 2011 and 2013 of the BBS and the SLTJ (and later NTJ) is an excellent example of this classic political opportunism at play. Sadly, we are gullible.
It is in this backdrop that the people handed Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe the torch to carry the promise of a democratic society in 2015. Ultimately, it is democratic values and rule that ensure national security, protection of citizens regardless of religion or race, the reputation of the country, trickling down of economic resources to ordinary people, good governance, creativity and innovation, and social decency, none of which is achievable within an authoritarian rule. Therefore, it is the hope, promise, and the value of a democratic society that President Sirisena and Premier Wickremesinghe dashed right before our eyes along with 253 lives. To me, this is our greatest loss. Surely, given their evident incompetence, the people must demand their resignation.
The global political history has repeatedly shown us that democratic leaders with poor resolve pave the way for brutal dictators. Clearly, the S i r i s e n a s, Wi ckre m e s i n g h e s, Rajapaksas, their ardent followers, and ideologies built on crude manipulation of the collective psyche they represent have become political liabilities. Where are our young Jacinda Arderns who can grab a crisis by the scruff of its neck and turn the situation around and push us in a progressive direction? There is no excuse for not finding them. Thus, the great majority of moderates must choose the future direction of the country wisely at this critical juncture. When Sri Lankan political history is written in a few decades from now, I sincerely hope that the vast majority of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers, Buddhists, Christians, Muslims and atheists can say that they chose the right side.
Januka Attanayake