Point of view:

Presidency and retirement
 

BY PRASAD Gunewardene

SRI LANKA is a nation in South Asia where democracy is vibrant. It has also set an example where Heads of State and Government retire from office at the end of their term specified in the constitution.

All past Executive Presidents set the precedence of graceful retiring from that office and also from all political office they held. President J.R. Jayewardene and D.B. Wijetunga have followed that hallowed tradition.

President Ranasinghe Premadasa met with an untimely death even before he could complete his first term in office. This paved the way for new leaders to emerge from the rank and file of political parties.

Traditions are hallowed in a democracy and leaders must set an example. Hunger to continue in power after retirement is similar to the disease - 'Anorexia'.

Reading recent reports that former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga wants to return to active politics again by nominating herself through a National List slot looks ridiculous.

She has led the country for over a decade. Her presence back in Parliament as a back bencher could be an embarrassment to the Government of her successor.

Mrs. Kumaratunga, prior to retirement claimed she was going home without any mud or blood in her hands adding that she would not even allow her children to do politics. Her intention to return to politics contradicts this position.

The episodes of Premadasa and Mahinda Rajapakse succeeding JRJ and Kumaratunga to that high office have similarities. Both JRJ and Kumaratunga never wanted Premadasa and Rajapakse to achieve such high status in their political careers.

But, both these men had something in common in their long political careers. They were able to muster the support of their party men form grass roots level. This forced the two leaders to nominate them to contest the most important poll in the country.

Both Premadasa and Rajapakse were admired by the masses. They both could wither any storm. They mastered the art from day one in their political career and came in close contact with the people.

Let us examine how Premadasa came to be the second executive President. President Jayewardene was the man who disbanded family bandyism in the United National Party. But he was bent on class. Under him there was a class struggle in the party.

Towards the end of his second term, Jayewardene had ideas to hand over the reins to either Lalith Athulathmudali or Gamini Dissanayake whom JRJ believed would look after the 'class' he belonged to.

Premadasa emerged from the busy environs from Aluthkade in Pettah where the majority people were illiterate. He did not belong to a Walauwwa like other UNP leaders. Premadasa's nomination to the presidency was in suspense as Jayewardene kept Lalith, Gamini and Premadasa guessing.

Jayewardene favoured Lalith and Gamini. But Premadasa was able wither the storm and finally Jayewardene gave in. Premadasa described the offer as a candle burning form both ends as the nation was at that time engulfed with two wars, one in the North and the other in the South.

We must now examine the rise of Percy Mahinda Rajapkse to the high office of the President. Like Kumaratunga, Rajapakse too hailed from a Walauwwa. But that Walauwwa was located in the South. Hence the Colombo based affluent class gave less recognition to that Walauwwa. Rajapakse never boasted that he too came from a Walauwwa.

That was not his way of life. He entered politics like a common man like Premadasa despite his father leaving proud footsteps for him to follow.

Like Premadasa, young Rajapakse was able to muster the support of the people from day one. He walked with the people and moved with them in his career that spanned over three decades. Like Premadasa, he never always received bouquets from his leaders.

It was brick bats all the time. Like Premadasa took the UNP to the people as Jayewardene was more aristocratic, Rajapkse took the SLFP to the people under Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

Mahinda Rajapakse was one man who braved the storm of President Premadasa. None dared to take to streets in protest of the Premadasa administration. But Rajapakse led the famous Pada Yatra from the front.

Premadasa had a lot of respect for young Rajapakse at that time. Once when Rajapakse's protest actions surfaced at a discussion in the UNP, Premadasa said that Mahinda was acting within the democratic framework and was handling his supporters carefully avoiding confrontation.

This was how Rajapakse infused blood and vigour to the SLFP which looked very much like a patient at that time. Like Premadasa led the UNP in Parliament, Rajapakse made the SLFP a strong Opposition in the 1989 Parliament.

A brave and vibrant Rajapakse was always present in the House to take any form of challenge. Once the Speaker ordered Matara District SLFP Member, H.G. Sirisena out of the chamber, Rajapakse did his best to calm the situation.

But the police was called into carry the Member out. Rajapakse intervened and requested the Chair to stop the police from entering the Chamber. This call went unheeded. A posse of policemen led by the then Officer-in-Charge, Inspector Subash Weerasinghe entered the Chamber.

This writer was in the Press Gallery reporting the proceedings for a national newspaper. Rajapakse looked a rugby 'fly half'. He took on the advancing policemen single handed and prevented them from carrying away Sirisena.

Even the strongly built Sergeant-at-Arms, the late Ronnie Abeysinghe could not control the tough Rajapakse. Weerasinghe now an ASP would well remember this episode. That was how Rajapakse displayed his commitment by the party and his people.

In the run up to the nominations of the Presidential Election 2005, it was obvious that Rajapakse should succeed Kumaratunga.

President Kumaratunga who knew well that her term of office should expire in 2005 was thinking of continuing in office for another year. She knew she could not nominate her brother who abandoned the party at crisis times while Rajapkse protected it with her mother.

Rajapkse was a man who put the party before himself. When Mrs. Bandaranaike appointed Chandrika as Deputy Leader, Rajapakse being very senior to Chandrika in the party never objected nor made adverse comments. He upheld party discipline and decisions taken by the leadership.

When the Supreme Court upheld that the poll was due this year, Kumaratunga had no option but to nominate Rajapakse who had the support of the party. Like JRJ distanced himself from Premadasa's campaign, Chandrika almost played a similar role.

The few meetings she attended were themed as ceremonies to marked her retirement from that high office and politics. Rajapakse carried his campaign on a thorny path not only facing challenges from his rival but also from within the party.

The Bandaranaike's thought the race was the end of the road for Rajapakse. But, Rajapakse was the winner not only to the surprise of the UNP but also the Bandaranaikes' who hesitantly nominated Rajapakse.

When JRJ retired from the presidency he never wanted to continue as UNP leader.

So was President Wijetunga. The successors were told to take over the party leadership.

Now Mrs. Kumaratunga who gracefully retired should follow that precedent. It's Rajapakse turn not only to lead the nation but also to lead his party.

Kumaratunga is on record prior to retirement that she would quit politics. Filling the vacant national list slot of late Lakshman Kadirgamar is a responsibility of President Rajapakse as he is also the Head of the Government. He must be free to make his choice.

The entry of Kumaratunga to Parliament as an MP would not only embarrass the Government but will also be a laughing stock in eyes of international leaders whom she associated as the Head of Sri Lanka for 11 years.

Like JRJ supported Premadasa, Wijetunga and even Kumaratunga while in retirement, today Kumaratunga must relax in retirement and offer advice and support to her successor.