On the so-called ‘division of nationalists’

 When Sarath Fonseka was talked of as a possible ‘Common Candidate of the Opposition’ it thrilled several groups of people. For the average UNP disappointed by defeat after defeat after defeat and frustrated by an intransigent leader who failed to see he was problem more than solution Fonseka constituted a ray of hope. Anyone, just anyone, would have a better chance, they must have felt. Fonseka, moreover, had acquired a certain iconic stature thanks to being the incumbent Army Commander when the LTTE was defeated.

There were others and their’s was not the innocent, hopeful joy of a party loyalist but the salivating glee of those who worked day and night to undermine the offensive, who cannot stand the idea of a unitary state and who have vilified Sinhalese and Buddhists at every turn. ‘The nationalists are divided/dividing......hurray!’ sums up their sentiments when Fonseka entered the fray.

If nationalism is compromised by the shifting loyalties of personalities, then nationalism is weak indeed. And if nationalism was of a character that it could slip to such a level of weakness a few months after the nation celebrated its greatest post-independence triumph then it is surprising indeed that the LTTE was defeated in the first place.

There was a time when ‘nationalism’ was a bad word. ‘He’s a nationalist’ some would say in the tone one might use to refer to a rapist.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, when he was elected, was called ‘a hawk’ and Sarath Fonseka a megalomaniac, a butcher, a war criminal. When the ‘bad guys’ won some people went into deep depression.

There are two questions that need to be asked and answered: a) Are the nationalists divided on the issue of nationalism? b) Which candidate do those for whom the issue of nation and nationalism override all others support?

Are the nationalists divided on the issue of nationalism?

Sarath Fonseka seems to be deferring to the ‘wisdom’ of the UNP and that party’s ideological position on all important issues. The only thing ‘national’ about the UNP is the ‘National’ that’s part of the party name. They have been and are more about bahujaathika than jaathika, in ideology and practice.

The JVP has ‘nationalist’ credentials most certainly and they played a critical role in mobilizing support for the war effort. However, the most vocal ‘nationalists’ in the JVP has since left that party and having lost its principal slogan, the reds seem to be confused if they are red or green, left or right etc. As of now they are smarting from the deliberate snubs that Fonseka dishes out at every turn.

Fonseka has now become the de-facto UNP candidate, there’s no doubt about this. Are all UNPers anti-nationalists or traitors? No. It would be silly to think that. However, in this instance it is not nationalist fervour but other things, such as party loyalty and perhaps a preference for the way the UNP does things that make them support Fonseka, not his nationalist credentials. Even though Fonseka is now floundering in clearly unfamiliar terrain and mouthing nonsense about the 13th Amendment, it would be wrong to think that his supporters are not committed to the unitary State, the territorial integrity of the country, the dignity of the national flag etc. or that they would be thrilled about national affairs being run by the US Embassy, for example. No, they are not at odds with the nationalist project on which the success of the military effort rested. The same could be said of those who support Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Conclusion: the nationalists are not divided on the issue of nationalism. This is not to say of course that their project cannot be compromised or subverted. Fonseka, if he truly believes what he says could wreck it all if given sweeping executive powers. That’s a risk his supporters will have to consider, but that’s beside the point here.

Who do the nationalists support?

By ‘nationalists’ I mean those for whom the nationalist project is more important than any other consideration. The JVP is a political party and a populist and opportunistic one at that.

They are men and women of the moment, like all political actors. The less glamorous ideological battle and that which countered adverse propaganda internationally was fought by others, people who spoke out almost on a daily basis in various forums arguing that the LTTE should and can be militarily defeated, those who pointed out the flawed logic of the 13th Amendment and argued against the federalists. Where do they stand? Here’s a list of organizations and names:

Patriotic Nation Movement (Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera), Manel Mal Movement (S.L. Gunasekera), National Movement Against Terrorism (Bandula Chandrasekera), Protect Sri Lanka (Dimuth Gunawardena), Deshapremi Bikkhu Peramuna (Ven. Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera), Ruhunu Rata Bikshu Peramuna (Ven.

Omare Kassapa Thera), Lanka Jathika Sangha Sabhava (Ven. Maduluwawe Dhammasara Thera), Thun Hela Jathika Vyaparaya (Sugeeshwara Bandara), Ayurveda Vaiyda Varunge Jathika Ekamuthuwa (Dr. Nimal Karunasiri), Vishramika Sanvidaanavala Jathika Ekamuthuwa (Samson Abeywardena) and Thavalama Padanama (Kusum De Silva). Well, they are all standing with Mahinda Rajapaksa at this moment.

Some of these organizations and individuals played a far more critical role in the entire effort than is readily acknowledged. These voices were raised decades before it became fashionable to be a ‘nationalist’ or to wave the national flag.

Victory, as has often being pointed out, fathers a million fathers while defeat is a poor bastard. Fonseka claims he is the Big Daddy of this victory. That’s arrogance and lacking in humility, not to mention that it is a downright lie. But if there were a multiplicity of parents, many owners of credit, then the organizations and individuals mentioned above are certainly worthy of paternity and maternity rights, I believe.

There’s just one thing that nationalists must ask: Can one compare the likes of Gunadasa Amarasekera, S.L. Gunasekara and Prof. Nalin De Silva with people like Mano Ganeshan, Rauff Hakeem, Mangala Samaraweera, Ravi Karunanayaka, Lakshman Kiriella and Ranil Wickremesinghe, when it comes to ‘nationalism’?

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