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Say 'no' to political opportunism

According to cynics, politics are not based on principles. While even a cursory survey of local politics would seem to bear this out somewhat, we would like to subscribe to the more enlightened and idealistic view of politics that it is an activity that has to be unswervingly based on the highest principles. While the former perspective smacks strongly of Machiavellianism, the latter point of view is more in keeping with the idealist school of Political Philosophy, which has its roots in the revered thought of the likes of the legendary Socrates and Plato.

In whichever way it is defined, there is no denying that power is the stuff and substance of politics. Multi-party, electoral politics conducted within a democratic framework are aimed at the acquiring of power to govern, by parties and persons, and this is the 'stage' that engrosses the generality of the public in a democracy most, and is what they generally refer to as politics. However, this theatre focusing on the making and breaking of power to govern a country, is not free of debate, discussion and opinion-moulding by groups, parties and other social actors and what was interesting about the recent debate about the now set aside private pension scheme was that it attracted a very high degree of public debate and discussion. The state articulated its point of view and so did the Opposition and other interested sections. It could be inferred that public opinion was drawn and attracted to the party in this debate who proved most convincing and persuasive.

This is as it should be. A mature democracy is marked by very lively and issue-based debate and discussion and up to a point over the last few weeks, these essential features of the democratic ethos were maintained by all sides to the debate. That the state freely provided this space for free debate and discussion, speaks adequately for its democratic credentials. Right through the debate it refrained from exercising coercive power or force, to bend the opponents of the pension scheme to its point of view.

The law enforcers may have overreacted to the violence which was unleashed at Katunayake by some sections, but this was an act of misjudgment purely on the part of the law and order authorities. It, in no way, takes away from the democratic tolerance of debate and discussion exercised by the state. The relevant democratic norms, that is, were maintained by the government.

But the same could not be said of the political forces which unleashed violence on the Police and provoked some sections among the latter to overreact to the violence, resulting in the death of a protestor who was apparently not aligned to the elements of lawlessness. This was political opportunism of the worst kind and the criminal elements which set upon the law enforcers were seeking to make maximum use of the situation which had arisen with a view to optimizing their gains.

As we said yesterday, this mode of conduct of the perpetrators of violence fitted in perfectly with the approach to politics displayed over the years by some Southern extremist political forces. This is by no means a democratic approach because these sections were all too eager to turn the ground situation at Katunayake on Monday to their advantage by engaging in a bout of violence. And the use of force to confront one's perceived opponents is not at all in accordance with the democratic approach to politics.

However, there was an ample display of what may be called Machiavellian cunning on the part of those extremist elements who thus flexed their muscles and caused the death of a harmless worker. This is the violent politics which has on more than one occasion thrown this country into anarchy and sown inexplicable misery among the people. This brand of politics should be both denounced and disowned by all civilized sections.

The official Opposition would do well to refrain from cashing in on this situation too. As far as we can figure out, the Opposition did little or nothing to help clear any 'grey' areas in the proposed pension scheme.

It is our conviction that it should have agreed in principle to the scheme because it was essentially a worthy project. It should have consented to the scheme under the condition that the government engages with it in the future to rid the scheme of any shortcomings. This did not happen and as customary, the Opposition said 'no' to the project, evidently with the hope of embarrassing the state, and making some short term political gains.

In other words, politics in this country have changed very little over the years. This is most unfortunate because nothing of a progressive nature can be achieved as long as opportunistic politics reign. When will our polity ever learn?

‘No reduction in Japanese assistance to SL, despite quake crisis’

Japan is the largest donor of Sri Lanka in terms of grants and soft loans for development of infrastructure, schools, hospitals etc. An economically strong Japan would be definitely beneficial for Sri Lanka,

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A time to go down on my knees and show veneration

I often visit the Beatitudes or ‘Be-attitudes’, reflect on them and find them inspiring. They do not in any way contradict the be-attitudes contained in what to me is the incomparable called the Buddha-Vachana or ‘Word of our Budunwahanse’, when one takes ‘God’ as metaphor and/or a cultural or faith-related explanatory or framing devise. I am not belittling the notion or the faith, let me hasten to add. I am perhaps too poor in word use to write in a way that guarantees no offence is taken,

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Diaspora and discrimination

There is also a common myth that Tamil is an official language only in the North and East. However, a glance at articles 18 to 25 of the constitution make it quite clear that Sinhala and Tamil are equally official languages, national languages, languages of instruction, languages of administration and languages of the courts.

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