Gajalakshmi
Paramasivam
06
September 2019
Tamils
Did Abolish the Executive Presidency
The day before yesterday, I said to my husband that
we needed to think about staying at the cottage – in Thunaivi-Vaddukoddai when
we next went to Northern Sri Lanka. Yesterday, I learnt from our staff in that
area that the chain of Chellamani – a native of that area was snatched
violently when she was returning home after selling peanuts at Jaffna Bus
station. Chellamani was one who urged me to overlook the rowdy behavior of the
youth in that village and stay at the cottage. That was also one of the reasons
why I reconsidered my decision to stay in Jaffna town rather than in the toddy
tapper village. The reason why our staff rang me was to inform me that temple
lights were working again. But the real message needed by me was to continue to
stay on in Jaffna and not to stay at the cottage in the nights.
My service yesterday, is my natural protection today
and tomorrow. I needed to consider the Energy value of that cottage and the security
facilities that go with that cottage – which is benefitting the folks in that
area. Chellamani’s chain was snatched in an area that is poorly lit. After
learning about it – I made up my mind to invest in lighting for that area also.
If I stayed there – history was likely to repeat itself once the youth took me to be part of that
village. But the way I would receive such ‘violence’ would be far more damaging
to them than the way Chellamani would have received the violence. The natural
punishment happens whether we recognize it or not. The Service Energy there is
enough to motivate those who seek to improve their structures to be more
reliable.
I identify with the UNP’s joint venture with SLFP to
be for the parallel purpose as to why we
built the cottage. I am therefore not able to identify with the following by Mr
Sumanthiran in relation to that joint venture:
[To start
with, we backed a candidate in 2015 based on certain promises. Apart from the
promise to solve the Tamil national issue, the primary promise given was that
the executive presidency would be abolished. We sincerely believed that with
the two main parties coming together, coupled with the fact that since 1994 the
people of this country have clearly given a verdict to abolish executive
presidency, it would be done this time. But that hasn’t happened, and we are in
a situation where we have to support one candidate or another for the post of
executive presidency that they promised to abolish. We are not amused by this
turn of events. We will wait for all the parties to name their candidates and
put out their manifestos. We will hold discussions with the candidates and take
a decision. We are not in a hurry.]
By relying on a ‘promise’ , Mr Sumanthiran is
confirming that he considers himself a junior to the person so promising. But
the truth said that we were Equals. As an Equal – if Executive Presidency is/was
to be abolished - TNA
ought to have boycotted the Presidential elections. But that would have resulted
in a win for Mr Rajapaksa who thrives in
that position. But reading between the lines – Tamils did effectively abolish
the powers of Mr Rajapaksa by voting for Mr Sirisena who by character does not
fit such a position.
If devolution is likely to lead to dictatorship in
the Tamil community – then Tamils need to vote against devolution. Right now –
Tamils are investing in Democracy more through their community connections with
the Diaspora than through their local politicians. The ultimate question for
Tamils is whether we go global through or bypassing Sri Lankan political government.
Like our cottage, the investment we made in
abolishing the Executive Presidency would support us in our endeavours to be
Democratic. Mr Sumanthiran confirms this as follows:
[The 13th
Amendment is a watershed: it was the first time that the governance structure
was radically altered by the creation of provincial councils which had a
measure of legislative power and some executive power through the governor.]
The 19th Amendment is also a watershed
that separates those who prefer autocracy from those prefer democracy. The next
presidential elections would confirm which section is more in numbers. The
side with lesser numbers would need to work harder to maintain harmony. The
Easter bombings confirmed to minorities that they needed to take care of
themselves – not by coalition with outsiders but by working harder and
sacrificing more deeply. That was the real separation of powers because devolution did not happen.
To my mind, Mr Sumanthiran lacks insight into the
Northern community’s natural powers indicated through the following:
Question by Ms Meera Srinivasan of the Hindu: [The TNA is often criticised by some Tamils
for consistently supporting this government despite its many failings. On the
other hand, the TNA’s own performance in governing the Northern Provincial
Council — to which it was elected in 2013 — also drew considerable flak from
the community. It appears that you have a double incumbency disadvantage.]
Response from Mr Sumanthiran: [Vis-à-vis the Northern Provincial Council, that was certainly a missed
opportunity, a grave one at that because that has a lot of ramifications. In
our call for devolution we can now be told that we squandered the opportunity
given to us, albeit in a system that didn’t grant enough powers. The accusation
is that we didn’t use even those limited powers and there is substance to that
accusation. ]
The situation has not changed. TNA has failed to
humbly seek the partnership of those who had democratic skills. Ironically it
was the President’s nominee – Dr Ragavan who demonstrated the insight that Mr
Wigneswaran lacked.
As in marriage, we may not have the skills needed
but if we seek genuinely – we would facilitate those who do have the skills to
join us. That to me is what democracy is all about.
The appointment of
Dr Ragavan is confirmation of Devolution that is possible in the current
structure. Thank you President Sirisena.
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