28 March, 2024

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Ballot Vs Bullet

By R. Sampanthan

R. Sampanthan

The choice should not be difficult, looked at superficially.

But our experience shows that the Choice is not that easy.

It is quite difficult, why is it not that easy?

It is because Human Society is so complex, so diverse as to necessitate that Governance is structured so as to meet such complexity and diversity.

It is the mode and the manner of Governance that decides the Choice between the Ballot and the Bullet. Governance in a country, is based upon the Country’s Constitution. Constitutions of countries play a vital role in the structure of Governance.

Governance encompasses the exercise of Legislative Power, Executive Power and Judicial Power. Each one of these fields of authority has a crucial impact on the manner in which a Country is governed, on the lives of people in relation to the Government, and in relation to each other.

The Constitution is therefore crucial.

Different Countries frame their Constitutions as desired by them. It largely depends on the leadership that a Country provides to the framing of a Constitution .Wise leadership ensures that a country’s Constitution is largely based upon a reasonable Consensus. Consensus accommodates Diversity, it avoids Complexity. Human society is diverse ,it is complex. Societies in most countries are multilingual, multi ethnic, multi-cultural, and pluralistic in character, they vastly differ from each other.

Constitutional arrangements need to accommodate such diversity, such complexity. If there is such accommodation society is stable. Such stability promotes development, and is able to achieve peace and prosperity. Lack of such accommodation promotes discontent and conflict, instability, lack of development, absence of peace and prosperity.

The Ballot is the democratic way, based upon dialogue, a free exchange of views, and the making of choices based upon one’s judgment. It is a rational process, if this process fails, then it is the Bullet, which is not merely a response to discontent and conflict, but also the apparent means to seek a remedy to the perceived injustice.

We have the experiences of several Countries, both positive and negative where the Ballot has prevailed and been successful, and also where the Bullet has been resorted to with its painful consequences.

I would like to refer to my own Country, Sri Lanka, though small an important Country in the Indian Ocean region. SriLanka is a multi-ethnic, multi lingual, multi-cultural Country comprising of the Sinhalese who are the Majority and have their own distinct identity, the Tamils, and the Muslims who are numerically a minority and have their own distinct identities. This is accepted in Sri Lanka and is not a bone of contention.

The Tamil speaking people have historically inhabited the North Eastern part of the Country and are in a majority in every district in the North Eastern part of the Country, while the Sinhala people are in a majority in the rest of the Country. This too is accepted and is not a bone of contention.

The Country attained independence from Colonial rule in 1948.Before Colonial subjugation, there were Sinhala and Tamil Kingdoms in the Country, which were captured by different Colonial powers, differently, and at different times. These different territories were unified together in 1833 under British Colonial Rule.

All people, the Sinhalese, the Tamils and Muslims joined together in their demand to achieve Independence.

Sri Lanka’s first Constitution was framed in 1948 by our Colonial rulers. It provided for Majoritarian rule with certain safeguards, which were soon disregarded. Thereafter, we have had two Constitutions, one in 1972 and the other in 1978.It is the latter that exists today.

The 1972 Constitution was framed by one of the two major Sinhala political parties without the consent of the other major Sinhala political party or the consent of the Tamil political party mainly representing the Tamil people of the North East.

The 1978 constitution was framed by the other major Sinhala political party without the consent of the major Sinhala political party that framed the 1972 Constitution or the consent of the political party mainly representing the Tamil people of the North East.

The 1972 Constitution and the existing 1978 Constitution, were not framed on the basis of consensus, they were unilateral actions of the political party in power at the relevant time .They empowered majoritarian rule.

The political culture prevalent in Sri Lanka has unfortunately been that in order to achieve and retain political power the tendency has been to confer on the majority Community a supremacist position, in preference to truth justice and equality .It must be realised that this approach has resulted in Sri Lanka, not being able to attain its rightful place in the World.

The demand for a change in the structure of Governance has prevailed from shortly after Independence, the demand was made by the Tamil people in the North East who alleged that they were treated as Second class Citizens, that injustice was meted out to them, in matters relating to their Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural rights. They were subjected to physical violence whenever they made just political demands. This happened for several decades without any retaliation from the Tamils.

The political demand of the Tamil people for necessary changes in the structure of Governance was democratically supported ,overwhelmingly ,by the Tamil people of the North East, at every General Election to Parliament from 1956-up to date and at every other election whether provincial or local for a period of more than Sixty years .

The democratic verdicts of the Tamil people were not given recognition .The Tamil people are thus being governed without their consent and against their will in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations.

After that, there was armed revolt by Tamil Youth for almost three decades .Such armed revolt commenced more than three decades after the country attained independence and after all democratic and political processes had failed .This was a classic instance, in which the Bullet filled the void created by failure in the process of the Ballot. It stresses the importance of respecting and recognizing the verdicts of the Ballot. Such respect and recognition is the surest way to dispense with the need for the Bullet.

The result of all this has been that up to fifty percent of the Sri Lankan Tamil population have fled the country and live in several Countries the World over. The Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora is spread throughout the World. More than 150000 Tamils have been killed. During the armed conflict, all people Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims suffered immensely. Further violence would result in more Tamils fleeing the Country.

The Conflict has received international attention and four resolutions have been adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

The resolutions deal with violations of International Human Rights Laws and International Humanitarian Laws by both parties to the conflict, the Sri Lankan State and the armed rebel outfit. The implementation of the resolution adopted in October 2015 is being currently reviewed by the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. It deals with the Transitional Justice Process, issues pertaining to Land. Missing persons, detainees, and the evolution of Constitutional Arrangements that will bring about a just and acceptable political resolution to this conflict.

In recent times far reaching political changes have also taken place in Sri Lanka, through the process of the Ballot, through the democratic process. At an election prematurely called after the Constitution of Sri Lanka was amended to enable the then holder of office of President to contest even beyond the stipulated two terms, an authoritarian and insensitive regime which failed to be inclusive of all peoples who lived in the country, has been replaced by a new President and a new Prime Minister and Government through the process of the Ballot, emphasizing once again the utmost importance of the democratic process. This happened in 2015.

The new Government has committed itself to the making of a Constitution for the Country based upon Consensus and has commenced the process. The fact that the two main political parties are in alliance together in Government offers the Country a historic opportunity that was not available at the time of the making of the 1972 and 1978 Constitutions. The main Tamil Political Alliance in Parliament very largely representing the Tamil people of the North East is working with the new Government in its endeavours to formulate just and acceptable Constitutional proposals .The Tamil people are committed to evolving a just reasonable workable and durable political solution within the frame work of a single undivided and indivisible Sri Lanka. The parties largely representing the Muslim people are also a part of the process. For the first time in post independent Sri Lanka, an opportunity is available for the framing of a Constitution, based upon a substantial and reasonable consensus amongst political parties and all peoples in the Country. This opportunity must be pursued with genuine commitment.

Before I conclude may I quote a paragraph from the speech delivered by Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to the Sri Lankan Parliament on 13th March 2015 “For all of us in our region, our success depends on how we define ourselves as a nation. All of us in the region, indeed every nation of diversity, have dealt with the issues of identities and inclusion, rights and claims, dignity and opportunity for different sections of our societies .We all have seen its diverse expressions. We have faced tragic violence: we have encountered brutal terrorism and we have also seen successful examples of peaceful settlements. Each of us has sought to address these complex issues in our own way .However, we choose to reconcile them.to me, something is obvious: diversity can be a source of strength for nations.

When we accommodate the aspirations of all sections of our society, the nation gets the strength of every individual .And when we empower states, districts and villages, we make our country stronger and stronger. You can call this, my bias. I have been a Chief Minister for 13 years; a Prime Minister, for less than a year!

Today, my top priority is to make the States in India stronger. I am a firm believer in cooperative federalism .So, we are devolving more power and more resources to the States and we are making them formal partners in national decision making processes.

Sri Lanka has lived through decades of tragic violence and conflict. You have successfully defeated terrorism and brought the conflict to an end. You now stand at a moment of historic opportunity to win the hearts and heal the wounds across all sections of society. Recent elections in Sri Lanka have reflected the collective voice of the nation: the hope for change, reconciliation and unity. The steps that you have taken in recent times are bold and admirable. They represent a new beginning.

I am confident of a future Sri Lanka defined by unity and integrity, peace and harmony and opportunity and dignity for everyone. I believe in Sri Lanka’s ability to achieve it. It is rooted in our common civilizational heritage. The path ahead is a choice that Sri Lanka has to make and it is a collective responsibility of all sections of the society and all political streams in the country. But, I can assure you of this: for India, the unity and integrity of Sri Lanka are paramount .It is rooted in our interest. It stems from our own fundamental beliefs in this principle”

This opportunity to conclusively reject the Bullet in favour of the Ballot must not be missed.

*Speech Made by Leader of the Opposition and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), R. Sampanthan at the Counter Terrorism Conference in New Delhi on the 15th of March 2017

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Latest comments

  • 3
    3

    pitt this man doesn’t ask the government to hold an elections that are two years late. His principles and moral authority falls down due to his own hypocricy and inaction

    • 1
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      I agree, Tamil leaders couldn’t come to an acceptable solution since 1926, but always take the foreign power’s side. They missed many opportunities to politically establish themselves, but eliminated their own talented leaders and failed utterly. Currently, they are under the firm grip of foreign powers. Waste of time talking politics with them. We should entertain them without giving any power, However, we must create patriotic Tamil leaders to develop Sri Lanka, and also to lead Tamils. We must focus next 15 – 25 years to create decent Tamil leaders.

  • 4
    1

    What a Value and Factual persuasive speech… Wish we have similar politicians in the majority tribe.
    Perhaps we should ask our popular & elected peoples’ leader Geetha Kumarasinghe to respond to Sampanthan’s speech..

  • 2
    1

    If Mr. Sampanthan opens himself to criticism by Sinhala extreme for allegedly internationalising the National Question it is the fault of the majority. The Yahapaalayana regime is in favour of being inclusive and bring the Tamils into the National fold. But Sinhala extreme lead by hawkish politicised Buddhist priests, now joined by powerful sources in the Army and Police, will have none of this.

    Sri Lanka moves from the frying pan into the fire regardless of what it will cost the Sinhala majority.

    Kettikaran

  • 4
    0

    Well Mr Sampanthan, all you write is well and good, but…..here in our little world, the government holds all the bullets, and the best guns (given by their now and again friends worldwide). Moreover they have learned to use them too ( in 1971, 1889, and 2009 mainly, but also at other notable times as well). With impunity, and nobody dare question the government of the day. All too easily they will awaken the wrath of the people using the bogey of ‘foreign interference’.

    It comes down to this; a political milieu top heavy with thugs, crooks, shysters, self-servers, all displaying downright incompetence. Few decent people will go into politics and if they do they will face an uphill task if they do not tolerate the nonsense that goes on. The country suffers! Electing a government is like playing musical chairs.

    The people will take a long time to get this monkey off our backs.

    WE may write ourselves a new constitution but you can bet your last rupee that it will be saddled with the over-riding need to ‘protect’ Buddhism, and that means that everything will remain subservient to the guiding dictates of ageing Mahanayakes in their sacred hill abodes.

    • 4
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      Spring Koha

      “it will be saddled with the over-riding need to ‘protect’ Buddhism,”

      I take it that protecting Buddhism is far more important than other obligations, where does the sovereignty fit in among the scheme of things?

      Which of the following condition needs to be met if the sole aim of the constitution is to protect the people, while specifying the rights and obligation of them:

      Sinhala/Buddhism > Sovereignty

      Sinhala/Buddhism = Sovereignty

      Sinhala/Buddhism < Sovereignty

      Could you also define what you believe in the Sri Lankan context as sovereignty for I never understood the word or confused since the Hindian invasion of this island in 1987.

      Does this country really enjoy sovereignty, given that every foreign Tom, Dick and Harry seem to grope this island covertly and overtly?

      • 1
        1

        “Does this country really enjoy sovereignty, given that every Dick, Tom and Harry ( seem) are already grouping this island covertly and overtly.
        Sinhala BuddhistSovereignty?

  • 2
    1

    UNFORTUNATELY THE SOUTHERN POLITICIANS SREAD THE BELIEF THAT FEDERALISM / DEVOLUTION WILL LEAD TO SEPARATION. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE FOR THIS. IN FACT THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE. I AMERICA.CANADA. INDIA etc THE DEVOLUTION PROMOTES UNITY AND PATRIOTISM.

    • 2
      0

      Scotland?

      • 0
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        Scotland is for a modern greater federation with EU, but Britain is not for it and wants separation from EU to keep a feudal monarchical system going.
        That is the difference.

        • 1
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          Yes that is the difference between what Scotland and England want. What has being or not being in the the EU got to do with Sri Lanka and Tamil separatism?

  • 3
    0

    In Sri Lanka it’s politics n MR will use every opportunity to capilize this to come to power by twisting n turning.Its a sad state of affairs.

  • 0
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    “It stresses the importance of respecting and recognizing the verdicts of the Ballot. ” Absolutely! The issue which has been for decades is that people will vote for a policies and promises that never gets fulfilled. If we can get this done, I think we all can score a win.

  • 1
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    Nuwan

    “The issue which has been for decades is that people will vote for a policies and promises that never gets fulfilled.”

    The politicians, state functionaries and cronies continue to fulfill their growing greed. Their greed never stop growing.

  • 0
    1

    If we can understand Buddha teachings and follow it – SL will not be in this tragic situation.
    Why do we call ourselves a Buddhist country?

    • 2
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      Canaga

      If we understood Buddha’s teaching and followed it we would have been extinct a long time ago.

      Soma

      • 2
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        soma

        “If we understood Buddha’s teaching and followed it we would have been extinct a long time ago.”

        It would have saved the people from hell of lot of Dukka, say past 70 would have been a glorious one.

      • 0
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        If you are true admirer of Buddha, please erect a Buddha statue in Katankudi town center.

  • 1
    1

    He tried both. Failed. Now trying the third alternative – international pressure.

    He never talks about the majority of Tamils (Tamil speaking people) outside North/East. I am worried about their predicament in a federal set up when they refuse to move into North/East.

    Soma

    • 2
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      somass

      “I am worried about their predicament in a federal set up when they refuse to move into North/East.”

      No need to worry about them.

      Start preparing to relocate to your much loved Sinhala/Buddhist Ghetto.

    • 0
      0

      soma, I have tried many a times to make you see the folly of your logic. You continue to pretend that you don’t understand.

      You assert,

      … He never talks about the majority of Tamils outside North/East.

      … I am worried about their predicament in a federal set up.

      … when they refuse to move into North/East.

      You are assuming a lot here.

      1) You seem to think that a federal set up is a compartmentalised prison.
      2) You seem to also believe that you have a better understanding of those Tamils outside of North/East, than Tamils themselves.
      3) You tell that you are worried about their predicament when they refuse to move into North/East.

      Lot of baseless assumptions, you make.

      a) In a federal set up there is NO restriction on a citizen moving from one territory to another.
      b) Hon. R. Sampanthan is more of an an expert than you ever would be on the systems of government. He speaks for the well-being of Tamils within NE and without.
      c) When any Tamil refuses to move into NE, he takes it on himself/herself to accept the outcome of that decision. Stop worrying about an imaginary situation that need not be a concern of yours.

      By the way, has any Tamil in the South ever told you that he is worried about a federal set up.

      • 2
        0

        Unreal

        You are really being unreal.

        somass is pushing his agenda/luck very hard. Being part of the Sinhala/Buddhist noisy bigoted minority, he and his fellow racist have been dreaming of transforming this island into a anti-human Sinhala/Buddhist Ghetto.

        I have promised him the ghetto, 10 square miles somewhere in deep south on condition that he relocates to his ghetto, taking Dayan, Nalin, Champika, MR, GR, ………. with him and never attempts to return to rest of the island.

      • 0
        0

        Unreal

        Their body language tells me, federal or not, they are going to be stay-put (though not expressed explicitly they sense that there is an inherent superiority in the Sinhala Buddhist society). They all support what I call ‘ holiday resort model of devolution’

        Challenge for the Sinhalese is to get Sumathitharan settled in Jafna.

        My main assumtions:

        1) There will be only two months gap between Federal and Vadukkodai set up.

        1.a) Federal Sri Lanka will need huge military resources to keep it federal.

        2) At heart every Tamil is an Ealamist, every Muslim is a fundamentalist and every Sinhalese is a majoratarian.

        3) Not a SINGLE Tamil presently living outside North/East will voluntarily move into a Tamil Homeland. (Proof: No Estate Tamil will move into the motherland) They will have to be legally compelled.

        4) TNA under Sambandan was the political wing of the LTTE and LTTE was the military wing of TNA (Sampandan entreated the world to accept LTTE as the sole representatives of the Tamils)

        Trying to have the cake while eating is unreal.

        Soma

  • 1
    1

    Northeast Lanka is ruled by the “bullet”.
    The rest, by the “ballot”.

  • 2
    2

    Sri Lankan majority are Sinhalese ,they are who build this country and nation for others as well.
    Tamils are from Tamil-Nadu-India and their homeland is Tamil Nadu of 75 millions of Tamils living in South part of Indian.

    We having No any of the blood relationship with Tamils of that the people of Sinhalese and their land and soli of Sri Lanka .

    Tamils brought as a labors and coolies from Tamil-Nadu in Indian.
    While Tamils came as mercenary troops and invaders to occupy the land belongs to people of majority Sinhalese. Tamil an invaders as usually used bullets very beginning to occupy land of Lanka.

    It is not TNA only that why not TULF and FP and their proxy forces of LTTE fully operated by Gun rule Politics of Tamil-chauvinist.
    The Tamils political parties and political classes and their political leaders are not familiar with politics of ballots . By means of archived rights of democracy has been denied ballots by Tamil leaders .

    Therefor TNA is politics of Tamils are only seek that Tamil Eealm regime in North-east by blessing of Western God!

    All they(Tamils) talk of ballots and Democracy is cook and bull stories . No meaning of that…… !!!!!!!

    • 2
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      Saman Adikari

      “All they(Tamils) talk of ballots and Democracy is cook and bull stories . No meaning of that…… !!!!!!!”

      Did you mean cock and bull story?

      Anyway, there is some truth in your above observation.

      VP’s bullet determined MR’s ballots in the North in 2005 presidential elections. The outcome was very favourable to the clan, worth billions of dollars.

  • 0
    0

    Ballot Vs Bullet

    Sampanthan used all the words very carefully in the whole speech. He has delivered this speech in a conference on counter terrorism organized by India foundation which is a leading Think Tank very closed with the ruling BJP.

    See this sentence: “there was armed revolt by Tamil Youth for almost three decades”

    Sampanthan very carefully refused the word terrorism and he didn’t mention anything about the LTTE in this speech.

    Indeed, he has justified the Tamil militants including the LTTE.

  • 1
    0

    Are Saman Adikari and his ilk shy or ignorant of Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe, the last King of Kandy – very much from Tamilnadu. High officials in the Kandyan Curt, KGB – if you know what I mean, at that time also took their wives from nearby present day Tamilnadu. They signed their official letters in Tamil. The Southern Province received many farmers from Kerala, Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh, if you care to read Historian/Constitutionalist Dr. Colvin R. de Silva. The Sinhala race, eminent Archeologists-Historians Prof. Sudharshan Seneviratne and Siran Deraniyagala confirm, is all but one big achharu, my friend.

    Kettikaran

    • 2
      0

      Kettikaran

      “if you care to read Historian/Constitutionalist Dr. Colvin R. de Silva. The Sinhala race, eminent Archeologists-Historians Prof. Sudharshan Seneviratne and Siran Deraniyagala confirm, is all but one big achharu, my friend.”

      You have missed the eminent Anthropologist Prof Gananath Obeysekere.

  • 0
    0

    Haven’t read any Hindian CB reports recently.

    After reading Vellala Party boss’s take on Modi spiel, I guess there are no any of those Dollar a Day lot who numbered around 300 Million plus, when I last saw a HCB report.

    But our own 3 Dollars a Day inhabitants are a now around 30 percent of the inhabitant population according to the Yahapalana boss’s own CB Report,

    But a Margarita or a Bloody Mary costs LKR 800 upwards in the Elite Turf where Yahapalana HQ is.

    Add a Tapas and the tab is nearly 10 Bux ,even at the high Yahapalana Ruppiah rate,which has gone up about 30 percent.

    Will our Dalits in the South, East , West , Uva and Sabragamuwa and Pussellawa will have the same disposable incomes like the Colombo Elite , Anglicans and the Vellalas , if the Yahapalanaya adopt these recommendation of the TNA party leader Mr Sambandan?.

    I heard the UNP PM Dr B Ranil promising even assembly more jobs , more schools , and even Dancing and Singing Lessons in the AL syllabus, in addition to Hair Dressing and Make Up Artistry.

    This was as late as last Thursday , when he addressed our Dalits in the South.

    Will this new Constitution turbo charge these Batalanda Ranil’s promises to the Dalits.

    Specially the promises in education is the most important because they can’t afford to do SAITM courses ,where a MBBS costs apparently LKR 12.5 Million. upwards.

    • 0
      0

      YOU KEEP SAYING ‘I HEARD’, WHY DONT YOU SAY: “MY GOVIGAMA BBS TERRORISTS FRIENDS SAID”

  • 0
    0

    karannagoda in his memoirs writes about his experience in working as Eastern Naval commander in trinco port. After the disastrous CFA was signed by RW, LTTE cadres and intelligence ppl came inside port area as fishermen, and as farmers in the surrounding lands. The intel ppl disguising themselves as farmers built huts and kept watching the movements inside the trinco camp. After getting to know this serious issue, the Eastern Naval commander responsible for the safety of Trinco port, ordered that civilians ( including LTTE intel guys) be removed from the navy camp territory and never allowed them again.

    After this he got a call from this ‘opposition leader’…..’commander, this is Mr.Sampanthan, Trincomalee MP…why have you ordered ousting the farmers…this is a serious issue..their livelihood is in danger..”

    And it was Karannagoda who took a tough stand and explained to this future opposition leader that trespassing others lands is a criminal offence and not a right’

    So Sampandan worked for the ltte and we have him as opposition leader. LOL

  • 0
    0

    Quoting the author: “The Tamil speaking people have historically inhabited the North Eastern part of the Country and are in a majority in every district in the North Eastern part of the Country, while the Sinhala people are in a majority in the rest of the Country. This too is accepted and is not a bone of contention.”

    But he fails to say that more than 50% of the Tamils in Sri Lanka live outside the North Eastern part of the country. Moreover, the Tamil speaking people does have a significant ethnically non-Tamil population, such as the Muslims.

    I fail to grasp the point that there were safeguards for minorities in the1948 constitution and not constitutions thereafter. The interpretation of the then constitution by the Privy Council “elated” the so called minorities but that did not prevent certain legislative and executive action being taken which was “irksome” for the so called minorities even under the 1948 constitution. Such can be the suppression of “majoritarian” rule.
    If we accept the principle “more devolution” as a solution to the ethnic issue thereby using the majoritarian rule of the Tamil speaking people in the North and the East to manage their own affairs in those localities, then what about the safeguards for more than 50% of the entire Tamil population living outside the North and the East? Are they then to be suppressed by the “majoritarian” rule of the rest of the provinces? On the other hand what about the minorities in the North and the East? Are they then to be suppressed by the “majoritarian” rule of the so called Tamil speaking people? Therefore the principle of devolution as a means of solving an ethnic issue does not hold water for Sri Lanka but inculcating human values in society does.

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