By Emil van der Poorten –
With all the posturing that goes on in this (and other countries as well), one begins to wonder whether the movements of resistance are hamstrung by two factors: their very middle-class composition and their abject cowardice at so much as the suggestion of physical violence of any kind.
Sometime ago, I wrote a piece to the pre-Asanga Seneviratne Sunday Leader which spoke to the fact that the only journalists with intellectual and ethical “cojones” were women. Nothing seems to have changed over those years and while the likes of “Forums” of one description or another continue to “tut-tut” their way across the printed pages of English-language journals which are only too ready to use such puffery in order to maintain the absolute fraud that is “media freedom” in Sri Lanka, cojones seem confined to those who are biologically not supposed to have them. Typically, since I wrote that piece several of these women have been pushed off the pages of the English media and are able only to find publication in foreign journals and/or web publications. The fact that a media controlled by the launderers of government behavior has contributed to this state of affairs is hardly surprising and the only thing more obscene would have been the recognized (by the public) and cherished (by the government) narcotics barons moving to “front and centre” positions in the print trade. Ah, well, give them time because, as they say, all good things come to those who wait!
Reverting to the title of this piece, what is evident to anyone with even a tiny bit of intelligence and observational skill is the fact that these women and a (very) few men are, literally, risking their lives in their efforts to “tell it like it is.” There has been speculation that Mel Gunasekera might have met her most untimely death because she was mistaken for another high-profile critic of the government bearing the same last name. Stranger things have been known to happen so something like this should hardly be cause for surprise!
But, in a land where the drug baron and the contract killer are the crème de la crème of society and where persuasion’s last journey is conducted in a white van, it does take a modicum of physical bravery to go on record in criticism of the most corrupt and violent government in the history of Sri Lanka.
But if you grew up with anything resembling a social conscience, what alternative is there for anyone writing for public consumption but to place the facts on the record? What alternative is there for ANYONE, whether or not they have any developed communication skills or not, but to speak out against what is patently wrong and unjust? That seeming hordes of the English-educated, middle classes who attended those schools which, imperialist overtones and all, did preach morality and ethics that were supposed to sustain a liberal democratic society have either buckled under or been bought over in a number of ways, doesn’t reduce the reality facing us in Sri Lanka: the need to return to a just and ethical and principled style of governance. For those who’ll indulge in the verbal diarrhea that goes “Aiyo, men, can’t fight against such a powerful enemy, no?” I’ll say one thing: you are not only going to spend the rest of your lives on your knees but you’ll have reduced your progeny to permanent genuflection by the time it would otherwise have been their turn to run this country. Needless to say, leave alone “run” this country, they are going to be abject slaves in the service of the thugs, money-launderers, dope-dealers and illicit hooch producers and their progeny who will continue to be recognized as kings of a dung-heap at the periphery of which your sons and daughters will be scratching to survive. Good governance, the rule of law and similar concepts are not simply airy-fairy concepts that should be debated and discussed by those living in the ivory towers of privilege. They are essentials for a daily life of dignity and decency. As simple as that, dear reader!
I don’t recall which of the Sirima Bandaranaike-era was responsible for it it but it was one of his rare lapses into truth and accuracy, when he said, “You can’t make omelets without breaking eggs!”
And if that sounds like a call to Sri Lankans of conscience to speak out in defence of decency and democracy even if there are risks attached to such an enterprise, that’s what it’s meant to be. I used the acronym before and I’ll end with it – TINA – There is no alternative!
Navin / April 30, 2014
Emil, will you have the cojones to drag Jarapassa to a gigantic meat mincer?
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Ghost of Past / April 30, 2014
The people of this country must admit ONE bloody thing. The Majority population are dumb wits and they choose a proper leadership for the last 65 years.
As long as the FREE EATERS/JOLLY BOYS of saffron robed Army’s evil spell is taken hold during this entire period of 65 years, this country will go down, and down to the dungeons of the corrupt dragons of the Rajapakse rule. Its like pied piper leading the rats (Sinhala mass) to their ultimate death.
Those who hate the Sinhalas will congratulate Mahinda for destroying from within. Thank you Anagarika, Gangodawila Soma for dumbing the society to elect sex & racist maniacs like JHU (who happened to be surprising us with their ever stupid ideas on “How To Drag the Country to the Mahawamsa Myth”).
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Spring Koha / April 30, 2014
Another plaintive call from Mr van der Poorten; almost a call to arms. Brave is not the word, to coin an old Sri Lankan phrase. Most of the ‘educated’ class have taken refuge overseas from where much hand-wringing, sarong-lifting, verti-raising, and writing to offshore websites is done in defiance of the never ending stream of antics by the GoSL. Those who chose to live and work in Sri Lanka naturally opt for some self preservation ( moi!) because the ground realities are not that just ones-self but those nearest and dearest too will surely take a blast from the barbaric bastards who now have the upper hand in matters. Head below the parapet and mark time till a new dawn dawns in the garden of Eden is the watchword. What to do Mr van der Poorten? This pestilential dung heap has grown and grown over the years and now it is ripe and smelling to high heaven – and all over the world, the putrid whiff is our call sign. Grandma’s words come to mind; the darkest hour is before the dawn.
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Abhaya / April 30, 2014
You surely mean the LTEE dont you . Nice job calling them barbaric bastards
Cheers
Abhaya
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Tisaranee / April 30, 2014
[Edited out]
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Safa / May 1, 2014
Physical bravery is a rare commodity in a nation of boot lickers and serappu soup drinkers. Add a few laptops and duty free permits and presto, you have a band of patriotic supporters willing to sacrifice their lives for you. Let them have a few Pajeros and Toy Pistola and voila you have a ready made army of brave followers.
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Don Quixote / May 1, 2014
Interesting concept women with cojones…..maybe evolution is making that happen ? We need to substitute cojones with another word, somehow the sometimes prominent appendages that sit mid chest, don’t seem to fit the bill.
They certainly are the dominant force in society after universal franchise.
Maybe our forefathers who opposed this were onto something ? It is no secret that the Sri Lankan majority vote is controlled and influenced by women.
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Paul / May 1, 2014
Is There A Substitute For Simple Physical Bravery?
Yes, there is the cowardly diaspora treating CT like the forum pages of TamilNet.
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Native Vedda / May 1, 2014
Paul
“Yes, there is the cowardly diaspora treating CT like the forum pages of TamilNet.”
There is no forum pages for comments however don’t you like to engage with diaspora here in CT? If you don’t why the hell are you wasting your time responding to diaspora comments?
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K.A Sumanasekera / May 2, 2014
Ever since the failed Putsch by Mr Poorten’s relos,his English speaking middle and upper class mates have been hiding behind the Yakkos and the Dalits to do their dirty politics.
Now these lower classes are busy earning a living and have no time to throw rocks and trash public properties, let alone taking up arms to please Ranil , Sambandan or even the JVP.
Although these two classes hate Rajapaksas. they enjoy life too much in the current peaceful and prosperous Economic climate and wouldn’t want to risk their comforts.
That is the reason why one of their leaders Karu Jayasooriya and the ex General Fonseka recently made a joint plea for the UN and Ms Pillai to intervene and change the Regime.
So it is unfair for Mr Poorten to say that the inhabitant middle and upper classes have no cojones.
Rather, one would say it is a matter of Brains over Balls.
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Abhaya / May 2, 2014
I am glad the creme le creme of society if no longer the half bred burgers .
Cheers
Abhaya
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Rajan / May 2, 2014
Never saw Emil the type to publish articles based on speculation before.
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