By S. Sivathasan –
Bloodless Revolution and Counter Revolution
If Sri Lanka saw the first ‘Bloodless Revolution’ in April 1956, she saw her second in January 2015. Temple Trees was ‘stormed’ on 8 January and ‘royalty’ fled on the 9th. The flight was not without a try with a sinister stratagem that failed. Even after the regime is displaced, the dynasty lingers on.
Jim Corbett the hunter of man eating tigers of Kumaon, India says “A tiger is not dead till it is skinned”. After a regime is supplanted, its structure requires to be dismantled. Laments of the dynasty are not about its demise. Thoughts are on resurrection. Plots are about counter-revolution. The deposed President is not at ease twiddling his thumbs at Hambantota. His dreams are on a glorious morrow. The ‘Ancien Regime’ knows the possibilities of the electronic age. The ‘Nascent Regime’ should fly apace at supersonic speed.
France and Russia
Even in revolutionary times, history did not move with lightning speed. In the matter of dealing with royalty, France lumbered along. Louis XVI had a span of 42 months between the storming of the bastille on 14 July 1789, and his fate with the guillotine on 21 January 1793. Intervening in between were two episodes. Flight (horse carriage) to Varennes on 21 June 1791 and capture on 13 August 1792. Details illustrate post revolution happenings in slow motion. The revolutionaries hit back when counter revolution threatened them with Louis as the rallying point.
A similar story holds for the Russian Revolution of October 1917. Czar Nicholas and his family were executed in July 1918, when Lenin found the counter revolution rallying round the Czar. Speedier events are seen in succeeding centuries. 21st will be faster still. Execution is not in Sri Lanka’s tradition. The point made is that the Head of the coterie that was supplanted serves as the best leader for subversion. The new government needs to be absolutely wary of it. Preemptive measures are mandatory.
People’s Power
People’s power installed the new government. It is the sheet anchor to secure it. Twisting all the fibres and strands into the strongest chord is the immediate imperative. The 100 day programme and the 100 point plan, set out so precisely are unprecedented. The National Advisory Council that is envisaged will survey the contours, set out the roadmap and presumably monitor the journey. The National Policy Framework may blazon forth the perspectives for planners, investors, developers and implementers.
100 Days
Idealistic and long term aspirations apart, are the mundane expectations of the immediate term. Price reduction on 10 commodities, tax reductions, salary increase, samurdhi allowance being raised, higher producer prices and the like will have a great effect on consumer sympathies. When the whole programme becomes real in 100days there will be a tectonic shift in voter sentiments. The first 100 days giving a foretaste of the menu to come will effect the biggest transformation towards party loyalty.
It will be ideal if in the first 100 crucial days, all the items are accomplished or taken near the point of completion. Such an achievement can swing confidence and support to the government as has never before occurred. The deposed President belittles the margin of victory as less than half a million. Every Sri Lankan knows that it is more than a million but for bribery unlimited. It is also known that it is more than 1.5 million, if not for limitless corrupt practices.
Tear the Mask
It is hoped that the President and his able lieutenants will enlist mass support with their success story. No less important is to alienate their sympathy for the previous government. A misplaced faith built through severe censorship and all the misdemeanours that a barbaric regime can impose on the people, has to be demolished. For lack of exposure four putrid Tamil hands – one from the hill country and three from the North East – had the temerity to sneak into the sanctum of governance offering their unsolicited support. A major platform the coalition collective mounted to defeat the previous regime was its corruption. Having done so, to relent, soften or to delay action will destroy credibility with the electorate. So shattering their image the truthful way through due legal process becomes urgent for the very survival of the regime at the coming elections.
The President though defeated argues still that but for the Tamil vote he is the winner. By the same token, Ranil was the winner had the Tamils voted in 2005. They were prevented through the mechanism of a huge bribe to one who mattered. By whom? The whole country knows. Denying any space for all such quibbling, the incumbent President and the Prime Minister need to score a devastating victory at the parliamentary election in April 2015. Superior capability at delivery of promises has to be demonstrated. The nascent government with new energy is certainly capable of doing it.
A Nation Saved
The country which was on the throes of a ruthless permanent dictatorship has been miraculously saved. Very many have contributed to the victory of right over insolent might. In the public domain we find four officials singled out for fulsome praise: Attorney General, Election Commissioner, Army Commander and the Inspector General of Police. They have had their reserves of character to speak out in the nation’s defence. There are trying times ahead as well. Investigations will loom large. Very early the Judiciary will have occasion to show its independence.
Rationalist / January 16, 2015
The Rajapakses should now start Training for alternative Occupations that will enable them to keep up their accustomed Lifestyle!
How about Namal taking up Law and becoming a Barrister?
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Huz / January 16, 2015
I think they should all practice not dropping the soap. Considering where they may be going, dropping the soap might prove to be a pain in the butt.
Excuse any grammatical errors. I was busy getting my tongue out of my cheek while typing this out.
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Robert.R / January 16, 2015
Oh please you make it sound s if Mahinda didn’t win a single vote. He did, fell short by only 450000.
[Edited out]
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MNZ / January 16, 2015
Well said SS.
What we need to avert is that bloody counter-revolution which the vanquished are capable of initiating.
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Mallaiyuran / January 16, 2015
About 20 days ago Chandrikathasan wrote a story of 10 days revolution. Basically he was talking about how Lenin stole the Farmer’s toils and set up communism in Russia to push it into permanent dictatorship. I am not if he was camouflaging his advice to CBK to steal Tamils votes and set up and set a government under the New King. Then he called the West to come and help to stage a (armed?) revolution like that in Lanka too. These days, even Chandrikathasan does not waste pen, ink and paper. Nothing being really wasted other than the readers’ time. Of cause we all understand that he needs something to keep him busy, so it doesn’t hurt a lot if he uses the free CT.
From 1948 Sinhala Intellectuals’ constant convoluted, manipulative moves had brought the country to a stage that there was not second term. Those, the lot who suddenly woke up, the Sinhala Intellectuals and the acolytes of them felt panic stroked. So a swamp of blinds started to guide themselves, or one another. (A foresighted person SJV, 1975 said only god can save Tamils. In Mullivaikkal even god couldn’t do that against the crooked Sinhala Intellectuals.) They all were out there to divert the flow of the perks from one family (families) to other family (families).
The gang that conducted last 10 year destruction has changed the name from UPFA to NDF. The Sinhala Intellectuals, who used to say that if it is a Tamil they can but with a cup of coffee, bought the TNA even without an empty glass. Then the murderers and rapist, land grabbers have walked away with fat ministries, but Sumanthiran was offered an empty job. In fact the Tamils like Pillaiyan, Karuna, Douglas had better positions in a government which was completely rejected by Tamils. TNA and Sumanthiran after dying for the New King’s victory, after campaigning that under the New King, milk and honey going to flow in North and after Sumanthiran showing his expert legal knowledge to falsify facts in an election statement that supported the New King, when asked if they are accepting the new minster post, they opened up their hand. They did not know what to tell the media.
In a statement, today, Eric Solhiem contented that MY3 can win election asking the Tamils support, but can not do anything against the will of the Sinhala majority. Though Solhiem did not understand or purposefully wanted to support the Royal Government during the war time, now he has publicly accepted the reason why DS has to infringe the Tamils voting rights in 1948. That is all the Sinhala Intellectuals program the Sinhala people to allow for Tamils. Nothing more than that. Or, nothing less than infringing voting rights, job entitlement, education right, own land rights… But that realization doesn’t make Solheim to accept his false blame that when King offered LTTE leader a practical settlement, LTTE leader rejected it.
Even after Solheim tells that there will be no solution in the near future, Chandrikathasan is not going to stay away from icing the Tamils for another election. “Tell even a thousand lies and get married” – A Tamil saying. Election is not much different for campaigners like Chandrikathasan. Just now they brought down the Meru Mountain down to earth with their lies and conducted an election campaign. Chandrkathasan not ready ask anybody what the Tamils will be getting out of this election. Even if CT writers and com mentors write here 10,000 times That the TNA has told that they did not ask for anything so, they do not know if anything will be given to Tamils and Solhiem has stated that nothing in the near future, Chandkathasan can not get any idea of what these people on the driver seats are talking. He is starting to worry about the next election.
There is nothing going to happen in the 100 days. Once the government strengthen it in the coming election, there will be other election will be coming in the future too.
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Janz / January 18, 2015
Mallaiyuran is an autonomous lunatic
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Humbug / January 16, 2015
A timely and precise article.
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Sirisena Yayawara / January 16, 2015
Sri lanka is not France or Germany, on day of 8 January 2015,people mandated given to MS re-order deficits of Democracy. That votes do NOT want to undermine Nation sovereignty ,Terroritoril Integrity and Independent of Island of Sri lanka by electing their President by ballots. That was not bloodless revolution.
If it goes against sovereignty and unity of Island ,is obvious that will be no doubt be OCCOUR to be counter-revolution led by local and Foreign elements 9th January 2015.
The country was exist 2600 years of civilization that majority race belongs Sinhalese People. Their rights and values base on Buddhist civilization must be safeguard and protected is responsibility elected President on 9th January 2015.
Noted that President elected has no overall authority and enforcement power to act against turn which discredited Asian values and undermine Buddhist civilization of Sri lanka by and large that on behalf of vested interest of western civilization.
There was no bloodless revolution has occur in 9th January, that is what other Ethnic minorities believes on their separatism or Eealm agenda gain certain momentum of their World hegemonies ambitions on their table.
January 9th 2015 I quite agreed that one of the biggest changes democracies that the result of 2009 May after defeated of Tamil ruthless LTTE terrorist, that cause New democracies norms. I believed credit must go be to MR ruling alliances.
But present context of mandate is how fuzzy the meaning of ‘good governances, rule of law’ is minor part of democracy is and how easy it is manipulated elections results by ongoing ruling alliances.
One scholar Scott said” Capitalism doesn’t necessarily lead towards democracy at all.” he further said “The one thing that you can say is that capitalism is going to relentlessly produce inequality of income and eventually that is going to become incompatible with democracy”
The so-called FREE MARKET CAN ACTULLY UNDERMINE DEMOCRACY.
In fact there is widespread assumption that depend-capitalism led by ruling alliances and democracies are closely linked can be backfire sooner than later.
If this recent mandate for MS only or incoming parliamentary election led by MS RW and CBK of democracy, that IF THEY FAIL TO DELIVER THE ECONOMIC NEW ASPRAIONS OF SUSTANABILITY CAPITALISM AND FREEDOM & LIBERTY, DEVELOPEMENT PEOPLE BEGIN TO DOUBT 100 days works and its VAULES.
We have noted that few things seem to be more difficult and yet few things are more important for sustainable peace ,security, & stability, Sri Lankan society than separate of Depend-capitalism and democracy in PEOPLE’S MINDS. I think in general the present ruling alliances can’t do very much.
We had to have was Democratic Socialist Republic constitution and an election and we had democracy ,that was really utopia.
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kali / January 16, 2015
Sivathasan:
Bloodless Revolution and Counter Revolution:
**** Is it reallly and let us analyse and see what the Nation has inherited on the 8th.
1)If Sri Lanka saw the first ‘Bloodless Revolution’ in April 1956, she saw her second in January 2015. Temple Trees was ‘stormed’ on 8 January and ‘royalty’ fled on the 9th. The flight was not without a try with a sinister stratagem that failed. Even after the regime is displaced, the dynasty lingers on.
*** Sri Lanka saw the first revolution in 1956. May be but it saw the blood letting in 1958 unleashed on innoicent Tamils. 2015 didnt see a revolution but it saw the removal of a Tyrant with the help of the Minorities. 51.3% were still stuck in the past.
2) Even in revolutionary times, history did not move with lightning speed. In the matter of dealing with royalty, France lumbered along.
*** You may be right about France but the crucial difference is that it was the royalty that was remobved but not peoples Prejudices. We have a fight on our hand.
3) MaithripalaA similar story holds for the Russian Revolution of October 1917. . The new government needs to be absolutely wary of it. Preemptive measures are mandatory.
*** Preemptive measures to do what. Would it be to curtail the outpouring of anger by the 51.3% who voted for MR if MS embarks on a programme to settle the Tamil issue and devolve power. Will the Army fire on its own citizens.
4)People’s power installed the new government. It is the sheet anchor to secure it.
*** You must be out of your mind. If you take out the Tamil vote peoples power is still vested in MR so your argument falls by the way side.
5) 100 Days:
*** This is a redherring and it is not going to douse down centuries old hatred and as a Tamil that is the No 1 Priority. We may have been King Makers ( which was by default) but we are not going to be Policy Makers and that rests with the Majority. We will not have a Tamil Head leading the forces.
6) It will be ideal if in the first 100 crucial days, all the items are accomplished or taken near the point of completion. Such an achievement can swing confidence and support to the government as has never before occurred. The deposed President belittles the margin of victory as less than half a million. Every Sri Lankan knows that it is more than a million but for bribery unlimited. It is also known that it is more than 1.5 million, if not for limitless corrupt practices.
*** You are day dreaming and it is not going to happen.
7) The President though defeated argues still that but for the Tamil vote he is the winner. By the same token, Ranil was the winner had the Tamils voted in 2005. They were prevented through the mechanism of a huge bribe to one who mattered.
*** You are an intelligent individual ( I hope ) but you are missing the point. In both elections MR polled the highest among the Sinhalse and that goes to where the Nations ( I mean ) loyalty lies and any attempt to defy that will spell disater for the Minority.
8) A Nation Saved
You should rephrase it to ” A Nation SPARED” for the time being.
I asked a few of our Sinhalse brethren who were up in arms and branded me as a man living in the past to put their hand on heart for concrete steps as to how they would convince the 51.3% to grant Tamils equal rights and right the Wrong. But there is an eerie silence.
Because there is NONE
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punchinilame / January 16, 2015
The “Change” can be put down to many things – it was eventually a Sri Lankan “soft spring”. Two immediate factors in my opinion guided the change:
1. The timely direct telephone call to MR by Mr. John Kerry. The 3 Officers took a
cue from this call that was given due publicity. In short, the basis for a 3rd
world war was nipped in the bud. This PE was China financed via Basils visit there
prior to electioneering.
2. The ECs strong words “shoot at the head” helped the Police, and henchmen took cover.
I think at least 3 Officers who averted the alleged coup at the nick of time should
be awarded National Honours, next April? Over to Mangala.
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