6 December, 2024

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Warning! State Of Anarchy Is Brewing In The Country

By Mass L. Usuf

Mass Usuf

The Tamil people experienced what they term as, ‘State terrorism’ during the thirty-year war. The Sinhalese lived through two insurrections marked by total lawlessness and carnage. The Muslims who were living in the North and East and, in the South were also affected by these events. The Easter Sunday attack, zoomed in on the Muslim community with vehemence. Many may recollect, the precursor to the attack was a period of incessant Muslim hate campaign by racist monks and their hoodlums backed by anti-Muslim riots in Aluthgama, Digana, Minuwangoda etc. All three communities and, the people of this country, as a whole have witnessed enough bloodshed, killings, turmoil, arson, destruction of properties and everything that is vicious, cruel, heartless and inhuman.

Are we at the threshold of another cycle of violence? People are on the streets wanting the entire Rajapakse clan out of politics, to prosecute them for multiple crimes and to recover the allegedly stolen assets. Finally, to effect a complete overhaul of the system of governance. They are not prepared to settle for anything less.

The continuous assault on the mental state of the people exacerbating their agony and anxiety cannot be endured by everyone without limitation. The worsening economic situation each day provides not even a distant flicker of faint hope. The disparity between income and expenditure keeps widening as each day dawns. The bare essentials of life are beyond the reach of the average person. The stress keeps accumulating and people are left with nothing except staring into space with no hope in tomorrow.

Winston Churchill once said, “History is a great teacher. Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”.

Ruthless Vigilantism

Anarchy means an, “Absence of government; A state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority” Merriam Webster.

In real life situation, we are seeing the gradual emergence of vigilantism coupled with hooliganism. Sabotaging the flow of normal life is increasingly seen in many parts of the island. This signals the beginning of open defiance of the law ultimately leading to chaos. Social media reported, a desperate father pleading from the saboteurs, who had barricaded the road, to permit them pass through the roadblock, to take his son to the examination centre. An anxious and worried young mother pleading for mercy from those who deny her passage. She begs that her five-year-old daughter is waiting for mum to pick her up. One can imagine the powerlessness of that father and mother and the relative emotional state of their children. Remember the way people reacted island wide to the attack at ‘MinaGoGama’ and ‘GotaGoGama’ taking the law into their hands and dispensing summary justice.

Such demeanour initially is spontaneous and later matures into a mob driven calamity. Most of the time participation is voluntary and the mob evolves based on a common grievance.

Indications are that the country will gradually inch towards anarchy. The people living in exasperation and suffering are being driven towards resentment, apathy, revulsion and hostility. When people are distressed, they tend to become desperate. When someone is desperate, there is a tendency to respond to situations very irrationally, illogically and aggressively. The essence of law, civility, morality and social values which guide people during normal living is erased off the mind. Therefore, even a decent person possessing these qualities may act harshly in a given situation. Not that he does it purposefully but circumstances push him to react in that manner. Individuals get transformed into a state of ruthless self-seeking opportunists.

Diyawanna And Medamulana

There is this inevitable group discussion while standing in the queue for long hours. Or, in solitude, at an overwhelming moment of despondency. Why am I in this state? What wrong have I committed to suffer like this? Who is responsible for this suffering? Some of the refrains often heard in the media also. They now know that the fountainheads of evil are the ‘Diyawanna’, a reference to the 225 Members in Parliament and ‘Medamulana’, a reference to the ancestral home of the Rajapakse dynasty. The cause is the unholy alliance between the irresponsible and callous politicians and, a deeply corrupt Rajapakse family with a two thirds majority in Parliament.

This brings people to a state of helplessness and hopelessness. This is recipe for full scale anarchy in the country. There will riots in various parts of the country. There will be looting. There will be bloodshed caused by the various types of violence that can take place consequent to the state in which the society has been push into.

Right now, we are sitting on a powder keg. A very serious situation. As responsible citizens, it is our duty to take whatever necessary precautions, measures, steps in order to avoid a state of full anarchy in the country. If not, you and I will not be able to safely walk on the road or peacefully sleep at home because what could transpire the next moment will not be known.

Law Ends, Tyranny Begins

Anarchy means lawlessness and no effective Policing. The multitude of agitated people are not interested in legal wrangling. When deprived of the basic essentials to life, it becomes a matter of survival for them. They would come out with vengeance. Protests can be peaceful at the beginning and turn violent any moment. It can be unintended and spontaneous or, preplanned and organized. The violence that took place on 9th May had all the hallmarks of the latter. Public reprisal was seen across the country in support of the protestors. The several incidents of arson, wanton destruction of properties, grievous harm inflicted on people, vigilantism etc. bears testimony. The victims of public anger were government politicians and their cohorts.

In an anarchic situation, no person will be respected. Whatever the circumstances, no one will empathise. Kindness, concern, love, compassion, morals are all strange words then. The language of anarchy is violence, bloodshed, aggressiveness, harshness, hostility and being utterly selfish and opportunistic. We need to question ourselves, are we going to keep quiet now and permit this riotous situation to happen tomorrow? Are we going to expose ourselves, our families, our children, our loved ones to danger both to life and property? In an anarchic situation it finally boils down to this. John Locke in his ‘Two Treatises of Government’ wrote, “Where-ever law ends, tyranny begins”.

Prioritized Solutions

While finding solutions for the economic crisis which is very important, the political stalemate has to be simultaneously addressed. There are several matters to be dealt with in this regard. The priorities, however, at the present moment are:

(1) For President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign, per Article 38(1)(b) of the Constitution.

(2) For Parliament to appoint an outsider who is independent, respected and a dignified person, as the President through the Parliament. A national list Member of Parliament may offer to give his place. Former Speaker Mr. Karu Jayasuriya would be an ideal candidate, in my view. Any person so succeeding to the office of President shall hold office only for the unexpired period of the term of office of the President vacating office. Article 40.

(3) Bring in one Bill as the 21st amendment incorporating the:

(a) reversal to the 19th amendment with further substantive enhancements strengthening its independence and meaningful provisions to ensure the effective functioning of the independent commissions.

(b) abolition of the Executive Presidency and adopt the Westminster model of governance.

OR

(c) drastically reduce the executive powers of the President and to continue as a ceremonial President, with the Westminster model in place.

The people have been, unceasingly and consistently, calling for the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. They want a clean government and a clean system of governance. If anarchy takes over tomorrow, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will have to singularly take the entire blame for the death, destruction, bloodshed and carnage that would ensue.

*The writer holds an LL.B (Hons) UK and is an Attorney-at-Law and former Legal and Corporate Advisor. He could be reached via email at: ctcolumn@yahoo.com

Latest comments

  • 7
    26

    “The Tamil people experienced what they term as, ‘State terrorism’ during the thirty-year war..”

    Sinhala Buddhists experienced what they called ‘Tamil Terrorism’ launched after separatist Tamil politicians passed Vaddukkodai Resolution, declared war against the Government of Sri Lanka and Sinhala Nation to grab land belong to indigenous Sinhalayo in NE to create a separate State within Sinhale for Tamils in Yapanaya.

    • 2
      6

      Big Sensation with absolutely no sense!

    • 10
      3

      THis country is a hell made by Medamulana thirisannu

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5oX0an6jO0

    • 4
      1

      People in this country should learn to judge not by appearence only. Yet today, Mahinda Rajakshe is abusing unestimable portions of state funds for his maintenance. That should be curtailed.
      .
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YVmIYF3gH8
      :
      Most of them are trained to respect looking at the vehicle the politicians drive.
      .
      JVPrs are setting examples from the day one, but people never gave them a chance. Now it is time to a palpable change.
      .

    • 1
      1

      State Of Anarchy Is Brewing In The Country

      DERANA TV OWNER – SHOULD BE ARRESTED:
      :
      SRILANKEN MEDIA IS SINGLEHANDEDLY HANDLED BY DELETE JAYAWEERA :::::
      .
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2ZSmptEM9o

      Decent people of this country OVER to you – please boycott DERANA TV.


      We salute DHARSHANA HANDUNGODA -…. We are always with you !

  • 6
    0

    Warning! State Of Anarchy Is Brewing In The Country

    Why are this old parlimentarial are not training the young intectulls in parliment they can send them a broad to acquire knowledge on economic and political empowerment and work in sri lanka in another 10 years most will be gone falling in a row face the graveyard , world we build tomorrow is born not with stories but with to care about skills. Now what happened and the world are self-evident, many people still imagine that religious conflict to keep the family in politics always caused by a lack of education, and name politics what ever they do &, and end up poverty.

    • 2
      1

      RBH 59,
      Because there are no true leaders, who are far sighted??!!
      All Boru Show!! Big Talk, with no substanmce??!!

    • 1
      1

      RBH59,
      Good question too, because they do not want to be outsmarted!!
      Selfish Ideals of a small Brain in a gloated head??!!
      I will leave you with this,
      “It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning.”
      ― Henry Ford
      So you see how Cabal Cabral managed to deliver??!!
      He must have seen what Henry Ford said, before anyone of us!!
      Great on you Cabal!! Person unmatched in history!!

  • 8
    22

    “Many may recollect, the precursor to the attack was a period of incessant Muslim hate campaign by racist monks and their hoodlums backed by anti-Muslim riots in Aluthgama, Digana, Minuwangoda etc.”

    If racist monks and their hoodlums created a period of incessant Muslim hate campaign why did Muslim terrorists attack Catholic Churches visited by Tamils and hotels patronized by foreigners without attacking Buddhist temples? Should use brain before using the keyboard!

    As it happened in 1915, in case of all the incidences that Muslims call ‘Anti-Muslim’ riots, the first stone was thrown by Muslims to provoke Sinhala Buddhists. All these incidences should be called ‘Anti-Sinhala Buddhist Riots’ started by Muslims.

    • 9
      5

      EE,
      “If racist monks and their hoodlums created a period of incessant Muslim hate campaign why did Muslim terrorists attack Catholic Churches visited by Tamils and hotels patronized by foreigners without attacking Buddhist temples? Should use brain before using the keyboard!”
      Nothing similar in any shape or form to 1915!!??
      Sole purpose was a “cunning filial grouping of Looters to regain power and government”, by fooling the masses??!!
      Now the masses after 2.5 years have been awakened, enlightened of the lie perpetrated!!!

      • 1
        1

        Now the masses after 2.5 years have been awakened, enlightened of the lie perpetrated!!!

        Eagle Eye is still fast asleep……………

        • 0
          1

          Alpha,
          From what I have seen in the past, this seems to a Terminal Slumber, running away from Facts of History and Truth!!
          That may be because of being a Master Mind in attempting to “Manufacture Truth”!!!???
          That’s his Dream, whilst enjoying his Slumber
          May attain Eternal Bliss!!??
          Best wishes to him and his PAY MASTER!!!

  • 8
    16

    “Muslim hate campaign by racist monks…”

    As usual, Muslims who nurtured Wahhabi fundamentalist extremists that carried out terrorist attacks ruining the peace people enjoyed after eliminating Tamil terrorists are trying to clean their blood-soaked hands by blaming Buddhist monks.

  • 10
    15

    “Many may recollect, the precursor to the attack was a period of incessant Muslim hate campaign by racist monks and their hoodlums backed by anti-Muslim riots in Aluthgama, Digana, Minuwangoda etc.”

    Entirely wrong. Those (radical) Muslims who carried out the attacks were affiliated with ISIS. The attacks were revenge for the New Zealand mosque shooting. Secondly, racist monks are not to blame. What about niqab/burka ban, minaret ban, halal ban, and Quran burning in Europe. Are you going to blame monks for that as well? Monks are actually giving good advice, they are saying to integrate to prevent social unrest.

    • 1
      2

      Lester,
      “What about niqab/burka ban, minaret ban, halal ban, and Quran burning in Europe. Are you going to blame monks for that as well”.
      Don’t think anybody is blaming the Buddhist Monks for what is happening in Europe.
      Lets’ confine to Sri Lanka, which is our focus right now, after the great Messiah and his enlightened, messed up everything from economy, agriculture, remittances and exchange rate and cost of living (COL) and don’t forget Organics of fertilising!! We know the old Mynah is good at planting but no avail in Rice Paddy and Tea crops??!!
      Why is that, or what right we are questioning the belief and religious constraints/rights of other religions??
      Are we so omnipotent that what we believe in is the sole truth??
      Does Buddhism spell out that when one takes office, you should have a pirith session before commencing work??
      Does the Buddhist religion dictate that one should visit the temple in white sarong and Vest/shirt?? If so why??
      Why do we enforce that??

      • 0
        1

        Mahila,
        Lester is an expert at smokescreens. That’s how he gets away when caught lying.

      • 2
        0

        Sri Lanka does not exist in a vacuum. Terror supporters pretend racism, riots, etc. are unique to Sri Lanka. The “racism” they talk about in Sri Lanka is quite laughable. For example, Sinhala-Only and standardisation. If 85% of the population speaks one language, it should be the official language. Secondly, standardisation was designed to help poor rural students, not Sinhalese students. It discriminates against students in affluent districts like Colombo, because their Z-score cutoff is generally higher. Sri Lanka had a few race riots, e.g. 1956 and 1983. UK and USA are still having race riots today. The USA had open discrimination even in 1965, where blacks had to use separate water fountains labeled “colored.” This is REAL racism, not some bugger having to learn the language of 85% of the population.

    • 1
      1

      (Part II)
      Does Buddhism, which doesn’t condone killing and abhors meat consumption to mitigate the sin of taking another’s life for one’s sustenance, permit the consumption of Chicken, Fish, Prawns, Lobster and Egg, which also achieved by taking away another life?? If they are not another life being lost, How? and Why? Please explain!!
      Be that as it may, does Buddhism and Buddhist approve/condone, Buddhist Monks specifying “Thora Malu” curry?? Why not Poached Salayo or Hal Massa??!!
      Is it not transgressing the precepts set down by Lord Buddha??
      Why are we silent and not correcting them??
      My greatest respect for Buddhism, great precept/philosophy, of a Great son of Baharat!!
      Prince Siddhartha, Gautama the Buddha, but my annoyance is that of the usurpers who are undermining those great and sovereign principles or this great philosophy!!
      Definitely not Lord Buddha, Buddhism or even the monks, who are silent minority, watching this happening to their own Dismay!!
      The Buddhist monks, firstly put their house in order than trying to correct others or identifying their own folly??
      When you point your index Finger at others, remember their are 4 of your fingers pointing at YOU!!!
      That is a good basic precept to remember!!!

  • 6
    5

    The Fundamental problems of this country are Family Dominance with the blessings of Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalism. Rajapaksas think that this country belongs to them and should be ruled by their family. Similarly Ranil Family thinks that this country belongs to them and ruled by their family. However, both families do not like that the power moved out of their families. So, they have a MOU between them. Mahinda Rajapaksa wanted the power should be transferred to his son Namal. He did everything including the war on Tamils and Muslims. During 2010 to 2015 Rajapaksas robbed the country and people made him powerless in 2015. Similarly Ranil did the same during 2015 to 2019 and people were angry with Ranil as well and brought back Rajapaksas again. But within two years Rajapaksas continued their robbery and brought the country to bankgruptcy and now people are angry with Rajapaksa family for the economic crisis. Ranil divided the party in order to give his party to his nephew instead of Sajith. Since he lost the elections, and now he used the opportunity to use it to give oxygen to his UNP and transfer the power to his nephew. Buddhist Fundamentalism will accept this development as long as they can continue the Fundamentalist policy against Tamils and Muslims.

    • 0
      3

      Ajith,
      “Buddhist Fundamentalism will accept this development as long as they can continue the Fundamentalist policy against Tamils and Muslims.”
      —-
      Some people write rubbish just for the sake of writing. As far as I know there is no such thing called ‘Buddhist Fundamentalism’ but fundamentalists in other religions try to put Buddhists in to the same boat to cover up their wicked things.
      Can you please tell us ‘What are ‘Fundamentalist Policies against Tamils and Muslims’ citing an example?

      • 1
        1

        Ajith,
        Good evening.
        This question, when you answer, please make sure there are 1000 copies/reproductions available, because certainly you will be asked this question so many times!!
        It seems, that whenever, the slumber is over, the question is popped out and when the answer is given by anyone, the receiver, goes to sleep mode or is already in deep slumber???!!!
        Cyclic problem of Evasion!!

  • 3
    3

    Gota is waiting for a state of anarchy so that he can u impose military rule and unleash his military together with Eagle Eye

    • 2
      4

      Rajash,
      “..together with Eagle Eye.”

      Certainly I will join because that is the only way to control Tamils who promote separatism and try to grab land belong to indigenous Sinhalayo in NE, Muslim extremists who want to convert Sinhale/Sri Lanka to a Islamic Caliphate and traitors who want to destabilize Sinhale to help those who are keen to increase their control over indigenous Sinhalayo so that they can exploit the resources in this country.

      • 1
        2

        EE,
        Please don’t forget,
        1. “MAN PROPOSES; GOD DISPOSES”!!!
        2. “THE WHOLE WORLD IS A STAGE, IN WHICH WE ARE MERE MORTALS, ACTORS, PLAYERS”!!!
        3. “ONE DOES NOT KNOW FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS”!!!???
        1st and important lesson in modern Day Geo-Politics!
        GOD BLESS Sri Lanka.

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