{"id":122926,"date":"2014-04-09T02:29:34","date_gmt":"2014-04-08T20:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=122926"},"modified":"2014-04-16T11:43:10","modified_gmt":"2014-04-16T06:13:10","slug":"what-is-the-next-step","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/what-is-the-next-step\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is The Next Step?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Kumar David<\/span><\/a> –<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Prof.<\/a>

Prof. Kumar David<\/p><\/div>\n

The possibility of defeating President Rajapakse<\/span><\/a> at the next election (or forcing him to abolish the Executive Presidency) is moving towards a 50:50 chance in the context of his setback in provincial elections and an increasingly hostile international environment. However, those who wish to see this happen suffer from congenital inductiveness of how to set about it. The Catholic Cardinal and the kept press have persuaded themselves that the way forward is to bum the Rajapakse Brotherhood, convinced that cartloads of democratic goodies are on the way if only the Clan is allowed to deliver its bounty. Opposition political actors too are in a strategic quandary, indecisive; the UNP<\/span><\/a> and the all-important JVP<\/span><\/a> are not clear headed (the TNA<\/span><\/a>\u2019s equation is more cut and dry). The writing is on the wall for the SLMC<\/span><\/a> but it hangs on for its Ministers to maximise their loot before being unceremoniously dumped. The Dead Left is buried and irrelevant; RIP.<\/p>\n

Something I often repeat is again significant now; that is the crucial importance of the correct next step \u2013 The Next-Step Thesis as I like to call it. Any donkey, you see, can tell you about ultimate solutions; depending on your choice it could be the Kingdom of Heaven, Socialism, National Liberation or some other utopia. That\u2019s the easy part, rote learning. The true challenge that needs sagacity and judgement is to decide the next step. This was Lenin\u2019s genius; when to unite or to divide, what slogan to choose, how, when and whether to compromise; these are the choices in which he had an unmatched sureness of touch.<\/p>\n

It is tactical and strategic sagacity of this nature that Lanka\u2019s opposition needs. Without presuming to tell others what to do let me address some what-next, what-now issues which the JVP and the UNP cannot procrastinate about any longer. My intention is to name the issues and comment on them, not make \u2018you must do such and such\u2019 assertions. Two vital decisions that cannot bear further delay are (a) how do you propose to abolish the Executive Presidency<\/span><\/a> (EP) and (b) what electoral alliances do each of you have in mind?<\/p>\n

What is the chronological order in which each of you (JVP and UNP) propose to take up these issues? It is defeatist to attempt first to win a parliamentary and\/or presidential election on a general programmatic manifesto spreading over the whole policy domain while carrying abolition of EP as an element within that manifesto. This implies, for example the UNP and the JVP, will campaign separately and in opposition to each other (because their socio-economic ideologies are conflicting) with the intention of winning power, and then, if either wins, abolish EP. Is this not putting the cart before the horse? Is it not splintering the forces that are unanimous about abolishing EP (including TNA, smaller parties and civil society movements)? After this job done is done can\u2019t the UNP and JVP canvass their separate programmes? Hence I ask, is the opposition agreed that the correct next step is to first deal with the EP matter? I am not asking about anything specific (how, when, what, who) but only about the next step as a strategic issue.<\/p>\n

The second and last question I raise is about broader alliances; broader meaning apart from the EP issue; I mean programmatic alliances. This question is aimed at the JVP only, not the UNP since the latter has always since independence formed alliance governments, and in recent decades formed alliances even before elections \u2013 the UNF for example. After the disappointment of the coalition experience with Chandrika<\/span><\/a> and the failure of the Sarath Fonseka<\/span><\/a> presidential campaign which task the JVP shouldered more than anyone else, the party has gone into a shell. \u201cUnprincipled alliances\u201d was one of the disputes underlying the Peratugami<\/i> split. So what is the JVP\u2019s attitude to a left alliance? That is apart from the EP issue which is predicated on the widest possible alliance. I have no intention to make suggestions and proposals in this short note. It is however a next-step decision that the JVP cannot keep postponing. There is no point talking about the ultimate marvels of socialism; it is what it proposes to do in the concrete current conjuncture that counts.<\/p>\n

Related posts;<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Picture Evidence: After Dhanapala Addressed BASL Meeting Dialog Blocked Colombo Telegraph Again<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Unlawful Restrictions On Media By State Or Private Actors Is A Matter Of Serious Public Concern And Must Be Questioned \u2013 Bishop Chickera And Prof. Savitri<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Dialog Unblocked Colombo Telegraph For Dhanapala To Address A Public Meeting<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Jayantha Dhanapala Is A Liar; Caught Lying Over Silence On Colombo Telegraph Blocking<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jayaratne Says Dhanapala Will Stand By Best Practices, Dhanapala Pussyfoots On Illegal Web Blocking<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

International Press Institute Urges UN To Ensure Interference With Colombo Telegraph Ends<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Colombo Telegraph Has Every Right To Raise Dhanapala\u2019s Conflict Of Interest; Friday Forum Member Speaks Out<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Article 19 Slams Ban On Colombo Telegraph Website<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dialog Board Director And Friday Forum Member Jayantha Dhanapala Fails To Stop CT Blockade On Dialog Network<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dhanapala May Be Influenced By Large Payment He Receives From Dialog \u2013 Professor Kumar David<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Dhanapala\u2019s Position Ethically Untenable\u2019 Says Dr. Pradeep Jeganathan<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sara Says \u2018Dhanapala \u2013 WebBlocking\u2019 Issue Needs To Be Resolved Within The Framework Of Good Governance<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Subtle Business Interests More Damaging Than Anti\u2013Democratic Regime: Dhanapala Should Answer Conflict Of Interest Questions \u2013 Dr. Nirmal Ranjith<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sri Lanka Blocks Websites And The President Lies On Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Once Again Colombo Telegraph Blocked; Dialog And Etisalat Tamper DNS Responses<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TRC Blocks Colombo Telegraph, Warns Service Providers To Maintain It\u2019s A \u2018Technical Glitch\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Colombo Telegraph Blocked, How To Reach Us Now: Sri Lanka Telecom And Mobitel Joins The DPI Club!<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sri Lankan Govt. Periodically Blocked Colombo Telegraph In 2013: US Human Rights Report<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

History of Colombo Telegraph blocking<\/strong><\/p>\n

First -December 26, 2011 –\u00a0We are blocked but we will not be stopped<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Second –\u00a0May 8, 2012 –\u00a0Colombo Telegraph Blocked Again<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Third –\u00a0March 29, 2013 \u00a0–\u00a0Sri Lanka Blocks Colombo Telegraph<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/strong>Selected Tweets: Colombo Telegraph Unblocked<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Fourth –\u00a0August 23, 2013 –\u00a0Colombo Telegraph Blocked, How To Reach Us Now: Sri Lanka Telecom And Mobitel Joins The DPI Club!<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Other attempts\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

October 26, 2012 –\u00a0Colombo Telegraph Was Hacked<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

August 9, 2012\u00a0ColomboTelegraph Password Cracking Attempt Blocked<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Freedom House Report: Freedom On The Net 2012, Sri Lanka Is A Country At Risk<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[…]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":48911,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,46,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-122926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-colombotelegraph","category-constitutional-reforms","category-editorial"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat Is The Next Step? - Colombo Telegraph<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/what-is-the-next-step\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Is The Next Step? - Colombo Telegraph\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"[…]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/what-is-the-next-step\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Colombo Telegraph\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2014-04-08T20:59:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2014-04-16T06:13:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Kumar-David-Colombo-Telegraph.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"254\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"331\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"COLOMBO TELEGRAPH\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"COLOMBO TELEGRAPH\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/what-is-the-next-step\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/what-is-the-next-step\/\",\"name\":\"What Is The Next Step? 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