{"id":193336,"date":"2018-09-08T11:47:30","date_gmt":"2018-09-08T06:17:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=193336"},"modified":"2018-09-11T11:16:30","modified_gmt":"2018-09-11T05:46:30","slug":"an-elite-led-janabalaya-didnt-engage-the-masses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/an-elite-led-janabalaya-didnt-engage-the-masses\/","title":{"rendered":"An Elite-Led Janabalaya Didn’t Engage The Masses\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Shyamon Jayasinghe<\/a> –<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Shyamon Jayasinghe<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201c<\/i><\/span>The video of the youngster, fully intoxicated and fallen by the wayside pains my mind and reminds me of the callousness and heartlessness of\u00a0 <\/span>projects like this led by politicians for the politicians. How could one human do this to another?\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Elite-Led<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The Janabalaya Kolombata campaign<\/a> of the JO on 5th September was essentially a mass -ferrying of humans in buses from outstations. Organized by Namal Rajapaksa<\/a> and other JO leaders, the project was led and driven by a Mahinda Rajapaksa elite or coterie\u00a0<\/span>and remained that way until it came to a lack-lustre closure with the former President himself making an aimless and senseless speech from a\u00a0<\/span>vehicle. One could observe, Mahinda was tired and jaw-dropped. <\/span><\/p>\n

It is hard to sustain a project by cajoling and rewarding people to get into buses and remain crammed up like cattle being transported. Outstation people find it uncomfortable to be away from their homes like this and let off in Colombo to fend for themselves until brought back. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>If a mass protest were to be successful that has to generate from the masses themselves who perceive a compelling necessity to get mobilised and to sacrifice for a cause<\/b>. An individual\u2019s choice is generally based on a hidden processing of costs and benefits.We observed that in Arab Spring. Janabalaya Kolombata was a far cry from from Arab Spring. The inability to comprehend the difference in the two situations led to a wasteful exercise. The Daily Mirror editorial referred to Mahinda as\u00a0 <\/span>a \u2018sharp thinker.\u2019 Oh my God! What sharpness was that?<\/span><\/p>\n

A well-known Sri Lankan web editor located in London sensed the situation very well when he remarked on Facebook<\/a> on the eve of Mahinda Rajapaksa\u2019s Janabalaya: \u201cI am going to sleep. Please call me if the government falls\u201d!<\/span><\/p>\n

Sources<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

One could notice what happened visibly from the numerous videos transmitted instantaneously by mobile cameras by\u00a0 <\/span>those on the ground. Thanks to mobile phones, these days one can comment from far away of the events occurring anywhere in the world. One could even sense the emotions of people! Supplemented by independent evidence coming from other observers over there, an analysis can be completed with reasonable veracity.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Mission<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The project had a serious mission to accomplish. Mahinda promised that the masses coming from different directions in the island will converge in Colombo and force the government to quit. \u201cWe would surround Sri Lanka\u2019s capital city, camp in the city and stay put until the government is evicted.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In effect the threat represented a serious breach of the constitution, which Mahinda had sworn to abide by. Our constitution lays down the procedure for a change in government and a forced physical eviction by the masses isn\u2019t one of them.\u00a0 <\/span>On the score of this breach itself the government had every right to ban the procession and the meeting and even to arrest the leaders including the former President.<\/span><\/p>\n

Government didn\u2019t do it because they never took the event seriously. Ranil Wickremesinghe, savvy with his vast experience, sharp with his intelligence and controlled with emotional intelligence of a high order, joked in Parliament: \u201cPlease come. You are welcome so long as you do not damage property or disrupt the lives of other citizens.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>When the procession finally did enter Colombo and circuited around Lake House the Prime Minister remarked: \u201c You can stay as long as you want. I know you will have to go back to your homes. Stay, and return as soon as possible because the government will not fall.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The promised outcome was never ever in sight.<\/span><\/p>\n

Size of the Crowd<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

There is no denying that the crowds were big but there isn\u2019t any agreement about the size of that attendance. I guess that the selection of the Lake House roundabout as meeting centre could not have been made if the crowds had been huge like in the last May Day of the JO. In the Lake House roundabout area even a crowd of around three thousand can impress.<\/span><\/p>\n

A noticeable spill into outside areas was not observed in the videos I saw. The JO claim of hundreds of thousands seems a definite exaggeration.\u00a0 <\/span>JO Member of Parliament Aluthgamage, who shines by his low incredibility, made that claim. Some videos transmitted in the internet showed the May Day Galle face audience in order to mislead. However, Galle face is easily identified. <\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, Chathuri Dissanayake, writing to the Financial Times Daily FT (96\/9), reported:\u00a0<\/span>\u201cNearly 3,000 loyalists of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday occupied the Lake House Roundabout in Fort and held a \u2018sathyagraha\u2019 after the \u2018Janabalaya K<\/span>olombata\u2019 protest march organised by the Joint Opposition (JO) was wrapped up.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Poor Coordination and Pathos<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Some videos taken and transmitted through mobile phones indicated that parts of crowds had gone to other spots since no clear instructions had been given. The event\u00a0 <\/span>had not been properly coordinated. <\/span><\/p>\n

The missing hand of Basil Rajapaksa was conspicuous. Namal Rajapaksa is said to have been the chief organizer as apparently the former President wanted him to show his metal in order to establish his credibility\u00a0for Presdiential candidacy. Namal hardly qualifies for that responsibility.<\/b> Namal will have to go back to the working board and learn his sums. <\/span><\/p>\n

Scattered incidents were reported of abandoned souls fallen down dead drunk.<\/b> The crowds were given milk packets to drink along their march. Several are reported to have entered hospital after drinking the milk.\u00a0<\/span>Wimal Weerawansa counter accuses that the UNP had distributed spoilt milk! Knowing Wimal, we can let the ball pass to the wicket keeper.<\/span><\/p>\n

One youngster from Hatton, 38 years old, had a heart attack and died. <\/span><\/p>\n

Drowning the pathos of souls lost in drink, fallen by the wayside had been the dominantly celebratory mood of large blocks of people who kept dancing and merrymaking with the Papara Papara band fully in action. Obviously the masses who attended hadn\u2019t taken the event with the seriousness of a rebellion to overthrow the government. They had a real go at it and returned home.<\/span><\/p>\n

The roads were full of rubbish and Municipal officials would have had a hard time the following day cleaning and mopping up.<\/span><\/p>\n