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On the Kurahan road....
Monday, 21 November 2005 - 2:50 AM SL Time
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Most addresses to the nation by leaders upon assumption of office are a mere extension of their platform rhetoric. They fail to break free from their stale slogans. But, on Saturday, newly elected President Mahinda Rajapakse`s speech had a marked difference. He exuded candour, sobriety, maturity and realism.
He began with the much vexed question of the North and East conflict and promised to bring about an honourable peace adding that he would initiate a new round of talks with all those who had stakes in the solution of the National Question. He promised to take steps to `accommodate due representation of the interests of both the North and the South in the talks` with the hitherto practised bilateral approach replaced with a multi-party approach. He reiterated his position that there should be direct talks with the LTTE. His declared intention to set up a special institution to handle rebuilding in the tsunami affected areas including the North and the East is suggestive of his desire to abandon Chandrika`s P-TOMS.
There could be no argument about the need for engaging all stake holders in the peace process and striving for an honourable peace. How the LTTE will take it is a different matter altogether. The P-TOMS was nothing but the outcome of President Kumaratunga`s efforts to appease the LTTE in a bid to go places internationally. Nobody had really asked for it, though the LTTE later wanted to make the most of it to gain legitimacy. The P-TOMS has, after all, got into a legal snag. If a better and more efficient mechanism could be created to handle tsunami rebuilding, so be it. In a country where attempts are made to amend even its Constitution according to whims and fancies of politicians, how could the P-TOMS be sacrosanct'
President Rajapakse didn`t obsequiously extend an invitation to the LTTE to help resume talks. Instead, he did the right thing by asking the LTTE to make its position known and express willingness to resume talks, as it was the party that had unilaterally stalled the peace talks.
It is imperative that the existing ceasefire be revised, as the new President said, to eliminate killings, abductions and the recruitment of child soldiers. A truce that cannot stop such crimes is seriously flawed and its raison d`etre questioned.
He appealed to Asian neighbours as well as the international community to help Sri Lanka usher in peace. Those remarks are being construed as an invitation extended to India and an attempt to sideline Norway in the peace process. He ought to elaborate on what he said without keeping others guessing.
Dispelling fears, doubts and suspicions in the minds of investors is one of the biggest challenges before Mahinda. The Stock Market responded negatively to Mahinda`s election perhaps due to the fears that had been instilled in the minds of businessmen that a government under Mahinda wouldn`t be investor friendly. Investors couldn`t be blamed for this kind of perception due to the Marxist background of some of President Rajapakse`s allies, especially the JVP. Mahinda spoke of a `macro economic policy that ensures social justice while opening ample opportunities for the development of the individual.` Among the advocates of this policy have been eminent persons like former World Bank President James Wolfenson. They are well disposed towards social justice and view it as a prerequisite for successful economic planning. Mahinda said his aim was to `initiate a programme of rapid economic development that would use all positive features of the free market system while giving pride of place to local entrepreneurs to develop agriculture, industry and services.` Economic models the world over are in a state of flux and this leaves room for experiments. Mahinda, we believe, deserve an opportunity to reposition the national economy. But let it not be said, `Operation successful, patient dead.` It is essential that he desist from plunging headfirst into economic reforms at the behest of opponents of free market economic policies. Hemin, hemin is the time tested method of introducing reforms.
He stressed the need to bring about a disciplined society where everybody would work hard to achieve economic prosperity in an atmosphere of good governance and the rule of law. His reference to `punctuality` as being essential in creating a disciplined society, was also intended for the consumption of his predecessor Chandrika, who wanted the world to move at her own pace and put in his wheel not just one spoke but a whole bundle of them.
What ails Sri Lanka is the absence of a work ethic. Economic development is mere wishful thinking unless the people are inspired to work hard, which is a culture alien to Sri Lanka. Evolving that culture is not a task that politicians alone can accomplish. Everybody must be made to put shoulder to the wheel.
Mahinda promised that under his watch the state would not interfere with religion. Obviously, he was still reeling from the Opposition campaign to project him as a bigot. `I was labelled as anti-Christian,` he said vowing to protect the freedom to practise any religion. How he will handle the sensitive issue of the anti conversion bill, which has stirred up a hornets` nest among Christians remains to be seen. It is going to be a balancing act as he will have to retain the support of the JHU on the one hand and arrest further alienation of the Christians on the other.
He extended a hand of friendship to the vanquished inviting them to help rebuild the country. Some have gone to the extent of proposing that a national government be formed with Ranil as Prime Minister. Our experience doesn`t permit us to be so over optimistic. From 2001 to 2004, we had an opportunity to do so with the President from the UPFA and the Prime Minister from the UNP. But there was no such cohabitation. Two dogs at the same bone, as we have said in these columns, seldom agree.
Mahinda also didn`t forget the media. He exhorted the media `to be responsible and contribute to the welfare of the country by adhering to democracy and accepted ethics.` We are reminded of how Mahinda`s rapport with the media once made an irate President Kumaratunga to call him the `reporter` in her cabinet. And today, that reporter is President. Congratulations, Your Excellency the Reporter!
A weakness of most leaders is that they want others to say what they like to hear. Lackeys have turned this to their advantage by singing hosannas to their political bosses thus bringing about their downfall in the end. Mahinda said he believed his friends were those who offered just criticism and not those who sang hosannas in his praise. That is the correct attitude and it is hoped that he will practice what he said.
Mahinda is a man of the people and he wants to remain the same in the future as well. He said, in his address, that he didn`t want advisors to understand the problems of the people. `I will not build barriers that make me inaccessible to the people. My Presidential house and office are open to the people.` We have no reason to doubt his intentions but venture to offer some unsolicited advice: `Don`t let your urge to be among the people take precedence over your personal security! One of your predecessors''your bete noire''did so and what befell him is too well known to merit repetition. The terrorists have to be lucky only once and others have to be lucky always.
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gusgemmba
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 55
Member Profile
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22 Nov 2005 03:48:44 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Mr. Editor who ever your are, from what I see you write, you are one big suck up to JVP+JHU. |
gusgemmba
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 55
Member Profile
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22 Nov 2005 03:50:34 GMT Report for Abuse
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| I hope you are not Mahindapala/Chandrapala from Aisian Tribune fame. Good Luck to you. Very soon, I guess now we see how empty the promises of Mahinda is. Gas has gone up. From what we can see there are loads of promises to keep. |
Desertman
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 150
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22 Nov 2005 05:22:58 GMT Report for Abuse
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Guys-
Editor is reasonable enough as far as I would see in this forum.
However you are free to post your feelings as far as you think they are genune to your HEART. |
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