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Independence without freedom
Monday, 4 February 2008 - 11:25 AM SL Time
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Today, Sri Lanka celebrates her 60th anniversary of Independence. The past few weeks have seen elaborate arrangements being made for today s event. Predictably there will be ululations of the traditional conch shell, beating of magul bera, blowing of trumpets and colourful parades. In the run up to the grand event, we were treated ad nauseam to fustian oratory of highfalutin potentates on Independence.
But, doesn t all this boil down to much ado about nothing? How can there be independence without freedom?
Sri Lanka still cannot decide what is good for her. The western powers masquerading as the International Community is running a parallel government of sorts with the help of the constricting conditions attached to their aid, which has become more of an instrument of economic oppression than a contribution to development. Over the past 60 years of independence , the country has come to such a pass that she cannot even defend herself against terrorism without the concurrence of her aid donors and big neighbour. It looks as if an ambassadorial oligarchy were tying to take over the reins of government. It has put the country on the Procrustean bed of the international community s agenda. Their haughty, supercilious attitude, reflected in their interference in purely internal affairs of this country, smacks of a mindset that Sri Lanka is the so-called White Man s burden.
The blame for this sorry state of affairs ought to be apportioned to the Sri Lankan leaders, both past and present, except perhaps one or two. It is they who have created the conditions for neo-colonialism to flourish by letting their partisan political interests take ascendancy over economic development and good governance. Never have they made a serious attempt at national integration. They always pandered to the whims and fancies of their support bases much to the detriment of ethnic harmony. The economy has also been a casualty of party politics. One party driven by discarded shibboleths strangulated it by closing it and another blundered by opening an economic Pandora s Box. The economy is racing towards, so to speak, stagflation and waste and corruption have become the order of the day. Since Independence, there have been two bloody insurgencies in the South and a war is on.
Democracy to successive rulers has meant a government of politicians by politicians for politicians. The public interest has rarely figured on their agenda. Many local industries have gone six feet underground and the existing ones are on the verge of collapse. The state is virtually left without any more assets to be disposed of (for a song). The economic liberalisation has come to mean mere buying and selling. Women keep the economy ticking through slavery in garment factories, on tea and rubber estates and in foreign countries. Ironically, the expatriate workers are still without the means of exercising their franchise at national elections. While those real heroines are suffering in silence, the so-called leaders are living in clover with no compunction, bellowing rhetoric and helping themselves to public funds.
In the former Granary of the East, ironically rice is out of the common man s reach. Agriculture has received step motherly treatment for decades. Many are the leaders who boast of a glorious past and try to live in it but they have neglected the building block of the civilisation they adore the grain of rice. Today, heavy emphasis is being laid on national security quite rightly so given the grave danger the country is faced with. But, what the leaders have failed to realise is that food security is an integral part of national security. No war is possible without food! A powerful cartel of rice mill owners and an importers Mafia have made the government eat humble pie by keeping prices of essential commodities high so as to make the economy scream. Had Sri Lanka been able to produce enough food locally and put in place a system to ensure its distribution, the State could easily have put paid to their sinister plans to hold the country to ransom. The government has had to fight separatist terror in the North and economic terrorism in the South simultaneously.
It is high time we realised that we have got nowhere near freedom after sixty years of annual celebrations of independence . We have lost the way. The time has come for us to stop and reflect. True independence of a nation consists in economic development, democratic governance and national integration to be achieved under a truly national leadership.
As for leadership, we have come across something interesting. The Sunday Times (of Feb. 03) has published the results of a recent opinion poll where the subjects were given a list of leaders and asked, inter alia, this question: `Who do you think has been or is the best leader in leading the country towards economic development and prosperity?` President Mahinda Rajapaksa has come third! The first and the second places have gone to Prime Minister D. S. Senanayaka and President Ranasinghe Premadasa posthumously. Interestingly, both the second and the third slots are occupied by two leaders not belonging to the so-called ruling elite consisting of two or three families.
The biggest challenge before the country at present is battling terrorism. Several people died in two bomb explosions yesterday as the country was preparing for today s celebrations. A sine qua non for the country s success is its ability to defeat terrorism and eliminate the factors that led to its emergence and growth, through political means.
Is the man who ranks third among the leaders in the aforesaid survey equal to the task? And when will Sri Lanka cease to be an independent colony ?
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Gaja
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Joined: Apr 2005
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 4 Feb 2008 08:08:34 GMT Report for Abuse
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The biggest challenge before the country at present is battling terrorism.
That is what the British also would have said about the Indians who took up arms against the British government.
How can there be independence without freedom?
Freedom to do what? Independence from whom?/what? POWER OVER THOSE WHO ARE NOT PART OF THE FAMILY?
One who feels free to express her/his identification with her/his natural group - is free indeed. On this basis Tamils - especially the Tamil Tigers are more free than the Sinhalese who are not able to identify with their political leaders.
Gaja Lakshmi Paramasivam - Australian Tamil
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Damed
Joined: Jun 2006
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 4 Feb 2008 08:31:05 GMT Report for Abuse
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Too much Freedom given to outsiders have done the damage.
Not Past leaders even Media whom are paid to undermine Lankan values are behind most happening today.
MR has stated very clearly he is not going leave, Terror to stand.
As a leader of a multi ethnic Country MR did tried, his best to sought out a solution,Which was taken to a ride as in the past.
Nationalists will not spare any force against Democracy.
Peoples are very much with GOSL than before with all the difficulties they undergo.
Economy will not possible to prop up with Expenses running to Defense.
Tamils have fail miserably to support Democratic leaders,and to condem terror,that leds to Innocent civilians of both races to suffer.
Freedom is not a seasonal fair.
Masses have to achieve it with there commitment.
Terror will not bring Eelam or any power sharing,Tamils will be a race without a base for ever, if not respect laws of the land.
Edited By - Damed - 4 Feb 2008 08:33:04 GMT |
raigamakolla
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 4 Feb 2008 09:34:15 GMT Report for Abuse
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if not respect laws of the land
In a country where:
-lawlessness is the order of day,
-law in in the hand of those who rule to use or not to use againt those who have different point of view,
-politicians have become law unto themselves (including Mervin Silva)
-underworld gangs are receiving VIP treatement,
-the largest VAT fraud (in south asia) perperator gets a promotion and still keeping his job thanks to the head of state,
-Prinsons are being guarded by prisoners,
-addmission to grade one is not possible up to now this year become nobody knows the rules,
-guards have become poachers,
-prechers have become criminals,
-temples have become safe heavan to criminals and politicians and money printers,
What is the law of land that you are talking about???? |
Damed
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 4 Feb 2008 10:00:52 GMT Report for Abuse
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Raigoma,
Sarama Ussala Balapan !
athagala balapan.
holawala balapan.
adela balapan.
naththan dukathama.
ranil,ta pukadeepan.
Law of the land.
Edited By - Damed - 4 Feb 2008 10:04:18 GMT |
raigamakolla
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4 Feb 2008 10:21:07 GMT Report for Abuse
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Damned fools dance where angels fear to tread, in a coutry where one judges other by own standards and offer advice, which I am better of not taking, for to take the advice of a fool is to be foolish.
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kiora
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 4 Feb 2008 18:31:56 GMT Report for Abuse
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ranil,ta ###### . this line from the contributer says a lot about about the character and the upbringing. |
sorinis
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 4 Feb 2008 18:55:32 GMT Report for Abuse
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| The Britishers played their cards well.Ceylon was never prepared for independence nor are they even now.For 60 long years have been grooping in the dark.Will always remain in debt and in time to come [very soon] morgage] this country to some poor country. |
Sintamus
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 4 Feb 2008 19:01:04 GMT Report for Abuse
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Several people died in two bomb explosions yesterday as the country was preparing for today s celebrations.
Very sad. In the Madhu (Mannar)claymore mine too 20 civilians including 11 children died. Who planted the claymore mine ? The govt denies it's the work of the DPU. The govt also denied the UDP in 2000/2001 but exposed by the police raid of the Safe House in Athulugiriya.
It was also true not only Southern politicians but also the institutions and establishments condemn the police officer who raided the clandestine activities of the DPU. That shows that the govt is not interested in upholding the law, transparency or accountability?
The govt plays into the hands of the 'terrorists' by supporting clandestine activities such as laying claymore mines that do not discriminate civilians.
American public are trying to change the leaders who kill civilians all over the world in the name of 'war on terror'.
Edited By - Sintamus - 4 Feb 2008 19:03:09 GMT |
Gaja
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4 Feb 2008 20:45:55 GMT Report for Abuse
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American public are trying to change the leaders who kill civilians all over the world in the name of 'war on terror'.
Americans are doing this because Sri Lankans have left the positions 'vacant'. WE MUST WORK AND SACRIFICE FOR OUR INDEPENDENCE.
The more we focus on war - the less we have for Peace. The more we seek to 'SHOW' the less confidence we have in ourselves.
If the Sri Lankans in power do not identify with genuine investors - those who naturally feel Sri Lankan or International, there will be little Peace from within for their followers.
Gaja Lakshmi Paramasivam - Australian Tamil
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Damed
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4 Feb 2008 23:18:34 GMT Report for Abuse
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Raigom,
Glad you learn to feel others.
Return to your past postings first,brfore toss others.
why you run away without replying to questions by others.
There are ways to make people understand reality, if they are trying to fool others.
Do not try to bring stupid mud slugging to Sri Lanka.
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