When a society is afflicted with indifference, resistance becomes a non-option. In such bleak psychological landscapes would-be tyrants thrive. Today the Rajapakses are making a blatant power-grab, motivated by nothing other than greed and ambition, and, yet, where is the outrage? Why aren t we opposing, to the full democratic measure, this most anti-democratic deed?
Is our psychological degradation so complete, we see nothing wrong in Mahinda Rajapakse being president for life or Namal (or Basil or Gotabhaya) Rajapakse succeeding him? Or have we been deceived by that beguiling lie assiduously spread by Rajapakse apologists that the 18th Amendment would not endanger democracy, because the electorate can vote out Mahinda Rajapakse or his chosen successor, whenever necessary?
So the Emperor is finally divested of his dazzling patriotic mantle, his vulturous greed for power and grandiose dynastic ambitions bared. If the 18th Amendment is through, other constitutional reforms will follow, subverting democratic freedoms in the name of national security. The regime s political solution to the ethnic problem (if it materialises) will involve less and not more devolution.
The Rajapakses do not want to share power anymore than they want to give it up. Once the 18th Amendment is through, Rajapakses will be able to rule for life. Our criminally stupid indifference would have enabled the transformation of Sri Lanka from a flawed democracy into a Family Oligarchy. |