Has Sri Lanka ever had uncorrupt leaders?

This is a question the public needs to ask themselves. For in answering this basic question the voter will realize the hypocrisy of democracy itself and the reality that the voter’s democratic right during any election is to choose the seemingly “lesser” corrupt leader to office. By and large all elections end up deposing one party/leader and enthroning another but all doing the same thing in different versions.

In so making this statement it truly places all past and present leaders in the same pedestal for none can claim that they have not sinned for their involvement in some type of corrupt practice while in power. A nation such as Sri Lanka has had to face unprecedented turmoil despite independence in 1948. A nation coming out of colonial rule soon had to face the repercussions of the British “divide and rule policy”….the efforts to do right by the majority who had for hundreds of years being the underprivileged lot, eventually ended up being viewed as “racism” and termed “ethnic discrimination”. Little did the world see that the public sector post-independence was practically controlled by the minorities? Yet, it was a single gesture that was purely for political gain that parachuted the plan to engage a nation in a ploy to submerge its development combining the ethnic element with terror tactics. What connects this ill-fated ploy was eventually the manner in which Sri Lanka’s leaders chose to throw wisdom aside and utilize it for their own political gain.

Thus, we see how over the years where grievances were never addressed and instead were allowed to fester and with it open scope for influences not only by internal opportunists but external factors that lay in wait to create disturbance in Sri Lanka for their own advantage. So our leaders have over the years helped to dig the nation’s grave. What a graveyard that has become. Not only has Sri Lanka been a nation that had to watch thousands of youth killed during the 1970s insurgency, thousands more perished during the orchestrated 1983 riots, a second insurgency in the late 1980s again saw over 50,000 deaths.

It is most surprising how no foreign governments or leaders/NGOs or even the UN organization demanded explanations from the then Government whose death squads were responsible for the deaths of thousands of Sinhala youth. Is it not ironic that the world prefers to quote 70,000 deaths taking place as a result of Sri Lanka’s 30 year war but forget to mention how within a couple of years death squads of the UNP Government and counter-attacks by the JVP left over 50,000 Sinhala youth slaughtered mercilessly?

If manmade disaster was not enough it was in 2004 that nature struck with the tsunami again killing over 30,000 innocent lives…how is it that the world prefers to repeatedly quote the 70,000 figure lost from the war and 300,000 IDPs…very little was said at all of the Sinhalese youth that were killed over the past 3 decades by the so often incorrectly referred to “Sinhala” Governments.

The difficulty of accepting the “ethnic” quotient to Sri Lanka’s problems comes in the inability to accept that an “ethnic” divide was ever a factor that equated to the need to actually divide a nation that was just 66'000 km2 with 20million inhabitants. This is further highlighted by the manner in which the public in fact peacefully work and live harmoniously. Many would then raise the 1983 riots and those who do raise it either ignorantly do so or wish to hide the truth that it was an orchestrated attack by the UNP Government who must morally accept that it was this grave strategic decision that backfired and left a world viewing the Sinhala populace with scorn and shame and effected the empathy towards Tamils who naturally used this golden opportunity to be domiciled in foreign climes and while helping their families back home indirectly supported the LTTE through contributions.

It is unfair for us to today question why domiciled Tamils did as they did for it would naturally necessitate us to ask of the UNP Government to answer why they did what they did in 1983? Tamils are as divided as the Sinhalese and the manner in which the North & East Tamils treat each other is similar to how the Kandyan Sinhalese treat those in the South….even in the game of politics the caste factor plays a pivotal role and to understand this one must be alert to how political parties position their organizers in certain districts where large caste populations are domiciled. Be that as it may we often think that these divisions are generally confined to matrimonial matters or social affiliations nevertheless these are areas that provide deep-seated reasons that allow politicians to use them as bait for their own political advantage. This unfortunately has been the ingredient of our downfall as a nation as well as a community of people for we have allowed petty political behavior to get the better of us. We have allowed a few hundred parliamentarians to bring the country to the pitfalls of its present abyss and for how long the public will continue to be fooled is the question that each reader must ask himself. But then how much of accountability is the voters willing to accept…for were these parliamentarians not elected by the strength of their vote.

So where have our leaders failed…how have our leaders failed & how do we really judge them realistically. Let us also ponder at our own roles in being part of this unfortunate state of affairs.

Listening to the present speeches with much physical and vocal trimmings are we to assume that corruption took place only upon post-2005 presidential election or better still after 18th May 2009? Are we to assume that the opposition camp many of whom held cabinet posts during previous governments are supposedly without any form of corruption to their name! We are shamelessly being taken along a path which attempts to annul their misdemeanors in a hypnotic drive to only see the so far unproven corruption of the present Government. Have the people forgotten the past so easily? Are the people so naïve? Have the Sri Lankan populace short memories that they forget that each member of the present opposition have more vices to their names then what they presently portray themselves to be. Given that they are mere campaigners for the common candidate why is it that the former general himself is viewed with divided loyalty…is it because certain discrepancies in his own conduct showcase his disqualification to make accusations.

Given that the common candidate was very much part of the inner circle of the Government why did he continue to accept retirement extensions if he was aware that the present Government was corrupt? He could have easily refused any extensions without wanting to be part of a corrupt Government. What of the present Government and its presidential candidate? Well, if we go by the accepted norm that no leader of Sri Lanka has been uncorrupt the same ruling would apply to him as well. The unfortunate choice for any voter remains the reality of balancing the corruption when deciding to cast a once-in-6year vote. What a dilemma for the populace. My simple premise is that for anyone to make an allegation at another he/she should not have committed the same or similar corrupt practice in office. As public officers…they are upholders of integrity but the word “integrity” itself purely qualifies for ornamental purposes only and not only in Sri Lanka’s politics but throughout the world “integrity” or lack of it is a factor that we need to accept.

Therefore, buying or accepting the “rumors” of corrupt deals, nepotism, cronyism, and kick-backs etc that are being leveled against each candidate really serves no purpose. Rumor or not we know that some if not all have been part and parcel of what it takes to be a politician and to survive as one. One cannot be a gentlemen & be a politician that is the ugly truth unless of course the people use general elections to vote wisely….it is alarming how some of the most ill-suited men and women have entered parliament…they could not have come to where they are by virtue of vote rigging alone therefore the people who have cast their vote for these incompetents must carry the blame for what their choices have created for the country.

Leaving all of this aside – there is an election taking place and vote we must. How should we vote? Our choice has been widened with over 20 candidates competing for the highest office in Sri Lanka. The incumbent President is going in for election well ahead of the completion of his first 6year tenure. The surprise opposition candidate is not the often quoted to be “serial loser” but a prize catch in the form of a former general. However, given the present gaffes made by the common opposition candidate of late, and the ground realities of the voter mentality it may now dawn upon the main opposition party that it should have after all fielded Wickremasinghe who would have been assured of minority vote as well as a significant traditional green vote and perhaps some voters who may not be happy with the present Government. However, by fielding the former general the public is torn between memories of the past that the ruling party are continuously promoting to make the people naturally ask of its voter why he/she should vote for a man who is now being backed by political parties and politicians who once openly ridiculed the former general, scoffed at war victory and did their best to ensure the LTTE prevailed.

It also leaves voters to wonder how the UNP and JVP leaders can sit cozily on the same stage and salute their choice of a common candidate without asking which side will this partyless common candidate eventually take…will the former general follow the policies of the UNP…will the former general prefer to tilt towards the JVP or completely ignore both these parties and forget all of the “agreements” made in the eventuality that he comes into power….what a sorry sight that would leave these political parties who are wagging their tongues aspiring for a political comeback.

The former general has shown consistency in inconsistencies which does tap any voter to utilize the forthcoming days wisely. All the while the green voters are asked to recall the Colombo municipal elections & how they were fooled to vote for the present mayor who upon victory ended up deciding to remain in power without handing over power…Ranil’s strategy to by default be Sri Lanka’s leader is likely to hit the biggest failure of his political career and & possibly the end of it as well just as his other stooges will see their fate fall whether Fonseka or Mahinda Rajapakse wins.

Then what of the present Government – it is true that it is not without discrepancies, it has plenty of allegations that similar governments faced during their days in power. What necessitates the public however is to not forget that if ever a leader stood steadfast in the face of uncertainty and unprecedented pressure it is Mahinda Rajapakse and that he had a team that provided him the fullest support to endure these pressures must never be forgotten even though this team primarily comprised of his brothers – by their performance they have shown their competence. This and this decision to militarily defeat the LTTE and spearhead a humanitarian operation simultaneously has enabled the next generation to grow without the LTTE to torment their lives. Children growing up today will never have to live with fear of Prabakaran, LTTE attacks, suicide missions or assassinations. Isn’t this more than any leader of the past has done for a nation? If a nation can be grateful for this single fete than a nation will never be thankful.

All our leaders have been corrupt – there is no exception. Some have been more some have been less but they have all been corrupt…there is no politician who we can call Mr. Clean. This is the simple truth…therefore it is ridiculous to claim that voters plan to elect a Mr. Clean because he and his supporters are unwilling to debate the allegations being made against him. Such a debate is a perfect opportunity for Sri Lanka to gage how suited Fonseka is to spearhead Sri Lanka’s post-war development for a nation cannot deny Mahinda Rajapakse’s leadership in ending the war.

Now that the war is over and the next hurdle remains the economic revival of Sri Lanka where foreign companies and governments are showing keen interest in Sri Lanka’s geographic positioning which translates to good times ahead…But all voters must remember that the common candidate is without a party and while the opposition camp may portray their binding alliance to the candidate it is left for voters to decide whether Fonseka will tilt towards the UNF, JVP or remain a President without party to rule for 6 years. The voter must see the repercussions of such an eventuality and then attempt to picture the uncertain future for Sri Lanka completely reversing the victory that should provide Sri Lanka a golden opportunity to take the country forward positively. In the likelihood of a Mahinda Rajapakse victory, it next befalls on its citizens to vote intelligently and wisely at the forthcoming general elections nullifying the attempts of all incompetent members of parliament to re-enter parliament.

Much is expected from the voters and it is up to them to choose wisely thinking Long Term and not short term.

- Asian Tribune -