13A and 13P – The Bane of a Two Thirds Majority
Posted on January 30th, 2012
Dilrook Kannangara
Whenever Sri Lanka ruling party had a two thirds majority, India comes begging trying to impose its demands. Given the extreme unpopularity of Indian demands, which are often racist, there is no likelihood of any cooperation between the ruling party and the opposition. Only a two thirds majority of the ruling party can make dirty Indian demands happen.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Giving UPFA a two thirds majority has multiple problems. Severe abuse of power by the government from Angoda to Tangalle and right throughout the country was seen in the last one and a half years. Victims of these two events were not the ordinary Lankan, but victims of the full implementation of the 13A or 13P will be average Lankans who will never forgive the ruling elite for this crime. Using the two thirds majority, opposition parties have been subjugated. At first the government said it is for the common good of the country but now it is clear too much power has corrupted the ruling UPFA. Voters regret their grave mistake of giving the Rajapaksha government excess power than it needs to serve the people.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Why a Bilingual Initiative is better than a Trilingual Initiative
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ As part of the full implementation of the 13A, former Indian president Abdul Kalam launched the Trilingual Initiative at Temple Trees recently. This is a senseless and old fashioned movement that will not add any benefit to Sri Lankans. Instead if everyone is taught English, that can break all communication barriers. Valuable time and money is wasted teaching a third language which can be better utilised to teach them more English. If a third language is needed, why not teach Hindi or Chinese? In India, the Hindi majority is not required to learn Tamil. Why in Sri Lanka? India is trying to extend its southern boundary through Tamil imposition. Involvement of the controversial nuclear scientist in the initiative will have Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s true friends China and Pakistan in a dilemma in addition to Indianisation through Tamil imposition.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The so called ethic problem which is the beggarƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s bowl of separatists and expansionists has nothing to do with the language of the people. SJV Chelvanayagam who limped from Kachcheri to Kachcheri threatening Tamil government servants not to learn Sinhala, hired tutors to teach his family the Sinhala language. According to the Interpol arrest warrant, even the LTTE leader spoke Sinhala. Language basis of the so called ethnic problem is a grand myth.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lankans become the laughing stock of the democratic world by adopting a trilingual policy which is in operation only in a very few countries. If Tamil is widely spoken in the island, it becomes an attractive destination for illegal immigrants from Tamil Nadu. This seems to be the plan of India. One of the first acts of parliament after gaining Independence in 1948 was the Citizenship Act. It was well within the 1947 Soulberry Constitution which was a product of consultation of all ethnic groups in the country and remains to this date a sensible Constitution. India shrewdly bypassed it by the 1964 Sirima-Shastri Pact, 1974 Sirima-Indira Pact, 1985 Thimpu agreements (pushed through the LTTE), 1987 Indo Lanka Peace Accord and in 2010 through the demand to give citizenship to all Indians of Sri Lankan descend. However, India never kept its promise.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Similar tactics were used by the former Soviet Union against its neighbours and states that were never part of one nation. For instance under the leadership of Stalin and and Lavrenty Beria, thousands of Russians and Georgians were encouraged to migrate and settle down in Abkhazia that changed its ethnic identity. This was done through language imposition making Abkhazia attractive to outsiders. After a series of wars and manipulating geopolitics to its advantage, Abkhazia managed to forge as an independent nation in 2008. However, the large Russian population exerts influence to such an extent to make it a vassal state of Russia.
13A or 13P Implementation So Unpopular It Can Lead to War Crimes Charges
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If the ruling elite thinks implementation of the 13A or 13P will save it from war crimes charges, they are sadly mistaken. On the contrary, implementation of 13A or 13P will actually land the entire Rajapaksha clan in multiple war crimes cases. Implementation of 13A or 13P will be the most unpopular initiative of the UPFA administration that will mark its downfall. 13A or 13P has absolutely no benefit for the majority Sinhala community (74%) or the Muslim community (9% – 12%). In other words, 83% – 86% of the population will be the losers if 13A or 13P is implemented. Since only a very insignificant percentage of Tamils ever voted for the Rajapakshas, there will be no positive impact of 13A or 13P even from Tamil voters. UPFA will slide to its biggest ever defeat as a result.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ War crimes charges/accusations were made against Mahinda Rajapaksha, Gotabhaya Rajapaksha, General Jagath Dias, General Shavendra Silva, Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, Palitha Kohonna and a host of others in USA, Australia, Switzerland and Germany. However, these moves failed solely because of diplomatic immunity. Case law shows opposition politicians donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t have diplomatic immunity. Therefore the moment the Rajapakshas lose power, they will be the subject of multiple war crimes cases against them. They will be convicted of manipulated charges and punished. Along with them all those who tirelessly worked to bring peace will also be punished on bogus charges.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The opposition has been more than willing to be party to it. UNP, TNA, JVP, NLF, Fonseka Faction, CBK supporters and even some UPFA members have made it clear they will do anything to bring the Rajapakshas to a war crimes tribunal.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Though not a direct comparison, western anger against even uninvolved family members of their perceived enemies can be seen from what happened to the families of Saddam Hussein, Bin Laden and Gaddafi.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The ruling elite must appreciate that it was the voters who saved them from war crimes charges, no matter how absurd the charges are. Cutting the hand that fed them is a sure path to self destruction.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Ranil was badly punished by voters for signing the CFA; CBK was punished for her political package; SWRD Bandaranaike for his illegal Bandaranaike-Chelvanayagam Pact (1957) and the Senanayake clan for the Dudley- Chelvanayagam Pact (1965). To avoid a catastrophe from the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord and the 13A, Premadasa vowed to disregard the 13A leading up to the 1988 Presidential Election. As promised he disregarded many 13A provisions and disrupted the north-eastern Provincial Council. These pacts offer nothing to most people but compromise their wishes and decisions.
False Statesmanship of Taking Voters for Fools
There is a group of lunatics who calls it statesmanship whenever a ruler goes against the majority. They argue SWRD Bandaranaike momentarily showed his true statesmanship when he disregarded the majority and went ahead with signing the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayagam Pact. Truth cannot be further than this. All elected leaders are bound by a principal-agent relationship with their voters. Their voters are the principals and they (politicians) are mere agents. Agents must always act according to the mandate given to them by the principal. Acting ultravires their agency obligations is not something to be praised; it is condemnable. True statesmanship is doing what the voters sanctioned and refraining from exceeding their authority.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ People gave no sanction to Bandaranaike to sign the Pact and he violated the trust of the people in the most despicable manner. However, he had the senses to control the damage.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In the case of Rajapakshas, stakes are much higher. Antagonising voters leads to war crimes charges. The band of advisors and others around them will simply vanish, jump ship or even join war crimes investigations when the ruling elite is out of power. Due to politicisation of the military, former military leaders will be pressed to give evidence as per the whims of new rulers.
Finlandisation of Sri Lanka by India
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ During the Cold War, Soviet Union imposed various policy matters on its small neighbour Finland ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” a country trapped between the Soviet Union and NATO. Soviet impositions included economic policies, defence policies and even foreign relations policies of Finland. This process came to be known as Finlandisation. This is exactly what India is doing as regards its southern neighbour that is sandwiched between Indian and Chinese geopolitical moves.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ To add to this, a US diplomat recently called upon India to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-kick China out of the islandƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. China is well respected and adored in the island for its non-interference policy. India has made enemies right throughout its neighbourhood due to its regular unwanted interference. At this pace, India will lose its only friendly neighbour.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Chinese military presence in the island can keep messy Indians away. Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma, China and the Maldives should form into an association for their common good and economic cooperation. They can take collective steps towards Kashmir, Tibet, etc. India is the next Soviet Union or Yugoslavia. Balkanisation of India will commence with the tacit help of its neighbours unless India stops meddling in their internal affairs.
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January 30th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
As the writer says antoganising the majority Sinhalese 74% will be ringing the death knell to Rajapakse clan. The danger in majority going against the 13A and 13P will bring disasterous effects to the ruling party. Crossed rouge minister plus many ruling party politocos will leave the sinking ship at the right time. Akready cracks are appearing on the sly. There is no sign of any good goernance. Political thuggery, corruption is a menace and it is at a very higher level. MR is reluctant to maintain the discpline amongst the politicos with their voter unfriendly attitude. The constituents cannot gain access to the busy busy and very busy ministers. Their PR is at a very lowebb. It is there I am all right Joh attitude is killing their popularity.
January 30th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
This is only speculation.
Read what the president has said.
“Oh, No! How can I make promises like that? I have referred the issue to Parliament. I have nominated government representatives to the PSC. But unfortunately, neither the UNP nor the JVP has nominated theirs. It is the same with the Tamil National Alliance as well.”
When asked for his personal opinion on the matter, President Rajapaksa said that if he spelt out his views, then there would be criticism in the media that he had brought in his opinion and that he was trying to push it through Parliament. He said, “We can use our parliamentary majority to do that, but I won’t. The Parliamentary Select Committee is an open forum. I will be implementing what is agreed upon there.”
January 30th, 2012 at 6:11 pm
Excellent analysis. People coming to their senses slowly but surely.
Ballot is more powerful than bullet.
January 30th, 2012 at 8:44 pm
It is not mere speculation. Unless people are wide awake politicians will take them for a jolly good ride.
January 30th, 2012 at 9:32 pm
There would never be a 13A, or B or whatever! Mark my words.
even though, lot of words have been spoken and written, it would never become. It is “not” MR’s decision, but the decision of 15,6 million Sinhalese, including his too. No one can go against the mind power of 15,6 million Sinhalese coming together with this question.
When, MR, GR said we are going to kick the buggers to oblivion, and asked whether the Sinhalese are with him, more than 15,6 million minds worked together and the bloody murderous LTTE was finished and not a single relative of Prabakaran was allowed to live and run away. That’s is the power of the mind.
What happens to those, who go against Lanka? would Obama win another election? Would Hilary win another? Did ban ki Moon succeed? Did Darusman succeed? Did SF succeed? NO!
January 31st, 2012 at 2:48 am
What the article reveals in the clearest of terms, as clear as the mid-day sun, is the starkest of truths.
MR’s salvation lies in doing the will of massive millions of Sinhalese and similar minded who put him in the seat of power. It is they who have the power to keep him in his seat or unseat him….not Krishna, Sambanthan and Rayappu. That power base is not a handkerchief in his pocket to blow his nose into and certainly not his toilet-paper. The two third majority is a double edged sword. It shows how impotent the seemingly potent power holder is. The real two-third majority is in the masses, and not in Parliament where many sit on jumper-seats their thumbs on the eject button. To use it against the masses is equivalent to cutting his throat. The two-third majority is a guillotine to which MR is strapped. Krishna, Sambanthan and Rayappu are probably already thinking of the last rights.
Mario Perera, Kadawata
January 31st, 2012 at 3:12 am
See Xinhua new itemwhich indirectly say Krisna the Indian Minister for foreign Indian colonies is a liar.
January 31st, 2012 at 3:30 am
A suicide bomber jacked has been recovered from Kataragama. These Tamil Tigers are up to something. All suspects must be arrested and killed before it is too late.
January 31st, 2012 at 4:08 am
According to The Island “The President said the land powers were vested with the Provincial Councils and the contentious issue was the police powers.” . According to Divaina “අනෙක ඉඩම් බලතල දැනටත් පළාත් සභාවලට තියෙනවා. හැබැයි පොලිස් බලය තමා ප්රශ්නය. ඒකත් අවශ්ය පරිදි රාජ්ය ආරක්ෂාව පිළිබඳ ව්යවස්ථාවෙන් තිබෙන බලයට හානි නොවන විදිහට දෙන්න පුළුවන්.” In other words, land powers have already being given and he is willing to give police powers too. The government spokesmen Keheliya, a weak ago, while confirming this decision of the government proposed a Chamber (senate) representing minorities in addition to 13A. While denying that he has not agreed to implement 13A+ with India, MR is indirectly confirming what he has agreed with India.
A danger ahead!
January 31st, 2012 at 5:57 am
The British have always been interested in Trinco (harbor facilities from WWII times), and ‘Ceylon Tea’, and lately Mannar Oil via
Cairn Oil (Indian sector), the head office of which company is in Britain. Most Tamil Nadu politicians have always gone with the west and their separatist tactics with India to gain a foothold on Lanka. Poor Lankans are indeed caught up in big games.
Time for all true citizens of Lanka to be assertive and use our Democratic rights and lobby the Parliament to remove the 13-A. And boot out all illegal migrants.
Putting on our Hardhats is better than ‘Hondahitha’ in this situation !
January 31st, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Unfortunately what Akuru says is true.
I take back my comment above.
English and Sinhala newspapers reported different things. The press conference was held in Sinhala therefore we have to take the Sinhala original story.
MR is willing to GIVE police powers subject to some STUPID “limitations” in the Constitution AND with the BLESSING of already existing EXTRAORDINARY LAND POWERS including Vesawalami Law AND released 11,000 LTTE terrorists including suicide bombers. You have to look at it in the context.
Do you really think India will be humiliated like this?
No way. They will demand an explanation from MR. Looks like India and MR (self procalimed RELATIVES) are fooling the people. This press conference was held to fool people and for foolish people.
January 31st, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Please verify and double verify words like “In other words, land powers have already being given and he is willing to give police powers too”. Sometimes media reports are not correct. Media articles may carry what the journalists may like to say, and not accurate.
February 4th, 2012 at 9:04 am
The answer to all the problems is simple. Do a referendum and most Sinhalese and even some of the Tamils will vote for eliminating the 13A. End of issue. If the Tamils want the Tamil culture it is there 12 miles away in Tamil Nadu. The high caste in Tamil Nadu have been fiendishly clever. They have kept Tamil Nadu development low and kept the low caste in bondage for over 3,000 yrs. The only escape the untouchables have is to leave India. By doing so they lose caste by crossing water, and also change the religion which also makes them lose caste.
If you look at the Indians who have migrated in large numbers to Malaysia, Fiji, Mauritius, South Africa etc, they are mainly untouchables or low caste Tamils. In Malaysia they have no rights unlike in Sri Lanka. The Bhumiputra’s (Malays) have all the rights as it should be. The British and Dutch brought in over one and a half million low caste Tamils and educated some to rule the place. After independence Sri Lanka provided free education and free health care which they do not have in Tamil Nadu. Net result in that they come in droves legally or illegally to Sri Lanka. They then get educated and go to other countries and call the Sinhalese ‘barbarians’ and do everything they can to vilify Sri Lanka. High time we got tough like in Malaysia and Fiji. We should just put our foot down and deport all the Tamils who cannot prove their citizenship in Sri Lanka. The first thing they do is to produce babies so that the babies are Sri Lanka citizens. When the ‘human shield’ came out of the Wanni they were all carrying small children and babies. The 30 years of war did not deter them from having them.
The Catholic church encouraged and abetted them and people like Reyappu Joseph used the church for political ends. It is a huge mess like the Aegean stables. The Indian Government is morally obliged to take them all back. India reneged on the Shrima Shastri pact which was an attempt to address the imbalance. Indians have an enormous mess in their own country and they are exporting their people all over the world. Their country is a total mess. The poor are abysmally poor. The rich are filthy rich. The environment is really bad. The holy river Ganges is full of sewage and dead bodies floating down river. Everyone wants to be cremated and have the ashes in the river. They have funeral pyres on the river side and then the half burnt bodies are tossed in the river since there is a such a big line up for the cremation. However they do have Nuclear weapons.