CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

Can Democracy Handle Terrorism

ASOKA S.

Democracy is the best form of government world knows so far. Though broadly it is of the people, by the people and for the people there are all different varieties available in different countries which is rightly so. The way American practice democracy is far different from the way the British do or the Indians do. But the essence is that the sovereignty lies with the people and that the people can hire and fire the leaders.

However when Oliver Cromwell first attempted to replace the British throne's executive powers with a parliament, neither he nor the world did not know a concept called terrorism. Terrorism is a recent phenomena which goes against any form of civilized standards. Terrorists themselves like to sugar coat their barbaric acts of killing with words like self determination, freedom or some other fancy word. But wanton destruction of life and property is terrorism. Perhaps only the BBC calls is something else like rebellion or unrest until the Britain themselves gets hit by a group of killers and then the BBC will no doubt call it Terrorism.

Coming back to our own Sri Lanka, all governments since 1983 has tried to quell the LTTE's terrorism. Immaterial of what achievements the government of the day claimed it is very clear that only President Rajapaksha addressed the menace correctly by taking the violence to the LTTE without falling prey to the LTTE con games. No doubt the LTTE CON Machine has worked well until recently and one by one the big con artists have been departing to hell. Rajapksha wisely realized that Prabhakaran has no way out of the mess he created but to fight on. There will never ever be a day that Prabhakaran will lead a Tamil nation in the open after all the thousands of murders he committed in the name of freedom. His days are numbered just like all the mass murderers the world has known.

Rajapaksha administration has to push on till the LTTE is annihilated. Rajapaksha is slowly and painfully getting there thanks to the brave Lankan soldiers who have fallen for the last time for mother Lanka.

Then comes the budget. The democracy we have calls for the budget to pass or else the Rajapaksha Government will collapse. Yes, this is a very important and a key feature of Democracy that we all cherish. As usual Ranils' UNP is doing all it can to gain power no matter what. But is this the right time to topple the government and derail the war that GOSL is painfully winning and thousands of young brave soldiers sacrificed their lives for. If the government falls there are two winners; Ranil and more importantly Prabhakaran. Prabhakaran gets some breathing space to regroup and replan.

So Democracy indeed does not serve to solve the biggest ever crisis mother Lanka is facing in her modern history. This is not the time to go for a parliamentary election. This is the time that all parties need to unite to annihilate the LTTE. The political games can and should start after.

Every UNP politician who goes on stage talking crap to topple the government is nothing but a big hypocrite and an enemy of the state. He or she is just power hungry to heck with the country. Yes, in the name of democracy all have to bear this nonsense and allow the process to work. This is how Cromwell's democracy fails to achieve results for the people.

So it should be very clear that Democracy does not address the challenges of today's world which is full of terrorism. It gets even worse when selfish politicians take advantage merely to gain power. Prabhakaran must be truly laughing from the other end of his body watching the power hungry Sinhalese digging their own grave.

Dear Mr. Wicramasignhe, for heavens sake please accept the defeat you suffered two years ago and come to grips with the fact that the current President and the Parliament is legitimate. They have a mandate by the Lankan people to defeat the LTTE. You have another chance to present your case to the Lankan people in a few years.

In the mean time, the million dollar question is what are you doing the achieve that goal. You need to ask your dear heart honestly even if you are a POLITICIAN. You will be ashamed of the response if you have a conscience.

Disclaimer: The comments contained within this website are personal reflection only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the LankaWeb. LankaWeb.com offers the contents of this website without charge, but does not necessarily endorse the views and opinions expressed within. Neither the LankaWeb nor the individual authors of any material on this Web site accept responsibility for any loss or damage, however caused (including through negligence), which you may directly or indirectly suffer arising out of your use of or reliance on information contained on or accessed through this Web site.
All views and opinions presented in this article are solely those of the surfer and do not necessarily represent those of LankaWeb.com. .

BACK TO LATEST NEWS

DISCLAIMER