Sunday, January 31, 2010

Minority aspirations and the failed democracy..

I usually don't write about politics. But I couldn't help writing about this one.

The following figure shows the vote distribution of the recently concluded presidential election.
(Source: http://www.srilankanelections.com/)

For me, the green districts (in north and east) do not mean that MR lost or SF won (barring some green spots in the hill country, Colombo and some more urban areas); but rather they mean that minority aspirations are not met by the government ruled by the majority. Look who are living in these areas; either minority Tamils or Tamil-speaking Muslims. If we look at the world history, it is a usual thing that the majority is not sensitive to minority issues. The real challenge is whether MR can reverse this and be sensitive to minority issues. I think it'll take lot more to heal the ethnic division than winning the war. That's when I will say Sri Lanka has real peace. I hope that day is not far away.

Update [2/2/2010]: First of all, I am neither supporting nor in favor of any political party or any political leader in Sri Lanka. From the point of view of democracy, MR should not be allowed to extend his next term more than what is stipulated; it is he who called for an early election (which should not have been done in the first place; if he's truthful, not power hungry and had no hidden agenda, why an early election??) and there should be consequences for it. But to my disappointment, he's allowed to extend his tenure by almost one year. I don't know much about politics, but I know that when a country does not have a strong opposition (like the current situation), it is unfortunate that, at the end of the day, it's the civilians who have bear the consequences.

Update [2/8/2010]: It is disturbing to hear that SF has been arrested. As I mentioned before I am not a supporter of SF, but where is democracy?? Would he be arrested under war crimes, had he not stood against MR?? (A few days before, some army officials were also fired under the same ground.)

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.
~ Martin Niemoller

Substitute the above with brave journalists, impartial news papers and other media, people who questions the current ruling party, etc... is the history repeating??

No comments: