Ranil power: Stop stoning the search for Democracy

The Aragalaya has moved into a ‘gal keliya situation. The Aragala protesters were never throwing stones. But there is a new spread of stone throwers, legal and political stones, mainly targeting the Aragala activists. These are by political strikers carrying stones targeting the Aragala activists and key supporters to push them to remand prisons and cases in the courts with a captivating range of offences from sitting on the president’s chair, eating a papaw from the president’s fridge, wrapping the former president’s flag around one’s waist, and sleeping on the Gotabaya’s bed, all in the President’s House or the old Queen’s House … and much more of warped thinking.

This is the stuff of the post-Gota “Ranil Gal” exercise, certainly giving delight to the Rajapaksa hangers-on showing a new rise in dirty politics.

The Aragalaya gained its immediate goal, removal of President Gotabaya from his office; he unexpectedly fled to the Maldives, Singapore and now Thailand. It also had other scores such as the resignation of former President and PM – Mahinda, former Finance Minister Basil, the removal from the Cabinet of brother Chamal and nephew Namal in the questionable ‘democratic’ country, where four members of one family held office in the Cabinet. These certainly are matters for celebration by the Aragalaya activists, and the masses who supported them. But the rise of Ranil’s ‘gal keliya’ exercise, certainly gives new concerns to the people, and to whoever or whatever comes as the next wave of the Aragalaya – a wave that must rise against the Ranil-Rajapaksa sway of ‘pavul balaya’ or the family that seeks to remain in power against the will of the people.

There are very interesting issues which need to be raised about the ex-President Gotabaya abroad. What made him choose such a costly hotel in Singapore – as a temporary home for him, his wife and the four security officers who went with him after his escape from this country? It certainly cost several millions in Sri Lankan currency and dollars; and was that approved by the Ranil-Rajapaksa government? Gotabaya certainly remains a Sri Lankan citizen, but holds no office although having a valid presidential passport.

There is no reason whatsoever for the Sri Lankan state to bear the cost of supporting a man who has fled the country. Or, was that massive amount settled by anyone who benefited from the crooked business during the Gota era?

The Thai authorities have given him an opportunity to stay there for 90 days, but have been very clear that he should be confined to his hotel, and should not engage in any politics while he is there. Thailand certainly does not want the good relations with Sri Lanka to be affected by a defeated politician, fleeing from home and seeking shelter elsewhere, or possibly back at home as brother Mahinda has suggested.

Gotabaya certainly has a place in Sri Lanka, his home – and for more than a decade his dual home – when he was a US citizen. He has every right to return to Sri Lanka, and possibly live peacefully at his home at Mirihana, where the protests against him began. But, his presence here will certainly require his attention, respect for and observance of the country’s laws unlike in his days of power. There are certainly many laws and offences that will require him being brought before the courts.

Gotabaya’s return here will and certainly must make him come before the law in the many cases that have been filed, and the several others that await action. New evidence, hidden under his presidency and the other Rajapaksa days, has called for the courts to deal with him. He will certainly have to resume facing action on state funds being used to build the monument to his father and mother at Hambantota, which was targeted by attackers on or after 09 May this year.

Will he be ready to face legal action in connection with the murder of Lasantha Wickrematunga, the Editor of The Sunday Leader; a fresh probe by the Yahapalana government, when Ranil W was PM, pointed to new evidence on the planning of this killing. Will there be more evidence as regards the disappearance of cartoonist Prageeth Eknaligoda? And the public will be glad to know what role the defence personnel played in the killing of rugger player Wasim Thajudeen.

All of this is not confined to Gotabaya Rajapaksa; Ranil W, as the President, should also be a key player in bringing these matters before the courts. His acceptance of the presidency even as an unelected MP requires his complete respect for the Constitution and the rule of law.

This is the new age of Ranil Play, for however long it lasts. From some of the clues and signals we see today, this Ranil Era may certainly look more corrupt than the Gota days. We are moving to a Giant Cabinet which may be much bigger than the ones we have seen. There will be a massive number of Deputy Ministers too. And the Ranil Power Play will see a whole range of unelected UNPers holding Advisory Positions in the government.

The initial call for a government of unity among all parties in parliament is fast moving to one of major disunity with the dominance of parliamentary power clearly moving to the Podujana Peramuna – SLPP.

The voters of Sri Lanka will have to be considering how they can have a government of clear unity with the election as MPs of candidates who have moved away from the corruption of the Rajapavula of Hambantota, the political twists and turns of JR Jayewardene, and move to a genuine democracy.

The next few months with increased hardships for the people will certainly call for another mass reaction, a much larger Jana Aragalaya, that can achieve the many changes in the Constitution to make this a true Democracy, and have MPs who don’t profit from parliament, but serve the people in the true Spirit of Democracy – and not of corrupt leaders.