The UNHRC:

Is Heartfelt Reconciliation a Better Start?

by Dr D. CHANDRARATNA

‘We hear those distant drums-far away’ are the lyrics from a song by Jim Reeves, well known to the older generations in Sri Lanka. Likewise, twice a year the drum roll of the UNHRC is heard through the theatrics in Sri Lanka. There are arguments and counter arguments aired in the media, signalling the readiness to refresh allegations against Sri Lanka for the lapses in reconciliation and reparation.

Nothing is any different from the refrain we have heard many times before. Ordinary citizens are hardly bothered, because people are accustomed to UNHRC talk fests and seasoned to the fact that nothing of substance will happen. The cynicism is understandable, because human rights abuses in the world are many, and Sri Lanka, after terrorism is a tolerable place, and even noted as a cynosure for tourists. Compared to gross abuses in places such as Myanmar, Afghanistan, Libya, and glaring issues of forced labour, child exploitation and abuse in many countries, hunger and deprivation, inequity in vaccination places where the UNHRC is badly needed to give a voice to the victims. But UNHRC seems to be playing geo-politics at our expense.

But this essay is different. While the ideologues will dismiss it as nonsensical platitudes, yet I will argue that it has proved useful in history, and I am only suggesting to the protagonists on both sides to take stock of reality as ordinary folk see it, and plead with them to consider a different path in the reconciliation game.

The absolute necessity to change course

It was just two weeks ago that we celebrated 74th Independence Day, from colonial rule, but sadly not all communities did join. It is, therefore, understandable for civic minded Sri Lankans to be apprehensive about the future of a country, where even a national day does not bring people together. This is not unusual even in former colonies, and in a country such as Australia there still is a debate on these matters, with the First nation people and community leaders. The ULURU statement was drafted outside the political directorate seeking ways to reconcile with history with a heart-to-heart conversation; a heart-to-heart discourse based on morality and intelligent reasoning without politics and ideology. It is the starter for more complex policy issues to come in the fullness of time.

Sri Lanka is going through a rough time. Sadly, this is an understatement, and one of the reasons for our current state is the fact that post-independence history was riddled with conflict and tension, and one cannot predict how likely we will solve the myriad issues with any confidence. While the world is grappling with impending nuclear explosions, global climate change, infectious diseases and biological warfare, ours is more basic, in that we are a fractured nation, and all signs are that we are drifting further apart.

A divided country has no future other than as a parking lot for other nations. We all must recognize what a quagmire that we are in. Division, disunity after a multitude of commissions, consultations and five Presidents the chasm is ever widening. A multiethnic nation which is suspicious of other communities is living at the edge.

A fractured nation with warring communities is a potent danger, not so much in the physical sense. The enmity sown in the minds of the youth is so noxious that the nation has a split personality. A young person will not be able to see through this noxious poisonous mask ever, and I am not exaggerating. I’m sure even Sigmund Freud will concur with me. The distrust it creates can cause mayhem anytime. Just like religion the children will subliminally uptake the ‘other’ as the devil. What future are we thinking of? The older generation who did not differentiate one another on the factor of ethnicity, are either dead or in their sunset years. In a few years no one will be alive to teach them of the absolute beauty of unity in diversity.

In my Buddhist school Ananda, my adored teacher was the Tamil English Senior master and at Peradeniya it was Dr Wilson (Politics), Dr Stanley Thambiah (Sociology), and Dr Thambiah Pillai, our climatology guru. I still believe very strongly that Dr Wilson’s well researched text gave me a distinction in civics at the AL exam. We remember them with gratitude for what we have achieved in our lives. What a wonderful time it was to mix with friends from all ethnicities and particularly trips to Jaffna to spend the weekends with friends. How ashamed we were to harbour our own friends in our chummeries in Colombo come July 83.

The uselessness of praying for foreign God’s starting with UNHRC

The cacophony of noises made in preparation for the forthcoming UNHRC is a wasteful exercise. I know that the pundits will dismiss me, but they do not see the reality. Except for the civil society leaders and the politicians, no one gives a damn. The pin striped men and women will come and go, and at least the current regime will show some evidence to demonstrate what they do and disprove others. UNHRC which is wanted elsewhere, will meddle in our internal affairs outside their mandate. The ordinary people will harbour more grudges against one another, and innocent people in the NE will receive nothing because of an unruly political game. Given the geopolitical struggles we will be drawn in by default, because nonalignment these days is defined by George Bush’s dictum that’ ‘if you are not with us you are with the enemy’. The very young and those yet to be born will be brainwashed in their formative years.

There are numerous examples from other parts of the world, where a people’s convention and expert panels outside the political spectrum, will bring the communities together and give direction to the political directorate in different hues. It will be difficult for political leaders to ignore proposals coming from a people’s Convention. It can be the harbinger of Constitutional changes, Bills of Rights, legal frameworks for guaranteeing unity while allowing for diversity and devolution. Such a charter will provide a sense of safety and security for all. Most of all we can begin to trust our communities and their politics.

Otherwise, we are praying to world powers to kick this ethnic can down the road and they will, gladly. Their actions in the Middle East and some parts of Africa should forewarn us.

Questions about the place of ethnicity, language and religion must be resolved by compromise and goodwill, not through acrimonious adversarial posturing before legislation.

Conclusion

The time has come for all ethnicities to recognize the fact that beginnings of a reconciliation must come from a heart-to-heart conversation, and that there is no other solution. While acknowledging that there must be structural safeguards for all ethnicities, there must also be an overall peoples’ support to draft a lasting solution, without which the nation will not make much headway. Sri Lanka is stuck in this quagmire of commissions, international inquiries, accusations and counterclaims, appeals to foreign countries and old colonial masters, strategic interests etc. But in the eyes of the common folk these have not so far been successful and unlikely that they ever will. It does not mean that there is no community appetite for reconciliation and peaceful coexistence as to the way we were.

We belong to the most ancient orders of religion, which sheltered persecuted peoples in the past and still are fostering the grand remnants of those religions. Sectarianism, bigotry and fanaticism, and its modern-day variants, have filled the earth with violence and our soil is splattered with blood and the whole nation is in despair. I can only visualise where we would be among the nations in the world today if we had the good fortune, vision and courage to banish the uncharitable feelings against one another.

Wasn’t even Singapore envious of our potential at one time. We wasted that potential. We are awaiting the arrival of noble souls, large hearts and warm humility to change course; change course it must, lest we will be the poorest of nations, in spirit and matter, culturally and economically for ever more. Let us have a National Conversation.