The Island Editorial

Crocs weeping buckets

Wednesday 04th November 2015

 

There are said to be only two good politicians, one dead and the other unborn. But, one shouldn’t be so cynical. There are some good politicians among the living and they are in the Opposition; they are good because they are without power to be bad. And, today, they are weeping buckets for the victims of last week’s police brutality. In a turn of events replete with irony some of them have even called upon the National Police Commission (NPC) to hold an impartial investigation into the incident. Isn’t it they who voted for the 18th Amendment which eviscerated the NPC and other independent commissions?

The knee-jerk reaction of the government was to appoint some committees to probe the attack on protesting students. Whether anything will come of the ongoing probes is anybody’s guess. But, what matters is the government’s response. It has promptly ordered an investigation and allowed the NPC to initiate an inquiry of its own. These are, to give the devil his due, positive signs which need to be appreciated by one and all. Nothing of the sort would have happened under the previous government which most of the hypocrites shedding crocodile tears for the victims of last week’s police attack defended to the hilt. None of those worthies had the strength of character or love for democracy to condemn police and military crackdowns on the Rathupaswala villagers protesting against a factory which allegedly contaminated groundwater in the area, fishers and workers fighting for their rights. (A wag says they were so scared of the Rajapaksas that they were wary of opening their mouths even to brush their teeth!)

There were numerous instances where students, workers and Opposition activists were savagely assaulted under the Rajapaksa government. Pro-UPFA thugs armed with clubs, bicycle chains etc openly operated alongside the riot police to crush Opposition protests. The police, questioned by the media, tried to defend the criminals by claiming that they may have carried clubs to ward off stray dogs in the city!

Even the faded Red Shirts are waxing eloquent on people’s democratic rights and condemning police attacks on student protests. But, they turned a blind eye to the LTTE’s crimes against children such as abductions and forcible conscription, and opposed military action against northern terrorism.

A youth from Embilipitiya has authored a book on a group of schoolchildren killed by the then UNP government and buried in a mass grave at Suriyakanda during the second JVP uprising (1987-89). He told this newspaper on Monday that he had invited the leaders of all political parties to the book launch to be held shortly but none of them had accepted his invitation. So much for their concern for students who become victims of state terror!

The present government is behaving, compared to its predecessor and responding to public opinion not because it is full of democrats. Some of those who provided the Rajapaksa government with underworld figures to attack the then Opposition protests have joined the present administration! The incumbent dispensation is not trying to bulldoze its way through because it is not equal to that task thanks to the outcome of the last parliamentary election where people exercised their franchise wisely––for once. Strong governments have the propensity for abusing power and resorting to violence to suppress dissent.

People may trust politicians and parties of their choice with power, but it is a fatal mistake for governments to be given steamroller majorities under any circumstances. The problem with power is that it goes to the head of the wielder thereof and drives him or her mad.

It is said that when a government fears the people there is liberty and when the people fear a government there is tyranny.