Pluralism, the Essential Chant For Post War Sri Lanka

At long last, when the Provincial Council in the North is set up, a semblance of uniformity in the administration of the Sri Lankan profile can be said to be completed.  What has yet to be convincingly understood is the need for the indoctrination into this divided nation of the concept of pluralism, as a worthy strategy to be adopted.  In today’s globalized world there is no country that can claim to draw its identity from a single root. Throughout civilization countries have had and continue to have a population with diverse identities in their ethnic origin as well as in their religious orientation. Amongst them there are that many sects and clans.  There has to be general understanding with conviction that there are differences as well as commonalities amongst any given polity; Sri Lanka is no exception.  To make this a live situation there has to be ‘engagement by and between the communities through inter-racial and inter–religious interactions’.  This is the only way to understand the makeup in the conduct of the lives of its people in its totality; this is the only way to pave the path to secure the independence and integrity of each one regardless of the numerical strength of those involved.

The State and Civil Society Must Sponsor Pluralism

Therefore, in Sri Lanka, where exist diversity in the ethno religious composition of its demography, it is not only imperative but logical that the State and civil society actively promote the principles of pluralism.  This cannot be done by extremists calling for ‘Sinhala Deshi’ or by aggressively espousing  animosities through hate speech against smaller groups within the country; or by actively pushing for position of one group or religion, not as one amongst several others, but as a pivotal religion securing primary position.  In Sri Lanka, the audible cry of the extremists, obviously a minority, even though it is a corrosive one, has been that Buddhism is in dire need of protection.  Buddhism that has survived with all of its “many splendoured” attributes requires no support for sustenance from even those drawn from the clergy who do not appear to follow the Buddhist dictum of detachment and homelessness.

This stricture applies equally and emphatically to the minorities, particularly the Tamils.  Having come out of an acrimonious war that caused immense damage to the entire nation it would not be out of place to demand that greater efforts be made at reconciliation.   Thirty years of conflict has without a doubt left a majority of the Tamils yearning for peace and ‘quiet’.  The simple expectations of the people are for an acceptable level of livelihood for the family with opportunities for income generation, improved facilities for health and education and personal security.  Much of the demands of the politicians are sadly power based with unenviable obstinacy to hold on to the posturing of the yesteryears.   A life of contentment and secure environment would ultimately benefit all the communities, minorities mostly as they will get the space to develop their own well-being.  In so doing a peaceful non-confrontational atmosphere will prevail and many of the political and economic needs of the people will be addressed in time. This will help to build a strong and ‘powerful’ community ‘ that will be enriched with the where with all to develop its identity and proceed to exercise power through its own strengths of financial and economic  resources, intellectual capability and a harmonious religious perspective that eschews aggressive posturing for its survival.

The Dangers of “Conflict of Ignorance” and “Perceptions”

“The global world is a village; …….a village of villagers who know nothing of each other…they do not know who they are and not know who they are living with. This can only lead to half-hearted fearful and dormant conflicts than a confident celebration of our riches”.  Edward Said suggested it would lead to a “clash of ignorance” while Tariq Ramadan says it will lead to a “conflict of perceptions” which he claims is more dangerous than perceptions,  as perceptions have to do with feelings, emotions, convictions and psychology.  Fear, doubt and distrust are imperceptibly colonizing our hearts and minds”. Ramadan convincingly says that “it is the plurality of human journeys that shapes the humanity of men” and that fostering an objective will help to find many similarities, many things in common and many shared values”. The most valuable point he raises relevant to Sri Lanka at this juncture is that the “government is more like an mediating influence that seeks to negotiate and bring into legislation a compromise, which is the result of a struggle between different competing points of view. Pluralism believes that government should be an intermediary; one who is more like an arbiter than a dictator.” If wise counsel prevails this would be an ideal to follow in Sri Lanka.

Engagement with Diversity will Usher a Windfall of Benefits

If we move away from aggressive posturing and increasingly utilize the spirit of engagement with one another, the natural fall out will be the recognition and appreciation of the diversity ‘of interests and beliefs’ amongst the citizenry.  This will create, as a corollary, the spirit of accommodation, the awareness of the value and inevitability of diversity that can help in the build-up of a democratic spirit as well as the institutions necessary to foster and strengthen it. Equality should be the first and the last principle in guiding societal matters. The requirements of society, in the early stages will obviously be based on the simple needs and wants of the community which will later develop into more complex aspirations.  These aspirations have to be within the concept of the unity of the people and in the Sri Lankan instance the unitary nature of the state.

The guiding principle must be that each individual has to count as one and it is the sum total of individual needs and wants that comes into the calculation and formulation of policy and strategy for national planning and not a negative; assessment based on concepts of majority and minority. The principle of “equal partnership” with the other, be it the ‘big’ or ‘small’ groupings has to be the vital binding force in relationship building.  There is always a great demand that this be entrenched in the constitution and the institutions but it is vital to keep in mind that the words in the constitution will remain ‘empty’ unless it is accepted by the spirit of accommodation amongst the people to bind the nation together.

TNA’s Manifesto Puts a Brake on Pluralism

At this point of history, it would be counter-productive for the diverse entities to engage in power politics instead of grappling with concerns close to the ground.  The TNA emphasizing political demands more than the social need of the community they represent, will only introduce larger doses of divisiveness than ever before.  The rest of the country will have less patience with such prevarications when the need of the hour is substantially different to that proposed by the TNA.  If reconciliation is the call of the TNA, then raising the issues of the right to self- determination, re-merger of the North and East should not have been in the manifesto.  The manifesto instead of giving hope of a ‘promised land’ to the war ravaged community has opened the proverbial can of worms.  What has been spelt out in the manifesto will surely spell political disaster and condemn the people of the North and the East to years of conflict, denial of basic needs and, most of all, a life of insecurity.  Is this fair? Is this just? Democracy is defined first and foremost as the ‘rule of the people’.  In Sri Lanka in particular it is more often than not the decision of the political parties that govern the destiny of the people; the narrow concerns for sustenance of its political future.

“New Perspective for Tamil Politics” Wanted

It is time that the Tamil political parties threw up youthful leaders capable of fresh thinking, in line with the problems of the post conflict society.  They have to have answers and directions for the problems suffocating the Tamil community rather than stoke the fires of the political needs of the power elite within the leadership.  By making reference to international inquiry and the rejection of the 13^th amendment, they have walked into the inferno of the foreign policy space that can scorch them.  Equally when reference is made to ‘Tamil centric’ and not ‘Colombo centric’ approach, they appear to desire the severance of the umbilical cord binding the plural polity.  Even if the intention was not as harsh as it seems, perceptions can make immense devilry.  Also, when the demand has been for less military presence, the manifesto seems to ensure that the military will be strengthened and not be reduced or removed.

The hope, that Justice Wigneswaran will ‘open a new perspective for Tamil politics’ remains a hopeless wish as events appear to portray. If pluralism is the “energetic engagement with diversity” the manifesto of the TNA makes a contrary statement.

The Muslim Minority

The Muslim minority has always adopted a line of integration with the other communities and has co-existed within the nation state without too much controversy.  It is therefore unfortunate that a microscopic group has been responsible for destabilizing this harmonious relationship.  It is to the credit of the community’s leadership both civil and religious that they did not encourage engagement in confrontational politics despite grave provocation.  It is in some manner of speaking an example of real politick where they have taken the path of not engaging in physical or verbal hostilities which would have aggravated the situation.  It is likely, if wiser counsel prevails on all sides, the fires can be doused and coexistence be made possible again.

Pluralism Guideline for Peace

The country can prosper only if the policy makers and the citizenry decide to actively search for ‘understanding across the lines of difference’ to make the country comfortably habitable for its people.  For this, living and thinking as isolated groups, extolling the greatness of ethnic identities will not help at all.  “Energetic engagement with diversity” must become the guiding principle within the diversity that exists in the country as there is so much to lose by being ethno centric rather than nation centric.  Leaders who so carelessly start wars do not go to the front; it is the poor mothers’ sons who fight, get maimed, remain traumatized and also get killed.  The loss is therefore to the nation not to the leaders. Let wiser counsel prevail and let us adopt pluralism as the mantra for the future. Alienation is not for us Sri Lankans; short term political and electoral considerations has not taken us very far and we must begin to think in terms of the people’s and nation’s welfare even if it were to diminish political future for some. In the long run those who are temporarily disadvantaged remain to garner the future advantage.