It wasn’t me!

Politico’s mantra

I am not a great visionary, politically-minded scholar, or expert of any sorts. I am a very simple person, an average Sri Lankan citizen, like many of you, born in Sri Lanka, studied in a state school, graduated from a state university, and now mployed with a moderate pay check. So why do I feel the need to bother you with my blather?

It is because I feel that I have been offered the (mis)fortune of a different vantage point on the happenings in Sri Lanka. I recently moved to another country, temporarily, while all my roots, my heart and my soul are still back home, in Sri Lanka. I got so homesick that I spent a great deal of money to return to my country for a mere two weeks, after being abroad for just three months. For a brief moment, I got a glimpse of the ground realities back in Sri Lanka; the piles of people shrivelling under the scorching sun waiting to get a can of petrol/diesel/kerosene, or a cylinder of gas; the empty shelves labelled paracetamol in the drug store; the sound of the generator that was running for hours and screaming in agony during power cuts, and being ashamed of the inequalities in society it represented. I suddenly felt like an outsider, observing the daily struggles of my fellow countrymen while sitting on a cushy sofa in an air-conditioned glass bubble. I departed with a heavy heart, and now, I hear of the peoples’ plight but I myself am spared the physical discomforts they experience. I see photos and videos of dreadful scenes and feel the same frustration, but I am yet not hopeless because I have the luxury of a respite in a foreign country. My friends and family tell me of their plans to migrate abroad, when I intend to do the exact opposite, a minute influx against the great exodus. Yet, my heart bleeds to see my country, with all its imperfections and limitations, being plunged into an abyss of darkness, both literally and metaphorically.

I few weeks ago, I was astonished at the level of tolerance of the Sri Lankan people. Even under such trying circumstances, it seemed as if the populace were in a slumber of sorts. Almost complacent and maybe in a state of learned helplessness. I was amazed that the very persons responsible for the misfortunes Sri Lanka faced could still appear on national television, drumming “it wasn’t me” and the impunity they enjoyed. Was it some mystical power they wielded over the masses? Maybe it was the numerous embellished amulets being brandished hither and tether or perhaps the red scarf? Well…, whatever it was, the spell appears to be lifting now, slowly but steadily; surely lifting! I am proud of my fellow citizens who have taken it upon themselves to protest and voice their dissent. I applaud you for your courage, no matter wherever or however you found it. I rejoice in the solidarity, irrespective of its catalyst. My only prayer now is that something tangible comes out of all this distress and that this is hopefully not another passing storm.

However, being away from the epicentre of it all has also offered me a broader perspective, a form of introspection of what really brought us to this juncture. Is it really the fault of a handful of individuals or just one family only? Till now, my stock answer to anyone who complained about the blundering state of affairs in Sri Lanka has been that “I did not vote for him/them”. I have flaunted this fact in the faces of many. I have sanctimoniously held on to it as a pauper cherishes his maggot infested ulcer. The truth I have seldom, if ever, admitted is that I have voted only once in my entire life. Looking back, I now feel just as responsible for the sorry state of affairs in Sri Lanka as much as the political stooges who brought these corrupt individual(s) to power. My lame excuse so far has been that there is no one who is worthy of consideration to vote for, but shouldn’t I have made some effort to identify the least rotten of the tomatoes?

For decades, most of our populace has let their loyalties be governed by immediate or short-term personal gains, the promise of a job, a massive building contract, an import license or even a bottle of alcohol and a free lunch. There was seldom any focus on the policies and strategies the candidates brought to the table, and never any real debate of how sustainable or economically sound they were. I agree that looking at the choices we are left with, it seems like picking the least malodorous one from a box of putrefying fish, but yet, have we ever put them to test before entrusting them with running an entire nation?

Yet, even with a diligent population who value the long-term prosperity of the country over temporary personal gains, a crafty candidate who runs a shrewd campaign may still sway public opinion and come into power. The last presidential and parliamentary elections are living proof of how deceptive campaigns could be. There was a great calling for change, promise of transformation and meritocracy. Although, there were many who supported and lobbied for ‘The King’ for shameless personal gains, majority of the 6.9 or so million Sri Lankans who voted for them would have truly believed in this promise only to be utterly disappointed within a relatively short period of time thereafter.

The real question in such a case is what does the public, the media and the law enforcement authorities do when the real colours of the perpetrators start to become visible? How often are they called out? How often are they challenged? Do the law enforcement authorities take decisive action when criminal offences are allegedly committed? Of course, we do not live in a perfect world but a human one. Therefore, we have to accept that there will invariably be some degree of corruption, favouritism, incompetence and even outright stupidity. However, it should never be the norm and most certainly should not be systemic.

But here we are! We Sri Lankans have let it become the norm! The corrupt rulers rob the country of billions of rupees and embark on ill-advised displays of false prosperity for political mileage, wasting precious resources. The minions and hench-persons surrounding them nod their heads in approval and bow with the hope of feasting on the scraps thrown their way as positions, commissions, contracts, tenders and so on and so forth. Lower down in the imaginary social ladder, someone might take a few bundles of blank sheets home from the office or expect their palms to be greased to do the work they are already paid to do. Although a significant proportion of the population are law-abiding citizens making an honest living, corruption and incompetence have become so common place in Sri Lanka now. We have allowed this malady to go on for too long, unchecked and unchallenged, so much so that it has now become nearly systemic. We have turned a blind eye and done far too little for decades, chanting “it wasn’t me“. Sometimes it has been for our own personal profits and sometimes, simply because we did not care enough.

The time has come for us, the ordinary citizens, to own up to our own misfortunes. After all, aren’t we all responsible as we have aided and abetted this self-perpetuating system of corruption, in one way or another?

We have relied on a top-down approach to change this system of corruption for far too long, looking for “heroes” who will right all wrongs. Let this unprecedented disaster in Sri Lanka be a lesson to us all to value principles and never turn a blind eye to injustice. Let this be a calling to be intolerant of corruption at any level. Let us be responsible citizens in every way possible, call out wrong doers and be whistle blowers if we must. We must build a virtuous culture which shuns the corrupt and the unlawful, coupled with a strong and impartial justice system that will put them behind bars, if we are to rise from the ashes one day.

There is a massive peaceful people’s movement in Sri Lanka, and I hope it will continue to gain momentum in the days and weeks to come. Although it makes me optimistic, I am also afraid of the political forces which might hijack this well intended and honest voice of the people. Moreover, it can very easily manipulate agitated masses, and the herd mentality that ensues. Of course, once the dust settles, the culprits will once again harp “it wasn’t me” while the people caught in the cross fires suffer. Sri Lanka is an already broken nation, bankrupt and falling apart. More damage to public or private property, or harm to human lives would only aggravate the country’s plight. It will definitely not help; not even just a little.

I admire and bow my head to everyone who stands for a better meritocratic and democratic Sri Lanka, free from corruption. Let us protest in unison in any way we can and let this be my minuscule share. Let the message be crystal clear, devoid of the distraction of violence or destruction. Let this be the Beginning of a New Beginning!

Disclosure

I have no political affiliations, nor do I support any political party or a group. I admit that I penned my thoughts rather candidly as I feel shielded in this corner of the world, and I seriously doubt whether I would have had the courage or the time to do so had I been in Sri Lanka. Of course, if anyone ever asks me if I wrote this article, my answer would most likely be “it wasn’t me”!

A homesick wanderer