More Villages of Cleanliness

Never have I seen a Sinhala and Tamil
(or National) New Year celebration like what took place at Galle Face. It was aunique display of national unity in fighting against corruption that has been dominant in governance for the past several decades.

“Gota Go Gama” the new village that has emerged at Galle Face, is a call to all people regardless of race, ethnic, caste or religious differences to fight the corruption and bad governance, that has made this a country of painful queues for the people; where the agony of a long wait often does not provide what is sought – be it petrol, diesel, flour – and essential drugs in hospitals.

It is a village that echoes the pain of the people, a “Duk-Ginna Gama” that the Rajapaksas have brought to the country far away from the Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour that Gotabaya promised in the election that brought him 6.9 million voters.

There are some of the 69 lakhs still supporting Gotabaya and the Rajapaksas, as seen by the few small anti-Galle Face protests that have taken place, at a few places in the country. The ability for such anti-people protests to take place, is also a sign of the progress of democracy in the Gota Go Gama message of the young, engaged in the fight against corrupt Rajapaksa governance. It is not surprising to see some of the anti-people protests being organised by those in yellow robes, displaying a message of intolerance, far removed from the teachings of the Dhamma!

Galle Face is remembered as the place where large public meetings were held, mainly by the left parties of this country in their campaigns against colonial rule and capitalist governance. It later became a meeting centre for right-with politics of the UNP, and the alliances formed by the SLFP, too. It was also a place of protest for Tamil politicians, who had to face the pain of more than police batons.

It was the place set apart for the “Ladies with their children” by the British rulers, that had some place for the hangmen of the past, and also as a prayer centre for those of the Islamic faith. Today, the Gota Go Gama is the place of non-violent action against the powers and forces of corruption and bad governance that has dominated Sri Lanka, especially after 1977 – and the JRJ presidency.

While the protests with the national flag, songs and visits by leading personalities in society, from singers to dancers, songwriters and poets, actors, players in different games, will continue for more days and even weeks, there are many matters related to corruption that needs attention by the people. This involves people and institutions, officers and departments, tenders and crooked contracts, that have become the core of corrupt politics and governance in Sri Lanka today.

Aly Sabry, now the Minister of Finance, and earlier Minister of Justice, certainly has a vital role to play in dealings with the IMF and World Bank. He certainly has the golden clasp of President Gotabaya – with resignations often withdrawn, as the Gotabhaya embrace grows stronger and longer. One cannot forget that he was a key lawyer for Gotabaya R, when he sued the late Lasantha Wickramatunge, Editor of the Sunday Leader, and appeared in court for GR just days before Lasantha’s assassination. He certainly defended GR over the issue of his US citizenship, and dual citizenry in Sri Lanka, seeking candidacy for the Sri Lankan presidency. A judgment of interesting concern. He did talk of resignation from Justice over GR’s giving special powers to Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara There on “One Country, One Law”, and readily changed such thinking. This Gotabaya clasp for Ali Sabry will be of continued concern for those who are raising their voices on “Gota Go Home” at the Gota Go Gama, and rising protests elsewhere, too.

Politicians and lawyers, who are not directly involved in the Galle Face protests, should now think of action necessary to renew the large number of Bribery and Corruption charges against pro-Gota politicians, and key personnel, who have been freed by the Bribery and Corruption Commission.

There is also the need to think of new legislation that will limit the work of the Attorney General’s Department on how it deals with cases filed by previous AGs, and readily and hastily withdrawn by a successor AG. Should there also not be legislative action on how judgments are delivered on cases involving the crooked play of politicians in governance, and the ready pardons for the political catchers of crooked governance, followed by high ranking state jobs, too.

The Gota Go action at Galle Face must be more than a reminder on how deep corruption has moved in the politics and governance of Sri Lanka. The reports in the social media said there was a “Mahajana Gangava” – a River of the People – flowing with the call for Gota to Go.

That river must be clearly diverted to the fight against corruption in governance – in the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary, too. It should not be a flood of disaster, where the Gota Players will make new scores in corruption.

It is time to grab the Gota Forces of Crooked and Corrupt Governance, and have Gota Go villages throughout this country, in a determined fight for Clean Governance, from Point Pedro to Devundara, and Colombo to Batticaloa!