Rise of Rajavasala Injustice

There is a new nationalism having its impact on the world today. It is “Vaccine Nationalism”. As the pandemic keeps spreading, and faster with variants, Vaccine Nationalism is rapidly moving towards a Vaccine War, with the European Union and the UK showing a display of vaccine weaponry. 

Sri Lanka has received its first vaccine weapons against Covid-19, from neighbouring India. There is more such weaponry sailing here from China – reviving memories of Rubber-Rice friendship. Russia will also send us its special Sputnik V, to be in the vaccine armoury here. But, where will the balance of millions of vaccines come from – needed for the people? 

Keep praying if your belief is in a deity. Keep hoping for the best, if you can manage to have such feelings today. Take strength from that report about Sri Lanka ranking 10th in the global ranking of Covid handling. Just try to forget that with that 10th tanking, we are now in the 700 to 800 ranking on daily infections, with those passing away soon moving beyond 300. 

What is needed is proper faith in the political leadership that is handling this crisis. We must try to keep away from both vaccine nationalism and East Container nationalism. Just keep believing the result of the 69 lakh voters – the Gotabaya nationalism, more powered by the 20th Amendment, with increasing deafness to the yellow robes that were the loudest in the call for the Gotabaya Rajavasala.

We will soon celebrate the 73rd anniversary of our Independence, while being trapped in the vaccine nationalism and the economic disaster of the pandemic. Let’s look at what this celebration of independence has to offer for the future.

Sri Lanka and India were very close  in the call for freedom from British colonialism. Some of our freedom fighters were engaged in the Indian fight, too. India’s own celebration of Republic Day, earlier this week, saw a huge battle between protesting farmers and the Police, and flag raising over the Red Fort that had much to do with the Freedom Movement. It took the minds of many Indians away from the formal celebrations with Military Parades and Cultural Displays that are the stuff of such events. Is that a word of caution for Narendra Modi and the Bharatheeya Janata Party, with its huge electoral mandate in the country?

Where are we in this celebration of freedom? We are moving to a new concept and image of freedom that our freedom fighters ever thought of. It is the Freedom from Justice. We have already seen several persons found guilty and convicted by courts being freed by judiciaries that seem to have little interest in the flow of justice. We have the promise of ‘sil redi’ being the stuff of electoral politics in the future. We also have the promise of parliament being a place of political rest and delight for those convicted of murder?  

Will we soon raise questions about murder being any serious offence; an act that is protected by the Privileges of Parliament? 

We now have a much bigger list of such privileges for those facing judicial action. A Presidential Commission on political revenge on those brought before justice by the previous government, is the hallmark of the new Freedom from Justice. Even those charged with offences against private individuals, by foreigners living abroad, are now to be freed.

How far more should we go? There is the promise of complete freedom of property manipulation, funding for sports from unsporty earnings. It is the emerging promise of Pavul or Family Power, in the new understanding of Freedom and Independence.

We are certainly concerned about the delays in our judicial process. This needs correction, through the proper judicial process. What we now see is the rise of the Presidential Commission process. The recommendations for release through speedy action by the legislature – with its two-thirds power – are those against whom legal actions have been filed by the Attorney General.

It is clear the powers that be today are in a great hurry to bring freedom to their political and profitable catchers much faster than any court would do. From Supreme Court convicted murderers, to those charged with abducting and losing 11 children, stopping of any further action on the Lasantha Wickrematunge murder, no more search for Pradeep Eknaligoda, judicial freedom for Udayanga Weeratunga and Jaliya Wickramasuriya are just a few on that list.

The coming Independence Day is the Day of Promise for the Destroyers of Freedom. It is a day of celebration for all those who have been found guilty under the law, or brought before the courts under the legal process by the previous government. What matters is certainly not Justice, but who sought to bring one before Justice. 

‘Justice Delayed is Justice Denied’ is what we have heard so far. But with our new celebration of Freedom, Justice Denied becomes Freedom Ensured. This certainly cannot be a day of any celebration for the Attorney General and that Department. Could it be any day of celebration of the Minister of Justice?  Are we to soon name that ministry that of Gazette Justice?

There will be ceremonial parades at Independence Square. Twenty-one gunshots will be heard. Soldiers and students will keep marching, aircraft will fly — not bringing any message of freedom, but one of  Justice Ignored and Denied. 

Ranjan Ramanayake must certainly feel happier in his new place of imprisonment with hard work, when compared with those who are promised Freedom from Justice by a Presidential Commission.       

Sri Lanka has to now think of a new fight for freedom, not from any foreign colonial power, but from the Rajavasala Balaya – the Power of those who believe in the Denial of Justice to the people.