Swarajya Concept Guarantees space to all citizens
by Arjuna Hulugalle
Dr Nihal Jayawickrama, the well known Political Scientist has once again reiterated that the minorities need space. In his talk “The Philosophy and Legitimacy of Sri Lanka’s Republican Constitution” at a workshop which was part of the programme organized by the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Dr Colvin R de Silva, he repeated a statement he had made ten years ago:
“Constitution making becomes a meaningless exercise if it does not respond to the evolving aspirations of the people of this country. The voice of the minority communities in the north and east has been loud and clear in its support for genuine autonomy. They ask for space; space which they are entitled to as of right in this multicultural state of which they are an integral part; space in which to preserve their unique identities because identity is the central issue of being; space in which to keep alive their languages and their history, their legends and their stories. The identity of a community is inviolable. It is not enough to be who we are; we must also be seen and heard and respected for who we are. When that basic right is denied, by force or otherwise, peoples will struggle and fight to regain it. The space that a minority community seeks is not negotiable, and therefore ought not to be conditional upon, or indeed to await, a referendum or national consensus or even a cease-fire. The initiative rests with the government, and no all-party conferences or peace talks are required to do that which international law and commonsense demand.”
The format evolved by the Citizens Movement for Good Governance (CIMOGG) and the Swarajya Movement in the last five years meets in essence the vision of Dr Jayawickrama. The only deviation if at all is that CIMOGG/ Swarajya has not highlighted the divisions to majorities and minorities as emphasized by Dr Jayawickrama, who in this instance has restricted his attention primarily to the cause of the minorities. The CIMOGG/ Swarajya concept guarantees space to all the citizens in the country. Substantial safeguards have been built in to protect the minorities from Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim majoritarian abuses and discrimination wherever the minorities are living. This remains a fundamental right.
How does CIMOGG/Swarajya envisage that its proposal will make a difference? The infrastructure of governance recommended is to be built on the principles of Subsidiarity, Accountability and the Trusteeship of Power applicable to all the citizens in the country. The three principles can be defined as follows:
Subsidiarity: i.e. Decisions are made at the lowest level at which they can be made.
Accountability: i.e. Direct and continuing communication on all financial and policy matters to the people.
Trusteeship of Power: i.e. Representatives hold power in trust for the people.
Self-reliance, interdependency and the acceptance of diversity have to underline these concepts.
The CIMOGG/Swarajya infrastructure of governance is based on a strong and autonomous village government (the Gramarajya) merging into the Pradeshiyarajyas with substantial executive powers and then to the Districts (Districtrajya). The District becomes the focal point for devolution and autonomous action. The cantons in Switzerland are an example at work, where the periphery works with adequate autonomy but in tandem and close cooperation with the Central Government. For that, a formula to ensure Power sharing at the Centre is also needed.
Related: The Philosophy and Legitimacy of Sri Lanka’s Republican Constitution
asa said,
March 5, 2008 @ 9:02 pm
“Dr Nihal Jayawickrama, the well known Political Scientist has once again reiterated that the minorities need space.” If this is the starting premises for an analysis to the conflict(s) in Ceylon then it self-evident as to the intractable nature of it.
The perception of majority and minority is the cause of the national problems in Ceylon/Sri Lanka. Majority /minority model is viable only in matured secular democratic societies. Ceylon Tamils are a nationality in Ceylon not a minority. In fact, and if anything, the Tamils (be they Saivite or Moslem) are the majority in the Tamil nation of North-East Ceylon.
There will always be tendency to segregate and aggregate the population according to convenience. Then there is a saying about statistics: Lies, damn lies and statistics. It is like quoting French population is a minority in Canada; far from it – Quebec is recognized as nation even within the Parliament of Canada. That’s how the Canadians are resolving their differences between the two solitudes.
Quebec after providing the Prime Ministers of Canada for over 35 years in the last 40 years still supporting a Bloc of MPs in Ottawa with the declared aim to achieve sovereignty! Not a single elected Tamil was ever considered for a powerful position in Ceylon/Sri Lanka in the last 60 years; in fact there was not even an opportunity for that as conflagration had commenced almost forthwith on independence of Ceylon in 1948. Occupation of the Tamil Land by the 100% Sinhalese security forces and subjugating its people is a crime beyond comprehension – all in the name of majority and minority rights and thinking.
If Ceylon Tamils are demanding for anything other than return to their ‘Jaffna’ Kingdom, then may be it is reasonable to compare it with the Sinhala population as to their size and the rights accruing thereto.
Ceylon Tamils must and ought to secure their lost statehood under the British, again lost to the neo-colonial Sinhala nation, and only then as equals there could be a just power-sharing model.
sarath wijesinghe-London said,
March 6, 2008 @ 6:16 am
Will you plaese let me know how I could get a copy of Dr Jayawickrama’s speech and his email address for me to study the concept more. Is is interesting. Please forward this to him.
Saarth
Arjuna Hulugalle said,
March 8, 2008 @ 2:01 pm
I read asa’s comments. Living and working in Sri Lanka with a very mixed society, we are focused on concrete, viable and practical solutions in which there is Unity in Diversity. That is the basis of the the Swarajya concept. It is in essence a part of Eastern civilization-specifically of Indian civilization-to synthesize and harmonize. The essence of Western civilization is to slice and divide.
We go on the assumption that all Sri Lankans are here to stay and have to live with each other. Mr asa may not be living in Sri Lanka and may not realize how important the Swarajya concept is.