Something happened yesterday. People rejoiced over it and celebrated. The government made desperate attempts to hide their exasperation, and in the process made the scenario worse. Something that was perceived impossible happened. The unbreakable Rajapaksa government was torn in half, finally.
In the light of all this, what I see is nothing but the desperate state the people of this country are in. All this time, the desperation of wanting a change has been boiling up deep down in the conscience of many, even those who unequivocally praised the Rajapaksa regime when the conflict ended 5 years ago. And now, well into the 5th year after the phenomenal victory over LTTE which has proved gainful for them, the the Rajapaksa franchise has been faced with the threat of expulsion. They have faced this before, noticeably during the last Presidential Election, when Sarath Fonseka famously entered politics. But in the height of their power, their idolised image being worshipped by the once war-torn populace, the Rajapaksa’s quelled the “Revolution” successfully. That was Fonseka. Today, it is Maithripala, and it’s on a whole new level.
The former Health Minister cum SLFP General Secretary was received with the same enthusiasm as General Fonseka was 5 years ago. People saw in him a revolutionary; a man who stepped down from the earthly pleasures he enjoyed in order to be the change people wanted. The post-cross-over literature has been quite expressive. All over my Facebook and Twitter feeds, I saw how my generation reacted to Maithripala Sirisena’s decision and the government’s indecision. There were hashtags, memes, random teenagers letting out occasional bursts of emotion, lashings, praises, cynicism and the whole gamut of internet musings that usually follow incidents of this kind.
Maithripala, or #MY3 as the internet calls him, has given people hope, something they did not dare to have with themselves before. But can he make it right?
I need not repeat here what his promises do and do not mean to the people. That has been already taken up by better commentators and bloggers of my time. Read Indi and Yudhanjaya for starters. Ever since this “thing” happened, my worry was not the promises that were bound to come, because in this democracy flaccid promises are an occupational hazard for us. My worry is that after so many years of blunders and broken promises, the vast majority of our people continue to fall for them. Just one day passed and they are ready to take in anything Maithripala says. Another group with better sense are confused as to how they should use their vote — Rajapaksa, or Maithripala? And then there’s the ever so loyal ITN-watching admirers of the Rajapaksas, faith unshaken.
The same happened with Fonseka but unlike him Maithripala is not an amateur. The sudden surge of enthusiasm in people taking to the streets, the politico-adrenaline rush of packed press conferences, accusations flying both ways and what not. Perhaps Maithripala is in a better position and has better overall footing in the political scene, and we might see a better organized campaign, even a mature one. Whatever happens, the people of this country are risking too much with elevated hope. But all this time they’ve been searching for an alternative, and now they’ve found one. Sri Lankans have been conditioned to live with desperation, and now might be the one chance to end this era as we know it — perhaps that’s their thinking. The heart that Rajapaksa placed in the locker has now gone missing, and the ship needs a new captain. Right?
I have my doubts, and I believe everyone should, ideally. But ideal does not happen, and that’s what makes the world what it is.
Supposing, just supposing Rajapaksa wins for a third time, will Maithripala end up as just another Fonseka? Or, supposing Maithripala takes the upper hand, will he end up being another Rajapaksa?
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