Western Democracy a Failure in Sri-Lanka



“So, a return to Buddhist theocracy is necessary to get Sri-Lanka of the quagmire she is in. There may be some apprehension from the majority Hindu, Muslim and Christian populations that they may be victimized and oppressed by a government based on the Dhamma. An examination of the history of past Buddhist kings and rulers reveal that they governed the country by treating the minorities with absolute generosity and refined grace; tolerance in Buddhism is hall mark of the religion.”

by Saybhan Samat

(July 28, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Western styled democracy inherent with the party system is what Sri-Lanka inherited from their last colonial masters, the British. The much vaunted Westminster styled democracy prevails with dire consequences and has been the bane of this land for more than half century. I t has not only been responsible for the fragmentation of the body politic, but also the human family into bitter groups, completely shattering the bonds of oneness and togetherness that we enjoyed in the past in our peaceful way of life in this land before the European colonialists arrived.

The Westminster system of democracy has eroded the traditional values of family bondage, cherished customs and well being of our people. It has set parents one against the, other brother against brother, it has torn life- long associations and friendships apart and created irreparable animosities and feelings of malignant hate towards one another purely on political party difference.

The system has spawned the emergence of numerous leaders with different conflicting ideologies, splitting into several parties, contesting elections, amending constitutions frequently, misdirecting unsuspecting innocent voters and the process creating conflicts that have caused irreparable damage and will continue to cause more and more damage. The people are at the mercy of the political players who use the fraud and flawed system to defraud them.

The British claim that their democratic system is ideal for governing and liberal in outlook. Text books on political science referred to as Civics in days gone by addressed students by defining democracy as a form of government “of the people by the people for the people.” The democracy which we blindly accepted categorically separated church from state. The state that emerged under the system was totally secular and we were made to believe that it was the ideal system for social stability, peace and economic development. In reality in Sri-Lanka the opposite has happened there has been no peace no stability nor economic development. We have gone through the hazardous process of Western style democracy and the nett result is the glorified ethnic war which has created a holocaust. Economically we are worst off and politically two uprising in the south caused mayhem and havoc and a third uprising in the north continues unabated.

While the British claim that their democratic system is ideal, it is very relevant to note what Lenin in his book “The state and the revolution” had to say in 1917:-” A democracy is a state which recognizes the subjection of the minority to the majority, that is an organization for the systematic use of violence by one class against the other, by one part of the population against another.” In Sri-Lanka this statement of Lenin is certainly true.

The British introduced the western, Westminster system of political ethos to Sri-Lanka in 1947. Sir Ivor Jennings the former Chancellor of the University of Colombo and constitutional expert was the architect of the constitution. His contention may have been, that the British parliamentary system was ideal for Sri-Lanka. It is evident that Sir Ivor Jennings did not give adequate thought to the history of the constitutional development, the indigenous religions, cultures, traditions and sense of values of the Sri-Lankans before writing the constitution.

The number of political parties and candidates contesting in elections in
Sri-Lanka is an indication of the political instability of this country. Sri-Lanka has 54 political parties with more to be formed and registered in the future. Presently large numbers of unemployed youth are contesting elections as a means of employment.

S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike who had a great plan for the development of the country was the first victim of western styled democratic party politics. Subsequently Jaffna mayor Alfred Duraiappah, A. Amirthalingam founder of the Tamil United Liberation front Neelam Tiruchelvam, Lakshman Kadirgamar and president Premadasa were also assassinated. In addition four candidates to be future presidents, Lalith Atulathmudali, Vijay Kumarathunga, Gamini Dissanayake and Ranjan Wijeyrathne lost their lives on account of the much vaunted democracy and the party system.

In Sri-Lanka elections are marred by riots, vote-rigging, bribery, destruction of property and mayhem of the highest order. We have witnessed pre-election, post election and inter-election anarchy, violence arson and looting. The system has insidiously wiped out honest scruples and scrupulous and upright persons from the political arena and replaced them with thugs, criminals, opportunists, hipocryts and the scum of the society. The system has paved the way gradually for the criminalization of politics.

The thrust of the argument to validate Western democracy is the concept of secularism where the church is separated from the state as opposed to theocracy where there is no separation of church and state. In a theocracy the judicial system operates according to religious laws be it Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity or Islam. In this system their may be two or three parties at the most, all of them wanting to express the best manner in which the same religious law may be implemented to benefit the people.

Today, people who have a very strong moral or spiritual view are in the minority. Those who are basically good but don’t have any sense of discrimination can easily be bamboozled. Hence the ruling structure is not a true reflection of the people which constitutes the people.

In the past in many cultures the family tradition was such that the members of the family followed the best way of the best among them; the best in intellect, ability, wisdom and survival. Usually the best was the male elder, the father and if he was not around it was the brother or uncle. We are born with an inherent desire for the best, so we want to follow the best. However is our representative government the best? Will it stand the test of time? Most governments especially in Sri-Lanka appeal to the base and lower tendencies of the people, to be elected. No government dares to ban alcohol, tobacco and permisiveness. Only a theocratic government bound by religious law will boldly do so.

Democracy presently validated by secularism has not solved the problems of our strife –torn island overburdened with poverty, aids, child -abuse, homo sexuality, prostitution, galloping inflation, a very high suicide rate, racial discrimination, ethnic cleansing, exploitative interest based economy where the rich get richer and poor die of malnutrition and poverty. Democracy with its secular philosophy originating in Europe in the 16th century and even before has plunged the whole of the 20th and now 21st century material world into social, political, moral and economic chaos. If this flawed democracy continues in the millennium, anarchy, violence large scale murder and instability will exacerbate and self destruction will certainly follow. This in fact self- evident now.

As for Sri-Lanka the only option is to re-introduce Buddhist theocracy as in the time of King Asoka, where he ruled the country by the laws of the Dhamma or religious laws. Although various religions differ at certain levels the foundations and fundamentals of all religions are common. They aim at a pure, organized peaceful society. When these laws were seriously implemented this fair island of our enjoyed self- sufficiency, the climate was salubrious in fact nature helped us in achieving peace and harmony and an extraordinary quality of life which may best be described as blissful, prevailed.

In addition to our country being physically colonized our minds too have been colonized in the western democratic system to believe and accept that we the people are sovereign but not God or the Dhamma as Buddhist have to believe. Consequently the majority in parliament even with a majority of a single vote legislate regulations in blatant contradiction to the laws of the Dhamma or the laws of God. Every Buddhist knows that the very moment one contravenes the laws of the Dahamma one faces impending misery and suffering as “ the wheel follows the foot of the wagon bearer.” The idea that people are sovereign is a deception and a fraud.

Once the members are elected to parliament all laws are regulated to serve the self-interest of the ruling elite in particular and all other members of parliament in general. Take for instance the pension scheme for members of parliament. Now, a member of parliament in Sri-Lanka may only serve five years in parliament to get a full pension, while this quantum of pension to the public servant who slaves for a life time of 30 years or more has been significantly reduced from 90% to 65%.

It is also an open secret that votes are obtained always with false promises and sometimes by even offering a packet of lunch and bottle of arrack as bribes. In addition elections are rigged political parties obtain funds from private individuals and companies with promises of reciprocation and the exercise is one big deception.

Once a government is voted into power the masses who are supposed to be sovereign are forgotten and party cadres, henchman, sycophants and corrupt businessmen really enjoy sovereignty. The masses continue to live in poverty and misery with the same ills of malnutrition, unemployment and insecurity leading to poor physical and mental health and continue in their state of despondency and depression. It is no wonder therefore that the suicide rate in Sri-Lanka is very high and continues to increase every year.

In a theocracy where religions laws are supreme, mercy, grace and tolerance are also part and parcel of the whole scheme. If some individuals are bigotten and intolerant in the ruling party there are checks and balances in the body politic of all the great religions in the world which would serve to remove the intolerant ruler or ruling party.

Ethical, moral and spiritual values which are indispensable for any society to progress will enjoy paramount status. Strict laws tempered with mercy and grace to punish offenders of the law of the Dhamma will be in the statute books.. This will deter prospective offenders.

Consumerism will be checked and greed will be identified as a social menace. People will live a charmed life. There are enough and more resources in the world for everyone, but imperialism, secularism and presently neo-colonialism and Zionism which have manifested under the so called democratic system with money lending institutions and multi – national conglomerates the world over have structured the wealth of the world into the pocket of a few.

Under the system even in Sri-Lanka politicians and others have continued the relentless pursuit of their individual prosperity without consideration for the welfare of others. The weaker and more vulnerable sections of the society have fallen by the way side in this our race of shameful inordinate consumerism.

Under the party system of government we are living in an imperfect world, where the lust for power and influence is in fashion. The major powers or parties while are preoccupied in readjusting and redefining relations between themselves are still intent on achieving supremacy which could result in carving up the country into rival areas of influence. The tensions and conflicts continue to grow and reaching consensus even grave national issues is becoming impossible.. Grave national issues which have for long years engaged the attention of succeeding governments cannot remain unresolved without further endangering the existing delicate prospects for peace and stability.

Smaller party have been seeped in rivalry and there is competition for influence and control among the bigger parties. Hence in order to eliminate all these multifarious negative issues it is timely that we take steps to move towards a theocracy, a Buddhist theocracy as the majority of the people in Sri-Lanka are Buddhists.

Democracy purified of secularism will then and only then be a government of the people, by the people, for the people. Western styled democracy has separated religion from politics. The argument for this concept is taken by an incorrect interpretation of a verse in the Bible when Jesus is quoted to have said
“give unto Caeser what is Caeser’s and to God what is God’s.” One may justifiably ask who created Caeses ? Was it not God Himself? Then is not Caeser himself subject to God? Or was Caeser another God? Are we to accept duality to God and be polytheists?

The quotation from the Bible to separate church and state under Western democratic system is not justified. It’s interpretation is incorrect. The quotation from Mathew 22: 16-21 can be explained logically thus. Jesus was no less Jew than his questioners. They were bent on trapping him, but he turned the, tables on them. He caught them unawares! If Jesus answered

“ pay the taxes [tribute money] then they the Jewish leaders would tell the masses that Jesus was no messiah or liberator of the Jews from Roman bondage, but instead was a stooge of the Roman oppressors. On the other hand had Jesus said “Don’t pay the taxes” then they would not pay, and if they were arrested by the Romans as a result, they would plead “Our Messiah forbids us the paying of taxes.” Jesus would then be in trouble with the Roman authorities. Either way he loses. Hence to circumvent the trouble at the moment he said “Render therefore unto Caeser the things which are Caeser’s and unto God the things that are God’s.”

The age of secularism under Western styled democracy is coming to an end. The crying need of the hour in our fair island is a return to Buddhist theocracy to regulate legislation that contravenes and contradicts the religious edicts in the Dhammapada. Courageous, self sacrificing, pious Buddihists should take the initiative. All pious, Christians, Hindus and Muslims will welcome this move so that sanity will prevail in this island.

Enough is enough of secularism and the flawed Western styled democracy of Westminster. Even in the United Kingdom where it originated from, it has not solved their problems. For sure in the Muslim countries in the 21st century Islam theocracy where God Almighty, Exalted, Glorious and Resplender is sovereign will sweep the Muslim World to liberate the Muslim masses from their bondage.

A prototype of a theocratic state under Islamic democracy as opposed to Western democracy has been established in Iran after a very long time. Only two parties participate in the Islamic democratic process. One are the conservatives the other the reformists. Both parties are agreed that Islamic theocracy should and will prevail in Iran. However there are key difference on matters of style, emphasis and priority.

The conservatives are concerned with the purity of the Islamic revolution and wary of the influence and corruption of the West. The reformers on the other hand who do indeed include many young people, are more confident of the revolution and less wary of losing its ideals.

The conservative can be broadly characterized as those who have a deep awareness of the achievements of the Islamic revolution, the sacrifices made for it, and the threats it faces. The reformers on the other hand far from opposing the ideals and achievements of the revolution are arguably more confident of them and so less wary pf losing them.
In an Islamic theocracy there is more democracy, political freedom, rule of law, representative government and popular participation: than in Western democracy. Sri-Lanka predominantly Buddhist should take cue from the Iranian Muslims who opted for Islamic theocracy and threw into the dustbin of political history Western democracy and secularism. Of course the protagonists of Western democracy and secularism are aware that by this change of direction their vested interests are at stake and so they demonize Islam and Islamic theocracy and claim that Muslims are going back to the middle-ages.

All the demonizing, negative propaganda, plots and plans to halt the onward march of efforts to establish Islamic theocracy as a form of government in Muslim countries will come to naught. Sincere Muslims have faith that at long last the shackles of western democracy and secularism that have held them in bondage can be removed and that they God willing can return to peace, stability and prosperity to which they are rightly entitled.

They are aware that this will not come in a platter, they know that they will have to make sacrifices and struggle like the Prophet Mohammed [s] did, because the reactionary forces of Western democracy and secularism will by all means, economic, military and propaganda thwart the efforts of Muslims in order to protect their rested interests.

The success of the Islamic revolution in Iran led by the late revered and respected Imam Khomeni [RA] has paved the way. The whole of the Muslim world from Morocco to Indonesia is fermenting and will in the future explode with revolution for change to Islamic theocracy in their countries.

Western democracy is concerned mainly with the mechanism, for selecting people for government. Theocracy is concerned with the outcome of that selection. Democracy makes a huge virtue of its mechanism the electoral process, but mechanisms can and do change with time and circumstances.

For example, the two leading models of democratic government, Britain and the United States, have adopted different systems for electing the head of the government and the legislators and has evolved over the times.

What matters most is what sort of rulers and managers of public affairs emerge from any political process. On this score, democracy merely wants an elected government, theocracy goes much further, it wants a just government.

What if corrupt people get elected through fair election? Democracy offers no serious answer to this question. Early American leaders, such as James Madison claimed “People will have the virtue and the intelligence to select men of virtue and wisdom.”

However more than two centuries of history have made nonsense of this proposition. The previous president of the US was a convicted liar and known sex offender who occupied the highest office in the United States, and the public was not even concerned. So much for “men of virtue.”

What if democracies turn into tyrannies and the elected people commit atrocities against mankind? It is sufficient to glance at the history of the last century. The only atom bombs dropped in anger, as the saying goes, was made not by a rogue dictatorship but the leading democracy in the world!

The atrocities committed by the leading European powers against each other in the world wars [ 58 million killed] were mostly the works of democratically elected governments.

We are often reminded that the only democracy in the Middle-East, Israel is a country built on stolen land and occupied through oppression, torture, treachery against the Arabs whose land was stolen.

The widespread popularity of democracy indicates the peoples yearning for justice, righteousness, and fairness that the Western democracy promises. Democratic movements often start with the noble intentions of ending the tyranny of autocratic rulers. However, as with all other efforts aimed at reforming human society without religious guidance, they cannot reach their goal.

So, a return to Buddhist theocracy is necessary to get Sri-Lanka of the quagmire she is in. There may be some apprehension from the majority Hindu, Muslim and Christian populations that they may be victimized and oppressed by a government based on the Dhamma. An examination of the history of past Buddhist kings and rulers reveal that they governed the country by treating the minorities with absolute generosity and refined grace; tolerance in Buddhism is hall mark of the religion.

The communal riots of 1958, 1977 and 1983 were triggered by opportunistic politicians under the secular Western democratic system and with an eye on the votes of the majority Sinhala Buddhist. These political leaders only paid lip service to Buddhism and Buddhist precepts. They were more Macheivelli, while a handful who were truly Buddhist could not implement true Buddhist values due to the prevailing flawed Western, Westminster type of secular democracy. The pious minority Hindu, Christian and Muslims of Sri-Lanka will certainly help the Buddhists to establish Buddhist theocracy because they know that spiritual values will govern the acquisition of material goods and services. They also are aware that the Buddhists and Buddhism gives so much of importance to tolerance. Like in the past Sri-Lanka will flourish under a Buddhist theocracy.

- Sri Lanka Guardian