Beyond #GoGotaGo#: What next?

While the #GoGotaGo# pressure must be kept on relentlessly, it is also very important at this moment to be very objective and clear on the future actions for the next one-two weeks to achieve our 2nd Independence 

Today we are at a crossroads that was unimaginable just a couple of weeks ago. We are on the verge of a 2nd Independence, one that is probably more important than our independence from British rule 74 years ago. I say 2nd Independence because, in the last 74 years, we have never come together as a nation like this before, and while our first independence was from colonial rule, the second will be freedom from corrupt, shortsighted, selfish and self-serving politicians who have ruled the nations since 1948.

At this decisive moment, the nation’s hope, and aspiration first and foremost is to end the political tyranny of the Rajapaksa family and to bring all corrupt politicians and their henchmen to justice for the untold billions which have been robbed and restore our motherland as Pearl of the Indian Ocean once again. While the #GoGotaGo# pressure must be kept on relentlessly, it is also very important at this moment to be very objective and clear on the future actions for the next one-two weeks to achieve our 2nd Independence. At this moment it is critical to commence the negotiations with IMF and start the process of the bail out without a disorderly default of our foreign debts

While it is the Nation’s belief and hope for Gota to go, it is very unlikely Gota is ready to go any time soon on his own. One reason for Gota’s downfall is his lack of empathy and stubborn arrogance and I doubt this will change anytime soon, since this is the nature of the beast. At the same time, the Govt. is also in a similar denial mode and will hang on to power as long as possible, knowing that anything less will be personally disastrous to the members of the ruling party. So, they will delay the inevitable for as long as they possibly can, without any consideration of the resulting consequences to the country.

However, it is very important to have a credible government in place to negotiate with the IMF within the next two-three weeks. IMF will only come for negotiation if it is confident there is a government in place to carry out the restructuring of the economy as needed. On the other hand, without an IMF bailout soon there will be anarchy on the streets as per most experts on the subject, similar to Lebanon. In this case the second Independence movement will take us to an even darker future than what the first has taken us to.

As per our constitution the changes in power cannot be done in the streets (but can be influenced as we see it happening now). At the end of the day, everything boils down to the decisions taken in the parliament, if it is to be legitimate and lasting. Hence, at this moment what is happening in the Parliament is as important as what is happening in the streets across the nation. Unfortunately our Parliament is permanently fractured on political lines. That is to say that every solution to the current catastrophe is looked at through the question, “How will this help me or hinder my parties and my political future?” Hence in how to get what has to be done through Parliament is to ‘first get parliament to work as one political entity’ (as opposed to different political views) ‘to solve the issues the country’ (as opposed to individuals and individual political parties) are facing!

Furthermore, given our country’s circumstances holding elections is not practical due to the cost associated with a general election, and the time taken for one will only delay the IMF negotiation which we cannot afford at any cost.

Hence it is very critical to have a Plan B in case Gota does not go in the next couple of weeks, and this is my two cents on what it should be.

Passing the 21st Amendment to the Constitution repealing the 20th Amendment in full and reintroducing the features of the 19th Amendment with further improvement addressing the shortcomings in the 19th – “19th+ Amendment”.

Formation of a Caretaker Government with a small cabinet made of qualified and capable ministers from all parties. The caretaker government to be legalised through the 21st Amendment to ensure continuity for 12-18 months to put into action, the plans for stability of the economy and bring about the changes to the political system.

The changes to the system among other things should be the Abolition of Executive Presidency and to change the election system to at least Parliament for the next general election. Proportional representation can remain in minor form, but an election based first past the post system is a ‘must’! This will enable electors to hold their MPs responsible in a localised context. If the electoral process for Parliament is not changed there will ‘not’ be any real change in the system and whatever we do or say the vast majority of the current 225 MPs are going to be re-elected. 

While I agree that we need to find the billions of dollars stolen by the corrupt politicians, the majority of the 225 in Parliament are part of the problem and it is very unlikely they will go the full mile to actually put into place a credible system to bring all to justice. This is very evident from what happened with the “Yahapalana” Government and hence this will have to be left to the next government which comes into power (hopefully with majority of the 225 not getting the people’s mandate to return to power once the election system is changed).

Hence while the rhetoric in the street of #GoGotaGo# continues we also need to bring in the second rhetoric of an #InterimGovtSL# and replacement of the 20th Amendment with a #19th+ Amendment#.

This must be pushed through the following groups:

Social influencers such as sports, artist, media personnel, etc. need to change the rhetoric on the street and carefully steer the slogans to #InterimGovtSL# and replacement of the 20th Amendment with a #19th+ Amendment# They will reach out to the masses and ensure the pressure is maintained and at the same time do a slight course correction on the path taken with #GoGotaGo#.

The professionals such as lawyers, doctors (not GMOA), accountants, engineers, etc. need to help to reach out to the educated middle class.

Teachers, nurses, agrarian officers to reach out to the rural masses.

The business community needs to get together and apply pressure on the political parties for the needed reforms. While there is lack of confidence in the masses of the business community, because of the belief that they have profited as much as the Rajapaksa’s from corruption, the business community has an enormous influence on the Government and Ministers. Now is the time for them to join the party and bear their influence to bring about the necessary changes.

Of course, this is the basic and simplistic minimum needed at this hour, there are a lot more changes necessary for this social revolution to have a lasting impact. But for now, this must be done on an urgent basis and the rest can follow later with wider participation of the stakeholders including the newly franchised, liberated youth. 

(The writer is a social and environmental activist and businessman and can reached via: [email protected].)