NPP’s new “race card” and concerns on freedom of expression

Starting from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake who in his address to Parliament vowed to end racism, communalism and religious slogans from the country’s political culture, it’s become the mantra repeated by others in Government including by Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara and Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa. This is all well and good as these are evils that should be eradicated from the country but much of this sounds like politicking on the part of the Government than a genuine attempt at reconciliation. 

So far, numerous arrests have been made under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) linked to social media posts relating to the commemoration held in the north and east to mark “Hero’s Day” on which day the people of the area remember their war-dead.

It is well-known fact that the commemoration of those who died in the 30-year-old separatists’ war is a sensitive one and successive Governments have put restrictions on such celebrations saying these are meant to shore up support for terrorists, namely the LTTE. The fact that the commemoration is held in the last week of November to coincide with the birthday of the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran makes it problematic given the destruction to lives and property of all communities that was caused by the terrorist group.

But Prabhakaran aside, the Tamil people have suffered the most in the country due to terrorism, being both victims of the State as well as the various terrorist groups. Thousands of young girls and boys were conscripted during the war years by the LTTE while the Tamil people suffered numerous atrocities at the hands of the State apparatus too and hence their right to commemorate their dead should not be taken away.

But the Government on its part has gone a bit too far by arresting several persons who shared content on social media relating to these commemorations saying they would ignite racial tensions. The Government has defended the use of the PTA, which the NPP pledged to abolish once in power, saying that they have to use the available laws to deal with the current situation, but abolition of the PTA is very much on the agenda.

This is the tricky part. The PTA which was introduced as a temporary provisions bill in 1979 has been the subject of many debates and numerous attempts have been made to repeal it, but it has never happened because all Governments find it convenient to use it to shut down its opponents. The NPP, just weeks in power, too is learning that it’s handy to silence dissent. The PTA is like the executive presidency, which successive Governments have pledged to abolish but have not done.

The Government must realise that trying to control online content by putting those who air their views on Facebook or X (formerly twitter) is a futile attempt. If people are jailed for expressing their opinions/views, then it’s a stifling of their freedom of expression and rights. Even more dangerous is that this could lead to stifling the media where journalists will be forced to toe the Government line in fear of facing legal consequences.

Racism and communalism cannot be ended by jailing people or enacting laws but what is needed is a genuine attempt at reconciliation. The JVP, the lifeblood of the NPP, was steeped in racism and communalism for years and through the new guard is attempting to awaken from their slumber and become the anti-racism warriors; it is going about in the wrong way. Hence the new form of ‘race card’ being played by the Government might fool some of the people but for now it’s merely a diversionary tactic to take away from the numerous election promises the NPP is finding impossible to deliver on. This kind of action could have serious repercussions for freedom of expression in the county.