Save Aragalaya from extremist elements

The people’s revolution, origins of which could be traced to mid-March candlelight vigil against power cuts at Kohuwela, has changed the course of Sri Lanka’s history. The vigil was a silent protest by people, against sheer mismanagement on the part of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s regime. As more candlelight protests spread, the danger of a 13-hour power cut sparked the first major uprising in Gotabaya’s private residence at Mirihana.

The formal protest at GoHomeGota at Galle Face began on 9 April which culminated in the establishment of GotaGoGama. In its early days, sceptics and the pro-Rajapaksa clan dismissed the peaceful convergence of anti-regime civilians. One reason was, being the fasting month the city-based Muslims usually spend time at Galle Face and it will fizzle out after the Eid festival. Another was, come Sinhala-Tamil New Year, the crowds will focus on going back to their villages.

However GGG indeed celebrated Eid and Avurudu with occupants. Those true-to-the-cause protesters were undeterred and continued to influence more like-minded citizens to join the GGG. As days went by, the GGG, did lose some of its spark and appeal. But the 9 May mayhem caused by the then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa ignited the Aragalaya. The second loss of momentum for GGG was soon after the appointment of Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister by Gotabaya. It was opined that most of the frequent visitors to or occupants at GGG wanted to give the sixth-time Premier a chance or were hopeful he could resolve issues. The core Aragalaya activists however refused to give up since they were inspired by the main slogan “GoHomeGota” hence there was unfinished business. 

With the interim Gotabaya-Ranil administration giving many excuses to the worsening plight of the people, the GGG was effective as the platform for the biggest ever largely peaceful people’s revolution to overthrow Gotabaya Rajapaksa much to the shock of constitutional pundits who ruled out the President can be ousted. The besieged President today is on the run by air from one country to another – an unprecedented humiliation for someone like Gotabaya who at election proved unassailable securing two-third’s majority.

The achievement on 9 July by the GGG-inspired Aragalaya received global commendation and will be an essential chapter in future books on Sri Lanka’s history. As original promoters of Aragalaya communicated this week, what they protested was against the Rajapaksa regime (including the new entrant Wickremesinghe), against corruption, nepotism, violation of the rule of law and human rights. They also demanded economic stability, civil liberties and rights and upholding of the constitutions, the legislature and safeguarding democratic values.

Within the Aragalaya were those who voted Gotabaya to office with high expectations. Overall majority were apolitical, multi-religious and multi-ethnic and ranged from the poorest of the poor to the rich. This is why Aragalaya got great traction and wide support by the clergy and professional groups.

Aragalaya or the GGG didn’t have a single leader per se but had teams of like-minded activists. However with success comes many credit-seeking self-proclaimed leaders or groups – political and otherwise. The country saw such an ugly development soon after 9 July. What was a peaceful rallying force was proven to be fragile and helpless with the advent of such persons and groups vying for cheap political or other gains. Quite rightly so the original promoters and activists of GGG were emphatic when they said they did not protest in favour of anarchy, violence or to empower subversive or extremist elements who appeared to be hell-bent on compromising democratic values. The widespread damages caused in State buildings such as the President's House, Presidential Secretariat and Prime Minister’s office cannot be condoned. Same applies to the violence unleashed against armed forces and Police even though selfish manoeuvres by President Rajapaksa and Premier Wickremesinghe may have triggered a worst anger among protestors.

It is not too late for both those within the GGG community and outside even if they were pro-Rajapaksa to save the original Aragalaya ethos thereby celebrating and cherishing the historic achievement. The Aragalaya factor can remain a daily reminder for future rules of Sri Lanka to govern the country right. The more politically ambitious Aragalaya activists, if they wish to, can claim stakes in politics by contesting a future Parliamentary election and champion good governance within. Any extremist elements must be dealt with by the law that the more genuine and peaceful activists were fighting to uphold. 

The ouster of Mahinda, Basil and Gotabaya proved that people won’t be forgiving of any misrule, the spirit of Aragalaya must and can send the same message to those who are attempting to hijack GGG for their witch-hunts or make it look like a monster. For a more democratic Sri Lanka, the original Aragalaya must prevail, hence protected at any cost.