There was ample evidence to assume that the attack on the Secretary to the Judicial Services Commission was done by pro government forces. How did such a situation develop? The behaviour of the government reveals that they are sure of themselves. They are sure that their alliance with the Sinhala rural masses will continue for a long period. For the latter, they (the government) are the heroes that defeated Tamil terror, which was there for some time. Many failed in this task but Mahinda led the war that defeated the invincible terror outfit.

Virtually invincible

As long as the rural petty bourgeoisie of the Sinhala society believes in this mythology they can survive and are virtually invincible. That is their mind set. The recent victory in the PC elections increased their confidence in their ability to survive. Now they want to implement their development projects without any hindrance or obstacle. They have become impatient to go ahead with what they believe to be the sure path to prosperity. They are right; in fact, already some have become incredibly rich, through plunder and theft. They have misappropriated money from state coffers and from the funds of the working masses. Also, they have siphoned off big chunks from the money had been obtained as credit for development projects. War was rich business too.

Delhi Brahmins, hell bent on vengeance for the humiliation they got from the Tamil Tigers, stood like Hanuman behind the Mahinda regime. The former did everything to mobilize foreign resources for the massacre. Demolition of the Vanni civilization with thousands killed, and the plunder of resources, created a historic tragedy that would surpass any given Greek mythology. Tears and blood divided the country as never before, giving much opportunity to the ideology of the Mahinda Chinthanaya.

However this attack against Manjula Thilakaratne shocked the middle class in the metropolis and they are surprised by the insolence displayed by the regime. They could not imagine how an elegant judicial officer, a product of St. Thomas’ and with high connections, was attacked by thugs in their paradise in Mount Lavinia. In the past, for a period they were mesmerized by the heroic deeds of Rajano. Many could not believe that the regime will resort to this kind of crude terror tactics to convert or condition a higher judicial officer, a genuine part of the bourgeoisie judicial apparatus.

I am sure many want take my story seriously; perhaps because it has not affected them so far. But workers can see the game. Because they saw how the regime prepared with impunity to take their money that had been saved for generations. Still, Sinhala workers were reluctant to believe what the left trade union leaders told them. In fact, the old layers of workers from state corporations and banks acted slowly. Many trade union bosses were very close to Mahinda Rajapaksa, the man who walked miles with them shouting slogans against villains – both local and international. His socialism mixed with Sinhala chauvinism was attractive to them.

From paddy fields to ploletariat

At the correct moment, Wimal Weerwansa came forward to give a self cooked theory that bonded the man from the Hambantota paddy fields to the urban proletariat. This was the main factor behind the victory of Mahinda that led him to the presidential chair. However with the attempt to take over the provident fund from its independent existence, workers started moving out. Young workers from free trade zones came to the struggle like a panther from the dark jungles of Africa. They managed to defeat Mahinda attempt to grab the EPF and ETF.

This was the beginning of the leftward drift of the working masses. Rosen gave life for this change within the proletariat. Plantation workers also learned the lesson fast. Then came the FUTA struggle which affected the urban middle class too. It made a significant change in the balance of power within society.

But the middle class of the Sinhala society were reluctant to notice the right wing shift of their hero. This attachment of the Sinhala petty masses to Rajano is exactly the source of dictatorial thinking of Mahinda. This misplaced love of the Sinhala society created this obstinate agent of Global capital, who would now not hesitate to terrorize even the judiciary to achieve his target.

Real challenge

If law and order are violated regardless of the basic agreement in a civil society, then the masses, particularly the youth, will turn to violence and terror. Perhaps that is what Rajano is waiting for, to justify the use the military in every corner. This is the real challenge faced by the masses of Lanka – both in the north and in the south.

Vickramabahu Karunaratne