Lanka Citizen

By Kumaran

Rajpal Abeynayake writing in The Sunday Times (09.10.2005) on ‘The Presidential debate that never took place’ makes some relevant points to ponder. Abeynayake writes: “Simone Weil wrote in her book “The search for roots,” that people identify with the state and only the state, as most other affiliations such as community have become meaningless.”

I would like to add, that despite, or rather above, the affiliations to a sense of community such as tribe, clan, linguistic nationality or religion, it is the state that can potentially manifest the broadest collective sense. This is an idea of the state we need to develop in the face of modern individualistic antipathy to state. The state or what the Greeks called the polity, is the political manifestation of the collective. Hence to talk of either withering away of the state as Marxists do, or to demand that civil society outside the state is the genuine space for politics as liberals do, is to reject reclaiming the political space for citizens. What is lacking in all the talk about civil society is a place for citizens who would want to have a say in determining the affairs that have an impact on their own lives. While Marxists reduced the state to the state machinery or apparatus, and the government, liberals would want to restrain the state impinging upon the ‘rights’ of the individual. And, there is no place for active citizenship in either of the discourses.

Abeynayake brings up the topic of the state to make the point that the Presidential election is not an occasion like electing office bearers of the debating society as some would tend to assume. Abeynayake notes that some others are “asking themselves, …which of these two men are more prone to kick our elected parliament aside? Which of these two will be the first to realize that we have abdicated all our powers as citizens to him — under this constitution - - and therefore are like chattel to be shoved around, until this future president has his way with us any time he wants?”

Abeynayake notes that while “[T]he American president has a veto power…our president can veto the whole parliament while he appoints the entire judiciary.” One cannot agree more with Abeynayake that “ the way back to civilization …. is to de-construct this monstrosity of the Presidency and bring it down. (emphasis ours. –ed) They never debated each other, but if they squared-off both should have to be asked why one will be less dictatorial than the other. It’s the trick question that no manifesto will answer, because we still think we are electing the radio club president.”

Very serious points to ponder indeed!

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