I was not surprised when I saw the article on “Divaina”-the local Sri Lankan newspaper , that Sri Lanka Roopavahini Corporation , the most popular state TV channel holder of the island , had taken measures to edit ongoing tele-drama “Sudu Kapuru Pethi” ,by censoring and re-adding certain parts ,  under “instructions” given by president Mahinda Rajapakshe. That editor’s claims were confirmed , when I noticed that the said tele-drama had been replaced by another so-called adventurous tele called “taxi driver” , this evening. The reason why I wasn’t surprised is that art-banning has been a common phenomenon under Mr.Rajapakshe came to power.

What is the underlying basis of this?

            “Sudu Kapuru Pethi” was a pacifist drama , based on Singhalese novel of the same name , which got presidential awards in 2001/3 (I’m not particular). It states, pathetic results of two decade war between Tamil tiger terrorists (LTTE) (who are fighting for a separate pro-Tamil state in NE Sri Lanka , and Sri Lanka government troops. “Anjali” is a Singhalese university student (girl) who had made an affair with “Abijith” , a Tamil boy. When university is temporarily closed due to student movements , Anjali goes to North-Eastern Tamil areas in search of her lover. She stays at mothers’ of her former friend “Jani” , who had now joined LTTE after her boyfriend was shot dead by government troops. He was a LTTE cadre too. The tele states on mixed responses from Tamils and complex experiences , Anjali would face , during her journey in war torn area. It also clearly states on harassments on civilians , from armed groups of both sides. The drama is also said to have gained the “approval” of Sri Lankan defense ministry. But unfortunately , it was not smart enough to escape president’s pair of scissors!!!

          What’s the condition of Sri Lanka now?

            The basis for this conflict is frequent refusal of Singhalese led governments to fulfill Tamil demands after independence. Any attempt to provide a considerable amount of self governance and devolution of power , had to be aborted under the heavy resistance of Singhala racist groups , including Buddhist Monks and leaders of Buddhist associations.

            Tamil youth formed armed gangs in late 70s , and demanded a separate state. But a limited amount of deployment of government troops , was sufficient of controlling the condition initially.

            But , in 1983 when an escort of 13 army personnel , was entirely demolished by terrorists , violence awoke in Colombo parallel to funeral of those soldiers , held in Borella cemetery. That unfortunate hated night , Singhalese thugs , backed by military and UNP government , broke into streets of Colombo and killed thousand of innocent Tamils, destroying their property , including film-stores (which contained a large amount of Sri Lankan films-mainly Singhalese) , and the great library of Jaffna ( which was rich of English and Tamil books). Hundreds of thousands of Tamils fled the country and still live in western countries like France , UK , USA , and Canada.

          Tigers , the most prominent armed gang retaliated violently and declared a war. Government started military operations that sometimes cut-off humanitarian supplies to Tamil areas. The war continued despite peace efforts in 1987 under Indian influence , and in 1995 , under rule of Chandrika Kumarathunga.

         After 95 talks were success less , tigers started war by striking army camps in east. Government responded by massive operations , which managed to occupy large area of North and East , including northernmost peninsula of Jaffna.

        After two decades of heavy fighting , UNP government signed a controversial cease-fire agreement with LTTE , in December 2001 , making a temporary end to fighting. During early period of ceasefire , two parties held peace discussions in foreign cities , Oslo & Singapore. But afterwards , LTTE boycotted the talks and went on enriching their military power , in north & eastern province(s). They also violated ceasefire for more than 2000 times , while the other side did so only for few hundred times.

        Meanwhile Mahinda came to power in November 2005 , with the backup of racist parties like JVP ( People’s Liberation Front) – a pro-Singhalese Marxist party and Jaathika Hela Urumaya (a party of racist Buddhist monks). Mahinda’s campaign was   also backed up by a group of pro-nationalist artists calling themselves “Janatha Kalakaruwo”-people’s artists. Though shamefully , I’d like to say that I too backed up Mahinda , by sending hundreds of sms to my friends who supported Ranil , the opponent.

        Mahinda won by a marginal victory at last.

            What happened afterewards?

            Mahinda had to fulfill demands of his racist supporters , at least for a certain extent. So , he had promised for a unitary state. After coming to power , though he held two peace talks in Geneva and Oslo , he failed to give a satisfactory answer to the crisis. At last , on early July this year , after conducting several attacks on Sri Lankan army , tigers closed a dam at Mavil-aru , of eastern province , which was under their control area , according to ceasefire agreement signed in 2001. This disconnected water supply for more than 15 000  farmers (Majority Muslim). After failed negotiations , the government retaliated in an escalating manner , to occupy the area and open the dam , giving rise to a resumption of war. This war has currently displaced more than 250 000 people , killed nearly 1 000 terrorists and almost half that number of soldiers. Entire Jaffna peninsula is now under curfew and people can’t move. They have no food , and both parties restrict their supplies. Even a group of Tamil medical students of Colombo faculty , are now at Jaffna , unable to come back. Many relief organizations were not allowed to enter in. What does war give us more than that?

           Mahinda rejected any appeals from foreign officials and ambassadors towards peace and claimed that he’s ready for peace talks only if Mr.V.Prabhakaran (the terrorist leader) himself came to talk. Every baby knows such a thing has never been practical anywhere in the world.

           Many opponents of Mahinda argue that such a condition will not occur under their (UNP) rule, which cannot be denied totally. So I’m ashamed of supporting a leader , who was supported on the other hand by blood thirsty guys demanding for war.

             Janatha Kalakaruwo , and status of arts today :-

            It seems that many politicians and religious leaders think that art and performance should go within limitations they impose. They claim that philosophers and writers should not collide with or criticize their blood thirsty selfish desires. They are quite aware that they can dictate people when there are no alternative views.

            That was the same selfish ideology which led kings of Soviet Empire into public hanging and banishing of artists like Gorkhi and Tolstoy , and ancient Greek rulers to poison and kill Socrates, and Iranian government to death sentence Salmon Rushdie , and Bangladeshi Muslim leaders to file cases against Taslima Nasrin.

           So it is , with Mahinda and his disciples. Let’s list their acts one by one.

(a)                          Banning of Aksharaya :- It was a Singhala film directed by famous , prize awarded artist Asoka Handagama , which narrates the story of a child with Oedipus Complex (a psychological phenomenon founded by Freud , about sexual attraction between boys and their mothers , especially when development of sexual stages was interrupted). This film was approved by public performance board, after few amendments. But cultural minister Mahinda Yapa Abewardena illegally got a video copy of the film and banned it , after watching it , claiming that it contains utter pornography. Though this banning is a violation of procedures , a legal action can’t be taken because it’s the minister who elect performance board , so he can elect a new board full of his followers who eventually follow his orders.

(b)                          Banning of Da vinci Code :- I do not think I need to introduce you what that film is. (if you do not know , please search web , where  you can get a plenty of details. After an appeal from a gang of catholic priest , the film was banned by president himself , violating all procedures and constitutional implements of freedom of press. A legal action can’t be taken because according to fu__ed constitution , no case can be filed against president , regarding any issue.

(c)                          Taxing of foreign films :- under influence of those wretched “Janatha Kalakaruwo” , a new law was enacted taxing 90 000/= (U.S.$ 900) for each half an hour , showing a foreign film / or tele drama. This reduced showing of foreign films on TV greatly and disconnected a good source for village children to learn English(by English movies with Singhala sub-titles). Apart from that , this denied access of ordinary people to foreign cultures. This was totally due to fear that those local artists would have to compete with foreign programmes and will lose their popularity. But I dare say this is an utter psudophorbia , as there are more than 50 local teles telecasted every week , while only handful of foreign teles are going on. It’s true that foreign films outnumber local films. But , can those stupid “artists” produce English or Hindi films here?

           Many of those local “Artists” clamed that foreign films destroy our culture , and we should protect it. But what’s the culture within them to be protected. Do they at least send their children to local universities? No. Both Mahinda’s children are learning abroad , in English medium. Fu__ing nationalism!!!!!! It’s not nationalism. I DARE SAY IT’S UTTER RACISM.

(d)                          The latest issue :- Censorship on Sudu Kapuru Pethi. Sometimes those guys may claim that this drama would change the mentality and dissolve the courage of solder , at the onset of a war. What I have to tell is , the words of Necoloi Googol , the famous Russian novelist.

           “we have to tell something about patriotists who ban books. We should tolerate their harassments with patience , who fill their bags by hard labour of others. If any book , which contains some reality , or something that insult our motherland , according to their view , those guys who had been hiding in their corners earning money , would come instantly as spiders who come to swallow the fly caught up in their net , and shout –why should we let people know such things? Aren’t our weaknesses mentioned in book? If our weaknesses were revealed in this manner , what would foreigners think of us? Can we be happy by listening to our weaknesses? Don’t we become sad? Don’t we get ashamed……..”

           Here , it’s impossible for me to escape without telling few words about “Janatha Kalakaruwo”. In every above occasion , there were “artists” and “philosophers” who backed up ambitious leaders to stab others down. For and example “Mellitus” and “Anitus” were two philosophers who filed he case against Socrates. It’s not unfair to think those “intellectuals” get personal benefit from politicians. You can find most of those “Janatha Kalakaruwo” on high chairs of Literature and performance boards.

           So , this is the reality now. They are fighting for land with rocks and sand without caring value of human life. War is a business for them. War is the income of highly ranking officers , who get large bribes from international mafia men , when they import weapons. Peace will demolish their income. War is precious for them.

           We can’t stoop them. We know. But at least we should have freedom to disagree with them. We should at least be free to reveal ugly life of war torn areas, in a humanitarian approach. Censorship on Sudu Kapuru Pethi , is a classic example for this.

           What else we expect from Mahinda chinthana? Under these circumstances , I cannot honestly think that Mahinda Chinthanaya (bill of principles presented by Mahinda before his election- now his every act is called Mahinda Chinthana) is not the graveyard for freedom in Sri Lanka.

           I will finish with a word of Caesaro , the roman philosopher

            “when war is there , law suppresses”

           Your comments are welcome. I’m not a guy who cannot tolerate alternate ideas.

-Buddhika Thambugala