It was a German Pastor, Martin Niemöller who said in 1946, in a post war confessional prose " First they came for ........."
Recently, I saw the same prose in a protest plaque in an independent protest which said the same thing;
"First they came for Tamils, I didn't say anything coz I'm not Tamil....
Then they came for Muslims, I didn't say anything coz I'm not Muslim..
Then they came for me. There is no-one to speak for me" (credit to the original author)
These four lines exactly say how they used to rule us. They didn't lead us. They ruled us with monarchy, tyranny and using the division against us, showing a bougeyman with racism. Denying, neglecting and silencing any idea or a person that goes ahead of them. Not only journalists, but also activists and a talented sportsman was silenced by that same tyranny.
But, today seeing the young generation holding the candle of hope and standing together against the oppression makes me proud to say I'm Sri Lankan through and through.
The one sole family who forgot their duty to the country is the major reason that the country is at the brink of bankruptcy. Is there any family in the world that has a bank account with a sum more than the country's treasurery! I am disgusted to say it would probably be this one family. That's why the people want to take back what they owe to us. The money they embezzeled just by starting unsustainable projects without thinking about how to pay back that darn loan.
The position of president, the sentences that were changed again and again in the constitution to give an incomparable power to one person has made a mess of a country. The overruling of all the independent committees, chasing away the talented people from positions like chief justice to make the "machan-decisions" added to the mess.
When I read former chief justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranaike's memoir, "Hold me in contempt", it gave me the goosebumps of seeing the danger of power in the wrong hands and the importance of deviding power among unbiased parties.
Today Sri Lanka faces the cumulative effects of all these terrible moments. But seeing a generation standing up at their own account and their stand alone is making a noise against the ignorance of a selfish tyranny is a juxtaposition of this country's future.
It is a independent movement.
A plea against the corruption!
A voice for the proper, responsible, real representation that the country deserve!! To make sure that the parliment is a sacred place to do a duty and they are just civil servants.
Most importantly the general public has the sole authority over them.
Last but not least how about requesting qualified personnel with zero corruption charges to volunteer to save the country with better decisions!! Then you could see where their heart is at!!
