“Blissful” independence

February 4, 2008 marked the 60th Anniversary of Independence of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Big plans were made, great anticipation hung in the air, as the day finally dawned with much pomp and pageantry! A 21-gun salute heralded the arrival of the President, who promptly made the Independence Day Address, where he promised to "…liberate the Island's North from the clutches of terrorism…" After which the Sri Lankan Armed Forces all decked out in their military regalia marched past, with the might of the country's armoury in tow. The 100 foot flag pole erected on the Galle Face Green, which was hoisted via remote control by the President himself, was by far the highlight of the day. Upon reaching its zenith, 60 white doves were set free and countless clusters of helium balloons in the hues of the national flag, painted the sky. A spectacular air show and a menacing fleet of battleships lent itself to the "grandiose facade..."

Celebrating 60 years of I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-C-E is it? How come the very idea of "celebrating" anything (let alone independence) right now, united as 'one nation', can't help but bring about a tremendous urge in me to laugh uncontrollably...a tad hysterically even? I know sometimes a Government has to maintain the facade, as a means of appeasing the populace. However, I feel that all of us over the age of five at least, are quite able to realise the reality of the situation and easily comprehend that celebrating 60 years of independence from the colonial regime is of very little consequence in the face of not having experienced true independence for nearly two and a half decades now.

Two explosions take place on the eve of Independence Day, the latter resulting in over 100 civilian casualties, and 14 deaths (as of February 5), whilst four more blasts and a few bombs are discovered (unexploded of course) on the 'D-Day' itself. Roads are closed and all mobile operators are instructed to restrict their services to the usage of calls only (the rationale behind which, I still fail to see), from 6 a.m. – 12 noon, ironically enough, on the day we're "supposed" to be celebrating our 60 years of Independence! Can we all please wake up and smell the coffee here people!!!

We live in a time where an entire generation has been born into the war; they've never known a war-free Sri Lanka. There are people who've NEVER even visited most, if not all parts of the north and east of our country! For quite a small country that seems almost ridiculous, particularly as this lapse has not been so much a matter of choice, as it's been a matter of circumstance! Now that I find to be a real shame, as its living proof of how so very many, have been robbed of their right to freely travel and sight-see their "own" country.

Every day we leave home not knowing if we'll return. Bombs are blowing up sporadically around us and schools have been temporarily shut-down. Random roads close without warning, leading people to panic and lose about ten years of their lives, in the subsequent minutes before the roads reopens. The numerous check points around the country and the very obvious (larger than life) presence of armed personnel in and around Colombo, can only amount to considerably unnerving the community and keeping them in constant fear of their lives. So what was it exactly that we celebrated last Monday? Because I find it positively impossibly to conceive that it had anything remotely to do with 'independence!'

I'm well aware that the armed forces are in fact carrying out orders and merely doing their job. Neither am I trying to point fingers at one party or the other, in my quest for peace.

The reality of this state of insecurity and hopelessness we feel now being nothing new to the people who've been living in the war-torn areas since day dot, too is something I'm quite aware of. However, although this status is relatively new for many of us who've lived so far in a sheltered bubble, I'm sure we all knew deep down inside, that it would burst some day. And I guess that day has come now. Not meaning to sound like the 'prophet of doom' but, sometimes it helps to take a reality check.

All I'm trying to say really is that a celebration, especially one that was conducted on such an extravagant scale, given the volatile state of the country right now, was highly unwarranted and substantially premature.

With people dropping dead, possibly as you read this column, I find it astounding almost, that we as a nation have become so resilient that we find it possible to wholeheartedly celebrate an independence we don't even have! All we actually seem to have celebrated, if at all, was our absolute lack of freedom and inability to live out our normal day-to-day lives.