Saffron-robed people's crusader

By Kumudini Hettiarachchi

Humble men, women and children trudge up the rock-steps of the Dutugemunu Vihare in the heart of Baddegama, not only to worship at this ancient shrine but also to meet someone who plays an important role in their lives.

He is the Venerable Baddegama Samitha Thera, the monk-turned-politician who was among the first three in the Buddhist clergy to contest and win an election in 1991.

Now he has set his sights higher, the forthcoming Southern Provincial Council elections and who knows may be even Parliament next.

Sitting in the neatly-swept garden of the peaceful and tranquil Dutugemunu temple set among rain-washed trees and lush vegetation atop a tiny hill, this saffron-robed crusader says he took up politics not for personal gain but to help the villagers get a "voice" through him.

From time immemorial, the life of a villager has revolved round the dagoba (temple) and the tank. He seeks guidance, solace and spirituality from the temple and survival from the tank. Samitha Thera had been listening to the problems of the villagers for years and attempting to get them solved, when he realised that the politicians who should be doing this work just got elected to office and pursued their own gain.

They were just "weekend MPs" he smiles, adding that they came to their constituencies only during the weekend. It was just a holiday for them. "They simply don't care for the people or their daily struggle for existence."

After thinking long and hard and seeking the advice of senior monks, he asked himself why he should not contest the Pradeshiya Sabha election (village level councils) in 1991. If elected he felt he would be able to deal better with the grievances of the village folk - getting water for the farmers, taking up important matters with the police, getting jobs for the village youth, agitating against the closure of factories in the free trade zone close-by which results in many youth being thrown on the streets, pensioners' problems and a host of others.

He contested the Baddegama PS election in 1991 on the NSSP ticket and won a seat.

Going down memory lane, he recalls how his father and mother, poor farming folk, gave him to the temple at the tender age of 12, according to a tradition in his family. He was the third of eight children. Though he has no regrets about donning the robe, he is vociferously opposed to the tradition of ordaining children.

"It is stealing their childhood and there is a new school of thought among the younger monks that this should not be done. But a few others are still stuck in this feudal system and are not open to new ideas," he stresses. Delving into his turbulent youth, he says in 1976 he gained admission to the Kelaniya University and became actively involved in student union work. In 1977, when goons attacked students, an outsider was killed. "They tried to pin the murder on me because I was one of the student leaders," he says.

He was charged with the murder and famous criminal lawyer and LSSP politician Colvin R. de Silva defended him. The jury's verdict of not guilty was unanimous. Still the powers that be made it impossible for him to go back to his studies.

In 1983, he left Sri Lanka and headed for England through Germany. He obtained his first degree along with a wealth of experience by interaction with Namibian, Palestinian and South African freedom fighters at Lancaster University. It was back to Sri Lanka in 1988, during the second uprising of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.

Being an ardent advocate of non-violence, he intervened in 132 instances to save lives. "I am opposed to people being killed. I saved 128 JVP suspects who would have been killed during that era, and two wealthy men who would have been killed by the JVP," the Thera explains.

He contested the provincial council election in 1994 but failed to win a seat. He once again contested the PS election in 1997 and secured the post of Vice Chairman.

Referring to high unemployment in the south, with a case in point being a young girl who has just passed out of campus asking him to find a job, the monk says the youth are restive.

"But the JVP hasn't much of a hold," Ven Samitha says when we point out that they are gaining a foothold in most councils. "The JVP has no political foundation. They just have an emotional base and are able to garner the votes of the 18-25 age group."

For him the "third force" is the number of rejected votes. "They show that people are disillusioned with the system."

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