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| Mahinda kindling the fire from top Ranil from bottom: this is their ‘discussion’ -a hocus pocus |
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 (Lanka-e-News, July 26, 2010, 2.30PM) The President Mahinda Rajapakse who some weeks ago was adamant on extending the number of Executive President’s terms even further in his ever growing power obsession did a sudden 180 degree turnabout, and invited the UNP leader to discuss constitutional amendments to introduce an Executive Prime Minister position replacing the Executive Presidency . The UNP leader falling over himself made a beeline to the Temple Trees without even informing the Executive Committee ( which he ought to have done). Next, the newspapers were awash with huge headline news ‘Govt. and opposition commence talks regardingconstitutional amendments’. Political commentators said, if this the true and sincere picture , then this is an unprecedented event and augurs well for the country.
I am writing this article dispassionately sans prejudice or doubts on this subject.
Why did the two parties, especially the parties which are diametrically opposed begin discussions ?Any party starts negotiations only when it cannot go further on its journey and is seeking to ride piggy back on another. That is natural and understandable. Even Mahinda and Ranil are each in this quagmire. Both of them are trying to cover their failures by this much hyped and crowed about discussion. This is therefore obviously a camouflage to take the people for a ride.
Today, both Mahinda and Ranil are floundering in their selfish agendas. Mahinda‘s aim is to continue enjoying the luxury, power and Executive Presidency until his son reaches the age ripe enough to take over. This is why only two householders of his were the only supporters for his attempt to increase the number of Presidential terms, namely the son whom he is grooming and his mother. The opposition raised a loud hue and cry against this not for nothing. This uproar had in it the groaning and griping but strongly supporting voices of Maithripalas, Siripalas as well as Basils and Gotabayas. Mahinda got stuck in the mud with his agenda on this account. |
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Ranil on the other hand is surviving grappling with three ‘deaths’ ominously staring in his face. One is Sajith. Second is party re structuring and the third is, the manifestly growing popularity of incarcerated leader Gen. Fonseka. Ranil was desperately looking for something to cling on to like a drowning man to whom even a straw is a savior. Mahinda by inviting him at this juncture provided that straw. No wonder, Ranil made a dash to the Temple Trees beating all Olympic sprinting records.
Now, Mahinda has found a way to spend his time unendingly talking about an Executive Prime Minister appointment. Ranil too can continue with him talking on this same empty subject. Both have found a way out to waste precious time which otherwise could be used in country’s and people’s interest.
The UNP leader after the first discussion made a loud announcement at the public rally that discussions have been begun with the Govt. in regard to good governance. This is an absolute lie. If truly Ranil had such an objective, the first thing Ranil should have done was inquired into what is Govt.’s interest towards good governance. If Govt. is truly interested, the Govt. could have been requested to demonstrate by taking just one simple step in that direction.
In the least, a request could have been made to appoint the Constitutional Councils under the 17th amendment to the constitution, which is at the final stage, and blocked just only because the President has still not signed the final approval. Or, he could have asked for the release of Gen. Fonseka who was supported by his party at the last Presidential elections as the Presidential candidate who is being detained by the Govt. unduly while the cases against him can be continued. Or, if that is not possible, Ranil could have asked the Govt. to release the UNP Provincial Council member on bail whom the Govt. is holding in custody on false charges. Instead of these measures being taken, the Govt. and he saying they are moving for good governance deserves to be entered in the Guinness book of records as the worst lie uttered and cruelest hocus pocus ever committed by two partners in a crime to deceive a gullible nation. One partner, Mahinda kindling the fire from above, his other partner , Ranil kindling the fire from below. |
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Were it not because of the human rights violations in the country that the UN Secretary General appointed a panel to advise him regarding SL ? By protecting human rights, good governance follows, wont they? Even before the dust and din kicked up by the Govt. using a Minister and making him stage protests and fasts unto death against this panel has settled down , the Govt. making a U turn, and announcing it is going to establish good governance should have made Ranil to use his common sense and mistrust the Govt.’s invitation if he is true to his conscience and his party, rather than sprinting to Temple Trees deserting all his loyal supporters even without consulting them.
When the laws and law books of the Country are being thrown into the garbage bin by this Govt. day by day, how did Ranil as a Lawyer himself repose confidence and faith in such a Govt.? Are there any valid justifiable reasons? Surely, Ranil cannot forget that his party has filed an election petition against Mahinda being elected as President on the ground that the elections held were corrupt and ridden with rigging and malpractices. Ranil must answer the people regarding these questions.
When viewed in this context, Ranil’s opportunistic and self serving traits are not second to those of Mahinda.
What should the Opposition do at the present?. The Opposition leader must act with sanity and agility or wreak havoc within the party? Let us now analyze the 5/6 th majority sought by the Govt. At the last farcical and manipulated Presidential elections and the subsequent General elections, there were 26% people who did not vote. Even when Mahinda was polling 20 lakhs votes by rigging, 26% did not vote. This increased to 40% at the General elections. That means there is a further 14 % more at the General elections who do not want to vote for Mahinda. In other words, all those who did not vote are disillusioned with Mahinda’s administration. At the Parliamentary elections, the opposition received 37% votes. If this is added to the 14 % mentioned earlier, the total percentage is 51% meaning that the there is a 51 % opposition including men and women against Mahinda’s administration. Hence 5/ 6 th majority of Mahinda is out of the question because under any circumstance, there is a 51% silent opposition against Mahinda. The true opposition are the people and hence, the Opposition has a 51% support which has not been harnessed properly. It is very clear therefore, there is a higher percentage against the Govt. than for the Govt. The bottom line is Mahinda is on a hot frying pan next to jumping into the fire.
When there is a 29% within the UNP hostile to Ranil, how can he as a leader harness the 51% support against the Govt.? The people are being burdened with ever increasing hardships. KP who are traitors are being mollycoddled by the Govt. while patriots like Fonseka are imprisoned and being threatened irresponsibly and openly with punishment in the gallows by foul mouthed Govt.’s responsible top officials. Under these circumstances will the 51% opposition against the Govt. increase or decrease? Any sensible person can understand. A true sincere opposition leader would move heaven and earth and look for ways and means to canvass the support of this 51% among all races, Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims, and consolidate the party and defeat this Govt. which is perpetuating itself in power on falsehoods, fake programs and selfish agendas, rather than descending to the level of crawling and cringing before the President selling his soul even sacrificing the party and people’s interest at the altar of his opportunistic selfishness.
I deem it important that I write a few words about the amendments to the constitution in regard to Executive Presidency and Executive Premiership. Earlier, in 2000, with a view to striking a permanent solution with depth, the UNP Govt.the Opposition and other parties met on 87 occasions to formulate proposals and introduced a new constitution. In that, provisions were incorporated to ensure that the Executive President is made responsible to the Parliament. An internal autonomous rule was contemplated in it. At the final stages, this was ‘torn apart’ due to power greed of Chandrika’ s Govt. which came to power and lasted a short period, and the selfish agendas of the Opposition. The draft proposal of the constitution had the Cabinet approval too at that time. In that cabinet, there were Mahinda Rajapakse, Mangala Samaraweera and Rauff Hakeem.
Today, instead of these long and protracted discussions, if the proposals made at that time are continued from where it stopped along with the support of the minority communities, Tamils and Muslims, the solution sought could be achieved within two months as the LTTE which never agreed to any proposal no longer exists. If the Leaders of the Govt. and the Opposition are truly sincere and thinking of the people and the country more and less of themselves, this is what they should do. |
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| By Sandaruwan Senadheera |
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