Show LTTE The Book! Not P-Toms And In So Doing Atone For A Few Presidential Lapses

Nothing seems further from the truth that the stay in the manouvres helmed by the President of Sri Lanka towards involving the LTTE and Tsunami Aid distribution is permanent where there appear to be great similarities between her actions and those of her opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe in a previous situation.

It suggests a sense of homage paying to unworthy adversaries namely the LTTE in the now calmed atmosphere of the P-TOMS, also known as the Joint Tsunami Mechanism, towards distributing aid where the stoic determination of the Buddhist Monks in Parliament and the hierarchy of the High Buddhist Clergy has probably prevented anarchy within the Nation and turmoil amongst the general populace.

Having thrown some degree of caution to the winds in what may be interpreted as an attempt to cross swords with her coalition partner the JVP regardless of reprisals, and in a worst case scenario, the toppling of the UPFA Government through her own misjudgement and despite all the advice of more moderate sources including India who suggested a more pluralistic approach towards resolving the issue. It appeared as though Sri Lanka was once again on a collision course with disaster.

Mercifully for all concerned however and to the contrary, the President has been convinced at least for the moment to rescind her unilateral stance towards granting an undeserving recognition to the LTTE over the P-TOMS ratification, purely on the will of the High Buddhist Clergy and the Buddhist representation in Parliament ably backed by the JVP.

This decision which has resulted in a stay of unilateral executive decision making, somewhat selfish on the part of the President lends at least a semblance of credence to the belief that Sri Lankan patriotism and Sinhala Nationalism are alive and well and not something to be trifled with and that a modicum of calm related thereto has permeated the Nation towards which most Sri Lankans can only be thankful.

While it is being currently theorised that The President through her actions and decisions relating to the P-TOMS has digressed from truly helping the tsunami affected people of the North and the East with no pre-conditions involving the LTTE whether inadvertently or not.

She is viewed by those in opposition to her stance on the P-Toms as being conciliatory to the LTTE as the greater importance over the needs of the suffering, while also recognizing them as the sole representatives of the Tamils in Sri Lanka which many Tamils themselves do not agree with.

In so doing Madame President has probably made a cardinal error of judgement which just might be written in her legacy as the achilles heel leading to her fall from popularity once her tenure ends and her history is documented.

Much in the same manner as her predecessors of the UNF Administration which lost Administrative Power in similar perspective she has somewhat misguidedly chosen to tread the same path displaying an autocratic and secretive attitude according to some analysts which needs much atoning for in the eyes of the Nation and much convincing needed towards maintaining her image as an impartial leader and matriarch.

What seems even more incredulous from someone who has thus far been a role model within the international community is the attitude of judgemental obstinacy she has exercised in denying the general public, her coalition partners or even her Prime Minister and important members of her caucases the confidence they needed towards accepting her ultimate agenda of the P-TOMS proposal namely a comprehensive presentation of what it entails.

Leaving aside disclosing its agenda to the general public at its interim, the President with parliamentary etiquette should have had an open dialogue and discussed it with her cabinet and her coalition partners which according to reliable sources she has failed to do and hence adding to the ensuing confusion which just might come back to haunt her as the saga unfinished nonetheles continues!

Somewhat tragically it has been suggested of the The President in a recent submission that "she too now walks in the footsteps of her 'formidable' adversary Ranil Wickremesinghe. Like the former Prime Minister she too is being accused of equating ‘Tiger’ with ‘Tamil’ and castigating those who oppose the LTTE as ‘chauvinist’ and ‘anti-Tamil’.

Given this perspective her natural allies in the new war she called into being are none other than the pro-Tiger peaceniks she reviled, not so long ago, as traitors " quoted from an Asian Trbune Bulletin and to the more discerning, not far removed from the truth to all appearances on this singlemost issue.

To add to the President's chagrin, rumor has it that in the event of a Government Collapse these would be the very sources she would be reaching out to where the UNP might also prove to be a branch to cling to which despite the rhetoric sounds incredulous yet a slogan being blared across nationalist platforms and surely harmful to her perspective and image as the leader of the Nation!

The P-TOMS issue suggests a felt need for re-structuring to incorporate the victims of the Tsunami, devoid of the terrorist element's involvement or the dictates of foreign donors who at times view the internal affairs of Sri Lanka with partisan bias and double standards.

Terrorism in certain perspectives within their comprehension deplorable but in others acceptable as in the case of Sri Lanka. What the JHU and the JVP are emphasizing through their demonstrative means points exactly to this.

Why must a Sovereign Nation even in conciliatory pretence bow down to a group of outlawed terrorists with no legitimate claims to the territories they allege to control ? Terrorists who have contributed to much pain and suffering of the Sri lankan people and is it not time they were shown the book rather than palavered to as an entity with any right to exist within the legalities and dictates of Sovereign Sri Lanka!

IT must be reiterated - "Show LTTE the Book! not the P-TOMS and in so doing atone for a few Presidential lapses!


		CLASSIFIED \| POLITICS \| TERRORISM \| OPINION \| VIEWS
		The Lankaweb Weekly Editorial
FRONT PAGE NEWS . CLASSIFIED . DHAMMAWEB . SANDUN UYANA . ANTENNA . EVENTS DIARY . LONDON DIARY . FEATURES . LETTERS.		Show LTTE The Book! Not P-Toms And In So Doing Atone For A Few Presidential Lapses Nothing seems further from the truth that the stay in the manouvres helmed by the President of Sri Lanka towards involving the LTTE and Tsunami Aid distribution is permanent where there appear to be great similarities between her actions and those of her opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe in a previous situation. It suggests a sense of homage paying to unworthy adversaries namely the LTTE in the now calmed atmosphere of the P-TOMS, also known as the Joint Tsunami Mechanism, towards distributing aid where the stoic determination of the Buddhist Monks in Parliament and the hierarchy of the High Buddhist Clergy has probably prevented anarchy within the Nation and turmoil amongst the general populace. Having thrown some degree of caution to the winds in what may be interpreted as an attempt to cross swords with her coalition partner the JVP regardless of reprisals, and in a worst case scenario, the toppling of the UPFA Government through her own misjudgement and despite all the advice of more moderate sources including India who suggested a more pluralistic approach towards resolving the issue. It appeared as though Sri Lanka was once again on a collision course with disaster. Mercifully for all concerned however and to the contrary, the President has been convinced at least for the moment to rescind her unilateral stance towards granting an undeserving recognition to the LTTE over the P-TOMS ratification, purely on the will of the High Buddhist Clergy and the Buddhist representation in Parliament ably backed by the JVP. This decision which has resulted in a stay of unilateral executive decision making, somewhat selfish on the part of the President lends at least a semblance of credence to the belief that Sri Lankan patriotism and Sinhala Nationalism are alive and well and not something to be trifled with and that a modicum of calm related thereto has permeated the Nation towards which most Sri Lankans can only be thankful. While it is being currently theorised that The President through her actions and decisions relating to the P-TOMS has digressed from truly helping the tsunami affected people of the North and the East with no pre-conditions involving the LTTE whether inadvertently or not. She is viewed by those in opposition to her stance on the P-Toms as being conciliatory to the LTTE as the greater importance over the needs of the suffering, while also recognizing them as the sole representatives of the Tamils in Sri Lanka which many Tamils themselves do not agree with. In so doing Madame President has probably made a cardinal error of judgement which just might be written in her legacy as the achilles heel leading to her fall from popularity once her tenure ends and her history is documented. Much in the same manner as her predecessors of the UNF Administration which lost Administrative Power in similar perspective she has somewhat misguidedly chosen to tread the same path displaying an autocratic and secretive attitude according to some analysts which needs much atoning for in the eyes of the Nation and much convincing needed towards maintaining her image as an impartial leader and matriarch. What seems even more incredulous from someone who has thus far been a role model within the international community is the attitude of judgemental obstinacy she has exercised in denying the general public, her coalition partners or even her Prime Minister and important members of her caucases the confidence they needed towards accepting her ultimate agenda of the P-TOMS proposal namely a comprehensive presentation of what it entails. Leaving aside disclosing its agenda to the general public at its interim, the President with parliamentary etiquette should have had an open dialogue and discussed it with her cabinet and her coalition partners which according to reliable sources she has failed to do and hence adding to the ensuing confusion which just might come back to haunt her as the saga unfinished nonetheles continues! Somewhat tragically it has been suggested of the The President in a recent submission that "she too now walks in the footsteps of her 'formidable' adversary Ranil Wickremesinghe. Like the former Prime Minister she too is being accused of equating ‘Tiger’ with ‘Tamil’ and castigating those who oppose the LTTE as ‘chauvinist’ and ‘anti-Tamil’. Given this perspective her natural allies in the new war she called into being are none other than the pro-Tiger peaceniks she reviled, not so long ago, as traitors " quoted from an Asian Trbune Bulletin and to the more discerning, not far removed from the truth to all appearances on this singlemost issue. To add to the President's chagrin, rumor has it that in the event of a Government Collapse these would be the very sources she would be reaching out to where the UNP might also prove to be a branch to cling to which despite the rhetoric sounds incredulous yet a slogan being blared across nationalist platforms and surely harmful to her perspective and image as the leader of the Nation! The P-TOMS issue suggests a felt need for re-structuring to incorporate the victims of the Tsunami, devoid of the terrorist element's involvement or the dictates of foreign donors who at times view the internal affairs of Sri Lanka with partisan bias and double standards. Terrorism in certain perspectives within their comprehension deplorable but in others acceptable as in the case of Sri Lanka. What the JHU and the JVP are emphasizing through their demonstrative means points exactly to this. Why must a Sovereign Nation even in conciliatory pretence bow down to a group of outlawed terrorists with no legitimate claims to the territories they allege to control ? Terrorists who have contributed to much pain and suffering of the Sri lankan people and is it not time they were shown the book rather than palavered to as an entity with any right to exist within the legalities and dictates of Sovereign Sri Lanka! IT must be reiterated - "Show LTTE the Book! not the P-TOMS and in so doing atone for a few Presidential lapses!
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