Living between Phonies
Posted on May 11th, 2012
By Gomin Dayasri
Are we living in the Wonderland of Alice or in a sorry State called Alas? Government blunders with self-inflicted gaffes and goofs to display its mounting incompetence – UNP reciprocates by keeping the government buoyant in promoting serially unpopular causes to alienate and annoy voters. We sure lead a life between phonies.
Both would dread should the other change character ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” in fear of their own self-preservation. Possibly in this queer impasse the odd man out in the pack of jokers is Mahinda Rajapakse (MR), fading fast with his style of lukewarm governance disturbing urbanites but held high on expectation among the rural majority. If MR is out of the equation, the country will be without a semblance of a leadership. Not that there is much still left intact.
Government obtained an overdose of goodwill, after the war, extracting adoration from outside its traditional realm, making incisive penetrations in pinching votes from a territory deep in its opponentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s heartland, is now in a pickle. That was a prize for successfully accomplishing a virtual impossibility- comprehensively eradicating terrorism from the local soil.
Deservingly it enjoyed the longest political honeymoon in living memory ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” but the mismanagement of the economy has created a reverse reaction. Taking on the people too long for granted for their gratitude, without any reciprocity, made a valued humane characteristic disappear by an over stretch. Government thrives on its wartime exploits and loses on its performance in the time of peace.
Its all happening under the big top with the governing circus running berserk; acrobats keep slipping more than juggling, trapeze artists totter on the tight rope with a safety net designed to save them from a free fall, stunt lads and lasses clout each other, clowns are in excess and the audience is thrown to the lions.
The government looks after more, the support that flowed from outside its home base than the talent emerging from its own perennial springs. Outsiders carry an Alsatian-like loyalty for survival and pay homage to rely on the patronage of the Master, in the absence of any other almighty. Johnnies ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”come – lately are deemed safe to have around since they live in chained captivity with no other destination to plant their roaming feet. A regime change is a likely inside job.
For survival, servility extends to the point of sycophancy. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Those who are not prepared to demean are not a part of the performing travelling troupe. Those who do, as they are told to do: are in the good books, however bizarre it turns out, with hardly any monitoring over their performance due to lack of supervision arising out of lethargy, that often ends in a fiasco. Price hikes of the essentials ring alarm bells but soon is in the valley of the forgotten – conveniently swept away as an issue that is purely urban. But not so, to those who visit the market, in whatever locality, to face the ordeal.
The government has become insensitive to the values, opinions and expectations of the people after enjoying power for over 18 years. The consequential benefits that flow on peddling power, exploited to the maximum, uncaringly and shamefully on the rightful belief that the opposition cannot win an election, numb their conscience. The state of bliss will continue until the exercise of the secret ballot shows an unexpected verdict due to disgust.
Choreographically sequenced election process without a credible alternative party, compels voters to mark a cross in the absence of an acceptable option.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Results of the first round of elections become a trendsetter for subsequent elections- winner takes all comfortably, thereafter. Government has mastered the trick in the trade. Once the people endorse, any muck becomes squeaky clean. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ A woeful Opposition in this repeatedly orchestrated process, allowed the government to expand its majorities and make the voters sacrificial lambs for their own head chop. The comeback route for the Opposition is to shrink majorities significantly. This can ignite a process to cause an avalanche. Unlikely event, with a dumb opposition.
UNP has chosen a hazardous route by aligning itself with the TNA to ebb any flow from the floating uncommitted and the decent disenchanted and to invite internal friction within the UNP that could lead to another exodus.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Post-war census statistically display that Tamil voters have numerically decreased in the North seeking fresh pastures in Sri Lanka and abroad. TNA-UNP tie up may increase UNP majorities in the five Colombo electorates but TNAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s proximity to the terrorists and diaspora together with its hidden agenda for secession will cause a telling impact on the majority Sinhala districts that declare the eventual winner. Another decision Ranil Wickremasinghe will learn to rue as much as nominating General Fonseka.
The projected provincial council elections in the North Central and Sabaragamuwa held together is to sting the UNP; East is opened to prevent TNA expansionism. Eastern province may turn out to be a magic moment for the UNP. Southern provincial election result once delivered in favor of Chandrika Kumaratunga on a fatal miscalculation made by D.B. Wijetunga in holding elections prematurely, triggered a change of government.
After 18 years out of office and a stumbling government in office, UNP should have been positioned to win any election in any province; instead continues to lose in a manner worse than previously. The change the UNP wistfully awaits is unlikely to materialize until the party changes its own image.
May 11th, 2012 at 7:22 pm
You are off the mark Sir: Why can’t you say loudly that Sri Lanka is not an independent Republic. What ever you say about MR, he got 18th amendment passed that butressed the constitution that was hanging on a string when he was handed over the country. Don’t talk about food prices they have gone up all over the developed world. I live in USA, every comdity has gone up in price food clothing gas (Petroleum) etc. State of Florida, where I live grows all the winter vagitables and fruits. It is four times higher than two years ago.
Intellectuals like you and S.L Gunasekara, who have great influence over MR is not focusing on 13A. It is very sad that when you focus away from 13A. To bring UNP back? Avrage Sinhala has not forgetten Ranil’s CFA. And now you want Pramadase’s son, who has a stone throwing mob that can be mobilized any time and Ranil to run the country? Gunadase Amerasekara used to talk about 13A, but now he has changed his subject. Gunadase Amerasekara and Wimal Weerawansa went and protested in front of US consulate, but no one protested in front of THE INDIAN HIGH COMMISSION, even after the vote against Sri Lanka. Please may I suggest that before you go to bed at night, Gomin, please say “I WANT THIS 13A NULLIFIED” I am sure in the morning you will be wiser person. Sinhala has not understood what this VICTORY means, this includes MR.
May 12th, 2012 at 3:59 am
UNP had been in the Oppostion for 18 years and during this period they did all Anti-national work. They ridiculed war victories and laughed at the Army Commander during the war. The UNP aligned with NGO’s and asked for peace deals with terrorists. Basically in the eyes of the common man the UNP was for the LTTE. And then after the war Ranil had no guts to run for Presidency . So to escape from the insult he pushed Sarath Fonseka. And now with the party in disarray they could ‘happily’ sit in the opposition for another 18 years!
P.A.Samaraweera
Australia
May 12th, 2012 at 3:59 am
UNP had been in the Oppostion for 18 years and during this period they did all Anti-national work. They ridiculed war victories and laughed at the Army Commander during the war. The UNP aligned with NGO’s and asked for peace deals with terrorists. Basically in the eyes of the common man the UNP was for the LTTE. And then after the war Ranil had no guts to run for Presidency . So to escape from the insult he pushed Sarath Fonseka. And now with the party in disarray they could ‘happily’ sit in the opposition for another 18 years!
P.A.Samaraweera
Australia
May 12th, 2012 at 5:36 am
If MR got the 18A passed, there is no point in talking about the 13A. So MR is way passed the 13A. Why go backwards. Go forward. If the UNP did not fully implement the 13A for 18 years that 13A is now defunked. So we have to talk about 19A. This is why MR is silent on the 13A. When that LOW professor is reporting to all the Chief ministers in India what the bloody hell this idiot doing in our coun try. Can’t this idiot go and live in India licking the backside of that turburned Indian or reside in the USA licking the backside of Clinton woman? No No this idiot wants to keep ripping off the Sri Lankans. What a shameles B…… this fellow is? Cross over champion. The B.. is so scared of American Embassy revealing the KUDU KE WITTIYA.
May 12th, 2012 at 6:28 am
Let us not fool ourself. All the politicians have proved that self is most important the country and the nation means nothing.
May 12th, 2012 at 11:37 am
Most of the present day world systems (the Fiscal System especially), are more or less phony. To survive, we have to fit into these phony systems which makes us seem phony too ! For a start, we are encouraged to spend like crazy with no money in our pockets – sounds weird, doesn’t it ?
May 12th, 2012 at 8:24 pm
Gomin Dayasiri writes in a sort of a Biblic Language like St.John, and his complaints are hidden within and it is rather difficult to decipher. Complicated as his writing is it is possible he cannot even see clearly the problems of Sri Lanka, and make suggestions to solve them.
The TNA is the proxi terrorists who carry on the terrorism in a different way without cooperating with the Government as their Thalaivar the dead terrorist Prabhakaran. Sampanthan and Premachandran are terrorists in their own way. Their bombs are the lies they expose to the foreign countries , their false stories about Army interference, calling for land and police powers, and their refusal to participate in Parliamentary Committees as Parliamentarians are obliged to do.
Any individual has the right to bring a fundamental rights case action against TNA, but have our lawyers like Gomin Dayasiri or S.L.Gunasekara the guts to take up the Challenge.
It was a lawyer who had guts that took the challenge of separating Northern Province from the Eastern Province? But who are the lawyers who have the such guts today to take up a case against TNA or the 13A ?
Writing complicated articles to demonstrate their high intellectual level is one thing , but to be able to fight for e just rights of the people is another.
The Judges have to do their jobs independently and if they cannot for political reasons then they should have the courage to step down.
President Rajapakse is a man who had the determination to finish off with terrorism and he did it.
What is the reason for him to keep dilly dallying about the TNA ‘s tactical terrorism and 13A ?