By Mario Perera, Kadawata

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There were very interesting happenings in the recent past that merit a recap. We all know the strange behaviour of Ban Ki, that lent credence to the belief that a (mad) cow had jumped over (or better, into) Moon. Now why that happened is become crystal clear seeing that the cats have jumped out of the USA bags as revealed by ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Leaky WikiƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. The secret documents now become public property put on display nearly 4000 messages regarding Sri lanka. Astounding how the so called greats make use of the small to cover their nakedness. Their belief no doubt is that whatever be the length and girth and the power of the body, the slip necessary to clothe the essentials is small in comparison. So small countries like Sri Lanka are used in that role; to cover ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”their unmentionablesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. Patching up operations are underway both by Hilary Clinton over there and the USA Embassy over here, but the stitching thread is so transparent, the slips that are showing really cover nothing of their shame.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The big event was the inauguration of MRƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s second term as president. China sent an official delegation for the event. India backed off saying; good from far but far from good! The Hambantota harbour was declared open with a massive Chinese presence. India came through the back door and opened two consulates in Hambantota and Jaffna (Hambantota being probably a balancing act to show neutrality to the blind). Mr. Krishna who led the Indian team which comprised Mrs. Nirupama Rao (whom Anura B once called ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”PrettyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢) put up a pretty defiant but losing front barking on the 13th amendment and the devolution of power to the Tamils. But how far he himself believed in his sacred litany of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”well-wishesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ for Sri Lanka can be gauged by the parallel event that was unfolding during his stay before his own eyes, as well as by his subsequent behaviour. The parallel event was the red carpet rolled out for the Pakistani President, the presidential banquet, his reception in the parliament and the several far reaching agreements signed by the two Heads of State binding the two countries together. All those took the glow out of Mr. KrishnaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s stay and wise utterances, meant naturally ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”for the good of Sri Lanka!ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ What knocked off the icing from that little cake which was KrishnaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s visit was his rapid exit from Jaffna to the utter dismay of the TNA, the wolves of bygone days now in cheap sheep clothing. The TNA which was expecting Krishna to serve it its dues from the Indo-Sri Lankan buffet was dumbfounded when K made a hasty exit, much reminiscent of the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”dish running away with the spoonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. They would probably have asked themselves whether Krishna had read abut the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”boy who stood on the burning deck!ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ No burning deck for Krishna, who if his name is something to go by would naturally prefer the company of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”GopisƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ (no offence to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”prettyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ Mrs RaoƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦) than of former wolves.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The writing on the wall for the USA and the Western alliance is quite clear. New alliances are being formed, which means that the old ones are being cast aside like worn out clothes. Formerly it was India-USSR. Now it is India-USA. The Pakistan-USA coalition has given way to Pakistan-Russia-China-Iran. Sri Lanka so shabbily treated by the Western Alliance is accepting the extended arms of friendship of Russia, China, Pakistan and their allies. Indeed the old order changeth yielding place to the new, and so it has to be. A new power block is in the offing and is being distinctly set in place, no doubt to the dismay of powers who thought they had Sri Lanka in their pocket. The pithy saying; you cannot eat the cake and have it, is not of yesterday and today. So too the policy of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”heads I win, tails you loseƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ is not fool proof. India had its chances all throughout but preferred to play the card of appeasement of Tamil Nadu. They could continue to do so but not keeping Sri Lanka as a pawn. IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s unique status as our ONLY neighbour is no more an insurmountable hurdle, as distances have now been abridged with what was far become so near. The indisputable rise of Chine is sending shivers down many a spine. Japan backed down when China ordered them to release its fisherman. Now the USA and S.Korea have been told in severe terms to tone down their stance with regard to North Korea. Their reactions have been mild and diluted. We are reminded of the quasi prophetic book of French Academician Alain Peyrefitte; When China wakes up the world will tremble.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What this all practically means for those who believed in in-built entrenched clauses of territorial rights and homelands for ethnic groups, is that there is no further purpose in ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”standing on the burning deckƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ when all others are fleeing, or of continuing to dance the jig on a sinking ship. They would do better to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”do a KrishnaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and run away from it, like the Minister did, when he bolted leaving the TNA high and dry to sulk and lick its wounds. Their game is up. It is a new ball game now with new players on the field, new rules to go by and new umpires to hear the appeals. No doubt they could avail themselves of a referral system to juries outside this country catering to and dependant on the throaty diapora element. In that case, this country might, in addition to the upright index finger verdict have to resort to the ominous jacked-up vertical middle finger.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mario Perera, Kadawata

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