We Also Need a Plan B

Dilrook Kannangara

Political losers are hopeful of a come back. They do not care about political uncertainty and instability inherent in untimely government changes. These losers are so desperate and greedy that they eventually destroy their own chances of winning elections! It should be remembered that had the UNP abstained from destabilising the 2000 elect government, Ranil would be the President by now with a strong UNP majority parliament. The price of greed costed them dearly. He lives upto his reputation of being the Biggest Loser. True enough he has lost 15 out of 18 elections-which is the norm, also he has lost voters’ faith after the few exceptional wins. He lost the Biyagama electorate after he won in 1977/89. Then he became the PM in 1993 thanks to the LTTE followed by a historical loss in 1994. Then again in 2001 once again with LTTE patronising won his lost PM post, only to lose it in fantastic style in 2004. Aftershocks of that loss still haunt the UNP. Now he is back again to eventually lose in grander style. This is like another episode of Dr. Dolittle cartoons I watched eagerly as a kid.

Nobody needs to take him seriously if not of the LTTE and LTTE created disasters. Eight years after the telescope trick (and the accompanied survey which ended up in utter disaster) now it is the horoscope trick! You don’t need astrology to predict the doom of this latest trick.

However, there is a serious aspect to this rhetoric as Ranil’s god Almighty, his provider of all gratifications, Parabakaran is not so ineffective. Terror leader has struck in a number of critical occasions that saved him and the terror outfit. The killing of scores of Tamil politicians, Rajiv, Lalith, Premadasa, Gamini, Neelan, Lakshman and attempted murder of many other politicians were so timed that fatal blows to the LTTE were averted. The economic cost of the 2001 BIA attack also came at a critical juncture to get a henchman elected to protect the LTTE from the global war on terror. Ranil is nothing but a parasite on a parasite counting time for another disaster to profit from. To quote from holy scripts, “one who swims in sin shall sink in sorrow”.

Time is ripe for the LTTE to strike again and strike big. Their priced target is our democratically elected President. It is amazing how so much depends on a single individual in Sri Lanka. This is because we have a very few individuals who can take initiative and responsibility. Our national leaders got to be protected at any cost.

However, there is a significant possibility of LTTE succeeding in getting rid of its ardent enemies. That is why we need a Plan B. We cannot surrender to the terrorists just because they succeed in committing assassinations. There should be a plan in place to appoint a patriot to the post of president in the case of a disaster. Also important is the need to punish the LTTE for attacking democratically elected politicians. Lack of retribution in this regard has further encouraged the LTTE to increase such attacks. Military should be given necessary orders to ferociously retaliate on LTTE leaders in such a way that they realise (in grave) that they are not immortal. The Oath of Patriotism should be demanded from MPs if they are to continue to hold office in Sri Lanka.

These measures will defeat even the most evil surprises Parabakaran has for Ranil on the eve of his paraja yoga. This is the time to consider the Plan B so that when disaster strikes, we are ready. Leaving the drafting of the Plan B to a perilous time means lack of direction and eventually failure. Just as a Will is written during one’s lifetime, our Plan B got to be finalised soon. It is a bad omen and bad luck only to the monumental loser who now comes with a new horror after the horrors of Batalanda - horoscope; what a horrorist! Don’t let the horrorist take over with the help of the terrorist.