The Infertile Conjugation
that Failed to Conceive the National Congress
Dilrook Kannangara
So it happened; and it happened too soon even before two months had
passed since the auspicious signing of the Ranil-Mangala pact. Two court
rulings were made restraining Ranil and Tpissa Attanayake from further
bypassing the UNP executive committee. Many actually predicted the awamangala
(demise) of all politicians involved in the Mangala adventure; it was
indeed awa-mangala (demise) than mangala-awa (Mangala came) for the
UNP. During the short tenor of the ‘National Congress’, childless
uncles promised a better tomorrow for the nation’s children!! It
is also the end to all hope for a Tamil Elam by the likes of Parabakaran,
Pakasotthi, Jehan, TNA tiger agents and self proclaimed ‘moderate’
Tamil Elamists and separatists. It is another very bad omen for Chandrika’s
attempt to get back into active politics. It also relieved SB Dissanayake
who was marginalised and humiliated repeatedly by his former bitter
enemies.
Ranil’s UNP and Bandaranaikes’ SLFP?
This is what they thought; they could manipulate these grand old parties
to their whims and fancies. In trying to do so they have deserted the
ardent supporters of these parties. The party of DSS, JRJ, Lalith and
Gamini was forced to make a U-turn on its nationalist policies. It should
be appreciated that the UNP was build on nationalism against Tamil racism,
hippies and imperialism. Unfortunately it has ended up in the same ditch
it tried to avoid; today it is Tamil Elamists, other separatists, hippies
and neo-imperialist forces call the shots in the UNP. Ranil’s ever
increasing alliance with the likes of the ‘Kolus’ owner amply
depicts this shift in the UNP. Their utterly deformed expectations,
desires and ideologies are kept hidden from the public using the Wickremasinghe
family’s media power.
SLFP is no longer the teabag of the Bandaranikes. People have themselves
to pity about than these politicians. It is nothing but despicable how
the children of great politicians have betrayed their interests for
greedy and crooked ends. It is even more despicable how each child fought
against the other to get to the helm of the party.
Media silence
That strange silence has befallen on the media again. Thanks to the
stranglehold on the media by the Wickremasinghes, adverse news on Ranil
is not given any prominence. It is high time effective measures are
taken to release this stranglehold.
Salvaging SLFP votes from the JVP
Many would agree that the JVP amassed large scale support feeding mainly
upon the SLFP votebase. Chandrika did nothing to stop this happening
and the one seat JVP had at the start of her term ended up at 39 by
the time the court ruled that her time was up. Although a few would-be
UNP voters have also ended up in the JVP, it is mostly the would-be
SLFPers in its ranks.
President Rajapakse has started a campaign to salvage the SLFP from
the JVP. His policies and strategies have a spell-bound effect on the
SLFP and its supporters. Especially the war effort and aggressive anti-interference
policy are highly appreciated by SLP aligned voters. Its success is
visible. JVP abandoned its anti-terror campaign in early 2007. Now they
are conscious of the erosion of their votebase and are hell bent on
amassing voters from other quarters. Most notably their attention is
diverted to the upcountry voters. In an unprecedented development, the
JVP worked very hard to get citizenship for over 50,000 upcountry Tamils;
two mass strikes were launched by the JVP (not by the CWC or UPF) to
award the highest ever wage increases for the plantation Tamils; JVP
has appointed a number of grass-root level organisers to mobilise this
potential den of voters; Ramalingam Chandrasekaran has eclipsed Wimal
Weerawansa in laying down their policy framework; it is the cost of
living, the open economy and corruption that tops the JVP agenda now
not the nation; JVP even abstained from participating in Eastern liberation
ceremony.
However, it is a great challenge for the JVP to win this one million
voters (or part of them); many communist parties tried in the past but
failed to overcome CWC’s domination over its kith and kin.
Warfront drives public opinion
The public opinion has shifted regarding the war; five years ago 72%
believed in a non-military resolution to the conflict now 84% have pinned
their hopes on the military campaign. These figures are a reflection
of what happens in the warfront and not the other way around. As Ranil-Mangala-Chandrika
trio have build up their castle on surrender than military victory,
they are in for another round of humiliation.
A taste of the big event ahead
Ranil tasted what is in stock for him on the thirtieth of November.
If the MoU with the SLFP-M was illegal how about the MoU with the LTTE?
Unfortunately for Ranil, the verdict on that is due in a couple of months
from now. It may put him out of business for a long time.
However, using his media he will try to create an impression that he
is still on top of events. His desperation reached ridiculous levels
when he threatened to withdraw the local banking licence of HSBC - one
of the largest banking corporations in the world - for granting a financing
facility for Sri Lanka! He also took extreme measures to meet individually
with each foreign diplomat to convince them not to help the country
he wishes to lead!
His UNP has permanently resigned from the APRC which is trying to find
a political solution for the conflict. If he sees a bright political
future for him, he should be working hard with the APRC!
In another typical act of bullying, his yesmen threatened the honourable
Speaker with sexual assaults after five tax bills were passed in parliament!!
It struck a chord with the 2002 Royal Cabaret Gala which also had an
emphasis on same-sex stunts; it’s a pity that the chief guest of
the event decided to avoid it in the last minute.
The Speaker held that the bills were validly passed, described the
violent act as terrorism and thanked all involved for sparing him.
By and by his historic day arrives on September 19th; he will become
the longest standing Opposition Leader; another record for his collection
of gloomy records in his 30 years of public life.
However, he can turn things overnight from gloom to bloom only if he
emulates either Lalith or Gamini and drops Parabakaran and Tamil Elam.
It’s a pity that he sill cannot understand that working for Tamil
Elam has taken a heavy toll on his political career.
|
|
|
Disclaimer: The comments contained
within this website are personal reflection only and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the LankaWeb. LankaWeb.com offers the contents
of this website without charge, but does not necessarily endorse the
views and opinions expressed within. Neither the LankaWeb nor the individual
authors of any material on this Web site accept responsibility for any
loss or damage, however caused (including through negligence), which
you may directly or indirectly suffer arising out of your use of or
reliance on information contained on or accessed through this Web site.
All views and opinions presented in this article are solely those of
the surfer and do not necessarily represent those of LankaWeb.com. .
BACK TO LATEST
NEWS
DISCLAIMER
|
