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| Sunday, 27 July 2003 |
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CBK's astrologers and their magic wands Star gazing CBK has been consulting her astrologers to seek out the best time to hatch the next palace plot. What with the UNF MPs in a rollicking mood at the PM's abode, with the Sri Lankan Fusion keeping the musical beat and fare up-tempo, there was nothing much CBK could do except to gnash her teeth, because the planetary position being favourable or not, the birds in the UNF bush, are going to be difficult to dislodge. Horses and waterholes We hear that senior cadres with a lot of horse sense have arrived at the Vanni watering hole, to study the much awaited third edition of the IA structure and it is whispered that the 'old' horses will not reject this edition but are nevertheless perturbed over some issues such as Muslim representation in the administration, powers regarding Police, Land, Security and Revenue. The horses are shaking their mane also on the possibility of the GOSL including, through the proposed scheme, anti Tiger Tamil representatives. What is strange though is that Anti-Tiger Tamil politicians are dismayed and have wowed to challenge the violation of their fundamental right of being excluded in the IA. The big question is - will the horses drink from the waterhole, now that they are there? Image building The tigers are not about to change their stripes, but are certainly wracking their brains and have decided on "special operations" in sizing up the public response towards their tribe: through 'pocket meetings' to educate Tamils on the merits of their campaign, sacrifices of their fallen heroes, martyred kith and kin and benefits enjoyed by pro tiger tribesmen. Their effort to revamp their image, indicates that they are trying, if not to change their stripes, at least to powder themselves. We hope they are going to smell better and be more appealing to their own tribe. Perhaps this is the time to have their senior members standing (of for that matter sitting) together. Mr. B. we understand has thought that the tribesmen are fit to conduct their negotiations themselves, as they have come of age, and is resting his tired feet in old blighty. Sauce for the gander What the tribesmen are doing to the businessmen in the East, is some what irksome. They have gone on a spree with the new rules that no businessman is to hold any agencies or merchandise without the usual "sales commission" to be paid to the Tribe. Tribesmen have singled out Muslim traders in particular, to warn them it is 'Commission' or no business! Popular brands including several Multinational brands have been affected. It now appears that sauce for the gander is not sauce for the goose. Long live the tribe! More on weapons transfer The tents of the tribe in Cambodia of various hues, have been raided by the Cambodian Authorities, this has resulted in the fate which befell the person who fell from the tree being gored by the bull. Following on the special operations which unravelled the 'Mystery of the Weapons Transfer System in Cambodia, recently, the identities of several tribesmen who were operating in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand have been revealed. The tribe had been paying for these procurement through the money laundered via Singapore. War on unemployment The Premier a few days back called to the business tribes, that the 'Government is Bullish' not that they are going to be gored again, as in the case of our tribesmen of the north, but that it is high time they responded to their social obligation. The newest philosophy of the corporate sector in many parts of the world, is to be socially responsible, and that in turn builds the marketing image of the business. The local business tycoons too should follow, this wise counsel. The unemployed graduate and the youth of this country are at the edge of their flimsy existence, with the unemployment figure at 9% of the labour force of nearly 7 million. This the captains of industry can do without much damage to their "budgets". They can take on 3-5 trainees in their corporate businesses during the first year. We cannot sweep this problem aside easily, if you do, it will mean the death to the pro private sector policies in this country. So the premier's appeal "to invest, expand and grow fast" is timely advice which our businessmen should heed before it is too late. The ceasefire, is the period to plan and implement our growth strategies. So fellas, don't wait, until everything is offered on a platter. Remember! It is the early bird which catches the worm. - The Mole |
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