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| Sunday, 5 December 2004 |
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Jumbo hijackers of N. M's legacy Light Refractions by Lucien Rajakarunanayake "Kauda Raja - N. M. Raja". You would be excused for thinking these slogans came from left wing trade unionists carrying out a special demonstration to mark this birth centenary year of the late LSSP leader N. M. Perera, whose life was devoted to championing the rights of the working class. It was nothing of the sort. It was a demonstration of the total political bankruptcy of the Green Elephants, always the enemy of the working class, now trying to ride piggy back on the name of N. M. Perera to win support among the people. Last Wednesday's demonstration organised by Rajitha Rathudala who is seeking to outperform Gamini Aligedera, as the leader of the UNP's Storm Troopers in the Jaraa Sevaka Sangamaya (JSS), was proof both of the power struggle within the Green Elephant Circle, and desperation about regaining power and not "Regaining Sri Lanka". The post-demonstration discussion at the Green Elephant Circle was very interesting indeed. "What the hell are we doing making N. M. Perera our hero" asked Kavadath Kolapaata, an old hand in the Circle. "Haven't we been always against his policies, whether it be the eight-hour working day or giving citizenship here to Indian plantation workers?" "All that may be true but just now we are short of anything serious to attack the Government's budget proposals with. So the best thing is to make use of the image of N. M. and adopt a new image as the true champions of the workers," said Rajitha Rathudala. "Do you think it possible to fool the people so easily," asked Sajith Gajaprema. "Do you think the people don't know that the Green Elephant herd has always been against the working class? Even my father who came from the same class and played barefoot soccer could not change this attitude. The people know our record all too well, and won't be fooled by such gimmicks." "Why can't Ranil Alirajah transform his image to one of being a champion of the working class, instead of trying to put on the mantle of N. M. through this new strategy of impatience? asked Saliya Alikakula, who had been making disturbing noises in the kraal. "Don't talk nonsense. Ranil Alirajah may be the leader of our herd, but he did not even have the courage to participate in the budget debate and trumpet against the call for public servants to work nine hours a day, whether voluntary or not. He is too busy trying to count the members of the herd who will remain with him," said Navin Alipetiya. "It's pointless talking about the Alirajah. Obviously he cannot give us any guidance. So we have to work out own strategies to regain power. If we can't do it by embracing N. M. Perera today, we may have to embrace Karl Marx and Engels tomorrow," said Gamini Ethagala a senior member of the herd from Wayamba, now being edged out by Alirajah. "But what about all that we said and did against the rights of workers in the short time we were in power from December 2001? Are we to abandon all those policies in our effort to attack the government?" asked Milinda Alivanguva, who was making his own trail to leadership of the herd through telecast discussions on problems of the rural people. "If you people want to beat the reds you must do it among the rural people, instead of trying to be champions of urban workers," he said with conviction. "What are we to tell the rural people, when the budget has given so much to them?" asked Ravi Gajavancha or Sathosakeliya, with a note of desperation. "It is said that those who can't beat the bandits should join them. So in the same spirit if we can't beat the Betel Creepers with our present policies, we must at least begin by carrying N. M. on our shoulders. Don't forget that he worked for the rural people too. He always won from Yatiyantota and Ruwanwella. This could be the key to winning back the confidence of the people, so why not go along with it" he asked. Malik Alihenduva, believed to still guide and direct Ranil Alirajah was not convinced. "It is not only the 8-hour day that you are making such a goddamn fuss about. What about your slogans demanding that the new scheme of maternity leave should be extended to the private sector too? Whom do you think are our real supporters and financiers? Surely it must be clear to all that the Green Elephant Circle is not an organisation for women's rights," he said with a firm note of authority. "Are we to alienate the support of women over the issue of breastfeeding and maternity leave, just to please our friends in the private sector?" asked Hema Kumara Gaalualiya. "Why don't we realise that the private sector from the karavala mudalali to the big tea planters will always be with us, and reach out to the sections that the red betel creepers are winning favour with today? I was never a supporter of N. M., but why not use his image if it will do us any good?" he questioned. "When we make N. M. our hero today, how are we to answer questions about how the founders of the Green Elephants collaborated with the British colonial rulers to detain N. M. in jail during the Second World War?" asked Kavadath Kolapaata. "If we are really serious about this eight-hour-day nonsense, why go behind N. M. It was old A. E. Goonesinghe who made the first demand for an eight-hour-day, and he was the Minister of Labour in the first Green Elephant Cabinet. Surely, we could have had the demonstration near his statue at Goonesinghepura, in the midst of the working class," said Baron Alipurana, the record keeper of the herd. "That would have been a catastrophe. Goonesinghe is regarded as a traitor to the working class, although he did champion their cause at one time. He lost all credibility when he joined our herd, and N. M. and Philip had gone far beyond him. What is needed is for us to have a credible opposition to the reds. That is why N. M. is so important to us today," said Rajitha Rathudala. "It is the same with you and any of us who pretend to be champions of the working class. We have come to power earlier without its support. What is needed is for Alirajah to be seen as a credible leader. Not a silent calculator of self-advancement" said Navin Alipetiya. "Don't forget it was N. M. who made the strongest criticism of the Constitution forced on us all by the Alirajah's uncle, which he keeps under his pillow these days." |
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