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| Sunday, 19 March 2006 |
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Features |  |
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The man without a seat in the House of Laws Light Refractions by Lucian Rajakarunanayake This is a story about a man in an island far away from this piece of lovely real estate in the Indian Ocean, once known as the Emerald Isle. It is about an irrepressible man, Sakala Banda, in the land of Deshapaala.
From humble beginnings, dint of hard work and study he entered a seat of higher learning, walking out with a degree and trophies for athletics. He soon took to politics, a great draw for ambitious youth in that land. He first joined the reds with links the mighty Soviet Union, where the dictatorship of the proletariat was so efficient, it had all proletarians under its control. He soon migrated to the Blue brand of politics, seeing a better future. Being popular in the hilly terrain, in the sea change of politics after 17 years under the Green Elephants, he waved the Blue flag and romped home to the House of Laws. The place where laws are discussed and made, but more often where those in it enjoy hurling abuse at each other in unrepeatable language. Our man soon rose high, with the then reigning queen appointing him to alleviate poverty in the country. Those who tried to alleviate poverty have always found themselves the richer. A man of great cunning, this Sakala Banda, was soon the favourite courtier of the queen. Overawed by his power he was irrepressible in speech. Once he pledged to tear down the House of Laws and the Palace of Justice of the land. Hauled before the Lords at the Palace of Justice for this insult to the fount of justice, with belated wisdom he pleaded guilty and was sent out with no punishment but a warning not to repeat his offence. Sakala Banda's ambitions made his influence over the queen seem insufficient. He saw more value in greener pastures where he could sup at leisure and greater profit with the Green Elephants. A skilled manipulator he soon made hell for the queen, with a feat of political long jump, crossing over to the Green Elephant camp with several other trusted courtiers of the queen in tow. The queen was quick to send all members of the House of Laws packing home, calling for a fresh competition to fill the empty seats. When the people's choice was tallied in the competition, the Blue flag and its allies were defeated by the Green Elephant and its allies. Sakala Banda was once again a powerful man. The Green Elephants too put him in charge of poverty alleviation. He was surging ahead. Recalling his close links to the queen, he poured scorn at her, often going beyond the brink of the vulgar. The people of that isle have a wise old adage that the fish finds its end because of its mouth. With Sakala Banda's vocal bashings of all whom he disliked, this time he insulted the rulings of the Palace of Justice. The Lords of Justice summoned to ask him why he should not be punished for what he said. Having pleaded not guilty initially, on the final day he pleaded guilty to having insulted the Palace of Justice. The Lords of Justice ruled he should serve two years under rigorous conditions in prison. Maybe he was not aware that if anyone serves a sentence of imprisonment for six months or over, convicted for an offence under the law, also loses one's seat in the House of Laws and political rights for six years more. The people of Deshapaala were unimpressed by efforts of the Green Elephants to call him a political prisoner. About 30 days before completing two years in prison, the ruler who succeeded the queen, and has his own Chintana, set Sakala Banda free of the prison gates. His civic and political rights were not restored. The man is now making pilgrimages to every shrine, from the most sacred Bodhi trees to shrines of all deities in the Hindu pantheon, seeking restoration of his political rights. He has his sights on throwing out the leader of the Green Elephants and taking the goad into his own hands. He appeals to the deities he as wrongly removed from the House of Laws, as not even a single Green Elephant moved a motion to give him leave from the House during his legally enforced absence. But it seems he has a good card up his sleeve. It is that although the Palace of Justice sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment, there were no rigours for him in prison. He lived in the comfort of a ward for the rich at the National Hospital. He led a leisured life, not confined behind bars. Therefore, he says, not having served a term of rigorous imprisonment for six months or more, but having lived in exceptional comfort for two years, he should be returned to his seat in the House of Laws. Will the deities intervene to change the Standing Orders of the House of Laws, or the consequences of a sentence by the Palace of Justice? Can the cushions, mattresses and masseurs at the Rich Traders Ward entitle him to regain his seat in the House of Laws? It's the story of a man in waiting. |
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He
came from a place in the hills, where legend says a royal fortune was hidden
from foreign invaders earning the name of Sangu-ranketha, - where the
treasure was hidden. 
