'Et tu Brute?'

by Dr. Nalin SWARIS

Even you Brutus? Most famous last words in history, due to its inclusion in William Shakespeare's tragedy 'Julius Caesar'. Before turning to Shakespeare, a few historical facts about Gaius Julius Caesar (100 BCE- 44 BCE). Julius' surname became the title of emperors after him. He undoubtedly was Rome's greatest General - a military genius and ambitious politician. In 44 BCE, because of his brilliant victories in war and his great political influence, Caesar became Consul for a fifth time, with Mark Antony as his devoted supporter, Caesar got himself declared 'dictator for life'.

He summoned the Senate for a meeting extraordinaire on the March 15 44 BCE - the now famous "Ides of March". As the Senate convened, Caesar was stabbed to death by a group of senators who called themselves the Liberatores (Liberators); they justified their action on the grounds that they were preserving the Republic from Caesar's dictatorial rule and alleged monarchical ambitions. Among the assassins were Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius. The older Caesar loved his protege Brutus like a son and named him as one of his testamentary heirs. Hence the pathos of the question, Et tu Brute?

Brutus Villain or Hero?

Though most political commentators regard Brutus as a parricide, this verdict is not universal. The Roman poet and historian, Francis Petrarch (1304-1374) used the literary device of addressing letters to authors of the ancient world. He wrote to Cicero (died 43 B.C.E.) criticising him for praising Octavius Caesar. He asked, "What answer can you give to Brutus? ...

We must conclude that you are not so anxious to be rid of all tyrants as to find a tyrant who will be well-disposed toward yourself. Now, unhappy man, you were to take the last false step, the last and most deplorable...I grieve, dear friend at such fickleness. These shortcomings fill me with pity and shame."

The Italian fascist dictator Generalissimo Mussolini, consciously styled himself after Julius Caesar. Dr. Jan Nelis of the University of Ghent, Belgium, writes, "Julius Caesar was the quintessential populist leader, swaying the masses into being ruled. Steadily, he enforced his grip on the people of Rome, becoming dictator and maybe even hoping to be king one day. The life and deeds of Caesar present a perfect example of a recurrent phenomenon in human history: the willingness of the masses to be ruled, and eventually nearly always to witness the unavoidable forced death of the authoritarian ruler, victim to his own megalomania, or, in Latin, superbia.

As such, the figure of Caesar can count as the prototype and prefiguration of many later political leaders, especially those who will use the masses as the base for their, in various degrees exclusive, claims to power. To give but one clear example: the dictator of Italian fascism, Benito Mussolini, declared on various accounts that the only real example he drew from the past was Caesar."

Our own General does not promise. He threatens. To those who know the lessons of history this has a familiar tone and temper. When provoked he easily gets unsettled, snarls and resorts to intemperate language. As for his allies, their Bell has a false ring of freedom; their Elephant has gone rogue.

The local Generalissimo

Space does not permit a fuller discussion of Shakespeare's other tragic hero, Othello, also a General who achieved heroic status because of spectacular war victories. Shakespeare's arch villain, Iago, seethed with resentment at Othello's position and popularity. Feigning friendship and loyalty, Iago manipulated a personality flaw of Othello - his proneness to jealousy. He succeeded in feeding Othello's latent fears about his wife's fidelity to him, till demented by 'the green eyed god', he killed the thing he loved - the fair Desdemona.

The General's revolt against the President and the Defence Secretary is the manifestation of a deep seated personality flaw. As long he could have his way, he proved to be a steady and resolute Army Chief of great military acumen. He reveled in the adulation of the masses. But when his ambitions were thwarted, latent fissures in his personality surfaced and now gape canyon deep and wide.

Why is he seething with so much resentment against his former Commander-in-Chief who extended his term of office four times and overlooked his vain posturings? He threw a tantrum and stamped his foot like a spoilt child, because he was not given what he demanded.

His personality flaw is being exploited by opportunists for their cunning ends. His rankling rancour and revolt is making the nation vulnerable to the machinations of external powers.

Who would have thought that even before a year past after the scourge of terrorism was eradicated the man who played the major role in a glorious victory would join the President 's political foes to drive the latter from power? "Poda Mahinda!" - as Wickremesinghe contemptuously shouted.

The General joined the very people who attempted to sabotage his war effort! One jabbering fool called the General a donkey: English equivalent of "gona"('bull) '- saying, "Any donkey can fight a war if given the weapons." He indirectly gave credit to the President who provided the weaponry and ammunition, but faulted him for handing them to a donkey.

The General's current lieutenant on his right flank, taunted him that he has no knowledge of geography: "What's the big deal about capturing Thoppigala? It's a mere jungle!" Another geographer derided him in Parliament that when the government announces a march on Kilinochchi, the General sends his army to Medawacchi; when the government says the Army will take Alimankade - Elephant Pass - the General's troops stray into Pamankade - a Colombo suburb. Another utterer of gibberish, now the General's campaign manager, said he is not fit even to lead the Salvation Army.

In his hunger for revenge and power, the General has been willing to sell his soul and sign Faustian pacts with anyone. But, he may not trivialize those vilifications and dismiss them saying he answered his revilers at that time and he does not bear them any wairaya - vengeful resentment - because he is a forgiving man! Is this a 'credible change' of heart? Hardly. What drives the General's juggernaut is burning wairaya against the President and the Defence Secretary. He can, but may not forget, that those jibes were calculated to demoralise his officers and soldiers and to debilitate their will to fight.

The General's revilers were aware that if the war was won the President would be politically invincible. Now Fonseka has put aside the General's thoppiya - cap - to assail a political Thoppigala. - a jungle of desperate discontents.

Treachery most foul

A head giddy with hubris and burning with resentment, cannot control its tongue. The General's boast at Dharmashoka Vidyalaya in Ambalangoda on July 10, 2009, has done irreparable damage to his Army and the country he now wants to save! Was it a mere coincidence that he was asked to tender his resignation a few days after that? The Ambalangoda bravado was duly noted by the US State Department in its 2009 Report on Sri Lanka.

It was tabled in the US Congress making it a legal document incriminating this country's political leaders and his senior army officers for perpetuity. Not all Fonseka's equivocations can cancel half a line of it. For this betrayal alone his credentials to be Head of State are not believable.

In the light of this denigration of the Army, it is understandable that a group of Tamil scholars who have been licking the wounds of defeat are openly calling for "regime change" (sic). Fonseka has given them a kalakami sathuta.

In T.S. Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral, Archbishop Thomas Beckett tells his last tempter, "The last sin is the worst treason/to do the right thing for the wrong reason". In this instance, the ultimate sin and worst treachery is doing the wrong thing for the wrong reason - make a General seeking revenge win the war he has declared on the President. Fortunately, this time, General will not win his 'Second Campaign'.

The rural poor, whose sons and daughters sacrificed their lives and limbs and fought valiantly till the villains were vanquished, will not be misled by an embittered and vengeful man.