Joint Opposition's fear psychosis

by Shyamon Jayasinghe

The so-called Joint Opposition (JO) led by the family of the old brigade did not take long to spring into action after its two -times defeat to the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe- led uprising.

The family intuitively realised that what they were going to observe was much more than another team taking over for a change in a typical democratic game.

The frenzy and febrile shouts since the Rajapaksa defeat is to be understood. So are the hysterical responses popping up now and again, when something that looks bordering on not-quite -right happens.

No doubt there is a stupidity displayed on four counts. First, JO cries 'revenge!' whenever some bigwig of its camp is summoned before the FCID or the Bribery Commissioner. Mahinda Rajapaksa added more humour than spice when he said: "I have never taken revenge when I was at the helm."

Due process

It is obvious that, true to the principles of good governance, the government is following due legal process. That process is so authentic that the resulting slow speed has irked most of the government's backers.

Many suspect there are 'deals' with 'the family.' Even a top profile minister of the government, Patali Champika Ranawaka, at the time of this writing was questioned by the FCID for over seven hours.

Such an act would have been a miraculous one under the old regime. Then there was no legal process and framework in place to watch and call up the powerful for interrogation.

The cronies of that regime plundered the public purse and took bribes and commissions willy-nilly under the eye of the 'God King.' Perhaps, the king turned a blind eye because he was in the same game.

But my question to the JO is: Why oppose being investigated if you are not guilty? Wouldn't the wiser move be to stand for the enquiry and clear one's name?

There is no arbitrary arrest and imprisonment taking place under yahapalanaya unlike in marapalanaya.

The flagrant violation of justice procedures were there under that regime for even the deaf and blind to observe. Even the constitution was made a joke. One could murder and steal as long as one enjoyed proximity to the royal family. That practice manifested in the brutal murder of the popular ruggerite, Wasim Thajudeen, and in the dressing of that horrendous crime as 'an accident.'

Second, JO complains the new government has sacrificed national security. We see Professor G.L. Peiris rushing to the media and pointing out that the recent haul of weapons in Chavakachcheri is plainly indicative of the Tiger raising its head again.

Therefore, Rajapaksa must get back. Doesn't this gentleman realise that the very fact that hidden weapons were unearthed by our security intelligence prove that defense procedures and institutions are, in fact, functioning well?

Third, we are told that 'a lot of crime' is taking place in society after this government. No comparative statistics are present to show the difference between then and now.

The Defence Secretary pointed out that the conflict situation over 30 years tended to put crimes in civil society to the background. Besides, more crimes are now followed up and exposed than before because of a politically-freed police force.

What is more, some of the most shocking crimes took place under the watch of Mahinda Rajapaksa. Lasantha Wickrematunge, Pradeep Ekneliyagoda and a host of journalists had to lay down their lives. Culprits were not discovered and there was no interest under marapalanaya to do that discovery.

The suspicion was and is that government leaders then had been part of the problem.

Fourth, JO yells that national finances are in the red. Mahinda Rajapaksa charged the other day that the new government had got into debt more than his did. The new government made a big mistake here. It should have published the balance sheet at the time of take-over.

It did not. At least now we know that Mahinda Rajapaksa's proud legacy was to leave a Rs. 10 trillion national debt. Sri Lanka was hooked and trapped by Chinese loans. Government does incur new debt but that is largely to pay-off the Rajapaksa debt.

Rajapaksa debt

Our finances can only be corrected in the long run by direct foreign investment leading to the growth of exports and lessening of imports. Mahinda Rajapaksa's highways were good (despite exorbitant costs) but highways may bring cash flows only to those who decide and not to the national economy.

Fifth, is a constant refrain by JO that 'nothing is happening.' The new government is some months old. Governments are elected not to play 20-20 matches but test matches. The venal executive Presidential system is down.

The soft infrastructure constituted by justice and law and order has already been installed and the relevant agencies are acting freely sans political interference. Independent Commissions have been appointed to ensure fair working of government.

Waste and profligacy in public expenditure has been drastically reduced. Economic plans are afoot. The investment climate is cleared of threats from the corrupt who want 'their money' laid on the table before a project is started.

Test match result

In this way, people must wait for the test match result. The point, however, is that people who voted this government to power are impatient to see offenders of the old regime brought to justice. They want to see a few sixers! But this is not what JO shouters say.

On five counts, therefore, the JO is plainly stupid. But it is not pure denseness that is driving the JO, but something else.

The demon that drives them into the frenzies of hysterical protests we saw at places like Hyde Park is a frightened consciousness of the looming threat to the existence of the royal family when investigations are complete.

The response to this mortal fear is to attack and try and crush the new order before the stories are out.

Many of us watched how Mahinda Rajapaksa beat his breast in a kind of delirium and cried out that he be given back the government.

The scene is wild and feral. The government of Sirisena-Wickremesinghe must be alert to attempts at assassination. Look at fellows within and the fellows outside-lying in wait. Assassinations are always a surprise -history will tell you.