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| Sunday, 15 February 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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The thoughts of thinking people Light Refractions by Lucien Rajakarunanayake With parliament dissolved (not so suddenly, though) there is considerable interest in the foreign media about the outcome of all this. Router Viewshound, from Cable News Jargon (CNJ), who specializes in pre-election immediate views, to make the big picture later, was among the first of such foreign hounds to arrive here. Eager for quick comments from political analysts he made inquiries from local journalists, especially those attached to the international wire services here, about the best sources for a rapid response. Number one was Dr. Yaanaisothy Haravanamuttu, a key figure in the Centre for Pachyderm Apologists or CPA. Dr. Haravanamuttu gave him an instant interview. "You wish to know about the consequences of this dissolution and what the likely outcome of the election would be. Well, it is very clear that the dissolution was not justified, but one must also remember that the President has all the powers to do so, and the Prime Minister did give her plenty of justification for her move. It is important to weigh these two. It will impact on the peace process no doubt, but that will depend on how the Tigers will behave, and knowing them well I think they will continue to be the good boys they are. On the other hand, it will be difficult to be as bad as some of them may wish to, because the President says she is committed to the ceasefire and peace process. There is also the fact that despite Ranil's, I mean the Prime Minister's great vision of regaining Sri Lanka, the Tigers saw him as being too weak to even gain what he could. So if I can put it in simple terms it is a complicated situation. There is also the Indian factor and the attitude of the JVP, not to mention how the Muslims will react to all this. Everything is in a melting pot, sort of, there cannot be any certainty, except the fact that elephants are large and strong animals and not easily fenced in. But as I said all these different equations have to be taken note of, and we at the CPA are doing just that." Just then his telephone rang. It was another request for the view of a political analyst. Haravanamuttu gave his sound bite on the phone. "My view is that it is a very complicated situation, with considerable impact for the future of Sri Lanka and South Asia and also involves globalization in these parts..... Router Viewshound found his way to the door, unnoticed by this perfect instant political analyst, commentator and observer. He had not got any idea of the situation, but being vague was also useful in this type of journalism. Next on his list of recommended political analysts was Dr. Jehandiri Saamavigadama, a well known peace activist. He was all ready with his views. "It is a definite setback to the peace process. However, with both the President and the lame-duck Prime Minister agreeing on the need for a negotiated peace, there is hope they will reach some understanding on cohabitation after the elections. So, there is still hope for the peace process, and satisfying the Tigers. It will be very important not to have a war in the South, in the form of the election campaign. We must all support a free and fair election, with the Prime Minister's party being free to use all the funds it has got from the private sector, who have given it in a spirit of true patriotism. As to how the money will be used will have to be monitored, preferably from the countries of the West, that fund our organization. I think it will be good to get the Tigers too involved in the electoral process by getting them to monitor the polls in their areas. That may help draw them into the democratic process. In fact we are planning a seminar for journalists on this topic. The funds have just arrived." Having had enough from academics he sought the views of politicians, those in the fray. He met Sakala Banda Dahajaraava, shortly after a press briefing where he had announced he had sought the curses of the worst demons on the President. "Why did you have to call on the help of demons from the world of spirits?" asked Viewshound. "What else can we do when we don't have or are not certain of the support of enough humans? We are a country with a long tradition of seeking the help of well known demons such as "Maha Sohona", "Riiri Yaka" and "Hooniyam Devathava". Our people often seek their help when in difficulty or to destroy their enemies. All we have done is bring this practice into modern politics. We will even offer bloody sacrifices to all these demons, to seek the destruction of our main rival, the President." That was a really good angle for Viewshound. His next meeting was with Milinda Alivanguva, who had just resigned his Cabinet portfolio, saying he could not serve the country by being in it. He was very forthright in his comments. "I believe in real democracy, American style. The type Prez. Bush wants to spread all over the world. We must be as cunning and even as crooked as Bush was, to win the next election, and serve the country, accepting the hegemony of the US, the reality of globalization, and America as the international policeman. I have done a good study of how the polls were fixed in Florida, well in advance, to ensure that Bush won without a popular mandate. The problem is that we were not in power long enough to introduce all those systems of electoral fraud. It is power that matters and no stone should be left unturned in the quest for it. The only one who believes in me is the Prime Minister, but he leaves far too many stones standing." Viewshound next met Ravi Gajavanchaka, still holding on to his portfolio. His first comment was that Milinda Alivanguva's resignation was a publicity stunt. He was candid in his views on the forthcoming polls. "There is nothing to worry. We have the money. Money buys people. If we can't buy voters, we can buy those who can frighten voters to vote our way or not vote at all. Our main achievement in the past two years was to establish a free market in crime. Even churches are not sacred to us, to serve our political ends. To put it very simply, in the coming polls I will follow the policy I carried out for two years. We will win both by hook and by crook. You can be sure of that. Corruption is the path to success. You want proof, look at me. We shall make this election as corrupt and violent as we can." Long John Christian, who lost his interior last November, spoke of strategy. "We must make use of this anti-fundamentalist trend to best effect. It is very important that we get the full support of all mainstream Christians. But our Prime Minister's silence on attacks on Christians is a big problem. I think we must also give an election pledge to re-introduce the death penalty. Hanging of criminals is very a very popular slogan." Looking out for new angles, Viewshound heard of the Prime Minister blaming his media unit for his present plight. He met Janamanna Gajanayake, the keeper of the stable of pro-elephant media persons. They were meant to build a good image of the Prime Minister, in the minds of people. "Why does the Prime Minister blame you for his plight?" "We don't know" said Gajanayake. "We did our best. He wanted sycophancy and we gave it in full measure. We controlled all the media. We kept out or distorted opposition views. We made a target of the President. He never complained when we were doing it. We threw over 200 journalists and media personnel out of work, purely to help the Prime Minister. He wanted suckers and we became the best of suckers. He wanted stooges and were came right on top. Some of us had our doubts about things, but we did not make them known as we did not want to lose our privileges, our cars, cellphones, expense accounts, TV shows, all of that, and also the huge advertising in some of the little circulated rumour sheets we had a vested interest in. If he was a good leader, he should have known what was coming, instead of blaming us for his plight today." Seeking a view from the new Alliance, Viewshound met Sandhana Alihenduva, trying out a shirt in a new blue and red design. He was young and more red than blue. When asked for his comments he said: "Just now we are sorting out the symbol issue. We failed to get the lotus. We then got the butterfly. We now have the betel leaf. With the lotus we could have gone to town about all the green mud of the elephants. The butterfly was too soft, too gentle, for the present mood of the people about the elephants. I think the betel leaf is good. It has great symbolism. It is an inviting symbol. We can go to every voter with a betel leaf. It will help the betel growers too, part of our policy of helping local agriculture." "But what of the outcome of the polls?" "There can be only one outcome. Remember, as much as my name is Alihenduva, we hold the goad. The elephant can't play all its wild games. We don't want violence, but with the goad in our hands we can humble the elephants if they try it. Let the people decide. We are confident the people are with us. We don't want to plead with gods or demons for our success." |
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