Absolution from blame; only implosion of protest will halt aggression

Page 3 of The Island on Monday, February 28 carried the news item I had barely listened to on TV English news the previous night. I seem to avoid watching political meetings and audience inundating rhetoric; if not promises made by one side and blame laying by the other. The headline read: ‘President denies responsibility for economic crisis.’ Immediate response loud and clear from Cassandra was “Who then Sir?” reminiscent of the never-ending verbal game played as kids mouthing the king laying the blame for some crime and the ensuing dialogues: Me Sir? Yes, you Sir. Not I, Sir. Who then Sir? You Sir. … and so it goes on ad infinitum until someone gets tongue pat (diva patalila).

In his denial, the Prez says that “the current economic crisis hadn’t been caused by him or his government.” We used to look for cracks in the floor, again in our childhood. He and his row of brothers, all kurakkan scarved except the Veryma Imp Person, were distributing land to 100,000 Mahaweli settlers. The Prez’s Media Division stated that the Prez said, “Lack of foreign exchange is a major problem the country is facing at present. One of the main reasons for this is the loss of foreign exchange earnings from tourism and foreign employment due to COVID-19. Debts taken by previous governments have to be repaid with interest.” At this juncture the game of You Sir Me Sir could have been played with justification for what are the huge constructions, almost useless, called white elephants and vanity ones built on orders of the Prez of the previous to previous government, mostly where and for what purpose?

But this government of the present President is certainly not lily-white in forex conservation, even in spending our rupees, as this government is printing money at a rate. Has corruption ceased during the tenure of this government? Weren’t a fleet of luxury cars ordered for MPs and stalled at the eleventh hour, but not cancelled, the delivery merely postponed? Had extravagant domestic spending ceased or even diminished with halts called out by the President or PM? Had we anything to celebrate on national day? National mindedness? with queues of young brains and skills deserting their sinking land for greener pastures. CB rules make earners of forex opt to send remittances along illegal lines. How could a country, wise or even sensible, and economically far-sighted, for its very existence, for its day to day expenses, depend on foreign earnings of poor drivers, masons, nurses, carers and slave-maids?

The article continues: “In keeping with the President’s policy programme, Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour,” (Sorry, Cass choked on that.) “The Ranbima Deed Programme is being implemented to grant the people the right to a clear title to the land. The government is planning to issue 100,000 deeds this year.” (Nowadays whether it’s new COVID cases, money matters, crowds at political soirees and debts, of course, have a string of noughts behind a numeral: New Normal Counting!)

How good and great to give land to poorer people. How Cass wishes, and I am sure at least 20 million people of this isle wish it too, that the Prez gave inorganic fertilisers and agrochemical stuff as was done for so many years so that farmers all across the length and breadth of the land would not shed tears of deep deep despair and beat their breasts at the failure of their crops due to inferior fertiliser from China and some smelly liquid stuff from India, at a great cost too, believing them to be organic fertiliser. So much for saving and being prudent.

The President asks everyone – the Opposition, the people and the government to work together to overcome present challenges. Very tall order! The people are cooperating, by many eating just one meal a day; spending hours in queues for bare essentials and battling the rising COL. We the people are cooperating; we need to be looked after.

Ex-Prez’s vehemence

Not to be left behind, Ex-Prez Sirisena too vehemently denied responsibility for the Easter Sunday massacre at a huge blue meeting in Polonnaruwa. I heard his speech followed by fire and brimstone from SLFPer Jayasekera, about what I could not fathom. Sirisena said he was not told; was not aware there were security threats in the country in March/April 2019. He said that otherwise, if told of the warnings received, he would not have left the country. Also if he had been immediately informed of what had happened, he would have taken the very next plane to Sri Lanka. (Not his exact words but the gist is unarguable). We were made to believe he was always privy to all info regards the security of the country and also that he was informed of the bombings but delayed a day longer in Singapore. I remember a traitorous person said he was shopping at Mustaphas! How wickid to spread rumours!

We ordinary Sri Lankans are like that, so different to our truthful leaders. And so ungrateful for all they do for us. We are called upon to be masochists, revelling in suffering.

What we were taught

Poor Cass: If Cass says it herself of herself. Her predicament is that she does not know whether she needs to follow our august leaders and especially the present president and the just past one, or live up to principles dinned into her head and even heart when she was young, school-going and obedient to discipline and advice.

What was taught then and accepted entirely by her and her peers, after analysis of the advice, was that the leader takes the blame if his or her team, group, whatever, makes a mistake, loses a match or botches an undertaking. When she was less than ten and a Brownie Guide, she learnt this lesson: If a pack made a mistake, the leader, the Brown Owl, took the blame. In an inter-House match or sports event when the House came last, the House Captain accepted responsibility, even if she had won the best player or best sportswoman award. This principle is applicable whatever the group. Consequently, Cassandra’s simple question is: In a country is not its highest leader responsible if the country goes down the pallang? Just so, if the country is successful in every way, the leader gets the kudos, as Lee Kuan Yew did.

Internal implosion the only solution

Cassandra was not going to touch on the invasion of Ukraine by Putin as she has been submerged with war news and analyses. She heard a man with an Indian accent saying that one must not listen to western media. Cassandra concludes in her simple way that Putin is not justified at all in invading its independent neighbour Ukraine to stall NATO expansion to its borders. Why? Because a free, sovereign country can make its own decisions. If Putin does not want NATO coming close, then he must accept that the EU does not want him nearer either. Sounds very simplistic but that seems to be the crux of the matter. Heard one expert pronounce that the best solution and a stop to further invasion, war and immense suffering was for an implosion in Russia – mass protests in Moscow and perhaps getting rid of Putin. Sanctions imposed by western nations on Russia are for this purpose. They target the oligarchs who will be worst hit by financial sanctions. This it is hoped will boomerang on Putin and make him lose popularity, approval and allegiance. Then the implosion: Bang!! And Putin the stern leader is no more.

Local papers have highlighted the uncertainty of Ukraine tourists in Sri Lanka, unable to return to their country and running short of money. Yes, the hand of friendship and care extended by the Tourist Board under the leadership of the government is appreciated by even Ordinaries like Cassandra. Consider the greater suffering of innocents in Ukraine, taking shelter in bunkers indefinitely and thousands fleeing to neighbouring countries, all because of one leader.

On that sad note Cass says bye and hopes things will brighten up very much. She adds, hearing no buses rumbling by, that though we in Paradise are not at war, we feel ambushed and suffer.