Ex-PM nad dastardly attacks

Monday May 9, 6.30 p m

OK. It was a mob who emerged from Temple Trees at around 12 noon on Monday that destroyed Mynagama and then proceeded to Gotagogama, where they vandalised tents and even burnt down the temporary library there. Completely peaceful, harmless background to a peaceful protest of decent people, until this group of beasts bent on maximum mayhem descended on Colombo, supposedly brought in about 25 buses whose number plates are being circulated. And did they come under their own steam of their own free will? Certainly not! They were transported to Colombo by the SLPP big guns with orders to wreak as much havoc as possible; stomachs filled with the usual free meals and stoked to rapaciousness by rotgut. Promises of jobs, etc., were made, it was said.

So, where does the blame lie for the anarchy that rocked Colombo and then infected other parts of the island? It lies with the then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa. He then sends in his long overdue resignation to brother Gotabaya, the President, after causing untold immediate and future damage to the entire country. He and others who incited violence have to stand trial in the courts of justice for this colossal crime.

Mahinda, who was once hailed as the man who won the war, willfully wreaked havoc on Colombo. This was dastardly, diabolical, disastrous, direly detrimental and demented. Just before obeying the order probably conveyed by your brother, you decided to inflict maximum harm on the country and its people.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, you have outdone that mad President of the US – Donald Trump. Let’s recall what he did.

Defeated in the elections, after many demanded recounts, Trump declared the election was rigged and thus he was the rightful winner. On 06 January 2021, he made a public speech inciting his Republican hooligans to attack the Capitol. A mob of around 2,500 supporters disrupted the joint session of Congress assembled to count electoral votes and declare President–elect Joe Biden’s victory.

The beefy hooligans invaded the Capitol. It was locked and lawmakers and staff were evacuated, but much damage was done – property was vandalised and premises were occupied for several hours. Five deaths occurred; many injured including 138 police officers. Four officers who responded to the attack committed suicide within seven months. Named ‘Save America Rally’ Trump repeated false claims of election irregularities and said: “If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country.” The Republican mob erected gallows to hang VP Mike Pence and vandalised and looted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s offices.

Tuesday 10 May 9.00 am.

Cassandra resumes her Cry after a sad night of great sorrow for all sufferers, particularly the anti-government peaceful protesters. Her heart goes to those hospitalised.

Cass wondered whether to send what she had written above as a letter to her Ed as she feared it would all be old hat/stale news by Friday May 13, when her chat is printed in The Island. She however decided to hold her Cry horses and continue her writing to fill her column on Friday 13^th – inauspicious day with the conjunction of 13 and Friday. Must ask Gnana Akka whether this fact is accepted in her form of occultism – her belief in the existence of secret, mysterious or supernatural agencies which she claims she can bend to serve her purposes. Along the grapevine crept the rumour she had chanted over gallons of water which was distributed to those at Gotagogama. Will be hard to locate her at this juncture.

Comparison of hooliganism in Washington and Colombo

Both inciters of incidents are crazy and were utterly selfish, overblown with hubris and nakedly wicked. They lost politically so they wanted to leave the capital of the US and, in our case, the entire island, in chaos with murder, arson and turmoil. While Trump went it alone, Mahinda R had Johnston not only swearing allegiance to his master and wanting him to remain as PM but inciting those they had paid and gathered to go forth and destroy.

In the US, the security officers moved in fast, even before the actual assault started and took immediate safety measures. All condemn our police because though on duty just next door to Temple Trees, and having pre-info on the meeting at PM’s abode, only a couple of police officers ran halfheartedly behind the rampaging mob, actually giving them a huge head start.

And who caught the marauders? Not the police. It was the peaceful protesters in Gotagogama that caught them and doused a few in the Beira. Pity the water was not deep enough to drown them. Other anti-govt protestors and angered civilians stopped buses and hauled out Mahinda men.

Mercifully, powerful bodies like the Bar Association and HR Commission will see that justice is metered out. Will we go two steps beyond the US? Trump is still free though he has a case pending; will our Man be netted in for murderous crimes? He should be.

In the US only the Capitol building was entered and vandalised and perchance a few scattered incidents occurred. Here, the damage was extreme and almost island-wide. The State lost much in damaged govt vehicles et al. No chance now for Johnston and Co to rebuild mansions with govt money.

Trump had to lump it and retire to his holiday resort to lick his wounds. Not so our Man. He had no Medamulana old house to go to. He was holed up at Temple Trees with, they said, some of the ex-Ministers. But he has escaped to the security of the Naval headquarters in Trinco, as suspected by peaceful protestors over there.

The clout and prominence enjoyed by daughter Ivana Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner diminished. (Incidentally, they are supposed to have earned by foul means $ 649 m during the four years of Trump’s presidency. Another similarity between them and ours.) Our Man’s fate will be worse than Trump’s. His later clinging to power was to pass it on to son and heir Namal.

Bong Bong has come to power in the Philippines, one generation after his father was hounded out for his corruption and unconcern for the country. It will not happen in this country though its people are well-noted for their short memories. The horrid taste and gruesome memories left by Mahinda R will see the end of that family, either withering exiled elsewhere – OK living in luxury; or holed up here with plenty wealth but no way of enjoying it. Not even that grandson will rule Sri Lanka even if his father is the first Sri Lankan to shoot himself to outer space – the great PhD rocket scientist!

Wednesday May 11, 8.00 am

Cass has to email her Cry to her Editor today. She heard the notice that the armed forces would be out and shoot on sight looters and arsonists. Gotagogama continues to be occupied. The Prez is in his seat. Buddhist monks, Christian clergy and other religious leaders are out there calming and restraining people under the leadership of the Mahanayakes and Ven Omalpe Sobhitha Thera and His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjit. May the country subside. May an all-party interim government be formed soon and the new PM and Cabinet of 15 move to solve the multitudinous problems that beset Sri Lanka and its people. Cass whispers that if the Rs are out completely and an honest set of leaders are in place, other countries will come to our assistance.