History made; voice of people victorious but at an immeasurable price

“How senseless is everything that can ever be written, done, or thought, when such things are possible.” Erich Maria Remarque in ‘All quiet on the Western Front’.

Disgraceful – slinking away in fear Thoughts roiled and boiled within Cassandra’s mind ever since near two million people converged in Colombo on Saturday July 9, repeating the people’s call made about 100 days earlier for the immediate resignation of Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa. And then the most disgraceful, deplorable, cowardly act of all was enacted. He hid and then disappeared WITHOUT resigning and leaving the Speaker to announce he would give in his resignation on July 13. An auspicious time to die politically and as an ex-military man who the many thought was the savior of Sri Lanka, promising ‘splendor and prosperity’? He delivered misery, near death to the farmers and tea industry, poverty to the people and bankruptcy to the nation. His older brother had started the looting of the country’s money to waste on vanity projects and also stash away, and his younger brother, now known as Kaputu Kaak Kaak, was the cunning mind behind every damn move. And now where is this hero turned traitorous renegade? In Malé, as I write this on Wednesday 13 night, loudly hounded out by resident Sri Lankans and Maldivians – the nadir of disgrace. He is said to be waiting for a jet to take him and his wife minus other passengers to Singapore. He clings on to the presidency for his own ends, causing worse burning in this country; his skin against the entirety of Sri Lanka. However, already he has suffered much mentally: fear, disgrace, being treated like a pariah and refused entry by some countries.

Cassandra shivers that she speaks of the Sri Lankan President, hopefully very soon to be ex, in degrading terms. How else speak of him? His worst crime in her opinion is he did not resign no sooner the concerted cry rose “Gota Go”. If he resigned at least a month or better six weeks ago, the country and its people would have been spared so very much. The President’s house and the Secretariat would not have been breached by hordes who are now overstaying. Ranil W’s house with its invaluable books and artwork may still be standing intact. His office down Flower Road not vandalized by violent riff raff calling themselves members of the Aragalaya. Gotabaya would have been eventually excused but not forgiven for his crimes (word ‘crime’ deliberately used). He could even have stayed peacefully in retirement here in Sri Lanka until his visa to the US was granted, perchance citizenship too eventually.

World attention

Another offshoot: Sri Lanka is top on BBC World news and prestigious newspapers worldwide. The BBC reporting on the entry of protesters to the President’s House kept mentioning ‘Presidential Palace’ thus conveying an incorrect impression and also hinted at the Prez’s luxurious life style which is not quite correct. Of the R family he was unostentatious and even simple in dress, protocol etc. Of course we do not know how he ate and drank!!

The New York Times

carried a lead article titled A Reckless Dynasty brought calamity to Sri Lanka written by Kapil Komireddi dated 11/7. He summarises all matters accurately and succinctly; precisely too. I quote bits and pieces. “IT technician in US … came to be known as Terminator in 2009; Islamic suicide bombing stirred renewed fondness for the ruthless ayes of …” “Power blocked country on precipice of collapse”; “Family tightened its grip on the country and embarked on a wanton borrowing spree to entrench its cult. The Rajapaksas surrendered Sri Lanka’s sovereignty as collateral”. Subservience to Chinese loans and buildings is mentioned “The Rajapaksas have fled into hiding, the depredations of their reign are out in the open.”

One huge flaw

Yes, most if not all Sri Lankans deplore the gutting of Ranil and Maithree Wickremasinghe’s home down Fifth Lane, Kollupitiya. Books inherited and also meticulously collected by an avid, intelligent reader and added to by an academic – probably gone up in flames. A home destroyed is part of one’s very life destroyed. This wanton act of destruction was the one blot on a day that heralded the victory of the voice and will of the People.

The less good of Sri Lankan nature evident

Deplorable and uncouth is Cass’ summation of the crowds queuing up to gawk at the President’s residence in Fort. Breaching it was bad enough, now the indecency is compounded by making this most dignified colonial building/residence made open Sesame for anyone and everyone to enter and maybe pilfer something or break something else. It is said the swimming pool within is murkier than the Beira. The behaviour of the infiltrators after entering President’s House and now occupying it cannot be condoned; it is condemned totally.

We, as a nation, are great gawkers with very malleable rubber necks. A vehicle accident draws crowds to gather round instantly but very few will offer help of any sort. Getting into the President’s official residence, the Old Parliament and the PM’s office has a tinge of the kaduwa complex. You thought you were better than me? Not so – is the attitude. The original Aragalaya protesters are not like this. They were very decent, well mannered and knew what to do and what not to. No triumphant gawking for them.

And thus the fear that entangles my mind and makes my body go week. Will some of these protesters take it upon themselves to protest at every turn and attempt running the interim government and even thereafter? I boldly say I do not have faith and trust in the more radical and yes, even given to violence groups of university students. In fact my feelings towards them border on contempt and dislike. They and another group of radicals seem to claim victory for the ousting of Prez Gota. The Editor of The Island has, as his usual way, expressed extremely well the thoughts of the general public. In his editorial on July 12 he writes under the heading Let Sanity Prevail: “Likewise those who take credit for having extricated the country from the clutches of the Rajapaksas could become a huge problem if they are allowed to have their own way, given their violent past; they made themselves out to be messiahs and used the blood of the youth to fuel their politico-military projects.” We know of three or four such groups of now, one more radical than the other two with difficult-to-control interuniversity student unions.

Cassandra suffered a spasm of stress at 3.00 am on Thursday 14. She mentions this because it is a common symptom suffered by the many. Difficulty in breathing, heart and pulse racing, no emotional agreement to having a hot drink, read or sleep again. Most sufferers are not worried about themselves, they being of advanced age. They consider the children of the country and they manifestly ache and suffer emotional agitation. Such an urgent need for sanity to prevail specially among the infiltrators of the true, peaceful aragalaya; for Gotabaya to stop being so brashly selfish and tender his resignation immediately; for a stable interim government to be set up with or without Ranil W as Acting Prez. He is useful at this juncture to wield power as admittedly he is one of the few who have clout with world powers and we need their cooperation and assistance prioritized.

Since men seem incapable of coming together to help Sri Lanka; egos being large and power proving to be a magnet calling for self promotion, may the gods intervene and push people to sane, unselfish thinking and doing.