Features
REPUBLICAN SPEAKER McCARTHY ORDERS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY ON PRESIDENT BIDEN
by Vijaya Chandrasoma
On Wednesday, September 13, House Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, announced that he is directing the House to open an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, launching historic proceedings ahead of the 2024 election. He states that House investigations so far “paint a picture of a culture of corruption” around the Biden family. “These are allegations of abuse of power, obstruction and corruption, and they warrant further investigation by the House of Representatives”.
After nine months of probing into President Biden’s personal undertakings, McCarthy did not provide a hint of details of any of the alleged Biden family transgressions. Though the “picture painted” perfectly symbolizes the illegal enterprise that was the Trump crime family.
McCarthy has got the whole process backward. He has impeached first, and is now desperately looking for crimes. In fact, when radical Republican Kentucky Congressman James Comer was asked by Steve Doocy, Fox News host, the specific crimes for which President Biden was being impeached, he said, “Well, when there’s smoke, there’s fire!” Having smelt smoke, they’re still looking for the fire – nine months later. I guess this is the modern Republican equivalent of the old Wild West strategy: shoot first and ask questions later.
Actually, this impeachment has been ordered by Trump, the de facto Speaker of the Republican House. He wrote recently on Truth Social, his social media platform, in his inimitable literary style: “Either IMPEACH the BUM, or fade into OBLIVION. THEY DID IT TO US”. The kindergarten excuse of “But, mommy, he started it”.
Straying from the main thrust of this essay, Trump made some interesting statements at an interview with NBC last Thursday. “I could have pardoned myself. Do you know what? I could’ve pardoned myself when I left”. Trump continues to incriminate himself through his ignorance. The Supreme Court has ruled that a presidential pardon “carries an imputation of guilt; acceptance or a confession of it”. Trump just confessed that he has been guilty of crimes during his presidency!
Biden’s impeachment is also endorsed by the radical group of the Republican Party, the House Freedom Caucus, led by Trump acolytes and white nationalists, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Jim Jordan and a few crazies. The votes of this group were vital for McCarthy’s election as Speaker as they are essential for him today to retain his coveted position. McCarthy’s impeachment order is less an effort to embarrass Biden than a desperate, last ditch attempt to keep his job.
Matt Gaetz, a leader of the Freedom Caucus, alleged pedophile and a Trump sycophant, insists that the group’s demand for impeachment is not “legislative bullying” of Speaker McCarthy, but a request for the Speaker “to do his job”. Which, in the opinion of the Freedom Caucus, is to remodel the Republican Party on the lines of a Christian, white Taliban.
Currently, the Freedom Caucus does not have the necessary votes to force an impeachment, but that is not its motive for this action, which is to create another distraction to take the heat off Trump’s plethora of legal woes. And to waste months on an impeachment inquiry which has zero chance of success but will impede President Biden’s ongoing progressive legislative programs and interfere with the schedule of his reelection campaign.
Of course, the Republicans may be playing the long game, with this phony impeachment of the President. They could be gathering ammunition to threaten the shutdown of federal government funding for 2024, which runs out at midnight on September 30, 2023, unless agreement is reached on government spending. Even a Continuing Resolution – short-term spending measure – for a temporary extension of government funding is opposed by the Freedom Caucus. Their one political motive is to embarrass the president and shut down funding, which will cause many federal functions to be suspended, the nation plunged into chaos, with only essential functions like law enforcement and public safety allowed to function.
This “false inquiry” strategy has been used by the Republicans in the past, notably the inquiry into the Benghazi tragedy, which occurred during Hillary Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State in the Obama administration. The U.S. Mission in Benghazi was attacked and burned on September 11, 2012, resulting in the deaths of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and another State Department employee. Two other security personnel were also killed in a pitched battle with the attackers.
In the wake of the attacks, Republicans launched several televised inquiries into Secretary Clinton’s conduct, lasting over two years and costing over $ 7 million, at a time when she had declared her candidacy for the 2016 presidency. Hillary Clinton answered every question thrown at her by members of a hostile Republican House Select Committee on Benghazi in an 11-hour ordeal. Without breaking into a sweat.
Although Clinton was found innocent of any wrongdoing in Benghazi, the Republicans achieved their purpose – of making her look “untrustworthy” on TV before the election. Republican members of Congress called Clinton “morally reprehensible”, and Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Reince Priebus, lied that the Report “makes it clear we can’t afford to let Clinton be commander-in-chief”. Mission accomplished.
The Republicans have not a vestige of evidence against Biden on any count, Ukraine, China or wherever. Their motive is to have televised hearings during the election season, like they did with Hillary Clinton, accusing the president of all types of unlikely crimes, hoping they will succeed in at least sowing some doubt in the minds of gullible voters. Deceive, Distract, Delay, is the current motto of the Republican Party.
The best impeachment strategy Republicans have come up with so far is the alleged criminal behavior of President Biden’s son. Hunter Biden is admittedly a flawed human being, a drug addict. He was indicted last Thursday on three gun-related charges, lying about his addictions while purchasing a gun. Hunter had in his possession an unloaded, illegally purchased gun, for 11 days, a crime never prosecuted unless the gun so purchased was used in the commission of a crime. Republicans also allege Hunter Biden’s illegal financial dealings with companies in Ukraine and the Chinese government, but no evidence has been produced so far by the Republican Special Counsel, David Weiss, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate into Hunter’s alleged crimes.
In any event, Hunter Biden is a private citizen, who has never worked at the White House in any capacity.
There is absolutely no evidence that President Biden has in any way been involved in any of Hunter’s business deals and crimes. Except for the involvement of the natural love and concern of a father for his son.
Last week, Trump told Maggie Haberman of the New York Times, “if the Dems had not impeached me, perhaps they (the Republican House) would not be impeaching Biden”. Admitting, in effect, that the proposed impeachment of President Biden is a distraction, an act of revenge, pure and simple.
Of course, no such investigations were conducted into the financial dealings of White House employees in the Trump administration, notably his daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner. These grifters are alleged to have made billions of dollars using their official positions in the Trump administration, to obtain trademarks for her retail business from China (Ivanka); and selling to the Saudis, for over two billion dollars, state secrets on information about US relations with Iran and Israel (Jared) – information that put the security of the United States and the lives of US covert operatives in grave danger. Crimes which make Hunter Biden’s transgressions, in comparison, seem like the misdemeanor of crashing a red light.
Trump’s sycophantic darlings during his presidency have either begun to turn against him, or are keeping diplomatically silent. Even the violent, cult members of his “base”, who threatened blood in the streets and death and destruction if their Fuhrer was arrested, have been conspicuous in their absence and silence, after Trump has been arrested on four indictments. Just a few crimes of death threats against witnesses, prosecutors, jurors on social media, but as yet, thank heaven, no actual violence.
The temperature of the many moderate Republicans, bar the white supremacist cult of the Republican Party, also seems to be cooling off, as evidence of Trump’s sedition and espionage charges is becoming more public and beyond doubt.
Trump is the prohibitive current favorite for the 2024 Republican nomination. The only subject he whines about during his election rallies, crowds at which are dwindling, is the near decade-long witch hunt against him, the perennial victim. The burden of his legal problems in the way of four indictments and 91 felony charges are showing in his demeanor, which is getting more desperate by the day. His finances are also in a terrible shape, as he, a supposed billionaire, uses all the money he wheedles out of his supporters on paying his own substantial legal fees.
Republicans, including their presidential hopefuls, also do not address matters that interest voters, like the economy, racism and police brutality, inflation, climate change, inflation, employment and income inequality, cost of medical facilities and prescription drugs – these are, in their minds, radical commie, “woke” policies. Instead, they talk of witch hunts, revenge, erasing history, banning books, denying the existence of endemic racism, contending that slavery was a “job training program”, calling for reliance on fossil fuels as the concept of climate change is a “hoax”, limiting women’s reproductive rights, and doing absolutely nothing about gun violence. Hardly vote-winning policies, their one advantage being their overwhelming support of Christian white supremacists.
Biden, on the other hand, has, in a modest, non-trumpet-blaring (pun intended) style, achieved a great deal of important, bipartisan legislation so far in his first term. Legislation which has largely gone unappreciated, even unnoticed.
As economist, Paul Krugman said, in August 2022, “Just a few weeks ago, President Biden was portrayed as hapless, on the edge of presiding over a failed presidency. Then came the Inflation Reduction Act, big employment reports, and suddenly we are hearing a lot about his accomplishments”. Just a few of these are the Inflation Reduction Act, the American Rescue Plan, the Infrastructure Law and record unemployment numbers. The economy is in good shape and improving, Inflation is down to pre-pandemic levels. There are many more of Biden’s important legislative successes aimed at improving the lot of the working class too numerous to list here. But perhaps his greatest accomplishment has been in restoring transparency and integrity to the White House and the Department of Justice.
David Ignatius, long-time columnist of the Washington Post and admirer of President Biden wrote: “But I don’t think Biden and Vice President Harris should run for reelection. It’s painful for me to say that, given my admiration for much of what they have accomplished. But if he and Harris campaign together in 2024, I think Biden risks undoing his greatest achievement – which was stopping Trump”.
My perception of the 2024 election is that it will not present the American voters with a choice of personalities. The choice will be one of ideologies – kleptocracy and Christian white supremacy on the one hand, democracy and the rule of law on the other.
by Dr Gotabhya Ranasinghe
Senior Consultant Cardiologist
National Hospital Sri Lanka
When we sought a meeting with Hon Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Health, he graciously cleared his busy schedule to accommodate us. Renowned for his attentive listening and deep understanding, Minister Pathirana is dedicated to advancing the health sector. His openness and transparency exemplify the qualities of an exemplary politician and minister.
Dr. Palitha Mahipala, the current Health Secretary, demonstrates both commendable enthusiasm and unwavering support. This combination of attributes makes him a highly compatible colleague for the esteemed Minister of Health.
Our discussion centered on a project that has been in the works for the past 30 years, one that no other minister had managed to advance.
Minister Pathirana, however, recognized the project’s significance and its potential to revolutionize care for heart patients.
The project involves the construction of a state-of-the-art facility at the premises of the National Hospital Colombo. The project’s location within the premises of the National Hospital underscores its importance and relevance to the healthcare infrastructure of the nation.
This facility will include a cardiology building and a tertiary care center, equipped with the latest technology to handle and treat all types of heart-related conditions and surgeries.
Securing funding was a major milestone for this initiative. Minister Pathirana successfully obtained approval for a $40 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank. With the funding in place, the foundation stone is scheduled to be laid in September this year, and construction will begin in January 2025.
This project guarantees a consistent and uninterrupted supply of stents and related medications for heart patients. As a result, patients will have timely access to essential medical supplies during their treatment and recovery. By securing these critical resources, the project aims to enhance patient outcomes, minimize treatment delays, and maintain the highest standards of cardiac care.
Upon its fruition, this monumental building will serve as a beacon of hope and healing, symbolizing the unwavering dedication to improving patient outcomes and fostering a healthier society.We anticipate a future marked by significant progress and positive outcomes in Sri Lanka’s cardiovascular treatment landscape within the foreseeable timeframe.
by Fr. Emmanuel Fernando, OMI
Jesuit Fr. Aloysius Pieris (affectionately called Fr. Aloy) celebrated his 90th birthday on April 9, 2024 and I, as the editor of our Oblate Journal, THE MISSIONARY OBLATE had gone to press by that time. Immediately I decided to publish an article, appreciating the untiring selfless services he continues to offer for inter-Faith dialogue, the renewal of the Catholic Church, his concern for the poor and the suffering Sri Lankan masses and to me, the present writer.
It was in 1988, when I was appointed Director of the Oblate Scholastics at Ampitiya by the then Oblate Provincial Fr. Anselm Silva, that I came to know Fr. Aloy more closely. Knowing well his expertise in matters spiritual, theological, Indological and pastoral, and with the collaborative spirit of my companion-formators, our Oblate Scholastics were sent to Tulana, the Research and Encounter Centre, Kelaniya, of which he is the Founder-Director, for ‘exposure-programmes’ on matters spiritual, biblical, theological and pastoral. Some of these dimensions according to my view and that of my companion-formators, were not available at the National Seminary, Ampitiya.
Ever since that time, our Oblate formators/ accompaniers at the Oblate Scholasticate, Ampitiya , have continued to send our Oblate Scholastics to Tulana Centre for deepening their insights and convictions regarding matters needed to serve the people in today’s context. Fr. Aloy also had tried very enthusiastically with the Oblate team headed by Frs. Oswald Firth and Clement Waidyasekara to begin a Theologate, directed by the Religious Congregations in Sri Lanka, for the contextual formation/ accompaniment of their members. It should very well be a desired goal of the Leaders / Provincials of the Religious Congregations.
Besides being a formator/accompanier at the Oblate Scholasticate, I was entrusted also with the task of editing and publishing our Oblate journal, ‘The Missionary Oblate’. To maintain the quality of the journal I continue to depend on Fr. Aloy for his thought-provoking and stimulating articles on Biblical Spirituality, Biblical Theology and Ecclesiology. I am very grateful to him for his generous assistance. Of late, his writings on renewal of the Church, initiated by Pope St. John XX111 and continued by Pope Francis through the Synodal path, published in our Oblate journal, enable our readers to focus their attention also on the needed renewal in the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Fr. Aloy appreciated very much the Synodal path adopted by the Jesuit Pope Francis for the renewal of the Church, rooted very much on prayerful discernment. In my Religious and presbyteral life, Fr.Aloy continues to be my spiritual animator / guide and ongoing formator / acccompanier.
Fr. Aloysius Pieris, BA Hons (Lond), LPh (SHC, India), STL (PFT, Naples), PhD (SLU/VC), ThD (Tilburg), D.Ltt (KU), has been one of the eminent Asian theologians well recognized internationally and one who has lectured and held visiting chairs in many universities both in the West and in the East. Many members of Religious Congregations from Asian countries have benefited from his lectures and guidance in the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI) in Manila, Philippines. He had been a Theologian consulted by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences for many years. During his professorship at the Gregorian University in Rome, he was called to be a member of a special group of advisers on other religions consulted by Pope Paul VI.
Fr. Aloy is the author of more than 30 books and well over 500 Research Papers. Some of his books and articles have been translated and published in several countries. Among those books, one can find the following: 1) The Genesis of an Asian Theology of Liberation (An Autobiographical Excursus on the Art of Theologising in Asia, 2) An Asian Theology of Liberation, 3) Providential Timeliness of Vatican 11 (a long-overdue halt to a scandalous millennium, 4) Give Vatican 11 a chance, 5) Leadership in the Church, 6) Relishing our faith in working for justice (Themes for study and discussion), 7) A Message meant mainly, not exclusively for Jesuits (Background information necessary for helping Francis renew the Church), 8) Lent in Lanka (Reflections and Resolutions, 9) Love meets wisdom (A Christian Experience of Buddhism, 10) Fire and Water 11) God’s Reign for God’s poor, 12) Our Unhiddden Agenda (How we Jesuits work, pray and form our men). He is also the Editor of two journals, Vagdevi, Journal of Religious Reflection and Dialogue, New Series.
Fr. Aloy has a BA in Pali and Sanskrit from the University of London and a Ph.D in Buddhist Philosophy from the University of Sri Lankan, Vidyodaya Campus. On Nov. 23, 2019, he was awarded the prestigious honorary Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt) by the Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, the Most Venerable Welamitiyawe Dharmakirthi Sri Kusala Dhamma Thera.
Fr. Aloy continues to be a promoter of Gospel values and virtues. Justice as a constitutive dimension of love and social concern for the downtrodden masses are very much noted in his life and work. He had very much appreciated the commitment of the late Fr. Joseph (Joe) Fernando, the National Director of the Social and Economic Centre (SEDEC) for the poor.
In Sri Lanka, a few religious Congregations – the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Christian Brothers, the Marist Brothers and the Oblates – have invited him to animate their members especially during their Provincial Congresses, Chapters and International Conferences. The mainline Christian Churches also have sought his advice and followed his seminars. I, for one, regret very much, that the Sri Lankan authorities of the Catholic Church –today’s Hierarchy—- have not sought Fr.
Aloy’s expertise for the renewal of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka and thus have not benefited from the immense store of wisdom and insight that he can offer to our local Church while the Sri Lankan bishops who governed the Catholic church in the immediate aftermath of the Second Vatican Council (Edmund Fernando OMI, Anthony de Saram, Leo Nanayakkara OSB, Frank Marcus Fernando, Paul Perera,) visited him and consulted him on many matters. Among the Tamil Bishops, Bishop Rayappu Joseph was keeping close contact with him and Bishop J. Deogupillai hosted him and his team visiting him after the horrible Black July massacre of Tamils.
Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
By Gomi Senadhira
senadhiragomi@gmail.com
“You might tell fairy tales, but the progress of a country cannot be achieved through such narratives. A country cannot be developed by making false promises. The country moved backward because of the electoral promises made by political parties throughout time. We have witnessed that the ultimate result of this is the country becoming bankrupt. Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet.” – President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 2024 Budget speech
Any Sri Lankan would agree with the above words of President Wickremesinghe on the false promises our politicians and officials make and the fairy tales they narrate which bankrupted this country. So, to understand this, let’s look at one such fairy tale with lots of false promises; Ranil Wickremesinghe’s greatest achievement in the area of international trade and investment promotion during the Yahapalana period, Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA).
It is appropriate and timely to do it now as Finance Minister Wickremesinghe has just presented to parliament a bill on the National Policy on Economic Transformation which includes the establishment of an Office for International Trade and the Sri Lanka Institute of Economics and International Trade.
Was SLSFTA a “Cleverly negotiated Free Trade Agreement” as stated by the (former) Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate on the SLSFTA in July 2018, or a colossal blunder covered up with lies, false promises, and fairy tales? After SLSFTA was signed there were a number of fairy tales published on this agreement by the Ministry of Development Strategies and International, Institute of Policy Studies, and others.
However, for this article, I would like to limit my comments to the speech by Minister Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate, and the two most important areas in the agreement which were covered up with lies, fairy tales, and false promises, namely: revenue loss for Sri Lanka and Investment from Singapore. On the other important area, “Waste products dumping” I do not want to comment here as I have written extensively on the issue.
1. The revenue loss
During the Parliamentary Debate in July 2018, Minister Samarawickrama stated “…. let me reiterate that this FTA with Singapore has been very cleverly negotiated by us…. The liberalisation programme under this FTA has been carefully designed to have the least impact on domestic industry and revenue collection. We have included all revenue sensitive items in the negative list of items which will not be subject to removal of tariff. Therefore, 97.8% revenue from Customs duty is protected. Our tariff liberalisation will take place over a period of 12-15 years! In fact, the revenue earned through tariffs on goods imported from Singapore last year was Rs. 35 billion.
The revenue loss for over the next 15 years due to the FTA is only Rs. 733 million– which when annualised, on average, is just Rs. 51 million. That is just 0.14% per year! So anyone who claims the Singapore FTA causes revenue loss to the Government cannot do basic arithmetic! Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I call on my fellow members of this House – don’t mislead the public with baseless criticism that is not grounded in facts. Don’t look at petty politics and use these issues for your own political survival.”
I was surprised to read the minister’s speech because an article published in January 2018 in “The Straits Times“, based on information released by the Singaporean Negotiators stated, “…. With the FTA, tariff savings for Singapore exports are estimated to hit $10 million annually“.
As the annual tariff savings (that is the revenue loss for Sri Lanka) calculated by the Singaporean Negotiators, Singaporean $ 10 million (Sri Lankan rupees 1,200 million in 2018) was way above the rupees’ 733 million revenue loss for 15 years estimated by the Sri Lankan negotiators, it was clear to any observer that one of the parties to the agreement had not done the basic arithmetic!
Six years later, according to a report published by “The Morning” newspaper, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) on 7th May 2024, Mr Samarawickrama’s chief trade negotiator K.J. Weerasinghehad had admitted “…. that forecasted revenue loss for the Government of Sri Lanka through the Singapore FTA is Rs. 450 million in 2023 and Rs. 1.3 billion in 2024.”
If these numbers are correct, as tariff liberalisation under the SLSFTA has just started, we will pass Rs 2 billion very soon. Then, the question is how Sri Lanka’s trade negotiators made such a colossal blunder. Didn’t they do their basic arithmetic? If they didn’t know how to do basic arithmetic they should have at least done their basic readings. For example, the headline of the article published in The Straits Times in January 2018 was “Singapore, Sri Lanka sign FTA, annual savings of $10m expected”.
Anyway, as Sri Lanka’s chief negotiator reiterated at the COPF meeting that “…. since 99% of the tariffs in Singapore have zero rates of duty, Sri Lanka has agreed on 80% tariff liberalisation over a period of 15 years while expecting Singapore investments to address the imbalance in trade,” let’s turn towards investment.
Investment from Singapore
In July 2018, speaking during the Parliamentary Debate on the FTA this is what Minister Malik Samarawickrama stated on investment from Singapore, “Already, thanks to this FTA, in just the past two-and-a-half months since the agreement came into effect we have received a proposal from Singapore for investment amounting to $ 14.8 billion in an oil refinery for export of petroleum products. In addition, we have proposals for a steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million), sugar refinery ($ 200 million). This adds up to more than $ 16.05 billion in the pipeline on these projects alone.
And all of these projects will create thousands of more jobs for our people. In principle approval has already been granted by the BOI and the investors are awaiting the release of land the environmental approvals to commence the project.
I request the Opposition and those with vested interests to change their narrow-minded thinking and join us to develop our country. We must always look at what is best for the whole community, not just the few who may oppose. We owe it to our people to courageously take decisions that will change their lives for the better.”
According to the media report I quoted earlier, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Chief Negotiator Weerasinghe has admitted that Sri Lanka was not happy with overall Singapore investments that have come in the past few years in return for the trade liberalisation under the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. He has added that between 2021 and 2023 the total investment from Singapore had been around $162 million!
What happened to those projects worth $16 billion negotiated, thanks to the SLSFTA, in just the two-and-a-half months after the agreement came into effect and approved by the BOI? I do not know about the steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million) and sugar refinery ($ 200 million).
However, story of the multibillion-dollar investment in the Petroleum Refinery unfolded in a manner that would qualify it as the best fairy tale with false promises presented by our politicians and the officials, prior to 2019 elections.
Though many Sri Lankans got to know, through the media which repeatedly highlighted a plethora of issues surrounding the project and the questionable credentials of the Singaporean investor, the construction work on the Mirrijiwela Oil Refinery along with the cement factory began on the24th of March 2019 with a bang and Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his ministers along with the foreign and local dignitaries laid the foundation stones.
That was few months before the 2019 Presidential elections. Inaugurating the construction work Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the projects will create thousands of job opportunities in the area and surrounding districts.
The oil refinery, which was to be built over 200 acres of land, with the capacity to refine 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day, was to generate US$7 billion of exports and create 1,500 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs. The construction of the refinery was to be completed in 44 months. Four years later, in August 2023 the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to cancel the agreement with the investors of the refinery as the project has not been implemented! Can they explain to the country how much money was wasted to produce that fairy tale?
It is obvious that the President, ministers, and officials had made huge blunders and had deliberately misled the public and the parliament on the revenue loss and potential investment from SLSFTA with fairy tales and false promises.
As the president himself said, a country cannot be developed by making false promises or with fairy tales and these false promises and fairy tales had bankrupted the country. “Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet”.
(The writer, a specialist and an activist on trade and development issues . )
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