Opinion
Rogues Gallery; purposeless 9 Aug protest; Al-Qaeda leader eliminated
Michael Schaffer in the Sunday Island of 31 July gave us a detailed account of one rogue (I am bold enough the use that word) in the endless gallery of Sri Lankan VIP rogues of the recent past. One feature of the lineup is that most belong to one family – brother, sons, cousins, in-laws; then the family sycophants, other politicos and administrative officials. Like they said of the books in the Library of Congress, if you line up the portraits of those in the rogues gallery, they will encircle this Island and spill into the ocean and go far out as the LC books were supposed to girdle the entire world at its equator if arranged shelf-like.
Ex Ambassador to the US of America
As Cass was saying, Schaffer detailed the case of the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the US residing in Washington DC, who decided the embassy used so far was not grand enough and bought a bigger, better sited house for a whopping figure from which he skimmed off a considerable amount for himself. The title of Schaffer’s expose was The Ambassador, his swanky new embassy and the limits of diplomatic immunity. Who paid for the new embassy? You and Cass and even Jamis and Magilin when they bought their daily necessities which were taxed. “The US is doing a small developing country’s dirty work in prosecuting its ex ambassador for fraud, and it may eventually be cause for discomfort along Embassy Row.” What a shocking, revolting disgrace to this country and of course to the President of SL who appointed him. That was the five years when MR lorded it as the winning hero of the civil war and traded on it so shamefully with all around him paying abject pooja. Not that either of them is rattled or ashamed; skins are of the kind they belong to: buffaloes.
The Editor, The Island, in his lead article Plea bargain helps Jaliya to get off lightly dealt with this minus details and gives at the end a reminder of “another Rajapaksa cousin, Udayanga Weeratunge, who served as ambassador to Russia” his only qualification being that he had lived in the USSR and spoke Russian. This appointment was in the reign of MR in 2004-2009. He was accused by the Ukranian government of a questionable purchase of MIG-27 jets Nothing came of that case probed in Sri Lanka. He was missing during Yahapalanaya years but towards the end, that government reneged on its promise to trace corruption among the high and mighty and punish wrong doers. Then Weeratunge, who even evaded Interpol for many years, surfaced in Paradise, with one coz Prez and another PM and became tour operator with personal address as Temple Trees, Colombo.
These two and their supportive thieves are all alive and thriving, but one beloved journo, who delved into the MIG purchase was brutally killed and a female journo whisked out of the country just in time to save her and her son’s lives.
One wonders how the rogues were given full unhindered freedom to carry on lording it around. There was one lady journo who was critical and Cass in another guise gave vent to her indignation but gave up when pleaded by a brother who pointed out – “if you are taken in a white van there is no organisation or person to get you out. I am helpless.”
Much gratitude to the Aragalaya protestors that all is out now; rogues identified; some sent to Siberia but many returning, being protected. Is corruption it still ongoing? Reduced? Never will it be eliminated in this so-called Buddhist land.
August 9 – Viplava Day?
Cassandra is quaking in her Bata flip-flops dreading the 9th fast approaching. It is going to be a repeat of the 9th of July when one million or more persons congregated in Colombo? Sure this 9th will see smaller crowds but they may be less tame, though admittedly those of July 9th were far from tame. We are sick to the nostrils of protests since problems beset us from no fuel, rising costs and no money to meet them. It is very much the juncture to just stay put and let the government, however incompetent or detested it is, determine ways and means of getting the country out of the rut it is sunk in. The new Aragalaya took up its refrain with a new name substituted for Gota. Yes, it may be Ranil has adopted a new surname, but he is the Prez now so let him plan and execute some remedial action. His answer to the go home shout was succinct: build me a house and I will go. There enfolded was a stark and bitter truth. The 9th July protest ended with untold loss and damage to him and his poor wife, also a stampeding of public buildings, a severe blow to the reputation of the country.
The government led by RW(R?) must be restrained, very restrained. Let the protests proceed since they have lost their power – at least their drawing power – now. The Prez and his Cabinet just have to get down to the urgent businesses in hand and catch and punish arsonists and violence-demanding leaders of protests later on.We, the public and media, should stop naming the to-be protest ‘Aragalaya’. That died when GFG was swamped and peaceful protestors strangled and superseded by violent infiltrators
US never forgets, never gives up
Cassandra is glad the present leader of Al Qaeda and mastermind behind 9/11 attack on the NY Twin Towers – Ayman al-Zawahiri – was struck dead when he was on his balcony in Kabul on July 31, thus sparing other deaths and casualties. His family was safe. Excellent timing and spot on missile strike, no details of which I could get. The attack must surely have been from a spot in Kabul itself. The US had promised a reward of $25 m.. Goes to show the US trailed him for 20 long years with no let up though governments and presidents changed in the meantime.
President Biden announced he had granted permission to exterminate the deadly terrorist on 25 July. He said on July 31, announcing the killing, that he hoped it would bring ‘closure’ to families of the 3,000 people killed by the Al Qaeda. “Justice has been delivered and this terrorist leader is no more. The US continues to demonstrate our resolve and our capacity to defend American people against those who seek to do us harm. Tonight we made it clear. No matter how long it takes. No matter where you try to hide. We will find you.”
Which immediately brings to mind no ‘closure’ to those whose loved ones died in the suicide attack on Easter Sunday 2019, nor compensation paid to those grievously injured; and no relief at all to the Cardinal. Comparatively so easy to punish those who were masterminds of the attack and those who allowed it by not taking due notice of definite warning given well in time, and others who neglected their duties. All of them right here in this dot of an island unlike in the case mentioned above where the terrorist was traced through combing Pakistan and then in Taliban controlled Afghanistan; maybe Saudi Arabia too.
Asarana trishaw drivers
Cassandra booked one of her two trishaw help karayas on Tuesday for an essential errand on Wednesday. Sampath promised to run less so he could reserve petrol for this. He tells Cass that they are given a meagre five litres of fuel for an entire week. “I run usually using up nearly five litres a day, so I am going to be without earning for six days.” That is cruel to these daily wage earners and the women who usually ride them. True, perpetuated were rackets, but why punish all for the crimes of some? Far more deplorable criminals are living free and easy. Why not give the five litres every other day? Are these poor chappies to suffer for the bungling of VVIPs who played pandu with the finances of the country?
The President’s ‘Throne Speech’ is encouraging and gives hope. We all hope and pray he will rise above petty consideration and come up with a solid plan for the economic upliftment of the country. No miracles are possible we being so far down. It is hoped fervently the shout for immediate elections is put on hold and more urgent matters attended to. Please NO mass rallies on 9th.