Stupid politicos and armed cops

Cassandra was rather starved of grist to her mill when two VIP politicians made some stupid pronouncements, one surely manipulated and the other extempore. Speaking plain, Sri Lanka was blundering along with minor skirmishes which were not worth commenting on by Cass in her Friday Cry when 28 Tuesday gave unto her two incidents which she could go to town on. The press reported both on Wednesday (29).

Referendum

General Secretary of the UNP, Palitha Range Bandara, made the stupidest statement. He noted with gravitas that due to the economic situation of the country both presidential and parliamentary elections should be postponed for two years, and a referendum conducted to obtain public approval. What he meant was that the motley of MPs of all hues that constitute the present Cabinet of Ministers and government now in power under a President who was NOT elected by the people but named by a run-away Prez to take his place, should continue with a referendum.

Referendums seem to be the plaything of the UNP. The uncle of the present leader of the Greens – J R Jayewardene – known as Tricky Dicky and The Old Fox held a referendum in 1982 to extend the life of Parliament by six years purportedly to continue uninterrupted the massive projects his government had embarked upon.

Most with hindsight heavily criticise JRJ for the referendum but admittedly there were plus points in the government of the day though of course the main reason was not wanting to lose the majority the UNP had or risk a defeat at the polls.

A much younger Cassandra thought the move was good since the Mahaweli Diversion Scheme and other projects were ongoing and the Cabinet was composed mostly of competent, educated persons.

The parlous state of the economy has been given as the reason for Range Bandara’s proposal. The Treasury itself can cough up enough money for elections to be held. Cass need not expand on this.

What Cass immediately thought was that Range Bandara was not outlining his own thought-out idea. He is only a mouthpiece or ventriloquist’s dummy. Now, who is the ventriloquist? I suppose with a strong domineering leader like Ranil W, his underlings do as directed; they won’t publicly air their views as they desire, especially with matters concerning the country’s Constitution.

Scathing comments

All political party leaders and others expressed their views which universally condemned Ranga Bandara and scorned the very mention of a referendum. It was a bit of a surprise to Cass, and I must say pleasant, that even Namal Rajapaksa criticised Bandara’s tentative toe dip to test the waters. Now that it is sure Ranil is not the favoured candidate of the SLPP, its national organiser did not mince his words when he thrashed Bandara. Dr Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu – Executive Director CPA, gave a very succinct explanation as to why a referendum was unconstitutional in this instance. The final judgments were delivered by the Head of PAFFREL, Rohana Hettiaratchi, and Director General of the Election Commission. The latter proclaimed: “The presidential election cannot be put off with the help of a referendum.” So there Mr Range Bandara, the kite you flew while someone else tugged the string, is useless.

Police outnumber protesters twenty to one

Cass strongly feels the Police Department employs far too many personnel. This excess may be due to the usual criterion for recruitment: the political chit – “He is one of our supporters. Give him a job.” There are more than enough crimes of varying degree that an alert, efficient police can prevent from maniacal driving of vehicles to drug related murders. But the number of crimes, more particularly preventable ones, increase in number. Hence, people say: “Where are the police?”

Cass saw two possés of police, one near the Nelum Mawatha SLPP office in Battaramulla on 28 May. There were about 12 protesters. They wanted to convey the message to the ruling party “to refrain from backing President Ranil Wickremasinghe’s bid to enact new laws that are inimical to the country’s interests.” As harmless as that!

Diabolical comment

Yes, a comment that is devilish and to Cass so stupid was made by Minister Prasanna Ranatunge as his car was stalled by the protestors. He just ordered the driver to move on, later commented on it. He accused “The protesting civil society activists that they were trying to cause anarchy for financial benefits.”

Anarchy? That small group of well bred, well dressed, conducting themselves admirably for the sake of the nation, attempting to create “a state of disorder due to absence or non-recognition of authority or other controlling systems.” That is one dictionary definition of anarchy. Cass accepts it here with the modification: absence of proper government authority.” Is our present government, and more so its president, continuing with proper authority?

Who is closer and definitely more capable of causing anarchy – the lot of Cabinet Ministers we now have led by Prasanna R or the protesting couple of ladies and gents? Remember how many of the present government lot created near anarchy in Parliament, their weapons of battle being chilli powder, chilli water and their brute strength.

How sick and depraved this nation’s VIPs are. There are intrepid persons who protest on streets to better matters for us, the citizens.