Features
Three times loser Trump amazingly remains force in Republican politics
by Vijaya Chandrasoma
The second impeachment of Donald Trump got under way last Tuesday.
Trump has the doubtful distinction of being the only president ever to have lost the popular election twice, by three million votes to Hillary Clinton in 2016 and by seven million to Biden in 2020, and the only president to be impeached twice in history. His other singular “achievements” include losing the House, the Senate and the presidency in a single term. These make Trump the undisputed political loser in the nation’s history, with a spectacular record of failure never to be breached in the future.
And amazingly, he remains a force in Republican politics today.
Trump’s second impeachment was initiated by the House of Representatives after his supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, acting on his incitement. The nation’s lawmakers, 435 Representatives and 100 Senators were in session at the Capitol, presided over by Vice President Pence, to conclude their Constitutional duty of formalizing the 2020 elections of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
There was only one Article of Impeachment, charging Trump of “incitement of insurrection” in urging his supporters to march on the Capitol building.
January 6 was a day of infamy in US history, even surpassing the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Pearl Harbor was attacked by a foreign adversary, on the orders of their Emperor. The Capitol and the nation’s lawmakers were attacked by Americans, homegrown terrorists, on the orders of the President of the United States, who had taken an oath to protect the nation and all its citizens.
On the first day of the trial, Trump’s legal team argued that the impeachment of a former president, a private citizen, is unconstitutional. Their ill-presented argument represented the entirety of the Republican defense, the one “fig leaf” of constitutionality to cover a multitude of evidence against Trump. This argument, rejected by constitutional scholars, was outvoted by the Senate with a 56/44 majority, six Republicans voting with the Democrats. But the fig leaf was sufficient to provide the sycophantic Republican Senators an escape to acquit Trump.
Acquittal was a foregone conclusion before the trial began. There was no way that 17 Republican Senators necessary for a 2/3 majority to convict Trump would vote with the Democrats.
I am getting ahead of myself, but the evidence on the last day of the trial needs to take center stage. During the height of the violence, when the attack was unfolding and raging around them, when lawmakers, Republicans and Democrats, were terrified for their lives, they gave an account of a telephone call they heard between Kevin McCarthy, Republican House Minority Leader, pleading with Trump to order his supporters to stop the violence. At first, Trump denied that the terrorists were his people, but McCarthy insisted they were Trump supporters and begged him to call them off. In what developed to be an expletive-laden shouting match, a furious McCarthy told Trump the rioters were breaking into his office through the windows and repeated that all their lives were in danger.
Trump’s chilling response: “Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election, than you are”.
McCarthy ended the call in disgust, asking Trump; “Who the f… do you think you are talking to?”
At the end of the defence presentation on Friday, Senator Edward Markey (D – Mass.) noted that Trump’s lawyers were unable to answer the question as to what Trump was doing while the riots were raging for three hours in the afternoon of January 6. They were unable to address the question, because everyone knew the answer was “nothing”. Or perhaps, “Urging on the Rioters”.
It was perfectly obvious that Trump was more interested in the illegal nullification of the election than the lives of members of his legislative branch and their families, law enforcement and innocent bystanders.
Long before the November 3 election, when he realized that Biden would prove a serious danger to his re-election, Trump sowed the first seeds of The Big Lie of a rigged election. He ranted at election rallies that he could lose the election to “Sleepy Joe” Biden only if the election was rigged
Biden won the November election by a landslide. The results, especially in the Swing States of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona remained unchanged, even after numerous recounts and over 60 challenges by Trump in the District, Federal and Supreme Courts, all of which were dismissed for lack of a shred of evidence.
Still, Trump and 75% continued to propagate The Big Lie, that the election was stolen from Trump. The Big Lie was the reason for the storming of the Capitol on January 6 by the “Proud Boys”, “Oathkeepers” and white supremacist terrorists, carrying Confederate and TRUMP flags, wearing MAGA hats – modern reincarnations of KKK hoods and NAZI Swastikas.
The real heroes of the November 3 election are those mainly Republican legislators and election officials in the Swing States, who were bullied and threatened by Trump to illegally change or nullify the results of their elections. Without exception, they remained faithful to the Constitution, they refused to accede to the illegitimate demands of a defeated president.
The real cowards were the 12 Republican Senators, headed by Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley, joined by 147 Congresspersons who promoted the Big Lie and continued to deny, against all evidence, the legitimacy of the presidential election victory of Joe Biden.
Trump had been ranting about his “victory” in the election since November 7, and the favorite chant at his rallies was “Stop the Steal”, that the election had been stolen from him. On December 20 Trump identified the date for stopping the steal, when he tweeted, “Statistically impossible to have lost the election. Big protest in DC on January 6. Be there, will be wild”.
He addressed the rally of thousands of his supporters he had summoned to Washington, inciting the already angered mob to a frenzy, to march on the Capitol and disrupt the formal certification of the new president. In his ignorance of the Constitution, Trump thought the violent disruption of the ceremonial certification of the November election was his last chance of subverting the election and clinging to power.
During the rally near the White House, minutes before the mob marched to the Capitol, Trump ranted, Hitler style, “We fight like hell. And if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore”. He used the word “fight” 20 times during his manic speech. During this rally, his personal lawyer, Rudi Giuliani talked of “Trial by Combat” and Donnie Junior exhorted the mob to “be a hero, not a zero”.
The most damning evidence against Trump, that the violence wrought by his mob had his complete approval, was that he was gleefully watching the ongoing violence on television at the White House, with his cheering family and cronies, for four hours. Four hours when he did nothing while the insurrection was raging and the lives of the nation’s lawmakers were in imminent danger. He delayed the deployment of the National Guard, and ignored desperate calls for help from his own Vice President and his supporters in Congress, who were the main targets of the insurrectionists.
The Impeachment Managers of the House, began their case with a 13-minute video of the insurrection, a chilling montage of the devastating violence of the riots. Impeachment Manager, Jamie Raskin, in an emotional speech said their case was based on “cold, hard facts’, before he showed the gruesome video, replete with acts of violence never before seen.
It was a miracle that there were “only” five deaths. More than 140 police officers were injured, one losing three fingers, a second having his eyes gouged, a third being impaled and bludgeoned with the pole of the waving flag he had sworn to serve. Two officers were so affected by the riots that they took their lives soon after. The insurrectionists were echoing their hero’s hatred of his own Vice President Pence (who had served Trump slavishly for four years, whose only crime was his decision to do his constitutional duty) and his arch-nemesis, Speaker Pelosi, with chants “Hang Mike Pence” and “Kill that (expletive) Pelosi”. Murders they would have definitely committed had they got their hands on them. There was a gallows with a noose constructed by them for this very purpose on the Capitol grounds. In fact, all the lawmakers present were within feet of getting killed but for the heroism of the Capitol police, who carried out their duties bravely at enormous cost to themselves.
The House Impeachment Managers presented even more damning video footage on Wednesday, more evidence of the terror faced by lawmakers, pathetic scenes of fear for their lives and those of their colleagues and families. One of the chants of the terrorists, that “We are in a Civil War” brought memories of the worst era in the nation’s history, an era of Americans fighting for the perpetuation of the abominable social system of slavery and white supremacy. Trump’s agenda for America for the 21st century.
Senators, Congresspersons and their families were hiding under desks, were haunted by the sounds of chaos and violence, of doors and windows being destroyed. They were praying, making whispered telephone calls and tweets bidding goodbye to their loved ones. Many thought that they were about to die. Individual stories of terror now emerging are heartbreaking.
The atrocities wrought by these vicious domestic terrorists, urged on by the American reincarnation of Osama Bin Laden, outdid any violence and caused panic that Al Qaeda and ISIS terrorists would have been proud to emulate.
The president’s legal team continued with an appalling, rambling defence that had the contempt of even the president and his cronies. These lawyers were certainly not of the highest caliber, but in all fairness, no lawyer jealous of his reputation will represent Trump. He is an impossible client, who presents a defense that is indefensible.
Several Senators, Cruz, Hawley, Rubio, jurors at the trial, met with the president’s team in an effort to elicit a better performance at their final arguments on Friday. A meeting completely at odds with the oath they took, as jurors, to remain impartial. Oaths mean nothing to these Republicans, the only thing that matters is their fawning subservience to Trump.
The facts as presented by the prosecution are not in doubt. The accused’s team can only argue on procedure. Their argument that Trump, inciting a crazed mob of his own armed and violent supporters and the subsequent murder and mayhem at the Capitol, was covered by the First Amendment of free speech, borders on the insane.
But however poorly they perform, they know the race has been won before the horses left the gate.
Republican politicians may pretend to be unaffected by the violence of January 6. They may be so consumed by power and ambition as to applaud the treachery of a former president desperately fighting to retain his. Their numbers are few, a handful of Cruzes, Grahams, Lees and Pauls, a sycophantic minority of politicians denying the diversity of modern America. They will soon meet with their collective political deaths. Along with Trumpism.
The violence of January 6 has been seen with fearful disgust in the hearts and minds of a large majority of the American people. Trump’s approval ratings are in the doldrums, the lowest of any former president. His attempts to transform the Republican Party to an authoritarian, white supremacist junta are doomed to abject failure. His fetid miasma, and that of his ever-diminishing, white supremacist “base”, will disappear, as if by a miracle, sooner than later. His memory will be viewed by history, in 20 years or less, with the hatred and contempt the German people reserve for the memory of Hitler today.
At least, Adolf and Eva felt extreme shame and decided to escape public ignominy and certain prison/execution by committing suicide. Trump is shame-free.
The verdict of the trial will be rendered on Valentine’s Day. I doubt if Cupid will have many arrows of love and unity in his quiver.
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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