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The Power I Have, I Will Not Share
12 February 2007
This headline summarizes the attitude of Rajapakse and his
cabinet of new parasites. The concept of terrorizing the Tamil people into
submission is their expectation and hope. Their recent military victory in
Vahare has made this their merciless mandate.
In the meantime, the economy collapses with each passing day. Rajapakse not only
alienates the Tamils, but his own Sinhalese peasantry and middle class, who can
ill afford to live because of the growing cost of living, which rises daily
because of his warring philosophy. The value of the rupee keeps declining
disastrously.
Furthermore, Rajapakse's policy of leaving shattered bodies, broken families
rendered homeless and devoid of their occupations, by his ruthless disregard of
the fate of these unfortunates in the Northeast, is hardly likely to win over
their loyalty, despite which he seriously expects to rule a united nation?
Rajapakse and his infantile cabinet are bent on continuing their failed effort
to control the people of the Northeast by overhauling the demography of the
East. They think they have succeeded in this endeavor by their current military
success, while further alienating a rash of refugees in the process. The
President and his clutch of rulers refuse to hear the drumbeat of these
increasing disregarded elements beating loudly and imagine, instead, that the
President and his loyal associates are bright lights in a galaxy of superstars.
In the meantime, it is hard to determine how the LTTE intends to combat the
policies of these petty-fogging dictators who continue to sink the nation to
tragic depths. I am sure the LTTE does not believe that the rest is up to fate,
time and chance. They have come up with remarkable surprises before, including
the recent effort to attack the Colombo harbor. The failure of this venture will
only heighten their desire to shock this government by other techniques and
tactics, which leaves the nation in a state of unending suspense.
Does anyone, anywhere on the island feel secure? Even the affluent businessmen
in the capital have expressed their concerns over the emphasis on maintaining
maximum security, because of its impact on their ability to run their
businesses. In short, the sense of insecurity is universal.
The governor of the Central Bank has expressed his concerns about the financial
debacle, while at the same time echoing the President's childish dreams of
controlling their creditors and their right to loan money on their terms. What
do they think, that the major donors, whether they be nations or institutions,
are quivering and shaking at the thought that potty little Rajapakse and his
government could and will dominate them? This sounds like the immaturity that
prevailed on the island in the 1960.s and 1970.s. Their inability to appreciate
the importance of the international community's precondition that peace must be
renewed before aid is forthcoming, betrays an ignorance of fundamental
economics, that war is a fruitless expenditure which hampers overall
development. They try to argue, in a mindless vacuum, that the attainment of
peace has no bearing on economic productivity.
The fate of the nation is declining precipitously. The International Community
must discern this and watch it with deepening concern, while the local populace
views their growing misfortune with rebellious distaste. It is time Rajapakse,
his cronies in the cabinet and his power hungry army commanders came to grips
with these disconcerting realities, instead of dancing to their own distorted
visions of success.
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