Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Clowns at politics cause Hiccups

2018-04-18
It is the long arms of the law and Gota himself who can destroy his candidature
better send all parliamentarians of all parties down the drain and elect new teams of parliamentarians with the JVP becoming the old timers enclosure
sajith failed to dislodge RW from leadership, lacking the guts of his famed father
Disgruntled in the UNP – their vocal majority – largest number of votes UNP obtained were from Sinhala Buddhist homes. It is not true, not their signature party in the lifetime of Ranil Wickremesinghe (RW). Worked relentlessly with the SLFP to eliminate terrorism; as persons of good faith did not fall into the traps weaved by purportedly UNP friendly NGOs - gained respect for their objectivity; toiled hard with like minded forces to effect a regime change in 2015 ousting Mahinda Rajapakse (MR) with a wistful thought that good governance finds a permanent niche in the body of the UNP. It was not to be: as the Bond scam revealed.  

SLFP and UNP hold the bulwark of the patriotic and nationalist votes on the electoral registers. This segment to this day blames estranged Ranil Wickremesinghe - unfairly being singularly - for neglecting the majority interest within the party and for not winning the confidence of the people for sufficiently long – many left the UNP after 2007: some stayed with the UNP but voted against Sarath Fonseka (UNP’s short-time favourite son mooted by RW) gave vent to their anger. Yet holds a large segment of patriotic elements (Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya left to join the SLFP to overcome terrorism) - once the task was accomplished many came back happily home, carrying no unaccompanied luggage with loot. These voters cast their votes against the UNP government in power in 2005 or declined to walk to the polling booth in 2018.  
Gota may be accused of being an Uncle Sam’s disciple if he does not obtain clearance on dual citizenship well ahead the date of his election from the US administration
That raises a more fundamental issue –does the MP’s of the UNP the public that voted for them in 2015? Has RW regained/lost ground between the last general election and the recent local government election? Intention of the UNP rebels in defeating the No Confidence motion against the Prime Minister was an effort to rally around Green Flag to enable a comeback for the UNP (with the rebels) sans RW. It is the people that votes in 2020 that matter; not the majority secured in Parliament by well-nourished, well-dressed, well-travelled parliamentarians. In 2020, the people will make a decision on those parliamentarians that cast their votes at the no confidence motion of 2018. Provincial Council elections due between 2018 and 2020 will be too late for a wake up call for the prime political parties to make the necessary changes and establish confidence in the emerging leadership. SLFP is more split than the UNP after no confidence motion and is on brink of disappearing giving way to the ‘bud-party’ carrying much of the decadent and dishonest bunch. With 14 more of the wavering parliamentarians joining the bud-party it will be packed to capacity with undesirables that many will have to resort entry to parliament via the national list. UNP too will be over loaded with the unwanted of the SLFP. RW will use the razor blade more effectively than the better natured MR.   
Sources close to Premadasa whisper it is unlikely that Sajith will agree to contest a formidable opposition candidate like Gotabhaya Rajapakse to become a fall guy. Magic of MR seems to work as RW, will offer cakewalk in the PM stakes
Better to send all parliamentarians of all parties down the drain and elect new teams of parliamentarians with the JVP becoming the old timers enclosure. Cheers!  

Gota may be accused of being an Uncle Sam’s disciple if he does not obtain clearance on dual citizenship well ahead the date of his election from the US administration. Reading a Daily Mirror interview with Gota, he lives in awe under the spell of his elder brother and seems to be a dedicated kid brother. Expected him to have grown up and be mature to be his own man. It is frightening to witness a blindfolded brotherhood. Gota must be himself, if he desires to go places. He appears to be a shadow of MR.  

The No Confidence motion was converted by the Joint Opposition [JO] into a battle to dislodge the government (UNP) in office – not merely a machine to dismantle an administration led by RW whose interest lay in catering to the forces beyond the seas. Stupid JO switched the campaign from an effort to rid the nation of a corrupt leader (via Bond Scam) panders to anti- national forces. One set of crooks is to be replaced by another. 

UNP rebels were not prepared to sacrifice the party to the JO on a platter when their exercise was limited to rid itself of its leader. The JO committed hara kiri in granting MR  ascendency to keep the prime candidate from government benches in office whom MR can defeat from the comfort zone at the general elections? A different UNP candidate deemed a squeaky clean technocrat is another proposition for MR and the JO.
The disgruntled in the UNP were smartly out-witted and out-manoeuvred by a crafty gang of crudities of Colombo origins - carrying the Diners Club Card of RW that mislead the UNP hierarchy. However did outclass a buoyant section UNP in an exercise to buy time to make cosmetic changes in the party and throw into the ring a weak candidate to take over the party such as Sajith Premadasa (SP). He failed to dislodge RW from leadership from 2010 lacking the guts of his famed father and fell in line with RW. There would be many unencumbered UNPs’ preferring RW with his many frailties to the candidature of Sajith Premadasa. Sources close to Premadasa whisper it is unlikely that Sajith will agree to contest a formidable opposition candidate like Gotabhaya Rajapakse to become a fall guy. Magic of MR seems to work as RW, will offer cakewalk in the PM stakes. Power attracts first time candidates and in addition Gota is a candidates who has succeeded in showing his skills in eliminating terrorism and in developing the cities. It is the long arms of the law and Gota himself who can destroy his candidature.  
Maithripala Sirisena carries a reputation of an unpredictable and inconsistent mole, having crossed the aisle, to defeat his boy’s own hero of once upon a time
President Sirisena is rollicking in a two way street. Symptomatic of a good loser President Sirisena’s takes on the ceremonial character for his balance term of office as President, enjoying foreign travel, forgoing his executive functions. Spends time girdling the globe, signing worthless pieces of paper, before television cameras available to the country, with or without his presence abroad, attending celebrations other heads of state deem a waste of time. Instead he would be remembered as a one term President if he takes meaningful steps to try end corruption irrespective of party affiliations. His on/off nature does not bode well for him.  

MS carries a reputation of an unpredictable and inconsistent mole, having crossed the aisle, to defeat his boy’s own hero of once upon a time. He has right to act sissy for having incurred of the wrath of SLFP supporters who will never forgive him for his treachery in breaking up the SLFP. Presently it is wise for him to stay out of domestic politics after losing his home district and take a stand of a President above petty politics. He has the least of option available but can emerge the king maker in deciding which election is to come first - General or Presidential? That decision can decide the fate of the next election where no room must be left for another giddy coalition.  

RW overcame a no confidence motion destined for doom by his rival MR who needs RW in the frame in the future, for MR to triumph. Not a flattering cameo to play for any leader of a political party; but since the people tolerated this nonsensical staged show- they should suffer gladly. Political Parties of the right minded will not elect either to run as its candidate to high office unless operations are managed by their hurrah boys?
Is the country moving into another tragi-comic situation in having brothers Rajapakses’ as President and Prime Minister after throwing them out of office just a few moons ago?   

Irresistible to hark back to the theory of Two Ronnie’s but the notion fails to take off as Brothers Rajapakse’ as Defence Minister and Defence Secretary co-ordinated brilliantly that helped immensely for the success of the Security Forces in winning the terrorist war; as no officer - public or military - dared to ‘carry tales’ between two ever - loving brothers - a stranglehold public officers hold over their political pets, an art, stylized locally reaching export quality.  
The JO committed hara kiri in granting MR  ascendency to keep the prime candidate from government benches in office whom MR can defeat from the comfort zone at the general elections?
There lies a difference. MRs two terms in 2005 and 2010 – first, executed brilliantly; where he increased his majority at re-election. MR converted the system from a two-term presidency with a right to extend to the infinite, if the people desired it, [People said ‘No’] when the silly sycophants began treating MR fawningly with devotion and dedication as if the king can do no wrong - was taken amiss by a poor mind - decided to play a coronation role that made his rule the most corrupt in contemporary history. Yet he is more loved than any other politician.