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Two political events
Saturday, 21 July 2007 - 8:12 AM SL Time
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Two important political events took the centre stage on Thursday. The first was the `Negenahira Navodaya` ceremony held at Independence Square and the other was the signing of a MoU between the UNP and the SLFP (People`s Faction) held at the parliamentary complex.
Despite the appeals made and advice given by concerned parties and persons against having a state ceremony of such magnitude, the government went ahead with the ceremony which undoubtedly would have cost the state a considerable sum of money, apart from the frittering away of the precious time and energy of many people who participated in the ceremony and of those others whose routine duties were interrupted by traffic and other arrangements made for the function.
Some of the comments made in the course of President Mahinda Rajapaksa`s address on the occasion could, however, be considered a redeeming feature. What is important is to consolidate and maintain whatever the successes gained in the military exercise launched. The president`s avowal that the government will `defend the independence gained by the people in the East after the province was liberated by the valiant soldiers from the cruel grip of terrorists` is indeed significant.
What is more important in the present context is his appeal to the Leader of the Opposition not to be an outsider but to be a stakeholder in this victory. He has added that he would bear with patience insults on his family members and him but advised not to belittle or underestimate the achievements of our security forces.
In what appeared to be a firm rejection of the advocacy for a continued war effort of hard line sections in the government and outside, President Rajapaksa has appealed to the participants in the All Party Representatives Committee process to expedite their deliberations stressing, `We should formulate a suitable framework to bring the Tamil speaking people more into the process of political power. We should be sensitive and responsive to the genuine grievances of the people in the North and East.`
The other event was the signing of the MoU between the UNP and the SLFP (People`s Faction). The objective of the agreement signed by UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the SLFP (People`s Faction) Convenor Mangala Samaraweera is to form a National Congress for the implementation of a national programme to build and protect the country. Addressing the gathering after the signing ceremony both leaders have appealed to other parties and groups to join them in rescuing the country from the present plight.
The SLFP (People`s Faction) convener, Mangala Samaraweera, it would appear, was wise in deciding to hitch his party to the UNP. Unlike the JVP that persists in its adamant attitude of treating the UNP as a treacherous party of unpatriotic politicians and avoiding it like the plague, Samaraweera was realistic enough to consider that no political movement would have any chance of reaching the seats of power without the support of either the UNP or the SLFP.
There is still no clear indication as to the other partners that the JVP seeks to team up with to form its `True National Front` It is unfortunate that at a time when the country needs a movement that could combine all resources and talents available in the country to get over the present plight, these parties are engaged in building up fronts and alliances for the declared purpose of saving the country.
The government too vows that its earnest endeavour is to pull the country out of the present quagmire. It is to join in this effort that President Rajapaksa has repeated his invitation to the opposition parties. Maybe that he keeps the door open for anybody to come in. But he is apparently unaware that no amount of appeals will have their desired effect as long as hurdles and boulders block the path to the door.
These hurdles obviously are, the allegations of family aggrandizement, illegal deals, fraud and corruption, protection of corrupt politicians and officers and submission to extremist sections. What the president should do, therefore, is to make an honest effort at clearing the obstacles to obtain a positive response to his overtures.
While the political leaders are thus indulging in these political games, the people find the level of their frustration and discontent keeps rising steadily.
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