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Vibishana, Mugalan, Ranil, Mahinda and GSP+
Saturday, 31 May 2008 - 8:46 AM SL Time
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Government pachagandists (read propaganda hirelings), who are battling Tigers more heroically than the armed forces serving in the northern theatre of war, have trained their propaganda cannon on Elephants, an endangered political species. As if the roughing up of those poor creatures in the East the other day were not enough, they are being given a right royal mud bath these days courtesy of the kept media which apparently derives some sadistic pleasure from adding insult to injury. (Ironically, those pachaganda experts are quite capable of making an about turn in case of a change of guard at the helm.)
On Thursday, their target became Opposition and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe returning from an overseas tour. Some government supporters staged a protest against what they termed his smear campaign against the country. We are being told that Ranil was booed on his return by the people . Who doesn t know that the term people is political shorthand for party supporters? The state media also accused him of striving to have the GSP+ facility scrapped, a charge that the UNP has vehemently denied.
We are baffled by this kind of propaganda. Ranil is usually derided by the government as a weak leader incapable of winning even a Local Government election for his party. The recent defeat of the UNP at the Eastern PC elections was also attributed to his leadership. But, at the same time, he is accused of having launched a campaign to isolate Sri Lanka internationally!
That the UNP has made little progress under Ranil s leadership is fairly well known but when the government says he is on a mission to turn world opinion against Sri Lanka, that slur becomes a sad reflection more on his critics than on him. For, what follows from that argument is that the government is not confident of countering the campaign of a person whom it castigates as a weak leader! That is certainly an indictment of the Foreign Ministry and the Sri Lankan missions abroad maintained at a tremendous cost to the state coffers. What have they been doing? The government seems to consider them no match for one man called Ranil in influencing the foreign policy of countries like the EU. It is also possible that the government is not confident that it will be able to retain GSP+ and by blaming Ranil for campaigning to have that concession withdrawn at this juncture, it is trying to have a scapegoat ready to be used in a worst case scenario.
We are yet to find a Sri Lankan leader who has not committed the sin of seeking foreign assistance to oust his or her rivals at home, especially in the post 1977 era. Young Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa or Mahinda Rajapaksa as he is better known once did something naughty during President Premadasa s regime in the late 1980s. He took his human rights battle against the late President to Geneva amidst scathing criticism from the then government. The role played by some foreign governments favouring the new leadership of the SLFP in 1994 in effecting a regime change is only too well known.
Invoking foreign powers to settle personal scores was not something alien to our ancient rulers as well. It was a rivalry between the last king of Lanka and the Kandyan noblemen who sided with foreign invaders to tame the royalty that paved the way for the total subjugation of the country by the British. There have been many other instances. In the 5th Century, when Kashyapa of the Sigirya fame committed patricide and usurped power, his brother, Mugalan, fled to India to raise an army and campaign against the patricidal king. Finally, he succeeded in his endeavour. (Had there been something like GSP+ at that time, Mugalan certainly would not have hesitated to use it as a bludgeon against his sibling. But, those were the days when Lanka paid scant regard to garments, as evident from the attire of the heavenly maidens immortalised in Sigiri frescoes.)
Millennia before that, King of Lanka, Ravana, the first earthling to use a flying machine Dandumonara, a prototype of the airbus was shocked to find that his brother Vibishana had sided with Rama, who brought an army here from India over a grievous human rights violation the abduction of his consort, Sita by Ravana. (For once, a wag says, in this country the siblings of the ruling family are sticking together, as could be seen from the Rajapaksa brothers unity!)
If the government is feeling jittery about the fate of the GSP+ facility, all that it should do is to eliminate the factors that have strengthened the hands of the enemies of the State who are calling for its withdrawal. Never mind human rights violations at issue: If the EU happens to probe the appalling living conditions of garment workers, that concession may be in jeopardy. Garment girls, most of whom are malnourished, live in squalid boarding houses with five or six of them crammed into one small room each in and around Katunayake and adjacent areas. Their plight reminds us to some extent of the Dickensian description of the harsh living conditions of workers during the Industrial Revolution in the Hard Times. The State and the garment industry must look after those workers who keep the economy afloat, together with other women slaving away on tea and rubber estates and in West Asia for a pittance.
The predicament of the UNP as regards GSP+ is like that of a tippler drinking some white liquid under a palmyrah palm. It may be milk that he drinks but someone can always claim it is toddy! The biggest problem of the present UNP leadership is that it has a history of pandering to the whims and fancies of foreign powers hostile to this country.
However, the government-instigated protest against the UNP leader on Thursday left a bad taste in many a mouth. It only demonstrated venom and bankruptcy of protesters and their political masters.
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AnuD
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 31 May 2008 04:12:04 GMT Report for Abuse
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The biggest problem of the present UNP leadership is that it has a history of pandering to the whims and fancies of foreign powers hostile to this country.
This Editorial is not from the same person, if not, he was a bit out of focus.
But, at the same time, he is accused of having launched a campaign to isolate Sri Lanka internationally!
Editorial itself contradicts what it says, or it is really confusing.
Again, some where else it says that UNP leadership was doing canvassing for GSP+ for the sake of businessmen.
I also read some where else in ISLANd, SL - Apprael Manufacturer's association or some organization like that has demanded that the GOSL implement some clauses in 17th amendment. WAHT FOR ?
WE don't need history in the editorial. What we need is intelligent politicians.
IF Mahinda Rajapakse behaved unethically, IF Ranil is doing the same thing nothing changed.
In contrast to MR, Ranil Screwed up even against LTTE. AT this point, we cannot forget that. IF he was careful, many deaths in the front lines would have been avoided.
Edited By - AnuD - 31 May 2008 04:22:08 GMT |
gamiya
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 31 May 2008 06:58:09 GMT Report for Abuse
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cannon on Elephants, an endangered political species. As if the roughing up of those poor creatures in the East the other day were not enough,
Noop!! Not enough. It is us the Gamiya's of Sri Lanka that want to Thrash Traitor Ranil!! Traitor Ranil is 'only begining' to pay for all the Tretchery he has commited! The Author sounds exhausted with Anti-Traitor Ranil Propaganda......But there's several decades more of Anti Traitor Ranil propaganda to come. This is only the begining...
Interesting how the Author has left out and conveniently forgotten how Mahinda was jailed on false charges during the 17 year UNP Curse. Mahinda was jailed on false charges to prevent him attending his own mother's funeral. Former Prime Minister, SLFP Leader and Attanagalla MP, Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike's Civic Rights (including voting rights) were removed without a court hearing during Traitor Ranil/JRJ 17 year Curse. Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike was elected to the Attanagalla seat in Parliament with a majority of over 10,000 votes in the 1977 General Election. Her Parliamentary Seat and her voting rights were removed via. a Special Presidentail Commision and 2/3 majority vote in Parliament without a court hearing. Mahinda was thrown in Jail on false charges. Rohana Wijeweera, Upatissa Gamanayake and all other JVP'ers Terrorists who were CONVICTED by the COURTS OF LAW for TERROR against the STATE (1971 insurrection) were freed with full Civic and Voting rights. CONVICTED CRIMINAL RAPISTS like Gonawala Sunil(Traitor Ranil's Pal) were Pardoned and Awarded 'All Island Justice of the Peace' positions. The Author conveniently avoids all this.
So if the Author is Tired of Anti UNP propaganda, that's just too Bad!! Cos we the Gamiya's who elect President's and Governments in Sri Lanka want to Begin our day by Thrashing Traitor Ranil for the next few decades...
Edited By - gamiya - 31 May 2008 07:05:38 GMT |
gamiya
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31 May 2008 07:16:43 GMT Report for Abuse
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media which apparently derives some sadistic pleasure
Traitor Ranil is the Saidistic Pervert who derrived pleasure Running the Batalanda Torture Camp while being the minister of Education and Youth Affairs.......
Triator Ranil is the Saidistic Perverted Cabinet Minister who Derrived Pleasure watching Tamil people being Looted and Burnt alive during 1983 black july....
Traitor Ranil who was enjoying every bit of it, did not say a word against it in Cabinet or the Media. The Riots continued for five days until the Tamil People were totally Decimated. This was all done by UNP thugs and the Police were watching. This is the Sole reason why Prabahkaran got International Sympathy. Tamil people got assylum status in european countries. What did Traitor Ranil do in Cabinet when the invaluable Jaffna Library was burnt to the Ground by UNP Thugs???
Traitor Ranil the Saidistic Pervert was too busy Pardoning and Promoting Criminal Rapists like Gonawala Sunil and Running Torture Chamber's like Batalanda in his former Biyagama electorate!
The Author has seen nothing yet!! Lot more to come!
Edited By - gamiya - 31 May 2008 07:25:22 GMT |
Damed
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 31 May 2008 08:19:14 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Editor of this Article../ A paid UNP/NGO boot licker. |
saliya
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31 May 2008 13:43:13 GMT Report for Abuse
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| This is not a timely topic. Some of the points highlighted here are totally irrelevant. |
magha
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1 Jun 2008 03:44:36 GMT Report for Abuse
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The state media also accused him of striving to have the GSP+ facility scrapped, a charge that the UNP has vehemently denied.
What the F... is GSP? |
Magnum357
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 1 Jun 2008 14:27:24 GMT Report for Abuse
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Gamiya
Traitor Ranil the Saidistic Pervert Will have hell to pay
NONSENCE! Neither your Traitor Ranil nor your Patriot Mahinda nor any of the other good for nothing politicians nor any of you fellows living out side Sri Lanka will have to pay. It is WE who live in Sri Lanka who are paying 'Hell' for the sins of useless politicians be they from the PA,UPFA, UNP or any other.
Magha,
What the F... is GSP?
Generalized System of Preferences
Edited By - Magnum357 - 1 Jun 2008 15:11:06 GMT |
gamiya
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2 Jun 2008 08:11:03 GMT Report for Abuse
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good for nothing politicians nor any of
So why don't you contest?? We'll all vote for you if you do. But if you don't contest we have to vote for one of the candidates who are contesting.....
Attacking people in politics is not the solution. Honest decent people like yourself must contest elections so that we can vote for you. No point attacking all politicians without giving the people a better alternative..
The Late Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike was thrown out of Parliament, Barred from politics and her voting rights and civic rights were removed by Traitor Ranil/JRJ Govt.
Mahinda Rajapaksa was jailed on Frivoluos Charges in an attempt to stop him from doing politics by Traitor Ranil/JRJ Govt...
But Magnum357 has his civic rights and is free to contest elections.....So Maganum must contest without criticizing politicians who contest.
Edited By - gamiya - 2 Jun 2008 08:16:50 GMT |
Magnum357
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2 Jun 2008 14:49:15 GMT Report for Abuse
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Gamiya
Honest decent people like yourself must contest elections so that we can vote for you.
When thugs, rogues and cheats are the majority in politics, when law and order observed by the civilised world has been put aside and the law of the jungle and terror has been unleashed with the blessings of the top most leaders, do you think right thinking, law abiding citizens who have a love for their lives and the lives of their families will come forward to contest elections for the sake of genuinely 'serving the country'?
Today politics in Sri Lanka are for rogues, thugs, cheats, terrorists and their henchmen. They scantily 'serve the country'. They seek election with the primary objective of serving themselves and may be their families too! They don't require anyone to genuinely vote for them. They will 'see to it' that they are voted in! So whether you or I or anyone else votes or does not vote is immaterial.
People with self respect and dignity have absolutely NO CHANCE in Sri Lanka's politics. Such people if ever bold enough to venture into the dirty dangerous game of Sri Lanka's politics will simply and easily be eleminated not by the ballot but by the bullet.
In Sri Lanka the bullet is more powerful than the ballot and Might is Right. That is the political culture that has been cultivated by our politicians from a few years ago. Gentleman politics in Sri Lanka is history and has been shoved aside and jungle politics sans any principles or ethics is the order of the day .
There is NO HOPE for Sri Lanka. We can only dream of a day where the concept of Right is Might is restored and the ballot becomes more powerful than the bullet and the leaders obey the rule of law.
Edited By - Magnum357 - 2 Jun 2008 15:27:47 GMT |
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