5th Column

Not being a democracy has its advantages, says Velu
Bala, in London, was a worried man. He knew that the 'boys' were meeting in Paris but no one appeared to have bothered to keep him informed. In desperation, he called Velu…

"Thambi, what is going on in Paris?"
"Ah, that is just a holiday for the boys, Bala. There is no need to get too excited by that…"

"I was worried because no one seems to want my advice anymore…"
"Don't be upset, Bala…"
"Thambi, I only said I couldn't make the long trip to the Wanni. I could have easily made it to Paris…"

"No, Bala, we thought we shouldn't waste your time…"
"Why do you say that?"
"Why, Bala, you did say that you needed some rest in-between the talks…"
"But not if the fate of our struggle was to be decided in Paris, Thambi…"
"And that, Bala, will not happen…"

"But all I know is what I read in the newspapers now and they seem to suggest that…"
"And what have they said?"
"There is this talk of counter-proposals being taken back to Wanni to be put to the cadres for their approval…"

"Surely, Bala, by now you should be able to read between the lines…"
"So, what is that supposed to mean?"
"You know as well as I do that we do not do what the cadres want. The cadres do what we want…"

"So, what is really happening then?"
"The counter-proposals are not being brought back for approval, Bala. Instead, they were taken from here for those academic chaps to have a look at them…"
"And have they suggested any changes?"

"Of course not. They were never meant to…"
"Then why are they studying them, thambi?"
"I'm surprised at your questions, Bala. They are also having a holiday at Norwegian expense and at the end of it we can tell the world that so many distinguished people have approved and forwarded the proposals…"

"But Thamil is already saying that the Interim Administration proposals are not good enough…"
"Of course, I asked him to say that. Otherwise, how are we to get more and even more importantly, continue this business of peace talks?"

"But, Thambi, you have to agree to something or else everyone will lose faith in you…"
"Bala, you forget the secret of our success…"
"Are you thinking of reverting to ruthless terrorism?"

"No, Bala, we are successful because we are not a democracy and we do not stand for re-election and that is the only real advantage we have over Satellite and the Green Man…"

"So, what are you willing to settle for, Thambi?"
"Anything that preserves that, Bala,…"
"Are you thinking of a permanent 'Interim Administration' then?"
"Oh, I don't care what we call it, Bala…"

"But, Thambi, how long can we continue talking without agreeing to some sort of proposals?"
"Oh, don't worry about that, Bala. That should be the least of your concerns…"
"Why do you say that?"

"Why, Bala, even if we agree to something right now, as long as the Satellite and the Green Man continue to be at each others' throats, we can split the South and do what we want to do. After all, we are only continuing what the British taught us, 'divide and rule' Bala…"
Bala didn't disagree.

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