| Editorial | ||||
 |
||||
Co-habit or co-perish He has thrown the gauntlet on the fragile peace process. The premier has a point. How can you negotiate without the CFA under your control. President Kumaratunga on the other hand, took over the defence ministry, in a fit, and now tells him "you handle the peace process, but I will be minister". Since take-over of the ministry, she has done sweet nothing on accusations about LTTE increasing its military strength, dismantling the High Security Zone in Jaffna, nor the LTTE's continuous violation of the CFA. Taking the defence ministry remains too embarrassing a question to answer for the President. The problem is how we overcome a virtually impossible political imbroglio. Go back to status quo-ante 'Presidential coup' or find ways to sort this mess out. Elections have been bandied as one way. That is no way out. The outcome of that election will give a government a mandate will not hold if the Prime Minister's side is re-elected, even with more seats. The President can take the same stance. "The Constitution says the President cannot divest defence." She will cite this judgment of the Supreme Court. Furthermore, by all accounts, a hung Parliament is what we, the People will vote for, and get once again. Despite the people's weariness of the 1978 Constitution, both the President and the Prime Minister have only paid lip-service to getting rid of it. The Prime Minister has been more forthright. He opts for this brand of governance. He does say that some provisions need change, but is comfortable with it. He clearly sees deep-rooted problems for himself and his party playing second-fiddle to the President. The reservoir of goodwill both have gained through the peace process will probably be eroded if things were to go badly wrong. But then - this is the system he favours. His attitude is akin to saying "you took my marbles (when I was in America), I will not come to play unless you return them".But all the sympathy he won in November seems to be evaporating in the face of subtle damage-control by her. She is telling - I want to work with the Prime Minister - I want to share the defence ministry - she is telling this to diplomats in Colombo, she told this to Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Islamabad, she is telling influential Sri Lankans. She is burning the midnight oil hammering out an electoral pact with the JVP, sending letters asking for the sacked ministers to be sworn in again for their balance subjects, precipitating issues by poking a finger into a wounded Premier. The longer this situation drags on, the greater the drift that will carry Sri Lanka away from the dream of the Promised Land. Some suggestions have been made. A North-East Command where flash-points that could cause a breach of the CFA are identified. The President is willing to hand over this Command to the Prime Minister together with the CFA. Military analysts say this will not work - what about having a safe-house at Athurugiriya for operations? Under whose command? Political analysts say this will allow the military top-brass to play games with politicians. We will need to do better than two officials meeting once a fortnight - and taking extended Christmas holidays - to bring stability, and sanity to proceedings in Sri Lanka. |
||||
|
ADVERTISING OFFICE
CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT No. 47, W.A.D. Ramanayake Mawatha, Colombo
2, Sri Lanka.
Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
