5th Column

Blues do not consult Reds except at elections
"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "what do you think of the elections?"
"All it did was give the poor Commissioner of Elections a heart attack…" Bindu's father Percy said.
"But thaaththa," Bindu protested, "the reds and the blues are saying they won…"

"Well," Percy said, "they won a little less than half of thirty five per cent of the vote…"
"But they still got the most number of votes, thaaththa…" Bindu said, "and the greens didn't even get that much…"

"Which is probably why they are now talking of a mandate…" Percy said.
"What mandate is that?" Bindu wanted to know.
"Why they are saying they have been given a mandate to grant a Self Governing Authority to the Tigers…"

"But thaaththa," Bindu asked, "what have the Provincial Councils got to do with an interim authority for the Tigers?"
"I don't know about that," Percy said, "but that is how they are interpreting this election victory…"

"But thaaththa, aren't the reds part of the Alliance?" Bindu queried.
"Yes, of course they are…"
"And aren't they against even talking unconditionally to the Tigers, let alone giving them an interim authority?"
"Well, they say they are…"

"Then, why are they not protesting the plans to grant this self governing authority?" Bindu demanded.
"In this government, Bindu, the reds join the blues for the elections. For everything else, the blues do as they want…"
"Why do you say that?"

"Why, they appoint more than the agreed number of cabinet ministers and they also appoint defeated candidates as government officials, which the reds said they wouldn't allow…"
"But it is not only the reds that are to blame, thaaththa…" Bindu said.
"Why do you say that?"

"Why, thaaththa, Satellite dissolved Parliament because she said the greens are giving in too much to the Tigers…"
"Yes," Percy said, "I do remember that…"
"And thaaththa, Satellite said she was particularly worried about the greens agreeing to grant a self-governing body to the Tigers…"

"Yes, she did," Percy conceded, "but Bindu, that was a long four months ago and the people have all but forgotten that now…"
"So, does she now plan to go ahead with the same proposal which she used as an excuse to throw the greens out of office?"
"Yes, Bindu," Percy said, "she is clever, isn't she?"

"And what do the greens plan to do about it?" Bindu asked.
"What can they do except make some noises to the effect that they wholeheartedly support the peace process, regardless of whoever is engaged in it…"

"Is that why the blues and reds are now even asking the Speaker to resign?" Bindu wanted to know.
"They say it is because the Speaker's seat was won by the blues and reds at the election…"

"Then, thaaththa," Bindu said, "Satellite should have resigned long ago…"
"Why do you say that?"
"Why, thaaththa, isn't the whole country electing Satellite?"
"Yes, they do…"

"Then, in 2001, the whole country which is effectively Satellite's electorate, voted for the Greens…"
"But she didn't resign, Bindu…" Percy pointed out.
"She is clever, isn't she?" Bindu asked.
Percy didn't disagree.

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