Why
they say restructuring is privatisation
"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "what is all
this fuss about restructuring?"
"The government wants to restructure the electricity and petroleum
industries…" Percy explained.
"So,
what is special about that?" Bindu wanted to know.
"The Reds who are themselves in the government are opposing
the plan…" Percy said.
"And why is that, thaaththa?"
"They
say that restructuring means privatisation given a different name…"
"Is that true?"
"I am not sure about that," Percy said, "but they
certainly want to restructure many things these days…"
"Why do you say that, thaaththa?" Bindu queried.
"Why,
they have restructured the coastline by imposing a 100 metre rule…"
Percy pointed out.
"And they are restructuring the aid they got after the tsunami
by saying they did not get even five cents as cash itself…"
"And
Velu in the North is restructuring the ceasefire by attacking the
Navy and injuring they very people who are supposed to monitor the
ceasefire…"
"And
those in the south are restructuring the demand for a self governing
authority by offering a 'joint mechanism'…"
"And to ensure that the correct message gets across to the
people, the government is restructuring the state media by appointing
two ministers to oversee it…"
"Then,
Thonda wants the cabinet restructured, so that he can get his civil
aviation portfolio at last…"
"And it appears that Satellite has agreed to do just that…"
"And the Prime Minister himself is restructuring his programme
just to make sure he will be the next presidential candidate…"
"But
the Crown Prince wants to restructure the Alliance to ensure that
he will get the job instead…"
"It is not only the government which is restructuring, thaaththa…"
Bindu said.
"Why do you say that?" Percy wanted to know.
"Even
the Greens are restructuring their election campaign focusing on
how to get SB released…"
"And the Sports Minister is busy restructuring the Cricket
Board to try and keep one man out of the game…"
"And
the Ministry of Education is restructuring school admissions, even
if it means sacking a principal or two…"
"And they would like to restructure the universities too, though
just keeping the universities open would now appear to be an achievement,
let alone restructuring them…" Percy observed.
"But
thaaththa," Bindu suggested, "with all these restructuring
going on in so many areas, we must we developing quite a lot as
a country…"
"I am not so sure about that," Percy said, "but the
biggest restructuring is yet to be seen…" Percy declared.
"What
is that, thaaththa?"
"Why, the restructuring of the executive presidency…"
Percy said.
"But I thought Satellite promised to abolish that a long time
ago…"
"Indeed," Percy agreed, "restructuring the executive
presidency probably involve its abolition and Satellite returning
to power in some other manner…"
"So, that is why they say that restructuring is another word
for privatisation…" Bindu said.
"Now,
why do you say that?" Percy asked.
"Why, thaaththa, that is because the presidency will be restructured
only to suit Satellite's private agenda…" Bindu declared.
Percy did not quite know how to restructure that argument.
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