Why
teaching peace to our negotiators is a problem
"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "what is all
this fuss about the peace talks?"
"Why, Bindu, everything is being prepared for the talks because
everything else depends on it…" Bindu's father Percy
said.
"So,
what exactly is being done?" Bindu wanted to know.
"Ambassadors and High commissioners are running from Colombo
to Kilinochchi to organise the talks…"
"But what is this story about the negotiators getting tuition?"
Bindu asked, "surely, this is not like the 'O' levels or 'A'
levels which we assume our negotiators would have passed?"
"No,
Bindu," Percy explained, "the government negotiators are
experienced ministers…"
"Then, why do they need tuition and coaching?" Bindu was
puzzled.
"Wouldn't it be better if they are prepared, so that the Tigers
won't be at an undue advantage?"
"That's
true, thaaththa," Bindu agreed, "but what is worrying
me are the people who are giving tuition to the ministers…"
"Why are you worried about that" Percy wanted to know.
"Why,
thaaththa, they say that G.L. and Milinda have been asked to teach
the new negotiators…"
"And what is wrong with that?"
"Why, thaaththa, weren't they the people who were accused of
trying to hand over Eelam to Prabhakaran?" Bindu argued.
"Who
said that?"
"Why, thaaththa," Bindu recalled, "wasn't that the
main slogan in Mahinda maama's campaign less than three months ago?"
"We should not look at it that way…" Percy advised,
"we must appreciate them for forgetting party differences for
the sake of the country…"
"Of course, G.L. would have forgotten party differences and
jumped to the Blue side, if only the Reds allowed it…"
Bindu countered.
"But
I am sure the new negotiators will benefit from the experiences
of G.L. and Milinda…" Percy assured.
"But thaaththa," Bindu asked, "what will the Reds
say to that?"
"What do they have to say about it anyway?" Percy demanded.
"Why, thaaththa," Bindu pointed out, "it was the
reds who said during the election campaign that they would not permit
the country to be divided by promising a unitary state instead of
a united state…"
"I am sure they still say that…" Percy said.
"But won't the reds be angry that G.L. and Milinda who were
promoting a united state are now giving tuition to Mahinda maama's
new negotiators…" Bindu asked.
"That may be why the Reds want to contest the local government
elections on their own…" Percy conceded.
"And the local government elections are another reason why
G.L. and Milinda shouldn't be advising Mahinda maama…"
Bindu said.
"Why
do you say that?"
"Why, thaaththa, the Greens went to courts twice to stop the
local government elections but they couldn't do that because their
lawyers made mistakes" Bindu observed, "and people in
that party are giving tuition to Mahinda maama's ministers on how
to handle the Tigers…"
"Everyone makes mistakes, Bindu…" Percy said, "and
we should all try to learn from them…"
"Then,"
Bindu said, "I hope at least Jeyaraj who is also in the negotiating
team has learnt from his mistakes before he learns how to deal with
the Tigers"
"Why do you say that" Percy asked.
"Why, thaaththa," Bindu recalled, "remember how he
promised to deal with gas manufacturers when they wanted to increase
gas prices not so long ago and what happened to gas prices thereafter?"
Percy didn't want to respond to that.
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