All
party pow-wow on crisis down under
In the land of Never Return, they had gathered to discuss the crisis
that was brewing in Paradise…
"Whatever anybody says," Junius said, "we have to
admire Satellite for standing by her decisions…"
"Ah," Solomon said, "she was always a stubborn child…"
"But
I don't think she can afford to be stubborn now…" Sirima
said.
"Why do you say that?" Dudley wanted to know.
"Why, the Reds are threatening to withdraw their support…"
Sirima pointed out.
"Yes,
even you couldn't carry on for long when we withdrew our support…"
NM said.
"I'm sure she will carry on regardless even without the Reds",
Junius said, "my Constitution allows her to do that…"
"The
Reds leaving the government won't be the biggest problem on her
hands…" DS observed.
"How can you say that?" Colvin asked, "without them,
she won't have a majority in Parliament…"
"But don't forget that she is still the President…"
RP said, "there are ways and means of scraping together a majority
in Parliament…"
"Ah,
yes," Daha joined in, "even I could do that with the help
of seven parties…"
"And the Greens could always be bought with the promise of
a cabinet portfolio…"NM suggested.
"I am not so sure about that…" Junius argued.
"Why
not?" Colvin countered, "her Cabinet is full of people
who have been with the Greens, including her Finance Minister…"
"Well, the Greens are also full of people who have been Blue,
including her former Finance Minister…" RP retorted.
"When I crossed over from the Greens to form the Blues,"
Solomon recalled, "there was a big hue and cry but now crossing
over is fashion…"
"I
don't think Satellite needs crossovers to sustain her majority in
Parliament…" DS said.
"How could she do that without the help of someone crossing
over?" John wanted to know.
"Why, the Tamil parties will support her, won't they?"
Dudley queried.
"But
can she carry on for long with just their support?" Sirima
asked, "they will oppose her on many other issues that will
come up later…"
"I think," Dudley said, "the only solution now will
be an election …"
"I don't think so," NM disagreed, "because whatever
happens in an election Satellite will still be the President…"
"And
the Greens are also not well prepared to face a sudden election
with their key people thrown in jail…" RP said.
"And everybody will be back to square one because no one will
get a clear majority even if an election is held…" Colvin
said.
"I think," Solomon said, "we are all forgetting that
the real threat to Satellite is not the Reds leaving her government…"
"What is it then?" Daha wanted to know.
"It is the fast of that Buddhist monk…" Solomon
said.
"Now
isn't that strange?" Junius asked.
"Why do you say that?" NM asked.
"The JVP stands accused of killing Satellite's husband and
a Buddhist monk was accused of killing her father. Now, she will
be accused of trying to politically kill the JVP and may also be
held responsible for the life of a Buddhist monk…" Junius
observed.
"History repeats itself in curious ways…" Solomon
agreed. |
