Thaaththa,” Bindu Udagedera asked, “what is all this fuss about granting a pardon?”
“Well,” Percy Udagedera, Bindu’s father, explained, “some people want the jailed General pardoned...”
“Why is that, thaaththa?” Bindu wanted to know.
“Well,” Percy said, “they say that it is not fair to jail him...”
“And why do they say that, thaaththa?” Bindu inquired.
“They say that he was tried in an unfair manner...” Percy declared.
“And who is saying this, thaaththa?” Bindu wanted to know.
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“It is the Greens and the Reds who are making this accusation...” Percy said.
“So,” Bindu said, “it is only the Greens and the Reds who are demanding the release of the jailed General...”
“I suppose they are the only people demanding his release,” Percy said, “but there are others who are appealing for his release...”
“And who are they, thaaththa?” Bindu asked.
“Why, some members of the Buddhist clergy and others from the Catholic clergy are appealing for his release...” Percy observed.
“But why is the clergy appealing on behalf of someone who has been convicted?” Bindu was puzzled.
“Well,” Percy said, “they have a different argument...”
“And what argument is that?” Bindu demanded.
“They say that it is not fair to imprison the General who was responsible for winning the war while some of those who waged war are not only roaming free but are also given various privileges...” Percy argued.
“And what are these privileges, thaaththa?” Bindu wanted to know.
“Why,” Percy said, “some have been appointed as Ministers, some are Chief Ministers and others are being treated like honoured guests of the government...”“So weren’t all these people charged with waging war, thaaththa?” Bindu was curious.
“Apparently they have not been charged, Bindu,” Percy conceded, “and that is one of the reasons they are appealing for a pardon for the General...”
“And who are they appealing to, thaaththa?” Bindu asked.
“Why, to Mahinda maama, of course...” Percy said.
“And what is Mahinda maama saying to all this?” Bindu wondered.
“Well,” Percy said, “he is saying that if the General or someone from his family makes an appeal, he will consider the request...”
“Then,” Bindu suggested, “all that is left to do is for the General or someone from his family to make an appeal, Mahinda maama will grant a pardon and that will be the end of all this shouting on the streets and going before courts everyday...”
“Unfortunately Bindu,” Percy declared, “it won’t happen so easily...”
“Why is that, thaaththa?” Bindu asked.
“Well, firstly the General is not prepared to ask for a pardon...” Percy pointed out.
“And why is that thaaththa?” Bindu wanted to know.
“Well, he says he is innocent and that if he were to ask for a pardon, it would amount to admitting that he is guilty...” Percy declared.
“But what about his family?” Bindu inquired, “Don’t they want to ask for a pardon on his behalf?”
“I don’t think so,” Percy said.
“But thaaththa,” Bindu asked, “doesn’t that place Mahinda maama in a rather difficult position?”
“Why is that, Bindu?” Percy queried.
“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu explained, “even if Mahinda maama wants to grant a pardon he cannot do so because no one is asking for a pardon...”
“Well, The Green Man has already asked for a pardon but Mahinda maama says that the request should come from either the General himself or someone from his family...”
“But thaaththa,” Bindu protested, “is there a law saying that only a family member can ask for a pardon?”
“No, I don’t think so...” Percy conceded.
“And is there a law saying that for someone to be pardoned, someone has to ask for a pardon first?” Bindu demanded.
“I am not so sure about that...” Percy said.
“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu recalled, “When JR pardoned Mrs. B after she lost civic rights , neither Mrs. B nor anyone from her family asked for a pardon...”
“That is true,” Percy agreed.
“Then, JR also released Vijaya from jail and Satellite says she never asked for a pardon for him either...” Bindu pointed out.
“Of course, we have to believe Satellite on that one because neither JR nor Vijaya can tell us what exactly happened...” Percy observed.
“But even during Mahinda maama’s time, didn’t he pardon Seeni Bola who was in jail?” Bindu asked.
“Yes, he did,” Percy remembered.
“And I can’t remember Seeni Bola asking for a pardon because he was with the Greens at that time...” Bindu recalled.
“That is true...” Percy agreed.
“And even after that, Mahinda maama pardoned Thondaman junior who was convicted of contempt of court just hours after the verdict, even before Thondaman could appeal for a pardon...” Bindu pointed out.
“Yes, that did also happen...” Percy recalled.
“So, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “what is the meaning of all this talk about having to appeal for a pardon and that appeal having to come from someone in the family?”
“It is a bit puzzling indeed, Bindu...” Percy conceded.
“Looking at what has happened in the past,” Bindu said, “it seems that if there is a will, there is a way...” Bindu said.
“And,” Percy added, “it now looks as if, when there is no will, there is no way...”
Bindu didn’t disagree. |
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