The Fifth Column

3rd March 1996

A Guessing Game

"Thaaththa" Bindu Udagedara asked, "What's happening to the package?"

"Why", Percy said, "It's going through all the stages a package goes through...."

"Do you mean the Parliamentary Select Committee?"

"No", Percy said, "Every package is proposed by the government, rejected by the opposition and ignored by Prabhakaran...."

"Do you think the same thing will happen to this package also?" "Why not?" Percy asked, "Some people in the Alliance itself are opposing the package...."

"But if the government is determined...."

"I'm not sure whether the government is determined. We can see that Dr. Peiris and the Satellite are determined. But are we sure that Ashraff and Thonda, for instance, are keen to see this package implemented...."

"But the opposition has not totally rejected the package, Thaaththa" Bindu argued.

"I think the Greens are waiting till everyone else abandons the package, so that they won't be accused of playing party politics...."

"Then what about Prabhakaran?" Bindu wanted to know.

"If he really likes the package, he won't go about bombing Colombo, would he?"

"What is the solution, Thaaththa?" Bindu asked," ..If no one agrees about the package?"

"Satellite might want to put the package to the people at a general election...."

"That is not a bad idea"

"It may not be a very good idea either" Percy pointed out.

"Why do you say that, Thaaththa?"

"What will happen if Satellite's partners in the Alliance decide they cannot support her because of the package and then desert her?"

"They might even join the Greens...." Bindu observed.

"Yes" Percy agreed. "At least one Lady who came from the Greens might...."

"Thaaththa" Bindu asked, "why does that lady disagree with Satellite so often?"

"Bindu", Percy said, "In politics, two's company, three's a crowd. In this government we have three women at the top. That's the problem...."

"So, what will happen now?"

"I think it's time for one of them to leave...." Percy suggested.

"Which one will that be?" Bindu wanted to know.

"Your guess is as good as mine" was Percy's answer.

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