Columns

If we return to the subject of the coronavirus in Sri Lanka and some other parts of the world, it is because we are very much back in the news and there is a faint glimmer of hope from elsewhere.

If people hang to any hopeful sign as a silver lining emerging from behind a darkened sky, it is like distraught mankind clinging on to a last straw.

Add to nature’s assault on man the havoc caused to this planet by politicians and their kith, kin and acolytes who have ‘scorched’ this earth from Sinharaja to the Amazon to the Cameroon to accumulate resources for themselves, not for the sovereign people they faithfully promise to represent and protect.

Since the coronovirus burst onto the global scene one year or more ago, it has been the principal concern of most afflicted governments and others wary of being wiped out, to resort to whatever means to protect their legacy and their future as long as they can.

Its speedy spread and the immediate lack of an effective antidote so far to control the virus have caused confusion among many countries unprepared to combat it and others who believe they have the weapons to halt its advance.

Admittedly, it is not all political leaders who have let the coronovirus overwhelm their personal agendas. While they must naturally show some public determination of fighting the epidemic that is affecting their populations, politicians who rule their countries and those heavily dependent on the continued presence in power of their leaders would not let a virus or two intervene in ruining their careers.

This is not to say that all political leaders have been much less concerned with the epidemic than their own interests. Much depends on what is prioritised in their policy-making and comes to the fore in their roadmaps.

While the “Minuwangoda Cluster” and attendant issues suddenly grabbed the headlines after days of key constitutional matters took centre stage after Buddhist prelates and other religious dignitaries and civil society figured in the spotlight, there was some confusion as the authorities tried to track down this latest outbreak of the virus that had begun to spread beyond the immediate environment.

With each passing week, the public learned more and more about the attempts of the state to contain the epidemic. Even if they are not entirely successful, to the world outside to hear the authorities speak, it appeared governments in power were fully committed to trying to rescue their people from an unprecedented horror.

For the last several days or even weeks, I have been listening to speeches, interviews and media conferences on several international TV channels. How desperate some leaders are to retain their power — the extent to which they will go to prevaricate, concoct, suppress their political opponents and deceive the voters, their own people, is shocking, absolutely so.

Let’s take a couple of cases where politics has begun to overshadow the dreaded COVID-19, even though the coronavirus is still hurting and some countries have locked-up their people and separated families and individuals.

So the people are faced with new challenges as they and their families struggle to survive the economic travails, joblessness, physical isolation, the diminishing employment opportunities and fiscal means for daily living. Sri Lankans are no exception what with today’s consumers measuring their coconuts before buying a few for their own pol sambol!

When they die in some ill-equipped hospital or some makeshift quarantine centre, there is sometimes no one at their cremation to bid farewell. One is reminded of the words of Calpurnia, Julius Caesar’s wife, to her husband: “When beggars die there are no comets seen…”

After the “Minuwangoda cluster” or the “Brandix affair” as some have called it, I received an email, though it originally seemed to have been addressed to some social media source. It carried what presumably the writer’s first name — which I do not wish to disclose — who I believe is a doctor judging by some of the words used.

It is a rather plaintive plea to the public, especially the social media audience — to pardon those who have erred in the early stages of the corona pushback, treatment and whatever. The letter said: “I strongly feel and wish to celebrate the victories of Sri Lanka. We have made mistakes, but let us correct them. We need not go on blaming each other and saying we are useless as a country. We must change this irritating narrative and state that “we have done well though mistakes have been made, and we need to correct them and move forward”.

Sadly the doctor (I strongly believe he is a doctor) fails to mention the victories. The average citizen is not a medical expert or scientist qualified in this field. For that matter there cannot be in our midst many politicians who are currently engaged in handling the corona epidemic or who are competent to comment on the intricacies of combating this disease or explain it in a simple enough manner that is comprehensible to the people and to the media. But there are politicians who speak on it, at times like highly qualified scientists.

Would it not have been far more useful to the public if the writer who I am certain is qualified and knowledgeable explains the errors made so that the average person and even those with some scientific background  would understand where the authorities and planners went wrong and how and why?. He says “we need to correct them and move forward.” Is he saying that they have not been corrected yet and so we have not moved forward?

The writer chastises President Trump for not wearing a face mask at a recent event. Trump deserves whatever he gets. Trump is a loud-mouthed leader whose arrogance and pretentions far outweigh his intelligence. He has regularly clashed with his own science advisers such as Dr Anthony Fauci, recognised as America’s top infectious diseases expert.  Scientists, virologists and epidemiologists are not the only experts he would treat with derision. The White House has been for the last four years or so the halfway house for experts and officials of one kind or another who are sacked or leave their posts unable to work with an incorrigible and idiotic leader.

In the meantime, the writer might take a look round to see how many of our political front-liners are without masks breaking the rules they themselves make and allow themselves to be photographed as though performing some miraculous feat. Had any ordinary citizens done so, they would have been dragged to the police station and charged for breaking the law while the big names are greeted with palms of the hands held together in  gratuitous obeisance.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Etonian buffoonery and dependence on fellow Etonians in readiness to inject venom into the body politic and his Government’s failure to react in time to deal with the deadly virus is another illustration of how conservative leaders run today’s Disunited Kingdom.

While our letter writer might plead for understanding, the problem is that it is not medical and scientific experts who are leading this defensive battle against this most dangerous disease. Those who call the shots are mostly those hardly acquainted with the basics while the knowledgeable are cast into administrative or less significant roles.

He compares Sri Lanka with several countries which are hugely disproportionate in many ways to show our country is relatively poor and so cannot afford what the richer countries could in terms of medicines, personal physical equipment and scientific expertise. Such comparisons often have little relevance. It is like judging bandakka with wattaka.

We may not have the financial resources. But If China gave us corona, it is now gifting us face masks. That is a worthy gift. There are so many of our politicians and big talkers with little useful to say that the masks will service a useful purpose.

So eventually the good doctor would be left to play the advisory role he pleads for with more thoughtful persons that he appears to be dealing with and who are able to distil scientific knowledge so it can inform policy.

(Neville de Silva is a veteran Sri Lankan journalist who was Assistant Editor, Diplomatic Editor and Political Columnist of the Hong Kong Standard before moving to London where he worked for Gemini News Service. Later he was Deputy Chief-of-Mission in Bangkok and Deputy High Commissioner in London before returning to journalism.)