5th March 2000

Of fish, fox and the rest

"What peace talks?" Percy Udagedera, Bindu's father wanted to know.

"Why, thaaththa, the talks mediated by the Norwegians…"

"What makes you think these talks will be of any use?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Why, Bindu, Satellite can't even get the Green Man to talk to her, so how can she get Velu to come for talks?"

"That's the Green Man's fault…" Bindu protested.

"And they are wasting so much time writing letters to each other…"

"That's true", Bindu agreed, "why can't they sit at a table and talk to each other about this problem instead of quarreling like two kids in the nursery?"

"That" Percy explained, " is because now the Green Man wants the Presidency abolished before anything else…"

"But thaaththa," Bindu argued," that is only because he knows he can never win as long as the Presidency exists…"

"That may be true because during all the years of green rule, he never said anything against it…"

"And now, Satellite doesn't want to let go of it…"

"And that's because she knows that she can never win without it…"

"But thaaththa, can Satellite do what she wants to do without the support of the greens?"

"Why, Seeni Bola has explained how it can be done…"

"How is that?"

"Why, he has said they will suspend the courts and get all the judges to go home…"

"But I thought he denied saying that…"

"But he has denied apologizing to Rienzie also…" Percy pointed out.

"So, will they really do that to the judges?" Bindu wanted to know.

"They might" Percy said, "but then, we can't take what Seeni Bola says seriously…"

"Why is that?"

"He's someone who is like a fish…"

"Why do you say that? Is it because he slips away from situations so easily?"

"No, because someday he will perish because of his mouth…"

"But thaaththa, what will Satellite do now with these peace talks?"

"Don't worry Bindu, she will do everything that the Old Fox did…"

"What was that?"

"Well, trying to get another country to intervene like the Old Fox did with India, split the Opposition by trying to take away someone's civic rights, drag the war meaninglessly and of course, retain the all powerful top job…"

"But thaaththa, there was one thing the Old Fox, for all his powers could not do…"

"What was that?"

"Change a woman into a man…"

"During Satellite's time, even that might happen…"

"Why do you say that?"

"Why they have started practicing…"

"When was that?"

"Why, Bindu, some people got hold of a female singer and tried to cut her hair…"

Bindu didn't argue with that.

The Jungle Telegraph

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