26th November 2000

In the business of war…

"Why, Bindu," Percy Udagedera, the boy's father said, "don't you know, we Sri Lankans always love anything British."

"But why is such a fuss being made about a junior minister?"

"I suppose Satellite thinks that he will also help us solve the war like that Norwegian chap?"

"Then," Bindu asked, "will he also go to the jungle and meet Prabhakaran?"

"I don't know about that," Percy conceded, "but I think they hope he will also work with the Norwegians."

"But, thaaththa," Bindu argued, "if the British really wanted to help us about the war, there are other ways of doing that."

"How is that?"

"Why thaaththa, they could ban the Tigers from Britain and prevent them from collecting money there."

"But, Bindu they are not doing that even in Norway." Percy explained.

"But, thaaththa," Bindu wanted to know, "why do we always need someone from outside to solve our own problems?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Why, remember, even for Satellite to talk to the Green boss we needed a British junior minister to come here and reach an agreement."

"And even that agreement went to pieces with both of them accusing each other of trying to sell the country to Prabha."

"So, what do you think will happen now?" Bindu asked.

"I suppose everyone will make the usual statements about how this is an internal problem which has to be solved by ourselves but how they would like to be of help."

"And what will happen to the war."

"The war will drag on, of course." Percy said.

"Yes, otherwise how will the government explain everything?" Bindu queried.

"Why do you say that?" Percy wanted to know.

"Why, thaaththa, whenever the prices of either bread or diesel have to be increased, they blame it on the war."

"Why," Percy recalled, "they even placed the country on a war footing some time ago."

"And when they want to change the constitution to keep themselves in power, they blame it on the war."

"And when they want to import bullet-proof vehicles for everyone they blame the war."

"But when they appoint forty-odd ministers, they don't talk about the war, do they?" Bindu asked.

"And they don't talk about the war when they play cricket almost every day of the year."

"And they don't talk of the war when they build new presidential palaces costing millions of rupees."

"So," Percy said, "the war must go on for everyone to be in business."

"Yes," Bindu agreed, "even the Opposition."

"Why do you say that?" Percy wanted to know.

"Why, thaaththa, if there was no war, what would the Opposition blame the government for?"

"War or no war, the Opposition doesn't seem to be doing much about it." Percy observed.

"So, they must be all hoping that even with the British and the Norwegians visiting us so often, the war will go on and on." Bindu declared.

"But we must learn something from the British, at least their National Anthem." Percy said.

"Why do you say that, thaaththa?" Bindu wanted to know.

"Because," said Percy, "if things continue to be this way, very soon it will be 'God save the Queen' for us too."

Bindu didn't disagree.

The Jungle Telegraph

Editorial/ Opinion Contents