Theorising on Katunayake inferno

"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "what will happen to the war now?"

"Why, I thought the war was going on." Bindu's father Percy said.

"But thaaththa," Bindu protested, "after what happened at Katunayake."

"Ah," said Percy, "that is a temporary setback."

"But thaaththa," Bindu asked, "how could they do such a thing in such a high security zone so easily?"

"What do you mean by that?" Percy wanted to know.

"Why, thaaththa," Bindu observed, "there seems to have been no security at all."

"Why, Bindu they have already told us why it happened." Percy said.

"What are those reasons?"

"Why, this is all a green conspiracy."

"How can they say that?"

"Why, they say that this attack was to commemorate the July riots of 1983."

"But that only means that if they knew there was such an anniversary, they should have been more careful." Bindu argued.

"No, Bindu," Percy said, "it only means that because the greens are to blame for those riots, they have to take the blame for anything and everything that happens thereafter, every year, year after year."

"But thaaththa." Bindu protested.

"That's not all Bindu," Percy pointed out, "the greens also wanted the emergency lifted."

"But Satellite herself boasted that she could manage even without the emergency by using other laws."

"But Bindu, when the emergency is lifted, everyone including our security forces, tend to relax and that makes it easier for the enemy."

"So, they think this is all a green conspiracy?" Bindu queried.

"There is good reason to think so." Percy agreed.

"Why do you say that?"

"Why, the greens planned that 'jana bala meheyuma'."

"What's wrong with that?" Bindu asked.

"Why, now they say that the attackers came to Colombo with those protestors."

"But there were so many other protests organized by the government also" Bindu argued.

"But they seem to think the 'jana bala meheyuma' was designed to bring the attackers to Colombo."

"So, thaaththa," Bindu said, "no one from the government is taking responsibility for this attack and no one is resigning."

"Why should they when it is all the greens' fault?" Percy retorted, "if any anyone must resign, it should be the opposition leader."

"But thaaththa," Bindu persisted, "how did they know the exact locations at Katunayake to stage their attack so successfully?"

"Ah, that's easy," Percy said, "the greens would have given it to them."

"But how did the greens get those details?"

"Why, that chap Solheim would have given it to them." Percy suggested.

"How can you say that?"

"Why, Bindu, Solheim came and went so many times and on each occasion he used the Airport, so he must be knowing it all. And anyway, he met the green leader and even Prabhakaran; so he must have planned it all."

"Did anyone say that?" Bindu was alarmed.

"No, of course not," Percy said, "but if we are to believe what they have told us until now we can believe this too."

"Then, thaaththa," Bindu said, "I know how we could have prevented this attack."

"How is that?" Percy wanted to know.

"We should have informed the Tigers that such attacks are banned under these referendum regulations and we should have asked them to shout slogans

and hold placards when they came for the attack."

"But they won't obey such orders, Bindu." Percy said.

"That's not a problem," Bindu said, "then you hand over security to the PSD and give them enough 'kandulu gas' and rubber bullets and they would have done the rest."

Percy knew he couldn't disagree with that.

The Jungle Telegraph

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