"Ah," said Percy, Bindu's father, "they are worried about that two hundred year prison sentence passed on Velu..."

"But what is so surprising about that?" Bindu wanted to know.

"Well, they say it is against the spirit of the peace talks..."

"But that doesn't change the law and the fact that he had a hand in the crimes he was charged for..."

"Yes it doesn't..." Percy conceded.

"And it is nothing new, really..." Bindu argued.

"Why do you say that?"

"Why, thaaththa, wasn't he convicted in India also for his role in conspiring to murder their Prime Minister?"

"Yes he was..."

"And they haven't changed their attitude because of the peace talks, have they?"

"No, of course they haven't..." Percy agreed.

"So, why should the Tigers complain, then?" Bindu wanted to know.

"I am sure they would have preferred another verdict..." Percy said.

"But," Bindu argued, "I think we should be happy about the verdict..."

"Why is that?" Percy was puzzled.

"Why, thaaththa, the very fact that they have protested against the verdict is significant..."

"How is that?"

"Why, thaaththa, that they are bothered by this decision indicates they agree to abide by the verdict, which means they are agreeing to be Sri Lankans and thereby giving up their claim of being a separate nation..."

"I didn't think of it that way..." Percy said.

"But there is another side to it..." Bindu added.

"And what is that?"

"Some people want to sue those who criticised the verdict for contempt of court..."

"That is in accordance with the law too..." Percy argued.

"Yes," Bindu said, "but thaaththa, that can lead to even more problems..."

"Why do you say that?"

"Even the Mahanayakes are reported to have blessed the peace talks..."

"What is wrong with that?" Percy wanted to know.

"Why, thaaththa, that implies that they are also against the verdict against Velu..."

"Then, someone should sue the Mahanayakes too..."

"That is not a very good prospect..." Bindu said.

"Why do you say that, Bindu?"

"Why, thaaththa, considering some of the verdicts that have been given in courts recently, if someone sues the Mahanayakes, he would have a good chance of succeeding..."

"But then, there are more absurd situations these days..." Percy said.

"What is that about?" Bindu queried.

"Why, thaaththa, the Tiger's military leader is advising our military about appointments..."

"When did that happen?" Percy demanded.

"Why, thaaththa, the Tiger leader is supposed to have said that if Satellite forces senior military officers to retire, it would be a great loss for our Army..."

"But that is why the Greens are trying to limit Satellite's powers over the military..." Percy tried to explain.

"The Tiger leader should be happy about people retiring, then..." Bindu said.

"Maybe he wants the top job in the military when all of them retire..." Percy suggested.
"Considering what has happened in the recent past, you can't blame him for having such hopes..." Bindu said.

"And more importantly," Percy said, "he might well get his way..."
Bindu didn't disagree with that suggestion.

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